Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-12-15

apparent obstacle to their general adoption is
in the possibility, that it may be oncumbcrcd
Ivy inainiisshlo conditions.
The King Of tho Two Sicilcs has expressed
to our Minister at Naples his readiness to
concur in our proposition relative to neutral
rights, aud to enter into a convention on that
subject
The King OF Prussia entirely approves Of
the project Ola treaty to the samo effect, sub
mitted to him, but proposes an additional
article providing for the remuneration of
privatecring. such an article, for most OBJ
yious reasons, is much desired by nations hav-
ing naval establishments, large in proportion
to their foreign commerce. lfit wers adopt
ed AS an international rule, the commerce of
nation having comparatively a small naval
force, would he very much at the mercy Of
its enemy in Of war with power of de-
cidci naval superiority. The bare statement
of the condition in which the United States
would bo placed, after having surrendered
the right to resort to privatcers, in the event
Of war with "A bclligorcnt of naval supremacy,
Will show that this Government could never
listen to such a proposition. Tho navy OF
tho hrst mara time power in Europe is at least
ten times as large rs that Of the United
States. The foreign commerce of the two
countries Is nearly equal and about equally
exposed to hostile dcprcditions. In war be-
tween that country and the United States.
without resort on our part to our mercantile
marine, the means of our enemy to inflict
injury upon our commerce would be tenfold
greater than ours to retniate. We could not
extricate our country from this unequal CON
dition, with snch an enemy, unless we at
once departed from our present peaceful poll
cy, and became great naval power. Nor
would this country be better situated in
war with one Of the secondary naval powers.
Though the naval disparity would be less. the
greater extent. and moro exposed condition
of our widespread commerce. would rive
any ui them II like advantage over us.
rRivATrERs
The proposition to enter into gagemcnts
to forcgo resort to privatcers, in case this
country should be forced into war with
great naval power, is not entitled to more IA
vorablc consideration than would be a propo-
sition, to agree not to accept the services of
volunteers for operation on land. When the
honor or the rights of our country require it
to assume hostile attitude it confidently
relies upon the patriotism of it's citizens. not
ordinarily devoted 10 the military profession.
to augment the army and navy, so as to ma kr
them fully adequate to the emergency which
calls them into action. The rrorosnl TO
surrender the right to cmploy priyat,crs is
protesscdv founded upon the principlc.
that private property Of unofrnding non
combatants. though enemies, should be cx
cmpt from the ravages OF war: but the pro-
posed surrender goes but little way in car
ryinS out that principle, which equally re.
quircs that such private property should not
be seized or mUlestcd by national ships of
war. Should the leading powers of Europc
concur in proposing, as a rule of internation-
al law, to exempt private property, upon the
ocean, from seizure by public armed cruizurs
well Us by privatecrs, the United States
will readily meet them upon that broad
ground,
RECIPROCITY TREATY.
Since the adjournment of Congress. tl,e
rdtiticutons of the treaty between the [ nit,d
States and Great Britain, relative to coast
fisheries, and to reciprocal trade with the
British North American provinces, have
been exchanged and some of its apticinated
advantages are nlrendv en;,v,d hvus .ltb,'
it's full execution WAS to abide certain nets
Of legislation not yet fully ,crsor,nrJ So
+ it was ratified. Great Britain onencd
to our commerce the free navigation of the
river st. Lawrence. and to our fishermen un-
molcstcd access t. the shores and bavr from
which they had boon previously excluded. on
the coasts Of her North American provinces
i'll return for which, she asked for tho intro
duction, free OF duty. into the ports of the
United States, Of the fish caught on the same
coast by British fishermen This being the
compensation stipulated IN the treaty, TOR
Pr,'ileses OF the highest Importance and
value 10 the nitod States, which we're thus
Voluntarily yielded before 1T became effective,
.he re4u3 81 seemed to me to he reasonable
one Out u could not be acceded to, from
want OF authority to suspend our laws impo-
sing uuties upon all foreign hsh. In the
meantime, the Treasury Department issued
regulation, for ascertaining tho duties paid
or secured by bonds ON hsh caught on the
COASTS OF the British provinces, and brought
70 on. markets by British subjects, after
the hshing-Srounds had been made fully ac-
GesSible to the citizens of the United States.
recommend 10 your favorable consideration
proposition, which will he submitted to
you, for authority to refund tho duties and
cancel the bonds thus received. The pro.
vinces of Canada and New Brunswick have
also anticipated the full operation of the
treaty, by legislative arrangements. respect
ivelv. to admit, free of duty, the products of
the | nlted States mentioned in the free list
OF thr treaty; and an arrangement, similar
to that regarding British iish, has been made
for duties now chargeahle on the products of
those provinces enumerated in the same free
list, and introduced thrrclrom into the United
o.n,'. proposition ior relundng which
VII VIII IN my judgement be in like manner en-
'''''" 10 your "Vorab!" consideration.
BRITISH norNp,RIes
There is difference of opinion between the
nit"d States and Great Britain, as to the
boundary line of the Territory of Washing
ton adjoining the British possessions ON the
Pacific, which has already lead to difficulties
on th" part "l tn" citizens and local authori-
| ties Of the two Governments | recommend
/ r.,
/ be joined by one on the part of hcr Britanic
Majesty. for tn" purpose Of running and es-
tahlismng IT." lne in controversy. Certain
stipulations Of the third and fourth articles
of the treaty concluded by the United States
and Great Britain in 1876, regarding posses
sory rights of ,Ir IIud'p"'o Day Co"r""y,
ana property OF the PGget's Sound Agricul-