Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-09

, tematic plan devised by official authority; una
recruiting rendezvous had been opened IN ou
nrincipal cities, and depots for the reception
recruits established on our frontier and the who'll
business conducted under the supervision and b.
the reoular co operation of British officers, clvl
and military. some in the North American spro
v;nces. and some in the United States. Th
comnlicity of those officers in an undertakln!
which could only be accomplished oy deiylng on
laws. throwing suspicion over our attitude o
neutrality. and disregardng our territorial rights
is concusively proved by the evidence ELECTED
on the trial of such of their agents as have beer
anprehended and convicted. Some of the officer;
thus implicated are of high official position, and
many of them beyond our jurisdiction, SO thai
leqal proceedings could not reach the source Of
the mischief.
These considerations, and the fact that the
cause of complaint was not mere casual occur.
renee but deliberate design, entered upon with
| full know ledge of our laws and national policy
and conducted by responsible public tunctonafIes
! impeled me to present the case to the British
government in order to secure, not only cessa
tiun of the wrong, but its reparatlon. The sub
ect is still under discussion, the result OF which
will be communicated to you in due tlme
repeat the recommendation submitted to the
last Congress, that provision be made Tor the ap-
pOintment of commissioner, In conneXlon WIN
Great Britain, to survey and establish the ooun-
dary line which divides the territory of Washing
ton from the contiguous British possessions. by
reason of the extent and importance oil the country
in dispute there has been Imminent danger oi col,
lisi0n between the subjects OF Great britain ana
the citizens of the United States, including their
respective authorities, in that quarter. lhe pros
pect 0fa speedy arrangement has contributed nun
eto to induce on both sides orbearance TO assert by
force what each claims as right. Continuance
of delay on the part of the two governments to
act in the matter will increase the dangers and
difficulties of the controversy,
misunderstanding exists as 10 the extent, char
acter, and value Of the possessory rights OF the
HudSon's Bay Company. and the property OF the
Puget's Sound Agricultural Company, reserved
in our treaty with Great Britain relative to the
Territory Of Oregon. | have reason To believe
that a cession of the rights Of both companies 10
the United States, which would be the readest
means of terminating all questions, can be obtain
ed on reasonable terms and, with view to this
end, present the subject TO the attention OF Con-
gress.
The colony of Newfoundland having enacted
the laws required by the treaty of the 5th of June
| 1854. is now placed on the same fuotng, in res
pect to commercial intercourse with the United
States, as the other British North American prov
inces.
The commission which that treaty contempa-
ted Tor determining the rights OF fishery IN rivers
ON the coasts of the United States and the British
North American provinces, has been organized,
and has commenced lis lablfS: to complete which,
there is needed further appropriations for the ser
vice ut another season.
SOUND DUES.
In pursuance of the authority conferred by
resolution of the Senate of the United States.
passed on the Sd Of March last, notice was given
to Denmark, Oh the 18th day of April, OF the In
tention of this government 10 avail itself OF the
stipulation Of the subSisiing convention OF friend
ship. commerce, aad navigation between that
kinpdom and the United States, whereby either
party might after ten years, terminate the same
at the expiration of one year from The date OF no.
tice for that purpose
The considerations which led me to call the at
lenton of Congress to ihat convention, and IN
duced the Senate to adopt the resolution referred
to. still continue in full force. The convention
contains an article which, although II does not dl-
rectly enrare the United States 10 submit to the
imposition of tolls on the vessels and carg0cs OF
Americans passing into or from the Baltic sea, du
rlnp the he continuance OF the treaty yet may,
BY possibilitv. be construed as implying such sub
mission. The exaciiun Of those tolls not being
justified by any principle Of international law, II
became the rig and duty OF The United States
to relieve themselves from the implication OF en-
papement on the subject, So as 10 be perfectly Tree
10 act in the premises in such way as their public
interests aud honor shall demand.
remain of the opinion that the United States
ouuht not to submit to the payment OF the Suund
dues. not SO much because Oi their amount. which
is secondary matter, put because 1t is IN eilec'
the recoGotiOn of the rlght Of Denmark to treat
one of the great maritime highways of naions as
close sea, and prevent the navigation OF 1t as d
privilege, for which tribute may be imposed upon
lhuse who have occasion to use 1t.
| This government, ON former occasion not un
like the present, signaliZed its determination tt
maintain the freedom Of the seas, and OF the grea
natural channels of navigation. The Bar5ary
States had, for long time, c0erccd the laymen
of tribute from all nations whose ships irequen'ed
the Mediterranean TO the last demand Uf such
payment by them, the United States, although
suffering less Oy their depredationS than many
other nations, returned the explicit answer, tina
we preferred war to tribute, and thus opened the
way 10 the relief of the commerce Ut the Wore
from an iguominiucs tax, su long submitted to BY
the more powerful nations OF Europe.
If the manner Of payment Of the Sound due'
! differ from that Of the tribute formerly conceded
TO the Barbary States, still their eXactlon oJ
| Denmark has no better foundation IN right
| Each was, in its origin, nothing but tax on
common natural right, eXiored by those "h'
were at that time able tn Obslruct the Tree ana Sc
cure, enjoyment Of it, but who no longer possess
that power
Denmark, while resisting our assertion Of the
freedom of the Baltic Sound and Belts, has lndl
Gated a readiness To make Some new arrangement
on the subject, and has invited the governments
interested, including the United States, TO be rep
resented in convention to assemble lUr the pur
pose Of receiving and considering proposition
which she nleads to submit for the capitalization
of the Sound dues, and he Distribution ot the sun
to be paid as Communication among tne govern
menls according 10 the respective proportions
their maritime commerce 10 aud IRON me Dai'Ic
| have declined in behalf of The United States II
accept this invitation, tpr The most c1gent reasons
Oae is, tina, Denmark does not offer 10 submit Il
the convention the question OF her right TO levy
Sound dues. The second is, that il the cOnven
ton were allowed to take eognizlnce or thar partc
ular question, still it wJaid OIt not be CON petent Il
deal with the great international principle lnvolv
ed wnich affects the right in other cases OF navlga
iion and commercial freedom, as well as that o
access 10 the Baltic. Above all by the expires
terms of the proposition il is contemplated that tn
consideration OF tue S1ua! dleS SHALL be cOnmin
gled with, and made subordinate to, matte
wholly eXtraneOu;, the balance Of power anon;
the governments OF Europe.
While, hOweve, rejecting this proposition, and in
sisting IN the right ol free transit into and iron
the Baltic, have expressed to Denmark vii
intaess, on the part III the Uultel States,
share literally with other powers in compansailn!
her for any advantages which com nerce shal
hereafter derive ffJm expenditures made by he
for the improvement aaI safety of The Sound q