Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-12-10

britain of the 5th of June. ro54, which went into
effective operation in 1885. put an end to causes
of ;yr;tstion between the two countries. by secu.
ring to the United States the right OF fishery on
the coast of the British North American provinces
with advantages equal to those enjoyed oy Britsh
subjects Besides the signal benefits OF this treaty
To large class Of our citizens engaged In pur-
suit connected extensively with cur national
prosperity and strength it has had favorable eff
feet upon other interests in the proy sion it made
for reciprocal freedom oftrade between the United
States and the British provinces in America.
The experts of domestic articles to those provin-
ces during the last year amounted to more than
twenty-five millions of dollars exceeding those of
the preceding year by nearly seven millions OF
dollars and the imports therefrom. dnrins the
same period. amounted to more than twenty one
milions-an increase of six millions upon those
of the previous year.
The improved condition of this branch of our
commerce is mainly attributable to the above mon
| toned treaty.
Provision was made in the first article of that
| treaty for a commission TO designate the
| mouths of rivers to which the common right
of fishery, on the coast of the United States
| and the British Provinces, was not to extend.
/ This commission has been employed part of
! two seasons but without much progress In ac-
| complishiDg the object for which it was insti-
| tuted, in consequence of a serious difference
| of opinion between the commissioners, not on
/ y as 10 the precise point where the rivers ter
inmate, but in many instances as to what con-
1 sttutes a river. These difficulties may be
| overcome, however, by resort TO the umpirage
/ provided for by the treaty.
The efforts perseyeringly prosecuted since
I the commencement of my administration, to
relieve our trade to the Baltic from the exac-
/ tion Of sound dues by Denmark, have net yet
/ been attended with success. Other govern
/ ments have also sought to obtain the like re-
/ lief to their commerce. and Denmark was thus
/ induced to propose an arrangement TO all the
European Powers interested in the subject !;
| and the manner in which her proposition was
| received, warranting her to believe that a sat
| siactory arrangement with them could soon be
concluded, she made strong appeal to this
government for temporary suspension Of def
! mite action on its part, in consideration of the
! embarrassment which might result to her Eu-
| ropean negotiations by au immediate adjust
/ ment of the question with the United States.
| This request has been acceded to, upon the
! condition that the sums collected after the
/ 10th Of Junc last. and until the 10th of June
| next, from vessels and cargoes belonging TO
/ our merchants, are to be considered as paid
under protest ami subject to future adjustment
There is reason to believe that an arrange
ment between Denmark and the maritime
| powers of Europe on the subject, will be soon
/ concluded, and that the pending negotiation
/ with the nited States may then be resumed
and terminated in a satisfactory manner.
| With Spain no new difficulties have arisen,
nor has much progress been made in the adj
justment Of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the purpose of
relieving our commercial intercourse with
! the Island of Cuba of some of its burdens, and
providing for the more speedy settlement of
! local disputes growing out of that intercourse
( have not been attended with any results.
! Soon after the commencement of the late
war in Europe, this government submitted to
! the consideration of all maritime nations two
| principles for the security of neutral COM
I II. Al. A. D
| enemies goods except articles contraband Of
| war; and the other, that neutral property on
board merchant vessels 'belligerents, should be
| exempt from condemnation, with the eXcep-
tion of contraband articles. These were not
| presented as new rules of international law,
| having been generally claimed by ncutrals,
| though not always admitted by bellIgerents.
| One Of the parties to the war.-Russia-as well
as several neutral powers, promptly acceded
! TO these propositions; and the two other prin-
| cipal belligcrents, Great Britain and France,
| having consented to observe them for the pre-
sent occasion, a favorable opportunity seemed
! to be presented for obtaining general recog-
| milton of them both in Europe and America.
But Great Britain and France in common
! with most of the states of Europe, while for
| bearing to reject did not affirmatvey act upon
| the overtures of the United States.
While the question was in this position, the
representatives Of Russia, France, Great Br
| lbllls AuSLild, 4 russia. Ddiilula anu lHihtl .
assembled at Paris, took into consideration the
| subject of maritime rights, and put forth a
| declaration containing the two principles
which this government had submitted, nearly
! two years before, to the consideration Of mari
| time powers, and adding thereto the following
-''Privateering is and remains
/ abolished" and ssBockades, in order to be
| binding, must be effective, that is to say,
maintained by force, sufficient really, to pre-
vent access to the coast of the enemy - and to
! the declaration thus composed of four points,
/ two of which had already been proposed by
| the United States, this government has been
! invited to accede by all the powers represen-
ted at Paris, except Great Britain and Turkey.
| To the last of the two additional PROPOSE
| tions-that in relation to bloekades-there can
| certainly be no objection. 1t is merely the
| definition Of what shall constitute the cffectual
| investment Of a blockaded place, definition
/ for which this government has always conten-
| Ged, claiming indemnity for losses where a
/ practical violation of the rule thus defined has
been injurious to our commerce. As to the
| remaining article of the declaration of the
conference of Paris, ''that privateering is and
| remains abolished - certainly cannot as
cribc to the powers represented in the confer
ence of Paris, any but liberal philanthropic
/ views in the attempt to change the unqueston-
able rule of maritime law in regard to priva-
teering. Their proposition was doubtless in-
| tended to imply approval of the principle
! that private property upon the ocean, although
] it might belong to the citizens of a belligerent
| state, should be exempted from capture; and
| had that proposition been so framed as to give
| full effect to the principle, it would have re-
ceived my ready assent on behalf of the Uni
! ted States.
! But the measure proposed is inadequate to
| that purpose. 1t is true that if adopted, pr-
yate property upon the ocean would be with
! drawn from one mode of plunder, but left ex-
posed, meanwhile, to another mode, which
| could ne used with increased Effectiveness