Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-12-09


could never listen to such proposition. The navy Of
the first maritime Power in Europe is at least ten times
large that Of the United States The foreign com
Of the two countries Is nearly equal, and about
equally exposed TO hostile depredatons lnw between
that Power aud the United States without resort
part to mercantile marine the means of enemy to
nct injury upon our commerce would be tentod greater
than retaate We could not extrcate our coun
try from this unequal condition. with such enemy
less departed from present peaceful poll
cy and became great naval Power. Nor would this
country be better situated in with OF the second
airy naval Powers Though the naval disparity would be
less the greater extent and exposed condition of
widespread commerce would give any OF them like
advantage over US.
The proposition to enter into engagements to forego
sort to prvateers in this country should be forced
into with great naval Power is NOT entitled TO more
favorable consideration than would be proposition to
agree not accept the services Of volunteers for opera
tons land When the honor the rights OF our coun
try require il hostile attitude it confidently
relies upon the patriotism of its citizens, not ordinarily
devoted to the military profession, to augment the army
and the navy to make them fully adequate to the
emergency which calls them into action. The proposal
to surrender the right employ pryateers is proessed
y founded upon the principle that private property Of
offending non-combatant though enemies, should be ex
emp from the ravages Of but the proposed surrsn
der goes but little way in carrying out that prncpe
which equally requires that such private property should
not be seized molested by national ships of war
Should the leading Powers of Europe in proposing
rule of international law to exempt private property
upon the ocean from seizure by public armed cruisers
well by prvateers, the United States will readily meet
them upon that broad ground
Since the adjournment of Congress the ratfcatons Of
the treaty between the United States and Great Brian
relative coast fisheries and to reciprocal trade with
the British North American provinces, have been
changed and Of its anticipated advantages are al
ready enjoyed by u.s. although its full execution was to
abide certain acts of Legislation not yet fully performed
SO it ratified Great Britain opened to our
the free navigation of the river ST. Lawrence
and to fishermen unmoesed access TO the shores and
bays from which they had been previously excluded on
the coasts Of her North American provnces in return
for which she asked for the introduction, free OF duty
into the ports of the United States of the fish caught
the same coast by British fishermen. This being the
compensation stipulated in the treaty. for privileges of
the highest importance and value to the United States
which thus voluntarily yielded before it became ef
fectve the request seemed to to be reasonable
but it could not be acceded to from want Of authority to
suspend laws imposing duties upon all foreign hsh
In the time the Treasury Department issued re-
guaton for ascertainng the duties paid or secured by
bonds fish caught the coasts OF the British pro-
vnces and brought to markets by British subjects
after the fishing grounds had made fully accessible to
the citizens Of the United States recommend to your IA
vorabe consideration proposition which will be sub
ted 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 opera
ton of the treaty by legislative arrangements respec
lively admit free of duty the products of the United
States mentioned in the free list of the treaty. and
arrangement similar to that regarding British hsh has
been made for duties chargeabe on the products OF
those provinces enumerated in the same free list and in
troduced thererom into the United States proposition
for refunding which wi in my judgment, be in like
manner entitled to your favorable consideration.
There is difference Of opinion between the United States
and Great Britain the boundary line OF the Territory
of Washington adjoining the British possessions on the
Pacific, which has already led to difficulties the part
of the citizens and local authorities of the two Govern
ments. recommend that provision be made for COM
mission to be joined by the part of her Britannia
Majesty for the purpose of running and establishing the
line in controversy Certain stpuatons of the third and
fourth articles of the treaty concluded by the United
States and Great Britain in 1885, regarding possessory
rights Of the Hudsons Bay Company and property Of
the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company have given rise
to serious disputes, and il is important to all concerned
that summary means of settling them amicably should
be devised. have to believe that an arrange
ment be made just terms for the extngushment
of the rights in question: embracing also, the right of
the Hudsons Bay Company to the navigation of the river
Columbia and therefore suggest 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 the present with occasional slight interruptions,
cordial relations of friendship have existed between the
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 checked by any casual
event of apparently unsatisfactory character The
French Consuat San Francisco not long since brought
into the United States district court at that place by
pu!sory witness favor OF another foreign
consul in violation the French Government couceiyes
of his privileges under consular convention with
France. There being nothing in the transaction which
could imply any dsrespec TO France or its Consul such
explanation has been made hope will be satisfactory
Subsequently misunderstanding the subject of
the French Government having as II appeared abruptly
excluded the American Minister Spain from passing
through France his way from London to Madrid; but
that Government has unequvocay disavowed any design
to deny the right of transit to the Minister of the United
States and after explanations to this effect he has
sumed his journey and actually returned through France
Spain. herewith lay before Congress the correspon
dence this subject between Envoy Paris and the
Minister of Foreign Relations OF the French Government
The position of our affairs with Spain remains Us at
the close of your last session Internal agitation,
sumng very nearly the character Of political revolution
has recently conyused that country The late Ministers
were violently expelled from power, and men of very
different views in relation to its internal affairs have
ceeded. Since this change there has been propous
opportunity and press 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 viii find the present
Government favoraby inclined than the preceding
to comply with just demands, and to make suitable
arrangements for restoring harmony and preserving peace
between the two countries.
Negotiations pending with Denmark to discontinue
the practice of levyng tolls vessels and their
goes passing through the Sound. do doubt that
we claim exemption therefrom matter Of right.
1t is admitted all hands that this exacon is sanction
ed not by the general principles of the law of nations
but only by special conventions which most of the
mercal nations hare entered into with Denmark. The
fifth article Of treaty of 1926 with Denmark provides
that there shall not be paid the vessels of the United
States and their cargoes when passing through the Sound
higher duties than those Of the most favored nations
hn INN IN