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

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claim exemption therefrom, as matter of
tight 1t is admitted on all hands, that
Ihis exaction is sanctioned, not by the gen.
sfel principles of the laws of nations, but
2Ily by special convention which most Of
f@ commercial nations have entered into
with Denmark. The fifth article of our
treaty Of 1926, with Denmark provides,
tlat there shall not be paid, on the vessels
oEthe U. States and their cargoes when
pabsing through the Sound, higher duties
tl n those of the favored nations. This
laS be regarded as an implied agreement
to The tolls during the continu-
affe ofthe treaty, and, consequently, may
6lkbarrass the assertion Of our right to be
In9difed. 1t was to remain in force for
tel years, and until one year after either
patty should give notice should be given
q BE Government of Denmark.
( he naval expedition, dispatched about
t,sa years since for the purpose Of estab-
Using relations with the empire ofJapan,
haS been ably and skillfully conducted to
Q sccessful termination by the officer to
whom it was entrusted. A treaty, open
ind pertain Of the ports of that populous
country, has been negotiated; and in or
deTto give full effect thereto, it only re-
mains to exchange ratifcations, and adopt
requisite commercial relations.
The treaty lately concluded between the
United States and Mexico settled some OF
ours most embarrassing difficulties with
that country, but numerous claims upon il
far wrongs and injuries to our citizens re-
NAMED unadiusted. and many new cases
have been recently added TO the former list
of grievances. Our Legislation has been
earnest iaits endeavors to obtain from the
Mexicaf Government favorable consider.
alton Of these claims, but hitherto without
success. This failure is, probably, in some
measure to be ascribed to the disturbed
condition of that country. 1t has been
my anxious desire to maintain friendly re-
lations with the Mexican republic, and to
cause its rights and territories to be respec.
ted, not only by our citizens, but by for
eigners, who have resorted to the United
States for the purpose Of organizing hos.
tile expeditions against. some of the States
of thht Republic, The defenceless condi
ton n which its frontiers have been left
have stimulated lawless adventurers tc
embark in these enterprises, and great,
inceased the difficulty of enforcing ou
Obligations of neutrality. Regarding it a
my Solemn duty to fulfil, efficiently thos
obligations, not only toward Mexico, bu
] othef .fofeisn ratiens, / lra~oxcxertedas
the powers with which am invested t
defeat such criminal proceedings, an
bringing to punishment those who, b
taking part therein, violated our laws. I'll
energy and activity of our civil and mil
tary authorities have frustrated the d.
sighs of those who meditated expedition
of this character, except in two instances
One of these composed of foreigners, wa
at first countenanced and aided by tn
Mexican government itself, it having bee
deceived as to their real object. The othe
small in numbers, eluded the vigilance @
the magistrates at San Francisco, and sue
ceeded in reaching the Mexican territories
but he effective measures taken by thi
government compelled the abandonment Q
undertaking.
The commission to establish the ney
line between the United States and Mex
co, according To the provisions Of the trea
ty of the 30th of December last, has bee
organized, and the work is already com
menced.
Our treaties with the Argentine Can
federation, and with the Republicsof Uru
guao and Paraguay, secure to us the FIRE
navigation of the river La Plata, and som
of its larger tributaries; butthe same sue
cess has not attended our endeayors I
open the Amazon. The reasons in fave
Of the free use of the river, | had occasio
to present fully, ina former message; an
considering the cordial relations whic
have long existed between this governmer
ond Brazil, it may be expected that penC
ing negotiations will, eventually, reach
favorable result.
Convenient means of transit, betwee
the several parts of a country, are not onl
desirable for theobjects Of commercial an
personal communication, but essential
: its existence under one government, Sci
arated as are the Atlantic and Pacific Goa
of the United States by the while breadt
of the continent, still the inhabitants ofeac
are closely bound togetherby community
origin and institutions. and by strong attacl
ment to the Union. Hence the co.istaI
and increasing intercourse, and vast int
change of commercial productions, bt
, tween these remote divisions ofthe Repul
lie. At the present time, the most pra'
ticable and only commodious routes f
communication between them are by Il
way of the Isthmus to Central Americ'
It is the duty Of the government to secuI
these avenues against all danger Of inte
ruption.
i In retaliation to Central America, pc
! picking questions existed between Il
! United States and Great Britain at the tin
of the cession Of California. These
well as questions which subsequently, aro'
} concerning inter-oceanic communicate
across the Isthmus, were, as It was SUI
! posed. adjusted by the treaty Of April 1!
n 1850; but, unfortunately, they have r
j opened by serious Misunderstanding
Ithe import Of some Of its provisions; r
I adjustment of which is now under consil
j Grafton. Our minister at London has maj
1 strenuous efforts TO accomplish this desir
T bic object, but has not yet found it poss