The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-14
Negotiations are pending with Denmark

q. Negotiations are pending with Denmark
to discontinue the practice of levying tolls
on our vessels and their cargocs passing
through the Sound. / do not doubt that
we can claim exemption therefrOm, as a
matter of right 1t is admitted on all
hands, that this exaction is sanctioned, not
by the general principles of the law of ma
tons, but only by special conventions which
most of the commercial nations have enter
cd into with Denmark. The fifth article
of our treaty of 1926, with Denmark, pro-
vides that there shall not be paitl on the
vessels of the United States and their car
goes when passing through the Sound high
err duties than those of the most favored
nations.
This may be regarded as an implied agree
mcnt to submit to the tolls during the contin-
uance of the treaty. and consequently, may
embarass the assertion of our right to be re-
leased thercfrom. There are also other pro-
visions in the treaty which ought to be mo,Ii-
fed 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 termi-
nate it. deem it eXpedient that the contenl-
plated notice should be given to the govern
ment of Denmar-.
The naval expedition, despatched about two
years since for the purpose of establishing re-
lations with tho Empire of Japan, has been
ably and skillfully conducted to successful
termination by the officer to whom it was III
trusted. n treaty, opening certain of the
ports OF that popnlous country, has been ncgo-
tiated in order to give full fleet thereto, il
70 al,
adopt requisite commercial regulations
The treaty lately concluded between the
United States and Mexico settled some OF
orr most embarrassing difficulties with that
country, but numerous claims upon it fol
wrongs and injuries to our citizens remain
ed unadjustcd, and many new cases have
been recently added to the former list of
grievances Our legation has Eccn earnest
in its cndcavors to obtain from the Mexican
government favorable consideration of
these Claims but hitherto without SUCCESS.
This failure is, probably, in some measure
to be ascribcd to the disturbed condition of
that country
1t has been my anxious desire to maintain friendly
relations with the Mexican rcpublic and to cause its
rights and territories to be respected, only by or
citizens but 10y foreigners, who have rcsorted to the
United States for the purpose of organizing hostile
expeditions against Of the States of that Repub
lie. The detcnceless condition in which its frontiers
have been left, has stimulated lawess adventures to
embark in these enterprises and greatly Increased tic
difficulty of enforcing obligations of neutrality
Regarding it my d,ty to fnif,' these obligations
not only toward Mexico, but otherloreign nations
l have excrtcd all the powers with wh;cl,
| am invested, to defeat such criminal pro
ccedings, and bring to punishment those
who, by taking part therein, violated our
laws. The energy aud activity of ON
civil and military authorities have frustrated
the designs Of those who meditated eXpc
ditiors of this character, except in two in
stances. One of these, composed of for
cigncrS was at first countcnanced and aided
by the Mexican Government itself it hay
ing been deceived as to its real object
The other, small in number, eluded the Wig.
lance of the magistrate at San Francisco
and succeeded in reaching tie Mexican ter
ritories. But the effective measures taken
Ly this Government compelled the aban.
donment of the undertaking.
The commission to establish the new line
between United States and Mexico, accor
ding to the provisions of the treaty of tho
30th of December last, has been OrganiZed
and the work has already commenced.
Our treaties with the Argentine Confc,l-
Grafton, and with the Republics of Urgua
and Paragua, secure to lis the free naviga-
ton of the river In Plata, and some Of its
larger tributaries; hut the same success has
not attended our cndcyors to open the AM
azon. The reasons in favor of the free use
of that river, had occasion to present fully
in former message; and, considering the
cordial relations which have long existed
between this government and Brazil, it may
be expected that pending negotiations will
eventually reach a favorable result
Convenient means of transit, between the
several parts of the country, arc not only de-
srable for the objects of commercial and per.
sOnal communication, but essential to its cXis-
tence under one government, separated as are
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United
States by the whole breadth of the continent
still the inhabitants of each arc closely bound
together by community of origin and institu.
tons, and by strong attachment to the Union
Hence the constant and increasing intercourse
and vast interchange of commercial produc
tions, between these remote divisions of the
Republic. At the present time, the most prac-
ticablc and only commodious routes for COM
munication between them arc by the way OF
the Isthmus of Central America. 1t is the
duty of the government to secure these ave-
nueS against all danger Of interruption.
In relation to Central America, pSrpleN.
ing questions existed between the United
States and Great Britain at the time of the
cession of California. These, as we'll as
questions which subsequently arose concern
ing inter-Occanic communication across the
lsthmus, were, as it was supposed, adjusted
10y the treaty of April 10, 1850; but un
fortunately, they have been re-opened by