The Evansville daily journal., 1854-12-07

from seizure by public armed cruisers, as
well as by privateers, the United States
will readily meet them upon that broad
ground.
Since the adjournment Of Congress, the
ratitcations of the treaty between the
United States and Great Britain, relative
to coast fisheries, and to reciprocal trade
with the British North American provin-
ces. have been exchanged, and some Of
its anticipated advantages are already en-
joyed by us, although its full execution
was to abide certain acts of legislation
not yet fully p. rformed. So sooE as it
was ratified, Great Britain opened to our
commerce the free navigation of the river
st. Lawrence, and to our fishermen unmo-
Tested access to the shores and bays, from
which they had been previously excluded,
on the coasts of her North American pro-
vinces; in return for which, she asked for
the introduction, free of duty. into the
ports of the United States, of The fish
canght on the same coas, by British fish,
ermen. This being the compensation,
stipulated in the treaty, for privileges of
the highest importance and value to the
United States, which were thus voluntarily
yielded before it became effective, the re-
quest seemed to me to be reasonable
one; but itcould not be acceded to, from
want of authority to suspend our laws i'm
posing duties upon all foreign fish.
Irthe mean time the Treasury Depart
ment issued a regulation for ascertaining
the duties paid or secured BY bonds on 6sh
caught on the coasts oil the British provinces,
and brought t. our markets by British sub
jects, alter the fishing grounds had been
lily accessible to the citizens OF the United
States. l recommend to your favorable con-
sideration proposition, which will be sub.
mitted to you, for authority 10 refund the
duties aud cancel the bonds thus received
The provinces Of Canada and New Bruns.
wick have also anticipated the full operation
Of the treaty, by legislative arrangements
respectively, to admit, free OF duty, the pro-
ducts of the United States mentioned in the
free list Of the treaty; and an arrangement
similar TO that regarding British fish, has
been made for duties n"w chargeable on the
products Of those provinces enumerated in
the same free list, and introduced tnerefrom
into the United States; proposition which
W II, in my judgment. be in like manner en-.
titled to your favorable consideration.
There is difference Of opinion between the
United States and Great Britain, as TO the
boundary line of the territory of Wash ng.
ton adjoining the British possessions on the
Pacific, which has already led TO difficulties
Oh the part Of the citizens and local authori.
ties OF the two governments. recommend
that provision be made for a commission to
be joined by one ON the part OF her Britanic
Msjesiy, Tor the purpose Of running and es.
tablishing the line in controversy Certain
stipuiations of the third and fousth articles o
the treaty concluded by the united States
and Great Britain in 1886 regarding posses.
sGry rights of the Hudson's Bay Company
and property Of the Puget's Sound AgricuI
tural Company. have given rise To serious
disputes, aud il is important 10 II concerned
that summary means Of settling them ami.
cabiy should be devised. I have reason tt
believe, that an arrangement can be made
on just terms. Tor the exiinguishms mt of the
rights in question, embracing also, the riyh,
oi the Hudson's Bay Company to the navi
CATION OF the River Columbiu.; and there.
lore suggest TO your consideration, the expe.
diency Of making contingent appropriation
Tor that purpose. 10
France was the early and efficient ally oil
the United States in their struggle for indie.
pendence. From tnat time, to the present
with occasional slight Interruptions, cor ia
relations of friendship have existed between
the governments and people OF the two coun.
tries. The kindly sentiments. cherished
alike by both nations, have led 10 extensive
social aud commercial intercourse, which,
trust, will no, be interrupted or checked by
any casual event OF an apparently unsatisiac.
tory character. The French consul at Sa q
r ancisco was, not long sine brought int,
the United States district court at that place e
by compulsory process, as a witness in iavor
oil another foreign consul, in violation, as
the French government c"nceives. Of biz
privileges under our consular convention with
I France. There being nothing in the trans
acti N which could imply any disrespect to
France or it's consul, such explanation has
been made, as hope will be satisfactory
Subsequently, MISUNDERSTANDING arose on
the subject oi the French government hav.
ing, as 1t appeared, abruptly excluded the
American minister OF Spain from passing
through France, on his way IRON London t.
Madrid = But that governmen ut has unequvo
caily disavowed any desi n To deny the righ,
oi transit to the minister OF the United State.
and, after explanations to this effect. he has
resumed hls jocsney, and actually returned
througa France to Spain. ! herewith lay
before Congress the correspondence on thi,
su ject between our envoy ut Plris, and the
minister Of foreign relations Of the French
government. %
The position Of our affairs with Spain re-
mains us at the close of your last session.
Internal agitation, assuming very nearly the
character Of political revolution, has recent
ly convulsed that country. The late minis
ters were violently expelled from power, an,
men, Of very different views in relation t,
it's internal affairs, have succeeded. Since
this change, there has been no propitou