Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-09

not reach the source of the mischief
These considerations, and the fact. that the
cause of complaint was not a mere casual oc-
eurrence, buta deliberate design. entered up
on with full knowledge of our laws and ma
tional policy. and conducted By responsible
public functionaries. impelled me to present
the case to the British government, in order
so secure, not only cessation of the wrong
but its reparation. The subject is still under
discussion. the result of which will be COM
municated toiyou in due time
repeat the Recommendation submitted to
the last Congress, that provision be made for
the appointment of commissioner, in con-
nexion with Great Britain, to survey aud es-
tablish the boundary line, which divides the
Territory of Washington from the contiguous
British possessions. By reason of the extent
and importance of the country in dispute,
there hassbsen imminent danger of collision
between the subjects Of Great Britain and the
citizens of the United States, including their
respective authorities in that quarter The
prospect of speedy arrangement has contfi-
buted hitherto to induce ON both sides for
5earance to assert by force what ,ch 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 to the extent,
character, and vrlue of the possessory rights
of the Hudson's Bay Company and the prop
erty of the Puget's Sound Agricultural Com
pany, reserved in our treaty with Great Brit
ain relative to the Territory of Oregon I
have reason to believe that cession of the
rights of both companies to the United States
which would be the readiest means of termi-
mating all questions, can be obtained on reas-
enable terms and, with view to this end, I
present the subject to the attention of Con-
gress
The colony of Newfoundland, having enac-
ted the laws required by the treaty of the 9th
Of juno. 1854, is now placed on the same
footing in respect to commercial intercourse
with the United States, as the other British
North american provinces.
The commission, which that treaty contem-
plated, for determining the rights of fishery
in rivers and mouths of rivers on the coasts
of the United States aud the British North
American provinces, has been organized and
has commenced its labor; to complete which
there is needed further appropriations for the
service Of another season.
SOUND DUES.
In pursuance of the authority, conferred by
a resolution of the Senate of the United States
passed on the 81 of March last notice was
given to Denmark. on the 18th day of April,
of the intention of this government to avail
itself of the stipulation of the subsisting con-
vention of friendship, commerce, and naviga-
tion 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 notice for that ur-
pose.
The considerations which led me to call the
attention of Congress to that convention. aud
induced the Senate to adopt the resolutions
referred to. still continue in full force. The
convention contains an article, which, although
it does not directly engage the United States
to submit to the imposition of tolls on the ves-
sells and cargoes of Americans passing into or
from the Baltic sea, during the continuance of
the treaty, yet may. BY possibility. be con-
strued as implying such submission. The
exaction of those tolls not being justified by
any principle of international law, it became
the right and the duty of the United States to
relieve themselves from the implication of en-
gagement on .he subject, SO as to be perfectly
free to act in the premises in such way as
their public interests and honor shall demand.
i L remain of the opinion that the United
States ought not to submit the payment of the
sound dues, not so much because of their
amount, which is secondary matter, but be-
right of Denmark to treat one of the great
maratime highways of nations as a close SEQ,
and the navigation of it as privilege for
which tribute may be imposed upon those who
have occasion to use it.
This government, on former occasion not
unlike the present, signalized its determina-
ton to maintain the freedom of the seas, and
of the great natural channels of navigation.
The Barbary States had, for a long time
coerced the payment of tribute from all ma
tious whose ships frequented the Mediterra-
mean. To the last demand of such payment
made by them, the United States. although
suffering less by their depredations than many
other nations, 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 an ignominious tax, so long
submitted to by the more powerful nations OF
Europe
If the manner of payment of the sound dues
differ from that of the tribute formerly c6nce-
ded to the Barbery States, still their exaction
by Denmark has no better foundation in right
Each was, in its origin, nothing but tax on
common natural right, extorted by those
who we're at that time able to obstruct the
free and secure enjoyment Of it, but who nc
longer possess that power.
Denmark, while resisting our assertion o
the freedom of the Baltic Sound and Belts
has indicated readiness to make some new
arrangement on the subject, and has invited
the governments interested, including the
, United States, to be represented in conven-
ton to assemble for the purpose of receiving
, aud considering proposition which she in
tends to submit. for the capitalization of tho
| sound dues and the distribution of the sum