Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-05

may be encountered by inadmissible conditions
The King Of the Two Sicilies has expressed to
our minister at Naples his readiness to concur in
relative to neutral rights, and to
enter into convention on that subject.
The King Of Prussia entirely approves of tho
project of treaty to the same effect submitted to
him, but proposes an additional article, providing
for the remuneration of privatecring Such an arti
Gle, for most obvious reasons, is much desired by
nations having naval establishments large in pro-
portion to their foreign commerce. If it were
adopted as an international rule, the commerce Of
nation having comparatively d small naval force,
would be very much at the mercy of its enemy, in
case Of war with power Of decided naval superb
ority. The bare statement of the condition in
which the United States would be placed, after
having surrendered the right to resort to priva-
tcern In the event of war with q belgerent Of ma
val supremacy, will show that this government
could never listen TO such proposition The navy
Of the first maratimo power in Europe is at least
ten times as large as that of the United States.
The foreign commerce Of the two countries is near
ly equal and about equally exposed to hostile dep
redations. In war between that power and the
United States, without resort on our part to our
mercantile marine, the means of our enemy to in
fict injury upon our commerce would be tenfold
greater than ours to retaliate. We could not ex-
tricate our country from this unequal condition,
with such an enemy, unless we at once departed
from our present peaceful policy, and became
great naval power. Nor would this country be
better situated in war with one of the secondary
naval powers. Though the naval disparity would
be less, the greater extent and more exposed con.
ditiOn Of our widespread commerce, would give
any Of them like advantage over us.
The proposition to enter into engagements to
forego resort to privateers, in case this country
should be forced into war with great naval power
Is not entitled to more favorable consideration
than would be proposition to agree not to accept
the services of volunteers for operations on land
When the honor or the rights of our country re-
quire 1t to assume hostile attitude it confidently
relies upon the patriotism of its citizens, not ordi-
narily devoted to the military profession, to aug
ment the army and the navy, 80 as to make them
fully adequate to the emergency which calls them
into action. The proposal to surrender the right
to employ privateers is professedly founded upon
the principle, that private property Of unofending
though enemies, should be ex-
empt from the ravages Of war; but the proposed
goes but little way in carrying out that
principle, which equally requires TINT such private
property should not be seized or molested by ma
tional ships Of war. Should the leading powers of
Europe concur in proposing, as a rule of interna-
tional law, to exempt private property, upon the
ocean, from seizure by public armed cruisers, as
well as by privateers, the United States viii readi
VI.
Since the adjournment of Congress- the ratifca-
tons Of the treaty between the United States and
Great Britain, relative to coast fisheries and to re-
ciprocal trade with the British North American
provinces, have been exchanged, and some of its
anticipated advantages are already enjoyed by us,
although its full execution to abide certain acts
Of Legislation not yet fully performed So soon as
It was ratified, Great Britain opened to our COM
merce the free navigation of the river st. Law
C.l.z -
the shores and bays, from which they had been
previously excluded, on the coasts of her North
American provinces; in return for which, she asked
for the introduction free of duty into the ports Of
the United States, Of the fish caught ON the same
coast by British fishermen. This being the com.
pcnsation stipulated in the treaty for privileges of
the highest importance and value TO the United
States, which were thus voluntarily yielded before
II became effective, the request seemed TO me to
be reasonable one; but 1t could not be acceded
to, from want of authority to suspend our laws inn
posing duties upon all foreign fish.
In the mean time, the Treasury Department
issued regulation for asceraining the duties paid
or secured by bonds on fish caught on the coasts
Of the British provinces, and brought TO our mar
kets by British subjects after the fishing grounds
had been made fully accessible to the citizens of
the United States. recommend TO your favora-
BILE consideration proposition, which win be sub
mitted TO you, for authority to refund the duties
and cancel the bonds thus received The provinces
OF Canada and New Brunswick have also antici-
pated the full operation of the treaty, by legisa-
tive arrangements, respectively to admit, free of
duty, the products 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 now chargeable on the products of
those provinces enumerated in the same free list
and introduced therefrom into the United States
proposition for refunding which will, in my judg-
ment be In like manner entitled 10 your favorable
consideration.
There is difference of opinion between the Uni.
ted States and Great Britain, as to the boundary
line OF the Territory Of Washington, adjoining the
British possessions on the Pacific, which has al.
ready led TO difficulties on the part Of the citizens
and local authorities of the two governments. /
recommend that provision be made for commits
sion, 70 be joined by the part Of her Britain
mic Majesty, for the purpose Of running and estab-
fishing the line in controversy. Certain stipula-
tions of the third and fourth articles Of the treaty
concluded by the United States and Great Britain
in ls4e, regarding possessary rights of the Hudson's
Bay Company, and property Of the Puget's Sound
Company, have given rise 70 serious
disputes, and II is important TO all concerned, that
summary means of settling them amcably should
be devised. have reason TO believe, that an ar
can be made on just terms, for the ex-
tinguishment of the rights in question, embracing
also, the right of the Hudson's Bay Company TO
The navigation Of the river Columbia; and there
fore suggest to your consideration the expediency
Of making contingent appropriation for that pur-
pose.
France was the early and efficient ally of the
United States in their struggle for independence
From that time TO the present. with occasional
slight Interruptions, cordial relations of friendship
have existed between the governments and people
Of the two countries. The kindly sentiments
cherished alike by both nations, have led TO extern
sive social and commercial intercourse, which,
trust, viii not be interrupted or checked by any
casual event Of an apparently unsatisfactory char
acter. The French consul at San Francisco was,
not long since, brought into the United States dis
trict court at that place. by compulsory process
witness In favor Of another foreign consul in vio
ation, as the French government conceives, of his
privileges under our consular convention with
France. There being nothing in the transaction
which could imply any disrespect to France or its
consul, such explanation has been made as hope
viii be satisfactory Subsequently, misunderstood.
ing arose on the subject of the French government
having, as It appeared, abruptly excluded the
American minister to Spain from passing through
France, on his way from London to Madrid But
that government has uneauiyocally disayowed any