Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-06

that neutral property board merchants vessels Of be
gessnts should De exemptfom condemnation with the ex
cepton ofcontfaband articles These not presented
IS new rqes Of intsrnsonal law having been geaeray
camed BY neutrals though always admitted 5y bel.
gerants One Of the parties the war-Russia-asw we'll
several neutral powers promptly acceded these pro-
positions; and the two osber principal begereats Great
Britain and France, hav snted to observe them for
the present OCCASION favorable opportunity seemed be
presented for obtaining general recognition Of them both
But Great Britain and France in common with most OF
the States OF Europe while Overlooking reject did
ermstvey acupon the evertures Of me United States.
While the question In this position, representatives.
Of Russia, France Great Bra Prussia Sardinia, and
Turkey at Paris took into consideration the sub
Ing the which this government had snbmittsd
nearly two yssrs before 70 ne q maritime
watering and remains abolished and Bocksdes In or
Ssr Q Dc binding must be effective that's TO ssy MAINTAIN
OF ne enemy and 70 The declaration thus composed OF four
States this has Been invited 70 sccse By ali
we at Paris except Sreat Britain aad
that in relation to bockadeshers can certainly se no OBJ
!setoa. merely the dednaon OF what shall constitute
me ensetusi investment Of ooekaded place. definition
for which this government always commended claiming
70, losses where practical violation OF the r1s
remaining article OF the declaration OF the conference Of
Paris shat privateerng and rensns abolished, II
ference Of Paris any bu aud phanlhropc views in
the attempt % change the unquestOaabe rule OF maritime
Their proposition was doubtless intended to imply ap.
prevail of the principle that private property upon the
ocean, although it might belong to the CT zens of be!i
gerent State should be exempted from capture and had
that proposition been 50 framed give fun effect to the
principle it would have received my ready assent ON be-
half the United States.
But the proposed inadequate purpose Il
Is true that adopted private properly upon would
be Withdrawn from node of plumber le exposed
MEANWHILE 10 another mode, which could be used with
creased effectiveness The aggressive capacity Of great
val powers would be thereby augmented while the desn
render OF the Of prosecuting hOsss by employing
pyateers, proposed BY the conference Paris,
ment of right OF little value class States, but Of
essential Importance TO another and far larger class Il
ought not to havs been anticipated that MEASURE made
qGate 70 the accomplishment OF the proposed object and
nnequaln Its operation, would receive the assent all
Ttime powers Phvaie property would be still len the
aepredafons Of the public armed cruisers.
have expressed readiness on the part of this
government to accede to all tho principles con
tanned 10 the declaration of the conferences of p. =
ris, provided that relating % the abandonment of
privsteeriDg can be amended az 10 effect the OBJ
ject for which, as is presumed it was in,ended the
immunity Of private property on the oeesn from
hostile capture To eject this object It is prOpO.
sed to add to the declaration, that privateerug is
and remains abolished, the following smendmen.:
And that the private property OF subjects and elG-
izeDs OF beligerent on lhs high seas, shall be ex
empt from seizure By the public armed vessels Of
the other beligeFent, except it bs contrabaud f"
This amendment has been presented lot only 10
powers which have asked our assent to the decla-
ration to abolish prystteripg, but to all other
maritime States. Thus far, It hks not been reject
ed by any, and is fsvorably entertaioed By all
which have made any communication in reply.
Several Of the governments regarding with IA
vor the proposition Of tae United States have de-
lsyed definite action upon IT,, only lr the purpose
of consulting with others, PARTIES TO the confer
ence at Paris | have the satisfaction of sta,in,
however, that the Emperor OF Russia has entirely
and explicitly approved Ct thAt modification, and
viii cooperate IN endeavoring obtain the sent
of other powers; and thai assurances OF a similar
purport have been received ia rellion to the dis.
position OF the Emperor Of the French
The present aspect OF this important subject al
lows US TO cherish the hope that principle so hu
name in its character, 50 just aad equal IN its 0pe-
ration, so essential to the IrosIe itY of commer-
clsl nations, aud so colsonant to The sentiments
of this enlightened period of the world, will com
mand the appreciation OF al maritime powers snd
thus be incorporated into the code of international
laws
My views on the subject are more fully set forth
in the reply Of the Secretary Of Stste, a copy of
which is herewith transmitted to the commnn.ca-
tons on the sutject made to this government, es-
pecially 10 the communication OF France.
The government Of the United States has at ali times
regarded with friendly interest the other States Of Amer
iea formerly, like this country, European colonies and
now independent members Of the great family Of naOos
But the unsettled condition OF of them distracted
by frequent revolutions, and thus incapable of regular
and firm internal administration has tended 10 embarrass
occasionally public intercourse by of wrongs
which citizens suffer at their hands and which they
are slow to redress
Unfortunately it is against the Republic of Mexico,
with which it is special desire t. maintain good IN
derstandiDg, that such complaints most numerous;
and although earnestly urged upon its attention they
have not yet received the consideration which this
government mad right to expect While rsparaton for
haan ofha
The political condition of that country however has been
such demand torbearanee the part Of the United
States shall continue my ef,ris to procure for the
wrongs Of citizens that redress which is ndspensa.
bic TO the continued friendly association of the repub
lies.
The peculiar condition Of affairs in Nicaragua in the
early part of the present year. rendered important that
this government should have diplomatic relations with
that state. Through its territory have been opened one
Of the principal horoughares across the sIhms
Meeting Nerth and South America, on which u vast
mount Of property transported and TO which our
citizens resOrted in great numbers in passing between
the Atlantic and Pacific OF the United States The
protection of both required that the existing power in that
state should be regarded responsible government;
and its minister accordingly received. But be 70
manned mere only snort time soon thereafter the polI
lcal affairs OF Nicaragua underwent unaVOrabe change
and became involved 10 muoh srtanty and confusion
Diplomatic representatives from contendng parties
have been recently sent to this government; but, with
the imperfect information possessed il was not possible
to decide which was the government de iaeto; and o.
waiting further Developments, refused to receive
either.
Questions Of the most serious nature are nsndno he
tween the United States and the Republic Of New era
NADIA. The government OF hat Re ubic undertook 4
year SINCE TO impose tonnage duties foreign vessels in
her ports but the purpose resisted by govern
ment, being contrary to existing y stipulation with
the United Staes and TO rights conferred by charter M
en- the Panama Railro Company, and was accordingly
relnqushed at that time it being admitted that our YES
sells were entitled 10 be exempt from tonnage duty in The
free ports of Panama and Aspn vail Bus the purpose has
been recently revived the part OF New GRANADA by the
ennctmento Of law 10 subject ve5Bes visiting her ports
to the tonnage duty OF forty cents per ton and although
the law has not beeu put force yet the right 70 enforce
tits still asserted and may at any time be acted
republic.
The Congresso New Granada has also enacted law
during the last yerr, which leves of more than
three dollars ou every pound OF mail matter transported
across the Ishmus The thus required TO be paid on
the mails OF the United States would be neIrly two mil
lions of dollars annually addition 10 the large sum
payable by contract to the Panama Railroad COMPANY
II the only objection this e1aeon we're the exorbapcy
Of its amount could not be submitted By The United
States.
The imposition of it, however, would obviously contra
treaty with New Granada and infringe the con-
tract OF that republic with the Panama Railroad Company
The law providing for nis Tax WAS by It's ermg take
aec on the first OF September last but the local authOri-
lies on the lsihmus have besn induced TO suspend its
,Eon, and 10 await instructions the subect from
he govern ment Of the Republic. vet advised OF
he determination OF that government. If so
resty spulaons and the contract rights st the Panama
Railroad Company composed mostly Of American cit-
lens should be persisted will be the duty OF the o.
1ited States TO resist its execution.
regret exceedingly that occasion exists to invite yOur
Itsnton to subject of still graver import IN our relations
With the Republic Of New Granada. On the fifteenth day
April last rioOus asseG5lags Of the Inhabitants OF
Panama committed violent snd oura zOus attack on the
remses of the railroad company and the passengers aud
her persons in or near the same involving the death Of
evaral citizens Of the United States tina Dla0A If an