Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-12-14
VOLUME XI. NO. 81.

''"iuhg afose On the suD)ect OF the French
governments having, as it appeared, abruptly
excluded the American to Spain from passing
tnrongh France, on his way from London to
Madrid But that government has uneouiyocal-
ly disowned any design to DENY the RIGHT Of
transit to the minister of the United States
and, after explanations to this effect. he has re-
sumed his Journey ,and actually returned through
France to Spain. | herewith Law before Con.
gress the correspondence on this subject between
our envoy at Paris and the minister of foreign
relations of the French government Ta
The position OF o,ir affairs with Spain res
mains as at the close Of your last session. In
ternal agitation, assuming very nearly the char
acter OF political revolution, has recently con-
vulsed that country. The late ministers we're
violently oxpelled from power, and men of very
different views in relation to lis internal affairs
have succeeded. Since this change there has
been no propltuoas opportunity to resume and
press on negotiations tor the adjustment of se-
rioGs questions of difficulty between the Spanish
government and the United States. There is
reason to believe that our minister will find the
present government more layorably inclined
than the preceding to comply with our just de-
mands, and to make suitable arrangements for
restoring harmony and preserving peace between
the two countries. =
Negotiations arsnow pending with Denmark
to discontinue the practice Of levying tolls on
our vessels and their cargoes passing through
the Sound. do not doubt that we can claim
exemption therefrom, as g matter of right 1t
Is admitted, on all hands, that this exacton
sanctioned, not by the general principles Of the
law OF nations, but only by special conventions
which most of the commercial nations have en-
tered into with Denmark The fifth article of
our treaty of 1926, with Denmark, provides
that there shall not be paid, on the vessels of
the United States and their cargoes when pas
sing 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 during the continuance Of the treatye
and consequently may embarrass tho assertion Of
our right to be released thereir0m. There are
also other provisions in the treaty which ought
to be modified. 1t was to remain in force ten
years, and until one year after either party
should give notice tothe other of its intention
to terminate it. | deem it expedient that the
contemplated notice should be given to tho gov
ernment of Denmark
The naval expedition, despatched about two
years since for the purpose of establishing re-
lations with the empire Of Japan, has been
ably and skillfully conducted to successful ter
mnation by the officer to whom it was entrusted.
treaty. opening certain ports of that popu-
lous country, has been negotiated; and in order
to give full effect thereto, it only remains to
exchange ratifcations, and to adopt requisite
commercial regulations.
The treaty lately concluded between the Uni
ted states and Mexico settled. some of our most
embarrassing difficulties with that country, but
numerous claims upon it for wrongs and iniu
rics to our citizens remained unadjusted and
Jl.ll
former list of grievances. Our legation has
been earnest in its endeavors to obtain from
the Mexican government. u favorable consider
alton of these claims, but hitherto withouc sue
cess. This failure is, probably, in some measure
to be ascribcd to the disturbed condition of that
country 1t has been my anxious desire too
maintain friendly relations with the Mexican
republic, and to cause its rights and territories
to be respected not only by our citizens, but by
foreigners, who have res0rted to the United
States for the purpose Of organizing hostile ex-
peditions against some OF the States of that Re-
public. The defenseless condition, in which it's
frontiers have been left, has stimulated adgen.
turers to embark in these enterprises, and great
y increased the difficulty of enforcing our obli-
cations of neutrality. Regarding it as my SOL
clnn duty to fulfill efficiently, these obligations,
not only towards Mexico, but other toreignns ma
r tions, | have exerted all the powers with which
l | am invested to defeat such criminal proceed
ings, and bring to punishment those who, by
taking part therein, violated our laws The
+ energy and activity OF oar civil and military
authorities, have frustrated the designs of those
. who meditated expeditions of this character, II
cept in two instances One Of these, compos.
r of foreigners, was at first couDtonanced and
aided by the Mexican government itself, it hav-
: ng been deceived rs to their real object. The
: other, small in number, cludod the vigilance Of
t the magistrates Of San Francisco, and succeeded
: in reaching the Mexican territories but the e(-
Il fectiye measures takea by this government COM
y pletod the abandonment of the undertaking.
3 The commission to establish the new'ne be-
II tween the United States and Mexico, according
y to the provisions OF the treaty Of the Both OF
y December last, has been organized and the work
) already commenced.
;, Our treaties with the Argentine Conledera.
ton, and with the Republics of Uruguay and
i Paraguay, secure to us the free navigation OF
:. the river La Plata, and some Of its larger tri-
4 butaries but the same success has not attend
- ed our endcavors to open the Amazon. The
e reasons in favor of the free OF that river
:. had occasion to present fully, in former mes
sage; and, considering the cordial relations
i which have long existed between this govern
!, mcnt and Brazil, it may be expected that pend
i ing negotiations will, eventually, reach tsvor-
;, able result
- Convenient means of transit, between the
, several parts of q country, arc not only desira-
- bic for the objects Of commercial and personal
= communication, but essential to its existencs
10 under one government. Separated as are the
, Atlantic and Pacific coasts'of the United State.
by the whole breadth of the continent, still the
:, inhabitants OF each are closely hound togethe,
~ by community Of origin and institutions, and
y by strong attachment to the Onion. Hence the
:. strong and increasing intercourse, and vast 10,
u terchange of commercial productions, between
:, these remote divisions OF the Repablic. At the
4 present time, the most practicable and only coin
- modions route fur communications lassween- then
are by the wayof the IsthlGus Of Central Amer
!, ica 1t is the duty of the government to Sc
- cure these ayeraes against all danger and in
. terruption. g
~ ~ In relation ia Central America, perplexin;
:, questions existed between the United States ant
= Great Britain at the timeof the cossion Of Cal
:, itornia Thesa, as well as questions which sub
80 20 seqaently arose CONCERNING inter-ocesnic com
:. muneation across the isthmus, were, as it WA
10 10 supposed, adjusted by the treaty of April 10
= ~ 1850; but, unfortunately, they have been re
Il opened by serious misunderstanding as TO tn
u. u. import of some of its provisions, a readjust
VI ment of which is now under consideration
Our minister at London has made strenuous ef
ie orts to accomplish this desirable object but hs
u not found ii possible to bring the negotiation
~ a termination.
I'd AS incidental to these questions, | deem
n proper to notice an occurrence which happene
We in Central America, near the close of the la,
r. session OF Congress. So soon as the necessit
ed was perceived of establishing intor-oceanic con
It. munications across the lsthmus, company W,
H. organized. under the State of Nicaragua, b,
ht composed for the most part, Of citizens of IL
at United States, for the purpose of opening sue
IL. =