The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-13

greater extent, and more exposed con
dition Of our widespread commerce
would give any Of them like advantag,
pover us.
The proposition to enter into engage
ments to forego resort to privaleers, il
case this country should be forced int
war with great naval power is not en-
titled to more favorable consideration thar
would be proposition to agree not tc
accept the services Of volunteers for oper
atoms on land. When the honor or the
rights Of our country requires it to assume
a hostile attitude,it confidently relies upon
the patriotism Of its citizens, not ordinari
ly devoted to the military profession, to
augment the army and the navy, so as to
make them fully adequate to the emer.
gency which calls them into action. The
proposal to surrender the right to employ
Prlvateers is professedly founded upon the
principle, that private property of unof.
leading non on-combatants, though enemies
should be exempt from The ravages Of war;
but the proposed surrender goes but lit
Tie way in carrying out that principle,
which equally requires that such private
property should not be sized or molested
by national ships Of war. Should the
leading powers Of Europe cuncur in pro-
posing, as a rule Of international law, TO
exempt private property, upon the ocean,
from seizure by public armed cruisers, as
well As by privateers, the United States
will readily meet them upon that broad
ground.
Since the adjournment Of Congress, the
rat'ficatlons Of the treaty between the u
nlled States and Great Britain, relative to
coast tisheries,and to reciprocal trade witt,
the British North American provinces,
have been exchanged, and some of its
anticipated advantages are already en-
loyed by US, although its full execution
was to abide certain acts of legislation not
vet fully performed. So soon as it was
ratified, Great Britain opened to our com.
merce tile free navigation of the river ST.
Lawrence, and to our fishermen unmolest
eu access W tue snores anI Uays, nu,..
which they had been previously excluded,
on the coast OF her North American pro-
vnces; in return for which, she asked for
the introduction, free Of duty, into the
ports Of the United States, Of the ti,h
caught on the same coast by British fish,
ermen. This being the compensation,
stipulated by the treaty, for privileges of
the highes. Importance and value to the
United Sta es, which were thus yoluntari.
ly yielded before it became effective, the
request seemed to Inc to be reasonable
one; but it could not be acceded to. from
want OF authority to suspend our laws
imposing duties upon all foreign fish. In
the meantime the Treasury Department
ISSUED regulation, for ascertaining the
duties paid or secured by bonds on fish
caught on the coasts Of the British pro
vinces and brought TO our markets by
British subjects, after the fishing grounds
had been made fully accessible to the citi.
zens Of the United States. recommend
toyour favorable consideration a PROPOSE.
ton, which will be submitted to YOU, for
authority to refund the luties and cancel
tue bonds thus received. The provinces
of Canada and New Brunswick have also
anticipated the full operation Of the treaty
by legislative arrangements, respectively
to admit, free Of duty; the products of the
United States mentioned in the free list
of the treaty; and an arrangement, simi-
lar TO that regarding British fish has been
made for duties now chargeable on the
products OF those prov noes enumerated in
The same free list, and introduced there
from into the United States; proposition
for refundng wlic will, in my judgment
be in like manner entitled to your favor
able consideration.
There is difference Of opinion between
the United States and Great Britain as
TO the boundary line Of the Territory of
OF Washington adjoining the British
possessions on the Pacific, whic has already
led to difficulties on the part Of the citizens
and local authorities Of the two govern.
ments. | recommend that provision be
made for commission, to be joined by
one on the part Of her Britannia Majesty,
for the purpose drumming and establish
ing the line in controversy. Certain stip.
ulations Uf the third and fourth articles
Of the treaty concluded by the United
States and Great Britain in IS48, regard.
ing possessory rights Of the Hudsons Bay
Company, and property, have given rise
TO serious disputes, and il Is important to
all concerned, that summary means Of
settling them amicably should be devised.
| have reason to believe that an arrange
ment can be made on just terms, for the
ex,inguishment Of the rights in question,
embracing. also, the right VI the ludson's
Bay Company TO the navigation Of the
river Columbia; and therefore suggest to
your consideration, the expediency Of
making contingent appropriation for that
purpose.
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 interrup
lions, cordial relations Of friendship have
existed between the Governments and the
people Of the two countries The kindly
scntimen.s, cherished alike BY both ma
tons. have led to extensive social and
commercial intercourse, which ] trst, win
not be Interrupted Of checked by any css.
gal eyeHt of ~ apparently unsatisiactory.
The French conknl At 6np Francisco was,
nos long since, brought into the United