The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-12-12


]. Postmaster General respecting the su
Q now paid for the transportation Of mails
I the Panama Railroad Company, and col
0 mend to their early and favorable consid,
: alton the suggestions of that officer in rel
: tioi to new contracts for mail transport
, ton upon that route, and also upon {
Tehuantspec and Nicangu routes. -
The United States continue in the enjo!
: ment of alnicable relations with all iorci.
, powers. tf..l..-.-.. .-..
When my last annual message was tran
mitted to Congress, two subjects Of contr
versy, one relating to the enlistment OF 81
diers in this country for foreign service, ar
the other to Central America, threatened
disturb rood understanding between tf
United States and Great Britain. or 81
progress aud termination of the iOrm'
question you were informed at the time
md the other is now in the way OF satisia
tory adjustment.
The object Of the Convention betwcen il
United States aud Grear Britain, Of thc III
of April, 1850, was 10 secure, for the benz
ft Of all nations, the neutrality and IN
common use of any transit way, or intel
oceanic communicate N, acrOss the isthmu
of Panama, which might b. opened with
tho limits Of Central America. The pr
tension subseqntnhy asserted by Great Brit
ain 10 dominion or control over territories
in Vr near two Of the routes, those OF Mic
.,ragua and Honduras, were deemed by ti
United States. not merely incompatible wit!
the main object of the treaty, but Oppose
even To It's express stipulations. Occasion
of controversy on this point has been re
moved by an additional treaty, which on
minister ut London has concluded, an'
which will be Immediately submitted t
the Senate for irs consideration. Shonl'
the proposed supplemental aransement b
conculred in by all the parties To be affected
hy it, the objects contemplated by the orig
inal convention, will have been fully at
taincd.
The treaty between the United States anC
Great Britain, Of the 9th of June, lS5l
which went into effective operation in 1865
put an end to causes Of irritation between
the two countries, by securing to tho United
States the right Of fishery ON the coast ol
the British North American Provinces, with
advantages equal to those enjoyed by the
British subjects. Besides the signal benefits
of this treaty to large class Of our citizens
engaged in pursuit connected to no incon'
siderable degree with our national prosperity
and strength, 1t has had u favorable effect
upon other interests in the provision 1t made
for reciprocal freedom of trade between the
United States and the British Provinces in
America.
The exports of domestic articles to those
provinces during the last year, amounted to
more than twenty-five millions of dollars,
exceeding those OF the present year by nearly
seven millions of dollars and the imports
thcrefrom, during the same period, amount.
cd to more than twenty-one millions,-an
increase of SIX millions upon those OF the
previous year. 40
The improved condition of this branch oi
our c0inmerce Is mainly attributable TO the
abOyo mentioned treaty.
Provision was made, in the FIRST article, ,oi
that treaty, for 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
a part of two Seasons, but without much
progress in accomplishing the object Tor
which it was instituted, in consequence OF
a serious difference of opinion between the
commissioners, not only as to the precise
point where the rivers terminate, but in-
stances as to what constitutes river. These
difficulties, however, may DO overcome by
resort to the umpirase provided for by the
treaty. ....... .....-.
The efforts perseyeringly prosecuted since
the commencement of my administration, to
relieve our trade to the Baltic from the ex-
action of Sound dues by Denmark, have not
vet been attended with success. Other gov
crnments have also sought to obtain u like
relief TO their commerce, and Denmark was
thus induced TO propose IN arrangement to
all the European Powers interested in the
subject and the manner in which her prop
usition was received, warranting her to b.
lieve that satisfactory arrangement with
them could soon bc concluded, she made II
strong appeal 10 this government for tempo
riry Suspension of definite action on It's part,
in consideration OF the embarrassment which
might result to her Edropa.n negotiations
w an Immediate adjustment vi the question
with the United States. Tins request has
.een acc del to. upon the condition that the
sums collected after The 10th Of June last,
AMI until the 10th OF June next, from YES.
lis and cargo,s belonging TO our merchants.
,ro to h. considered as paid under protest,
aud subject to future adjustment. There '~
reason To believe that IN arrangement, be-
tween Denmark and the maritime power. OF
Europe on the subject. will be soon conclud-
ed. and that the pending negotiation win
the United States may then be resumed and
terminated IN II satisfactory manner.
With Spain no new difficulties h We arisen,
nor has much progress been made in the ad'
lustrnent Of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the purpos'
Of relieving our commercial intercourse Will
The Island of Cuba OF some OF its burdens
and providing Tor the more speedy settle
ment of local disputes growing out of thai
intercourse, have not yet been attended witt
any results. - ..r
Soon after the commencement oil tue lat'
war in Europe, this government submitted
To the consideration OF all maritime nations
two principles for the security OF neutr'
commerce; one, that the neutral flag shoulS
cover enemies goods, except articles contar
band of war: and the other that neutra
property on board merchant, vessels Of bel
| iigerents should be exempt from condemna
ton, with the exception of contraband ar
ticles. These were not presented as nov
rules of international law; having bcer
generally claimed by neutrals, though no
always admitted by beligercnts. One of tn
parties in the war-Russia-as well as scy
eral neutral powers, promptly acceded e
these propositions; and the two other billlg
erents-tireat Britain and Franee-hayins
consented to observe them on the presen
occasion, q favorable opportunity seemed :,
be presented for obtaininga a general recogni
ton of them both in Europe and America.
But Great Britain and France, in common
with most of the States Of Europe, whil'
forbearins u reject, did not afIirmativcl,
net upon the overturcs of the United States
While the question was in this position
the representatives OF Russia, France, Urea
Britain, Austria, Prussia, Sardinia and Tur
kew. assembled at Paris, took into consider
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