Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-02

able consideration than would be proposition, to agree
not to accept the services of volunteers for operations
land When the honor rights of country require
it to assume hostile attitude it confidently relies upon
the patriotism of its citizens ordinarily devoted the
military profession to augment the army and the navy,
as to make them fully adequate to the emergency which
calls them into action The proposal to surrender the
right employ privateers is TOfessedy founded upon the
principle that private property of unOendng noncomba
ants though enemies should be exempt from the ravages
of but the proposed surrender goes but little way in
carrying out that principle, which equally requires that
such private property should not be seized or moesed nv
national ships Should the leading powers of Europe
concur In proposing as rule of international law to ex-
emP private property, upon the ocean, from seizure by
pupc armed cruisers as well by prvateers the United
States will readily meet them upon that broad ground
since the adjournment of Congress- the notifications of
the treaty between the United States and Great Britain
relative to fisheries and to reciprocal trade with the
brtsh North American Provinces have been exchanged
and some of its anticipated advantages are already enoyed
by u.s. although its full execution was to abide certain acts
Oh legislation not yet fully performed So soon as it was
raned Great Britain opened to commerce the free
navigation of the river st. Lawrence and to our fishermen
unmoesed access to the shores and bays from which thew
had been previously excluded 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 by British fish
ermen This being the compensation stipulated in the
treaty Tor privileges of the highest Importance and value
20 the United States which were thus voluntarily yielded
before became effective the request seemed to me to be
reasonable but it could not be acceded to- from want
authority to suspend our laws imposing duties upon all
foreign hsh In the mean time, the Treasury Department
issued regulation for ascerainng the duties paid Sc
cured by bonds on fish caught the coasts of the British
provinces and brought markets by British subjects
after the fishing grounds had been made fully accessible to
the citizens of the United States 1 recommend to your
favorable consideration proposition which will be sub
nltted to yOu for authority refund the duties and cancel
the bonds thus received The provinces of Canada and
New Brunswick have also anticipated the full operation of
tne treaty b legislative arrangements respectively to adj
% free OF duty the products of the United States
TONED IN the free list OF the treaty and arrangement
similar to that regarding British fish, has been made for
duties now cageabe the products of those provinces
enumerated in the free list and introduced thererom
INTO the United States proposition for reundng which
WILL nmy judgment, be in like manner entitled to your
favorable consideration
There difference opinion between the United States
and Great Britain as to the boundary line of the Territory
IL ashingon adjoining the British possessions the Pa
cc which has already lie to difficulties on the part of the
citizens and local authorities of the two governments
recommend that provision be made for commission to be
joined by on the part of her Britannia Majesty for the
purpose OF running and establishing the line in controversy
Certain stpaOns of the third and fourth articles of the
treaty concluded by the United States and Great Britain
In 1916 regarding pOssessOry rights of the HudsOns Bay
Company and property of the Pugets Sound Agricultural
Company have gwen rise to serious disputes and is i'm
pOrtant to all concerned that summary of settling
them amcaby should be devised have reason to believe
that an arrangement be made just TERMS for the
extnguishment of the rights in question: embracing ALSO
of the river Columbia and therefore suggest to your con-
sderatiOn the expedency of making contingent appro-
priaton 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 Interruptions cordial
relations OF friendship have existed between the govern
ments and people of the two countries The kindly sent
ments cherished alike by both nations have led to extern
sve social and commercial intercourse which, trust will
be interrupted checked by any casual event of an
apparently 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 witness in favor of another foreg CONSUL i'm
violation the French government conceves of his pr
yleges under our consular convention with Franc There
being nothing In the transaction which could imply any dis
respect to France or its consul such explanation has been
made hope will be satisfactory. Subsequently, mis-
understanding the subject of the French govern
ment having as 1t appeared abruptly excluded the Amer
can minister to Spain from passing through France his
way from London to Madrid. But that government has
unequvOcaly dsavowed any design deny the right of
transit to the minister of the United States and after ex
plantations to this effect he has resumed his Journey and
actually returned through France Spain 1 herewith
before Congress the correspondence on this subject be-
tween envoy at Paris and the minister of foreign re
lions of the French Government.
The position of affairs with Spain remains as at the
close of your last session. Internal agitation assuming
very nearly the character of political revolution has re-
Gently cOnvulsed that country The late ministers
violently expelled from power and of very different
views in relation its internal affairs have succeeded
Since this change there has been prOptOus opportunity
and press negotiations for the adjustment of
serious questions of difficulty between the Spanish govern
ment and the United States There reason believe
that minister will find the present government more
vOraby inclined preceding comply with lust
demands and to make suitable arrangements for restoring
harmony and preserving peace between the countries
Negotiations pending with Denmark to discontinue
the practice of evyng tolls vessels nd their car
goes passing through the Sound do doubt that we
can claim exemption therefrom, matter of right 1t
is admitted all hands, that this exactiOn is sanctioned
by the general principles of the law of nations but only
BY special conventions which of the commercial ma
tions have entered into with Denmark The fifth article
of our treaty of 1896 with Denmark provides that there
shall be paid the vessels of the United States and
their cargOes when passing through the Sound higher duties
than those of the favored nations This may be re-
garded implied agreement submit the tolls DUR
ing the continuance of the treaty. and consequently may
embarrass the assertion of right be released there
from There also other provisions in the treaty which
ought to be modified 1t remain in force for ten
years. and until year after either party should give
tee the other of intention to terminate it, deem it
expedent that the contemplated notice should be given
the government of Denmark.
The naval expedition despatched about years since
for the purpose of establishing relations with the empire
of Japan has been ably and skfully conducted
cessf termination by the officer to whom it entrusted
treaty. opening certain of the ports of that pOpulous
country has been negotiated and in order give full eff
feet thereto it only remains exchange ratcatons and