Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-12-08

he hlnU OF TIE W. A0tCilitt HIS tx
pressed to our minister at Naples his readie
ness to concur in our proposition relative 10
neutral rights, and TO enter into a convention
on that subject.
The King Of Prussia entirely approves Of
the project of treaty to the same effect
submitted TO him, but proposes an additional
article providing for the remuneration OF
privateerng. Such an article, Tor most
obvious reasons, is much desired by nations
having naval Establishments, large in pro-
portion to their foreign commerce. If It
were adopted as an international rule, the
commerce of nation having compara,ivel y
small naval force would be very much at
the mercy of its enemy. IN case Of war with
power Of decided superiority. The bare
statement OF the condition in which the
United States would be placed, after having
surrendered the right to resort to pnvateers 10
the event of war with bellgerent Of naval
supremacy, viii show that this government
could never listen to such proposition.
The navy Of the first maritime power in
Europe IS at least ten times as large as that
of the United States. The foreign COM
mcrce Of the two countries is nearly cqulL
and about equally exp sed to hostile
depredations. Ia war between that power
and the United States without resort on our
part to our mercantile marine, the means OF
our enemy to intlict injury upon our com.
merce would be teniold greater than ours to
retaliate We could not exiricate our coun-
try from this unequal condition, with such
an enemy. unless we at once departed from
our present peaceful policy, and become n
great naval power. Nor would this country
be better situated in war with one ct the
secondary naval powers Though the naval
disparity would be less, the greater extent,
and more disposed condition OF our vide
spread commerce, would give any of them
ike advantage over rs.
The proposition TO enter into engagements
TO forego resort 10 prvateers, IN case tins
country should be forced into war with "a
preat naval power, is not entitled 10 moro
favorable consideration than would be prop
osition to agree not to accept the services Of
volunteers for operations on land When
the honor or the rights of our country re-
qnire it to assume hostile attitude, u con
fdenly relies upon the patriotism OF us cit
liens not ordinarily devoted to the military
profession to augment the army AMI the
navy, so as to make them fully adequate to
the emergency which calls them into acton.
I ne nfnph-IN ~ NlIlfHltT lit III w 10 iNll
ploy priviieers is prnfssscdly founded on the
principle, that private property Of unoifsnl-
ing non combatan,s, though enemies, shonld
be exempt from the ravages of war; bat the
proposed surrender goes but LILLE way in
carrying out that principle whish equally re.
qulres that such private property should not
be seized or moestcd by national ships of
war. Should the leading powers Of Europe
concur in proposing as a rule of lnternltlon-
al law, to exempt private property upon the
ocean from seizure by public 1rHcd cruisers
as well as by privatecrs, the United States
will readily meet them upon that broad
ground.
Since The adjournment Of Congress, the
ratications of the treaty between the UNI
ted States and Great Britain, relative to
coast lisehries, and reciprocal trade with the
British North American provinces, nave
been exchanged, and some OF its cnicipated
advantages are already enjoyed BY rs, al
though its full execution was to abide GER
tain acts Of legislation not yet fully per-
formed. So soon as il was ratified. Great
Britain opened to our commerce the free
navigation of the river 81. Lawrence, and To
our fishermen unmolestcd access to the
shores and bays, from which they had pre-
vously been excluded on the coasts of her
North American provinces; in return for
which, she asked for the introduction, free of
duty. into the ports Of the United S,atos, all
the fish caught on the same coast by British
fishermen. This being the compensation,
stipulated in the treaty, for privileges of the
highest Importance aud value to the Umted
States, which were thus voluntarily yielded
=. al.
ed to INC to be reasonable one; bat 1t
could not be acceded to, from want of uu
thority to suspend our laws imposing duties
upon all foreign fish.
In the meantime, the Treasury Depart
ment issued regulation, for asceriamng
the duties paid or secured by bonds on fish
caught on the coasts of the British province
and brough, to our markets by British sub
| jocts, after the fishing grounds had been
made fully accessible 10 the citizens of the
| United States. recommend to your favor
able consideration proposition, which vii
| be submitted TO YOU, for authority 10 refn
the duties and cancel the bonds thus receiv
ed. The provinces OF Canada aud New
Brunswick have also anticipated the fall op
Grafton of the treaty, by legislative arrange
ments, respectively, to admit free of duy
the products of the United States mcnion
toned IN the free let of the treaty aud AZ
arrangement similar 10 that regarding Brit
ish fish has been made for duties nov
chsrgeable on the products of those prov
inces enumerated IN the same tree list an.
introduced ihereirom into the United States
a proposition for refunding which will, IN nj
Judgment, be in like nanncr entitled TO YOU
favorable consideration.
There is difference of opinion between ihr
United Statos and Great Britain, as TO III
boundary line Of the Territory of Washing
ton adjoining the British POSSESSIONS IN III,
Pacific, which has already led Ia dfficulue
on the part of the citizens and local aulhori
lies of The two governments recommenl
+ that provisions be made for a commission, 1
be joined by one on the part of her Britanm
Majesty, for the purpose Of running an
establishing the line in controversy. Certil
stipulallons of the third and fourth articles a
the treaty concluded by the United State
, and Great Britain in 1916. regarding pps
sessory rights Of the Iiudson's Bay Company
have given rise to serious disputes, and II !
important to all concerned. that snmmar
Of setting them amicably should be devised
| have reason to believe, that an arrange
ment can be made on just terms, for the OK
tiEguishment of the rights in question, en-
bracing, also the right of the lludson's Bu
Company to the navigation of the river Col
umbla and therefore suggest to your con
sideration, the eXpedieney of making con
tingent appropriation for tina, purpose.
France was the early aud efficient ally o
the United States in their struggle for IN le
pendence From that time 10 the present
/, with occasional slight interruptions, corda
relations Of friendship have existed between
the governments and people Of the twt
countrie =. The kindly sentiments, cherish
cd alike by both nations, have led 10 cXtcn
sive social and commercial intercourse
which, rust, will not be interrupted OF
checked by any casual event OF an applrent
ly unsatisfactory character. The Fri nci
consul at San Francisco was. not long since
brought into the United States District
Court at that place, by compulsory profess