Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-12-09

having naval establishments large in proportion to
their foreign commerce. Fit were adopted as an
international rule, the commerce of nation having
comparatively small naval force would be very
much at the mercy of its enemy in case OF war with
a power If decided naval superiority. Ihls bare
statement of the condition in which the Unlted
States would be PLACED after having stirrendercd the
right to resort to prvateers in the event OF war with
belkgc4<.lt 1T naval Supremacy will sno% tnat th'S
government could listen to such proposition.
The navy df the first maritime powcs IN Europe Is
at least ten times as large IS that OF the unttea
States The foreign ,comhtcr-c tthe two countries
is nearly equal, and about equally exposed TO nos,
tile depredations. In war between that power an"
the United SttG without resort on our part 10 our
mercantile marine, the means OF our enemy 10 IN
lict injury upon commerce would be tenioia
greater thac ours to rcaiiate. We could not exti-
cate our country from this unequal condition. Win
such an enemy, unless at once departed from our
present peaceful policy, and became a 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 great
or extent and more exposed condition OF our vide
spread commerce, would give any OF them like au
vantage over
The proposition to enter into engagements to fore
go resort to privateers in case this country should
be forced into with great naval power, IS not
entitled to favorable consideration than would
he proposition to agree not to accept the services
of volunteers for operations on land when the non
or or the rights ofour country require it to assume
hostile attitude it confidently relies upon the patr
military profession, to augment the army and the
navy, so as to make them fully adequate to the
emergency which calls them into action The pro-
posa to surrender the right to employ prvateers Is
professedy founded upon the principle that private
property of unoffendng non-combatants, though en-
e1nies, should be exempt from the ravages OF war;
but the proposed surrender goes but little way IN
carrying out that principle, which equally requires
that such private property should not DE seized or
1nolested by national ships of Should the lead
ing powers of Europe concur in proposing, as rule
of international law to exempt private property up
on the ocean, from seizure by public armed cruisers,
well by privateers the United States VIII read
ilv meet them upon that broad ground.
Since the adjournment of Congress, the ratlt'ca-
tons of the treaty between the United States and
Great Britain, relative to coast fisheries ana To re-
ciprocal trade with the British North Amcllc pro-
vinces have been exchanged, anil some of ITS antcl-
pated advantages are already enjoyed byn> although
its full execution to abide certain acts OF legiS-
ation not yet fully performed. So soon as 1t was
ratified Great Britain opened to orr commerce the
free navigation of the river St Lawrence and tn our
fishermen unmoested access to the shores and bays,
from which they had been previously excluded on
the coasts of her North American provinces; In re-
turn for which, she asked for the introduction, tree
of duty into the ports of the United States oil the
fish caught on the same coast by British fishermen.
This being the compensation stipulated lii the treaty,
for privileges of the highest importance ana vauc
to the United States, which were thus voluntarily
welded before il became effective the request SEEM
ed to me nc reasonable one Int 1t oild n"t TIC
acccctled to from ant Of authority to SSpt nj or
laws imposing duties upon all foreign Ssh lin the
meantime the Treasury Departn. ent issued reua-
ton for ascertaining the duties paid or secured ny
bonds on fish caught on the coasts oil the British
provinces, and brought to our market ny BRITISH
subjects, after the fishing grounds had been made
fully accessible to the United States. recommend
to favorable consideration proposition, which
will be Submitted to vou for authority to refund tn"
duties and cancel the bonds thus received The pro-
vinces of Canada and New Brunswick have also an
tcipaed the full operation of the treaty by leslsa
tive arrangements, respectively, to admit, tree OF uu-
tv the products of the United States mentioned i'll
the free list of the treaty and arrangement sim
liar to that regarding British fish, has been made for
duties now chargeabe the products of those pro-
vinces enumerated in the same free list, and intro
duced therefrom into the United States; a PROPOSE
ton for refunding which will, in my judgement, be
in like entitled to your favorable consdera-
ton.
There is difference of opinion between the United
States and Great Britain, to the boundary line OF
the Territory OF Washington adjoining the British
possessions the Pacific, which has already led to
the part of the citizens and local au-
tiortes o: the two governments recommend that
provision he made for commission, tc he joined by
one on the Part Of her Britannia >MHiestv, for the
purpose drumming and establishing the line III con
Certain stipuatonS of the third and fourth
articles of the treaty by the United States
and Great Britain in 1916, regarding posSessoTy
rights of the Huisons Bay Conn any, and property
of the Pugct's Sound Agricultural Company, have
given rise to SER on. disputes, and it is important to
all concerned, that summary means OF setting them
an,icab!y should be devised. have reason to be
licve that an arrangement can be made on Just
terms for the extnguishn,ert of the rights i'll ques
ton, embracing also the right of the Hudsons Bay
Company to the navig ation Of the river Columbia
and therefore suggest to your consideration the
expediency Of making contingent appropriation for
that purpose
france was the carly and efficient ally of the Uni
ted States in their struggle for Independence From
that Time to the present with occasional slight liz
terruptions, cordial relations Of friendship have eX
listed between the governments and people of the
two countries The kindly sentiments, cherished
alike by both nations, have led to extensive social
lad commercial intercourse, which trust, Will not
be interrupted Or checked by any casual event of
an apparently unsatisfactory character. The French
into the United States district court at that place
by compulsory process witness in favor of
another foreign consul, in violation, the French
government conceives of his privileges under our
consular convention with France. There being moth
ing in the transaction which could imply any dis
respect France its CONSUL such explanation has
been made, as hope will be satisfactory. Suisse
quently, misunderstanding arose the subject of
the French government having, as it appeared, alb
ruptly excluded the American minister to Spain
from passing through France, on his way from Lon
don to Madrid. But that government has unequ-
vocaly dsavowed airy sign to deny the right of
transit to the minister of the United States and,
after explanations to this effect he has resumed
his Journey and actually returned through France
to Spain. ! herewith lay before Congress the cor
on this subject between our envoy at
Paris and the minister of foreign relations of the
French government.
The position of our affairs with Spain remains
at the close of your last session Internal agitation
very nearly the characerof political
vUutOu has recently couyulSed that country The