Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-01-18


| II be accomplished by defyiag our laws,
throwing suspicion over our attitude OF
neutrality, and disregarding our territorial
rights, Is coaeluSively proved By the esi-
deaoe elicited on the trial of such Of their
agents as have been apprehendea and coa-
lyvieted. Some of the officers thus inlplica-
ted are of high Official position, and mary
Of them beyond oul jurisdiction, 50 that le-
/ gal proceedings could not reach the source
Of the mischief.
These considerations, and the fact, that
the cause of complaint was not d mere cas-
uai occurrence, bnt deliberate design, en-
tered upon with full knowledge Of our laws
aad natianal policy. and conducted BY re-
| sponsibie public fanetionaries, inpelel me
to present the case to the Basish govern
meat, in order to secure, not naly cessa-
/ ton OF the wrong, bat its reparation. The
subject IS still unIer discussion, the result
/ Of which viii be communicated to you in
due time
repeat tie recommendation submitted
i 70 the l2sF Congress, that provision be
/ Iaaae for tie appointment Of commission
f tr, in cenaexioa wi.h Great Britain, 10 ser-
vey and establish tie hnnndafy lac, which
divides tila Terrisory Of Washington from
/ the contiguous British possessions. b.
reason Of the extent and isaportance Of
the country in dispute, there has beea ln-
! uliaeHt danger Of collision batween the sub
/ iscts Of Great BritaiR aud tAes citizens Of
tue United States, including tiseir respect
! i've authorities IN that qaartars The pros
! peet Of a speedy arrangealen anas c0ntribu-
ted hitherto 10 iRauae on bpflasiies forbear-
ance 10 assert hy force what sacA claims as
right. Continuance Of del4Y oa the part
OF tue two governments to aa ID the mat
ter will increase the dangerssaud difficult
ties Of the controversy.
I Misunderstanding exists IS to the ex-
tent, character and value 90 the possesso-
ry rights of the Hudson's bay Company
and the property Of the Pags 5 Sound AZ
i rieastnral Company, reseryeeliu our treaty
with Great Britain relative II the Terrific
rs Of Oregon. ] have reassn 70 believe
that i cession Of ihe rigllsso both colapa-
MES u tie United States, witrh would be
tie raadiest means u tera.inssing all ques-
,leps, can be obtained % rsaa9aabic terms;
and With view to this en-, present the
subject to the attention Of sdssreSs.
The colony os SewfaunzIaad, having en-
acted the laws repaired ISL tse treaty Of
the Gfih os JGue, | S5l (, issauS placed on
the saHe fcoliag. ia KS commercial
Intercourse with the United States, as the
otlier British North American provinces.
The commission, which that treaty con-
templated, far determining tie rights ol
fishery in rivers and mouths of rivers on
the coasts OF ;he Uailed States and tho
British North American provinces, has been
organized and has commenced It's labofs: Ia
complete which there is needed furtber APP
preparations sor the services Of another sea-
son.
soSND DUES.
u Pursuance Of the authority conferred
10y resolution Of the Senate Of the Uni-
ted States passed on the 81 Of March last
notice was given to Denmark, on the l4tl
day of April, of the intention of thiS gov
ernnieut 10 avail itself of tie stipulation al
the subsisting convention Of friendship
commerce ard navigation between tha
Kingdom and the UaiteI States, whereby
either party might, after ten years, termi.
nate the same, at the expiration Of one yea
from the date Of notice for taat purpose.
The considerations which LED na to cali
the attention OF Cunrress 20 that coaven-
ton, and indaeed the Senate to adopt th,
resolution referred to still continue IN lll
force. The convention contains an article
! which although it does not directly engae
the United States to submit to the ilhpoSi-
sitioE Of tolls on vessels and c1rg0es o.
americans passing into or fron, the Baltic
sea, daring the continuance of the treaty
yet may, b, possibility, be consmuedas i'm
plying such submission. The exaction Of
those tolls nor being justified Ivy any priu-
ciple of international law, it became the
| right and the duty OF the United States tc
relieve themselves from the implication Of
engagement on the subject, so as to be per-
fsctly free to act in the premises in sueh
way as their public interests ana hoeoi
shall demand.
remain Of tie opinion tina. the United
States ought not TO submit to the payment
OF the Sound dues, nor 50 much because oi
their amount, which is a secondary matter,
hut because it IS in effect the recognition
OF the right of Denmark TO treat one Of
the great maritime highways Of nations as
a close sea, and the navigation OF it as a
privilege for which tribute may be imposed
upon those who have occasion to use it.
This government, nn former occasion
not unlike the present, signaized its deter
mInation TO maintain tbe freedom Of the
seas, and of the great natural channels Of
navigation. The Barbary States had, for a
long tine, coerced the payment OF trIbrtc
from all nations, whose ships frequented
the Mediterranean. 10 the last delaand Of
such payment made by them, the United
States, although suffering less by their dep
relations than many other nations. return
ed the explicit answer, that we preferred
war to tribute, and thus opened the
way to the relief OF the commerce of the
world from an ignonlinious tax, SO long sub
United to BY the more powerful nations OF
Europe.
II the matter Of payment of the Sound
dues differ from that Of the tribute former
/ ly conceded TO the Blrbary States, still
their exaction by Denmark las no better
I foundation IN r;.,b. Is.S -. - - ar;-