Washington telegraph., 1854-12-27

NSuHtcelS ioI OptTdtlOuS Oh lanu. w men
the honor or the rights of our country require
it to assume hostile attitude. it confidently
relies upon the patriotism of its citizens, no,
ordinarily devoted to the military profession,
to augment the army and navy, so as tc
make them fully adequate to the emergency
which calls them into action The proposal
to surrender the right to employ privateers
is professed upon the principle that private
property Of unofepding non-combattants,
though enemies, should be exempt from the
ravages of war but the proposed surrender
goes but little way in carrying out that prin-
ciple. which equally requires that such pri-
vate property should not be seized or mo-
Tested by national ships of war; Should
the leading powers of Europe concur in
proposing, as a rule Of international law, to
exempt private property, upon the ocean,
from seizure by public armed cruisers,
as well as by priva:eers, the United States
will readily meet them upon that broad
ground.
Since the adjournment of Congress. the
ratification of the treaty between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain, relative to
the coast fisheries. aud to reciprocal trade
with the British North American provinces,
have been exchanged. and some Of its antic-
ipated advantages are already enjoyed by
us, although its full execution was 20 abide
certain acts of legislation not yet fully per-
formed. So soon as it was ratified, Great
Britain opened to our commerce the free
navigation of the river st. Lawrence, and
to our fishermen unmolested access to the
shores and bays. from which they had been
previously excluded on the coast of her n =.
American provinces; in return for which
she asked for the introduction, free of duty,
into the ports of the United States, of the
fish caught on the same coast by the British
fishermen. This being the compensation
stipulated in the treaty, for privileges of the
highest importance in value to the United
States, which were thus voluntarily yielded
before it became effective, the request SEEM
ed to DC a reasonable enc; but it could not
be acceded to, from want Of authority to
suspend our laws imposing duties upon all
foreign fish. In the meantime. tho Treasu-
ry Department issued a resolution for ascer-
tanning the duties paid or secured by bonds
on fish caught on the coasts of the British
provinces, aud 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
TO your favorable consideration proposition
which will be submitted to you, for authori-
ty to refund The duties end cancel the bonds
thus received. The provinces of Canada
and New Brunswick have also anticipated
the full operation of the treaty by legisla-
tive arrangements. respectively, admit free
OF duty the products of the United States,
mentioned in the free list of the treaty, and
an arrangement similar to that regarding
British fish, has been made for duties now
chargeable on The products of those provinces
enumerated in the same free list, and intro
duced therefrom into the United States:
proposition for refunding which will in my
Judgment, be in like manner entitled to
yonr favorable consideration.
There is difference of opinion between
the United States and Great Britain. as to
the boundary line of the Territory of Wash
ington, adjoining the British possessions on
the Pacific. which has already led to diff
culties on the part of the citizens and local
authorities of the two governments. re-
commend that provision be made for CON-
mission, to be joined by one on the part of
her Britanic Majesty, for the purpose of
running and establishing the line in contro.
versy. Certain stipulations of the third
and fourth articles of the treaty concluded
by the United States and Great Britain in
1876. regarding possessory rights of the
Hudson's Bay Company. and property of
the Pugets Sound Agricultural Company,
have given rise to serious disputes, and it is
important to all concerned, that summary
means of settling them amicably. should be
devised. | have reason to believe that an
arrangement can be made on Just terms, for
the extingashment of the rights in question:
embracing also the right of the Hudson's
Bay Company to the navigation of the river
Columbia and therefore suggest to your
consideration. the expediency of making
a contingent appropriation. for that pur-
pose.
France was the early and efficient ally of
the United States in their struggle for in.
dependence. From that time to the pre-
sent, with occasional slight interruptions
cordial relations of friendship have existed
between the governments and citizens 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 or
checked by any casnal event of an appa.
rently unsatisfactory character The French
consul at San Francisco was, not long since.
brought into the United States District
Court at that place, by compulsory process.
as witness in favor of another foreign con-
sui. in violation, as the French government
conceives, of his privileges under our con-
sular convention with France. There be.
ing nothing in the transaction which could
iuplv any Cis sreSppct IN Eropoo 80 L..