Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-12-06

The king of the Two Settles has expressed to
our minister at Naples, his readiness to concur in
our proposition relative to neutral rights, and to
enter into convention on that subject.
The King of Prussia entirely approves of the
project of a treaty to the same effect submitted
to him, but proposes an additional article, pro-
vlding for the remuneration of privateering. Such
an article, for most obvious reasons, is much de-
sired by nations having naval establishments,
large in proportion to their foreign commerce.
If it were adopted as an International rule, the
commerce of nation having comparatively a
small naval force, would he very much at the mer-
cy 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 re-
sort to privateers, in the event of war with
bellgerent of naval supremacy, will show that
this government could never listen to such pro-
position.
The navy Of the frstmaritime power in Europe
is at least ten times large that of the Unit
ed States, The foreign commerce of the two
countries is nearly equal, and about equally eX-
posed to hostile depredations. In war between
that power and the United States, without resort
on our part to our mercantile marine, the means
of our enemy to infiict injury upon our commerce
would be ten-fold greater than ours TO rctalate.
We could not eXtrcate our country from this un-
equal condition, with such an enemy, unless we
at once departed from our present peaceful policy,
and became great naval power. Nor would this
secondary naval powers, Though the naval dis
parity would be less the greater extent, and more
exposed condition of our widespread commerce,
would give any of them like advantage over u.s.
The proposition to enter into engagements TO
foTego resort to privateers, in case this country
should be forced into with great naval pow
err, is not entitled to more favorable consideration
than would be a proposition to agree not to ac-
cept the services of volunteers for operations on
land. When the honor or the rights OF our coun"
try require it TO assume hostile attitude, it con-
fdenty relies upon the patriotism of its citizens,
not ordinarily devoted to the military profession,
to augment the army and navy, so as to make
them fully adequate to the emergency which calls
them into action. The proposal to surrender the
right to employ privateers, is profeSsedy founded
upon the principle. that private property OF UNI
offending nom combatants, though enemies,
should be exempt from the ravageS OF war; but
the proposed surrender goes but little way IN car
rying out that principle, which equally requires
that such private property should not be seized or
molested by national ships of war. Should the
leading powers OF Europe concar in proposlng,as
a rule of international law, to exempt private
property upon the ocean from seizure by public
armed cruisers, as well by privateers, the Uni
ted States will readily meet them upon that broad
ground
Since the adjournment of Congress, the ratif-
cations of the treaty between the United States
and Great Britain, relative to coast fisheries, and
TO reciprocal trade with the British North Amer-
can provinces, have been exchanged, and some OF
its anticipated advantages are already enjoyed
by us, although its full execution was to abide
certain acts of Legislation not yet fully performed
So soon it was ratified, Great Britain opened
to our commerce the free navigation Of the river
St. Lawrence, and to our fishermen unmolested
access to the shores and bays, from which they
had been previously 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 States of the
fish caught on the same coast by British fisher
men. This being the compensation, stipulated
in the treaty. for privileges OF the highest import
ance and value to the United States, which were
thus voluntarily yielded before itbecame effective,
the request seemed to me to be a reasonable one
butt could not be acceded to, from want of au-
thority to suspend our laws imposing duties upon
all foreign fish.
In the meantime, the Treasury Department is
sued regulation, for ascertaning the duties paid
or secured 10y bonds on fish caught on the coasts
of the British provinces, and brought toour mar
kets BY British subjects after the fishing grounds
had been made fully accessible to the citizens Of
the United States. recommend to your favor
able consideration proposition, which will be
submitted % you, for authority to refund the du-
ties and cancel the bonds thus received. The
provinces of Canada and New Brunswick have
also anticipated the full operation of the treaty.
by legislative arrangements, respectively, to ad-
nit, free of duty, the products of the United
States mentioned in the free list of the treaty;
and an arrangement similar to that regarding
British fish, has been made for duties now charge
able on the products of those provinces enumer
sted in the same free list, and introduced there
from into the United States proposition for
refunding which will. in my judgment, be in like
manner entitled to your favorable consideration.
There is difference of opinion between the Unit
ed tates and Great Britain, as to the boundary
line of the Territory of Washington adjoining the
British possessions on the Pacific, which has al.
rea y led to difficulties the part of the citizens
and local authorities OF the two governments.
recommend that provision be male FOR commits
sion to be Joined by one on the part of her Brit
annie Majesty. for the purpose of running and
establishing the line in controversy. Certain
stipulationS of the third and fourth articles ofthe
treaty concluded by the United States and Great
Britain in 1916, regarding possessory rights OF the
HudSon's Bay Company, and property OF the
Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, have Civ
en- rise to serious disputes, and it is important to
all concerned, that summary means of settling
them amicably should be devised. | have reason
to believe, that an arrangement can be made on
Just TERMS for the extinguiShment of the rights
in question, embracing, also, the right of the
Hudson's Bay Company to the navigation of the
river Columbia and therefore suggest to your
consideration, the expediency ofmaking contin-
gent appropriation for that purpose.
France was the early and efficient ally Of the
United States, in their struggle forindependence.
From that time to the present, with occasional
slight Interruptions, cordial relations of friend
ship have existed between the two eountrles.-
nations, have led to extensive social and COM
mercial Intercourse, which, trust, will not be
interrupted or checked by any casual event of an
apparently unsatisfactory character The French
consul at San Francisco, not long since, bro't
into the United States District Court at that
place, by compulsory process, as witness in ia
of another foreign consul, IN violation, as the
French government conceiveS, OF his privileges
under our consular convention with France
There being nothing in the transaction which
could imply any disrespect to France or its con-
sui such explanation has been made as hope
will be satisfactory, Subsequently, misunder-
standing arose on the subject OF sthe French gov
eminent having, as it appeared, abruptly exclud-
ed the American minister to spain from passing
through France, on his way from London to Ma
drid But that government has unequiyocaly
disavowed any design to deny the right of transit
to the minis ter of the United States; and, after
explanations to this effect, he has resumed his
Journey, and actually returned through France to
Spain l herewith lay before Congress the cor
respondence on this subject, between our envoy
in Paris, and the minister of foreign relations of
the French government.
The position of our affairs with Spain remain
as at the close OF our last session. internal agi-
tation, assuming very nearly the character of po-
litical revolution, has recently convulsed that
country The late ministers violently ex-
pelled from power, and men of different views in
relation to its internal affairs, have succeeded
Since this change, there has been no proptious
opportunity to resume, and press on negotiations
for the adjustment of serious questions OF diff
Guilty between the Spanish government and the
United States. There is reason to believe that
our minister will find the present government
comply with our just demands, and to make suit
ahla arranOements for restoring HARMONY and