Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-12-19


-nt5J 9at }e e1edas >@on. Ii'v 2as 'tai shg.t
.ig8 III sa.ta ie1auaoa BE- fi Y .Lge
lay before Congress the correspondence on THU
subject between our envoy at Paris, and the Min.
lister Of foreign relations Of the French govern.
ment.s9a f-sN .lshaoCt zhH 50 tsrf EHE SsG.
The position of our affairs with Spain remains
a. at the close Of your last session., Internal
agitation assuming very nearly the character Of
political revolution, has recently convulsed that
country. The late ministers were violently ex-
PEELED from power, and men of different views in
relation to its internal affairs have succeeded
Since this change there has been no propitioua
opportunity to resume, and press on, negotiations
for the adjustment of serious questions of diff
Guilty between the Spanish government and the
United States. There is reason to believe that
our Minister will find the present government
more fayorably inclined than the preceding to
comply with our just demands and to make suita-
BILE arrangements for restoring harmony and pre-
serving peace, between the two countries.
Negotiations are pending with Denmark to dis
continue the practice OF levying tolls on our ves-
sells and cargOes passing through the Sound.
do not doubt that we can claim exemption there
from, as matter of right. 1t is admitted on all
hands, that this exaction is sanctioned, not by
the general principles of the law of nations, but
VAAy W CPOOsoA VVuvOuvlOAo WuAVA ADOot VI tuc
commercial nations have entered into with Den
mark. The fifth article Of our treaty Of 1928,
with Denmark, provides that there shall not be
paid on the vessels Of the United States and their
cargoes when passing through the Sound higher
duties than those of the most favored nations
This may be regarded as an implied agreement to
submit to the tolls DUNG the continuance of the
treaty, and consequently, may embarass the as
sertion of our right to be released therefrom. -
YYov0 oil okh ssnk kbok
which ought to be modified. It was to remain in
force for ten years, and until year after eth
er party should give notice to the other Of inten-
tion to terminate it. deem it expedient that the
contemplated notice should be given to the gov
ernment of Denmark. i z..e,s ~ : ,,.
The naval expedition, dispatched two years
since for the purpose of establishing relations
with the Empire Of Japan, has been ably and
skillfully conducted to a successful termination
by the officer to whom it was intrasted. A treaty,
opening certain of the ports of that populous
country, has been negotiated; in order to give full
effort thereto, it only remains to exchange ratif-
cations. 1t
Tho treaty lately concluded between the U. S.
and Mexico settled some of our most embarrass-
ing difficulties with that country, but numerous
claims upon it for wrongs and injuries to our cit
izens remain unadjusted, and many new cases
have been recently added to our former list of
endeavors to obtain from the Mexican govern
ment favorable consideration 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 relations with the Mexican republic, and
to cause its rights and territories to be respected
have resOrted to the United States for the pur-
pose of organizing hostile expeditions against
some of the States of that Republic. The de-
fenceless condition in which its frontiers have
been left, has stimulated lawless adventurers to
embark in these enterprises, and greatly increased
the difficulty Of enforcing our obligations of neu-
trality. Regardingit as my duty to fulfill these
obligations, not only toward Mexico, but other
foreign nations. l have exerted all the powers
with which am invested, to defeat such criminal
proceedings, and bring to punishment those who,
by taking part therein, violated our laws. The
energy and activity of our civil and military
authorities have frustrated the designs of those
who meditated expeditions of this character, ex.
cept in two instances. One of these, composed
of foreigners, was at first countenanced and aid
ed by the Mexican Government itself, it having
been deceived as to its real object. The other
small in number, eluded the vigilance Of the
magistrate at San Francisco, and succeeded in
reaching the Mexican territories. But the effec.
tive measures taken by this government compell-
cd the abandonment Of the undertaking.
The commission to establish the new line be-
tween the United States and Mexico, according to
the provisions of the treaty of the seth of De-
cember last, has been organized, and the work
has already commenced.
Our treaties with the Arg sentine Confederation
and with the Republics of Uragua and Paragua
secure to US the free navigation of the river La
Plata, and some of our larger tributaries but
the same success has not attended our endeavors
to open the Amazon. 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
favorable result.
Convenient means Of transit, between the sev.
eral parts of the country, are not only desirable
for the objects of commercial and personal com.
munication, but essential to its existence under
our government, separated as are the Atlantic anG
Pacific coasts of the United States by the whole
breadth of the continent, still the inhabitants Of
each are closely bound together by community Of
to the Union. Hence the constant and increasing
intercourse and vast interchange of commercial
productions, between these remote divisions of tn,
Republic. At the present, time the most practi
cable and only commodious routes for communi
cation between them are by the way of the 18th
mus of Central America. 1t is the duty of th'
government to secure these avenues against al
danger of interruption. -,
In relation to Central America, perplexin,
questions exist between the United States an(
Great Britain at the same time of the ccssion o.
California, these, as well as questions whicl
subsequently arose concerning inter-oceanic com.
munication across the lsthmus, were, as it wa
supposed. adjusted by the treaty of April 10
1850 but, unfortunately, they have been re-
opened by serious Misunderstanding as to the i'm
port .. some or Its provisions, a re-aoJustment o.
which is now under consideration. Our Minister
at London has made strenuous efforts to accom-
plish this desirable object, but has not vet fount
it possible to bring the negotiations to ternn
alton. s cecF rs
As incidental to the questions, deem it prop
er to notice an occurrence which happened Il
Central America, near the close of the last ses
sion Of Congress. So soon as the necessity wa
perceived of establishing inter-oceanic communi
cations across the Isthmus, a company was or
ganixed, under the authority Of the State of Mica
ragua, composed for the most part of citizens o.
the United States, for the purpose Of openin,
such transit way, by the river San Juan and LAX
Nicaragua, which soon became an eligible ant
much used route in the transportation of ou
citizens and their property between the Paci6'
and the Atlantic. - -. =
Meanwhile, and in anticipation OF the compile
ton and importance Of this transit way, mum
Der Of adventurcrs had taken possession of tn,
old Spanish port at the mouth Of the river Sas
Juan, in open defiance Of the State or States
Central America, which, upon their becoming in
dependent, had rightfully succeede: to the loca
sovereignty and jurisdiction Of Spain. These cd