The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-01-05

Denmark, while resisting our assertion o.
the freedom Of the Baltic Sound and Belts,
has indicated a readiness 10 make some new
arrangement on the subject, and has invited
the Governments interested, including the
United States, to be Represented in Con-
vention to assemble for the purpose Of re.
eeiving and considering proposition, which
she intends 10 submit, for the capitalization
] Of the Sound Dues, and the distribution ol
the sum to be paid as comulation among che
Governments, according to the respective
J proportions Of their marintime commerce to
and from the Baltic. have declined in be.
half Of the United States to accept this in.
vitation, for the most cogent reasons. One
, is, that Denmark does not offer to submit to
the Convention the question Of her right to
levy the Sound Dues. A second Is. that, II
the Convention were allowed to take cog
nizance Of that particular question, still il
would not be competent to deal with the
great international principle involyed which
affects the right in other cases OF navigation
! and commercial freedom, as we'll as that oI
access to the Baltic. Above all. by the
express terms Of the proposition It Is con
: templated that the consideration Of the
Sound Dues shall be commingled with, ant
made subordinate to, matter wholly extran
eous, the balance Of power ,mong the Gov
ernments Of Europe.
! While, however, rejecting this prosposi'
ton, and insisting on the rights OF free tran
sit into and from the Baltic, have express
ed to Denmark willingness, on othel
powers compensating her for any advanta
ges which commerce shall hereafter derive
) from expenditures made by her for the i'm
proyemeht and safety of the navigation 0
the SQUAD or Belts..rs .,.. ~.
l lay before YOU, herewith, sundry docu
ments on the subject, in which my view
are more fully disclosed. Should no salts
factory arrangements be soon concluded,
shall again call your attension to the sub
ject, with RECOMMENDATION Of such measure
as may appear to be required in order to as
sert and secure the rights Of the Unite'
; States, so far as they are affected by th'
pretensions Of Denmark.
FRANCE.
announce with much qualification that
I since the adjournment of the lust Congress
, the question then existing between this Gov
ernment and that of France, respecting tn
French Cousrl at San F. ancisco, has bee
, satisfactorily determined, and that the rela
tons of the two Governments continue I
/ be of the most friendly nature,
4 GREECE
A question also which has been pendin
{ for several years between the United State
and the Kingdom OF Greece, growing out c
=, the sequestration, by public authorizes c
that country, OF property belonging to tn
present American Consul at Athens, an
which had been the subject Of very earnes
discussion heretofore, has recently been SCI
tied to the satisfaction Of the party intereste
aud of both Governments.
SPAIN.
With Spain, peaceful relations are sti
E maintained, and some progress has bee
made in securing the redress of the wrong
+ complained of by this Government. Spai
has not only dsavowcd and disapproved Ii
conduct of the officers who illegally seize
!, and detained the steamer Black Warrior
Havana, but has also paid the sum claim,
, as indemnity for the loss thereby inflicted c
a citizens of the United States.
e Tn consequence of destructive hurricar
$ which visited Cuba in 1874, the supren
+. authority of that leland issued decree, pc
hitting the importation, for the period Of G
/, months, of certain building materials al
) provisions, free Of duty, but revoked it whe
Y about half the period only had elapsed,
!, the injury OF the citizens of the United State
= who had proceeded to act on the faith Of tn
e decree. The Spanish Government refuse
s indemnification to parties aggrieyed uni
!, recently, when it was assented to, payne
= being promised to be made SO soon as Il
n amount due can be ascertained.
is Satisfaction claimed for the arrest al
n search OF the steamer FL Dorado has not Y
been accorded, but there is every reason
l. believe that it will be, and that case, wi
e others, continues to be urged on the atte
q ton Of the Spanish Government. do n
e abandon the hope of concluding with Spa
n some general arrangement, which,, il it,
not wholly prevent the recurrence of fdlfficl
j. ties in Cuba, will render them less frequer
l. and whenever they shall occur facilitate the
e more speedy settlement.
ID MEXICO.
The interposition Of this Govern ment b
!. been invoked by many of its citizens, on ,
D. count of injuries done to their persons a
property, for which the Mexican Republic
responsible. The unhappy situation of Il
,onntrv. for some time mast. has not allow
y its q oyernment to give due consideration
% cl,;,n. If nr;v,te reenration and has anne,
y ed m call for and iustifv some forbearan
:. in such matters on the part of this Cover
le ment But II the revolutionary movemen