The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1854-12-15

ratifcations of the treaty between the Uni-l
ted States and Great Britain, relative toll
coast fisheries, and to reciprocal trade with
the British North American provinces,
have been exchanged, and some Of its an
tlclpated advantages are already enjoyed
by us, although its full execution was to
abide certain acts Of legislation not yeti
fully performed. So soon as it was 4ati-
fed, Great Britainopenedto our commerce
the free navigation of the river St. Law
renee, and to our fisherman unmolested
access to the shores and bays, from which
they had been previously excluded, on the
coast of her North American provinces in
return for which, she asked for the intro
duction, free OF duty, into the ports Of the
United States, of the fish caught on the
same coast by British fishermen. This
being the compensation, stipulated in the
treaty, for privileges of the highest impor-
tancc and value to the United States, which
were thus voluntarily yielded before It
became effective, the request seemed to mo
to be reasonable one butit could not be
acceded to, from want of authority to sus-
pend our laws imposing duties upon al
foreign fish. In the meantime, the Treas
ury Department issued a regulation, for
ascertaining 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. / re-
commend to your favorable consideration.
proposition which will be submitted to
you, for authority to refund the duties
and cancel the bonds thus received. The
provinces of Canada and New Brunswick
have also anticipated the full operation of
the treaty, by legislative arrangements, re-
spectively to admit, free of duty, the pro-
ducts of the United States mentioned in
the free list of the treaty and an arrange
ment similar to that regarding British fish,
has been made for duties now chargeable
on the products of those provinces emu
merated in the same free list, and intro
duced therefrom into the United States a
proposition for refunding, which will, in
my Judgment, be in like manner entitled
to your favorable considera ion.
There is difference of opinion between
the United States and Great Britain, rs to
the boundary line of the Territory of WASH
ington, adjoining the British possessions
on the Pacific which has already led to
difficulties on the part Of the citizens and
local authorities Of the two Governments
/ recommend. that. provision be made fal
a commission, to be joined by one on the
part of Her Britanic Majesty, for tho pur
pose drumming and establishing the lin,
in controversy. Certain stipulations OF
the Sd and 4th articles of the treaty con
cluded by the United States and Grea
Britain, in 1846, regarding the possessory
rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and
property of the Puget's Sound Agricultur-
al Company, have given rise to serious
disputes, and it is important to all con.
cerned, that summary means of settling
them amicably should be devised. l have
reason to believe that an arrangement can
be made on just terms for the extinguish-
ment of the rights in question, embracing
also, the right of the Hudson's Bay Com
pany to the navigation of the river Colum-
bia: and l therefore suggest to your con
sideration the expediency of making con
tingent appropriation for that purpose.
France was the early and efficient ally
of the United States in their struggle fol
independence. From that time to The
present hour, with occasional slight inter
ruptions. cordial relations of friendship
have existed between the Government anC
people Of the two countries. The kindly
sentiments, cherished alike by both ma
tons, have led to extensive social anC
commercial intercourse, which, / trust vii
not be interrupted or checked by an,
casual event ofan apparently unsatisfacte
ry character. The French Consul at Sal
Francisco was, not long since, brought in
to the United States District Courtat tha
place, by compulsory process, as a witnes
in favor of another foreign consul, in vic
lation, as the French Government con
ceives, of his privileges under our consu
lar convention with France. Tlsere bein
/, nothing in thetransaction which could i'm
! !, ply any disrespect to France or its con
sui, such explanation has been made, as
hope will be satisfactory. Subsequently
misunderstanding arose on the subject {
the French Government having, as it az
peared, abruptly excluded the America
minister to Spain from passing throug
France, on his way from London to Ms
drid. But that Government has unequi
? vocally dsavowed any design to deny tn
right Of transit to the Minister Of the Uni
ted States; and, after explanations to thi
effect, he has resumed his journey, and ac
iually returned through France to Spair
herewith lay before Congress the CORES
r pondence on this subject between our Er
t yoy and Paris, and the Minister of Foreig
Relations Of the French Government
r The position Of our affairs with Spai
I remains as at the close Of your last sessio
\ Internal agitation, assuming very nearl
Z the character Of political revolution, Ia
1 recently convulsed that country. The lat
a Ministers were violently expelled fror
. power, and men, Of very different view
Y in relation to its internnl affairs, have sue
Q cceded. Sincethis change, therehas bee
!, no propitious opportunity to resume an
q press on negotiations for the adjusimef
n Of serious question Of difficulty betwee
\ the Spanish Government and the Unite
! States. There is reason to believe thi