The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-01-05

The prospect of a speedy arrangement has
hitherto contributed TO induce on both sides
forbCarance 10 assert by force what each
claimed as right. Continuance of delay on
the part oI the two Governments to act in
the matter will increase the dangers and diff
ticulties Of the controversy. Misunder-
standing exists ms to the extent, character,
and value of the posse.sory rights Of the
| lludson's Bay Company, and the property
of the Pugct's Sound Agricultural Society,
reserved in our treaty with Great Britain re-
lativc to the Territory of Oregon. have
Reason TO believe that cesson of the rights
of both companies TO the United States,
which would bc the rcadiest means of ter
minating all questions, can be obtained on
reasonable terms and with view 10 this
end, present the subject to the attention of
, Congress.
The colony of Newfoundland, having
enacted the laws required by the treaty Of
June, 1854. is now placed on the same foot
, ing in respect to commercial intercourse Wit.
the United States as the other British North
American Provinces. TIC commission
which that treaty contemplated, for deter
mining the rights Of fishery in rivers and
mcu,hs OF iivers on the coast of the United
States and the British North American pro-
vnccs, has been organized, and has COM
mcnced its labors, to complete which there
is needed further appropriations for the SER
vice of another season.
In pursuance Of authority conferred by
the Senate, on the 81 Of March last, notice
was given to Denmark, Oh the / th day of
APRIL of the intention OF this Government
TO avail itself Of the stipulatons of subsst-
ing convention Of friendship, commerce and
navigation between that Kingdom 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
tce for that purpose. The considerations
which led me to call the attention Of Con
gresS TO that convention, and induced the
Senate to adopt the resolution referred, still
continue III full force. The convention con
tains an article which, although it docs not
directly engage the United States to submit
/ to the imposition of tolls on the vessels and
cargoes Of Americans passing into or from
the Baltic Sea during the continuance OF tae
treaty, may by possibility be construed as
/ implying such submission. The cSaction Of
these tolls not being justified by any princi'
| pie of international Law, it becomes ,,4c
right and duty of the United Statea to re,
licve themselves from the imrl" alton of en-
gagements on the subject, SO a. 10 be per,
fectly free to act III tie Premises in such a
way as their pubic .,tcres,s and honor shall
demand, remain Of the opinion that the
unlfsd States ought not to submit to the
= par:ucnt Of the Sound Dues, not so much
D because Of their amount which is a sc ond-
airy matter-but because it is in eifct n re-
( cognition of the right of Denmark TO treat
one Of the great maritime highways of ma
tons as a close sea, and the navigation Of il
as privilege for which tribute may be i'm
posed upon those who have occasion to use
I it, This Government, on former occasion,
not unlike the present, signiiied its determi-
nation 10 maintain the freedom Of the seas
and of the great national channels of navi-
cation. The Barbary States had for long
time, coerrcd the payment OF tribute from
all nations whose ships frequented the Medi-
terranean. To the last demand of such
payment made by them, the United States,
although suffering less by their deprcdations
than any other nation, returned the explicit
answer that we preferred war to tribute, and
thus opened the way to the relief Of the
commerce Of the world from gnominious at
tacks, so long submitted to by the more
powerful nations Of Europe. If the matter
of the payment Of Sound Dues differs from
that of the tribute formerly conceded to the
! Barbary States, still their exaction by Den
mark las no better foundation in right 60
Each was, in its origin, nothing but a tax on
a comusA, national right, cxtorted by those
who were at that ii ne able to obstruct the
free and secure enjoyment OF ii, but who no
longer possess thatpower. Denmark, while
resisting our assertion Of the freedom Of the
/ Baltic, Sound and Belts has indicated a
readiness to make some new arrangement on
. the subject, and has invited. the govern
mcnts interested, including the United
States, to be represented in convention to
assemble for the purpose of receiving and
considering the proposition which She in
tends to submit, for the capitalization Of the
, Sound Dues, and the distribution fthc sum
: to be paid as communication among the go.
vcrnmcnts according to the respective pro.
portions Of their maritime commerce to and
from the Baltic. have declined, in behalf
of the United States. to accept this invita-
ton, 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. Secondly that If the con
/ vcn,ion were allowed to take cognizancc Of
that particular question, still it would not be
competent to submit the great international
principle involved, which affects the right in
other cases of navigation and commercial
freedom as well as that Of access to the Bal
tic. Above all, by the express terms of the
proposition, it is contemplated that the con
sidcration OF the Sound Dues shall be COM
mingled with and made subordinate to
matter wholly cxtrancous-thc balance Of
power among the governments Of Europe.
I While, however, rejecting this proposition,
and insisting on the right Of free transit into
and from the Baltic, have expressed TO
Denmark willingness on the part Of the
United States to share equally with others
the cost Of advantages which commerce
shall derive from expenditures made by her
for the improvement and safety Of the navi-
cation of the Sound and Belts. lay before
you, herewith, sundry documents on the
subject, in which my views are more fully
disclosed. Should no satisfactory arrange
mcnt be soon concluded, | shall again call
your attention to the subject, with recon-
mcndation Of such measures as may appear
to be required in order to assert and secure
the rights of the United States, so far as
they arc affected by the pretcnsons of Den
mark.
announce with much qualification that,
since the adjournment Of the last Congress,
he question existing between this govern
u, mt and that of France, respecting the
French Coasu! at San Francisco, has been
satisfactorily determined, and that the rela.
tons of tue two governments continue to be
Of tbo mnSi friendly nj, 'urC
\ question, also, which his been pGhdins
for several years between the Kingdom OF
Greece and the United States, grow,Hg out
of the sequestration by the public autho.1-
ties of that country property belonging to
the present American Consul at Athens,
and which has been the subject of very ear
nest discussion heretofore, has recently been
settled to the satisfa ton Of both govern
mcnts.
With Spain, peaceful relations are still
maintained and some progress has been
made in securing the redress of wrongs COM
,,I,;,nJ IF hy tl,is Government Span has