The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-12-09

'''"N W ! 9fN I'EllAi4dR nUSStSsOIl
rights Of the II llSon's Bay Company, and
property Of the Pugct's Sound Agricultural
Company, have given rise To serious dis
putes, and 1t Is important to all concerned,
that summary means OF settling them AMIGA
by should DC devised. have reason to be-
lleve That an arrangement can be made on
Just terms, for the cxtinguiahment Of the
rights in question, embracing, also, the
right Of the lludSon's BAY Company to the
navigation of the river Columbia and |
therefore suggest to your consideration the
expcdiency OF making contingent appro-
prlntlon for that purpose.
France was the early and efficient ally Of
the United States in their struggle for inde-
pendence. From that time to the present,
with occasional slight Interruptions, cordial
relations Of friendship have existed between
the two governments and people of the two
countries. The kindly sentiments cherished
alike by both nations, have led to extensive
social and commercial intercourse, which, |
trust, will not be interrupted or checked by
any casual event Of an apparently satisiacto-
~ character The French Consul at San
Francisco was, not long since, brought into
the United States District Court at that
place, by compulsory process, as a witness
IN favor Of another foreign consul, in viola
ton, a. the French Government conceivcs,
OF his privileges under our consular convcn-
ton with France. There being nothing in
the Transaction which could imply any dsre.
spcct to France or its consul, such cxplana-
ton has been made, as | hope will be salts
factory. Subsequently, misunderstanding
arose on the subject OF the French govern
mcnt having as il appeared, abruptly exc'u-
dcd the American Minister to Spain from
passing through France, on his way from
London to Madrid.
But that government has unequivocally
disavowed any design to deny the right Of
transit to the Minister Of the u. s. and af-
ter explanations to this effect he has rcsu-
med his journey, and actually returned thro'
France to Spain. ! herewith lay before
Congress the correspondence on this subject
between our envoy at Paris, and the Minis.
ter Of foreign relations of the French gov.
crnncnt.
The position Of our affairs with Spain re-
mains rs at the close Of your last session
Internal agitation, assuming very nearly the
character of political revolution has re-
Gently conyuSed that country. The late
ministers were violently expelled from pow
er, and men, ofycry different views in rea-
ton to its internal affairs, have succeeded.
Since this change, there has been no propi-
tous opportunity TO resume and press on
negotiations for the adjustment Of serious
questions of difficulty between the Spanish
government and the United States There is
reason to believe that our minister will find
r
chncd than the preceding, to comply with
onr just demands, and 10 make suitable ar
rangements for restoring harmony, and pre-.
serving peace between the two countries.
Negotiations are pending with Denmark
TO discontinue the practice oflevying tolls on
our vessels and their cargoes passing
through the Sound. dor doubt that we
can claim exemption thcrctGom as a matter
Of right 1t is admitted on all hands, that
thi, eXarton is sanctioned, not By the gene.
raj principles Of the law Of nations, but only
by special conventions which most of the
H2boR6 haze sr, Gn'oFed Ct into with
( 1926, with Denmark, provides, that there
/ shall not be paid on the vessels of the Uni
/ ted States and their cargoes when passing
/ through the Sound higher duties than those
/ of the most favored nations. This may be
| regarded as an implied agreement to submit
/ to the tolls during the continuance Of the
/ treaty, and, consequently, may embarrass
| the assertion Of our right to be released
| thcretroin. There are also other provisions
in the treaty which ought to be modified.
[ 1t was to remain in force for ten years, and
until one year after either party should give
notice TO the other Of intention to terminate
it, | deem it eXpedicut that the contcmpla-
ted notice should be given to the government
/ of denmark.
The naval expedition, despatched abou
two years since for the purpose Of establish
ing relations with the Empire of Japan, ha
been ably and skifully conducted to sue
cessful termination by the officer to whor
it wos entrusted. A treaty, opening certai
Of the ports of that populous country, hs
been negotiated; and in order to give fnll e
feet thereto, it only remains to exchange RAJ
iiications, and to adopt requisite commercii
relations.
The treaty lately concluded between tn
United States and Mexico, settled some
the mos. embarrassing difficulties with ;hi
country, but numerous claims upon it f
wrongs and injuric. to our citizens rename
uuadjusted, and many new cases have bee
recently added to the former list Of grieval
ces. Our legation has been earnest its cl
deayors to obtain, from the Mexican govern
mcnt, favorable consideration of the claim
but hitherto without success. This failure
probably. in some measure 10 be sacrificed
the disturbed condition of the country.
has been my anxious desire to mainta
friendly relations with the Mexican republi
and to cause It's rights and territories to
respected, not only by our citizens, but |
foreicde,s, who have resorted to the Unit,
States for the purpose of organizing hosti
expeditions against some Of the States
that Republic.
The defencelcss condition in which its fro
tiers have been left, has stimulated aw!e
apventurcrs to embark in these enterprise
and greatly increased the difficulty Of entc
cling our Obligations Of neutrality. Regar
inc it as my solemn duty to fulfil, efficient
these obligations, not only towards Mexic
but other foreign nations, have cycrted [.
the powers with which am invested to d
feat such criminal proceedings, and to brir
to punishment those who, by taking a pa
therein, violated our laws. The energy a,
activity of our civil and military authoriti
have frustrated the designs of those w
mcditated expeditions of this character, c
ccpt in two instances. One of these compos
r of foreigners, was at first countcnanced a
aided by the Mexican government itself,
having been deceived rs to their real obje
| The other small in number, eluded the VII
S lance of the magistrates at San Francis
and succeeded III reaching the Mexican t.
!. rtorics; but the effective measures taken
. this government compelled the abanlonm'
of the undertaking,
@ The commission Ia establish the new line
= ,wecn to e. States and Mexico, according
), the provisions ofthe treaty of the 3oth D
n last, has been organized, and the work
d already commenced.
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