The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-12-04

portatlon.
The inconsiderable augmentation Of the in
come of the Postoffice Department under the
reduced rates of postage and its increasing
expenditures, must for the present, make 1t
dependent to some extent upon the treasury
for support. The recommendations Of the
Postmaster general, in relation to the abolition
of the ranking privilege, and his views on the
establishment of mail steamship lines, deserves
the consideration of Congress. also call the
Special attention Of Congress to the statement
of the Postmaster General respecting the sums
now paid for the transportation of mails to the
Panama Railroad Company, and commend to
their early and favorable consideration the sug-
gestions Of that officer in relation to new con-
tracts for mail transportation upon that route.
and also upon the Tehuantepec and Nicaragua
routes.
The United States continue in the enjoy
ment of amicable relations with all foreign
powers.
When my last annual message was trans
mitted to Congress, two subjects of contro-
versy, one relating to the enlistment Of sol
diers in this country for foreign service, and
the other to Central America, threatened to
disturb good understanding between the Uni
ted States an Great Britain. OF the progress
and termination of the former question you
were informed at the time, and the other is
now in the way of satisfactory adjustment
The object of the convention between the
United States and Great Britain of the 18th of
April 1850, was to secure, for the benefit of
all nations, the neutrality and common use Of
any transit way, or inter-oceanic communica-
ton across the Isthmus of Panama, which
might be opened within the limits of Central
America. The pretension subsequently as
serted by Great Britain, to dominion or con-
troll over territories, in or near two Of the
routes, those of Nicaragua and Honduras,
were deemed by the United States not mere
ay incompatible with the main object of the
treaty, but opposed even to its express Stlpu.
lations Occasion of controversy on this point
has been removed by an additional treaty,
which our Minister at London has concluded,
and which will be Immediately submitted to
the Senate for it's consideration, Should the
proposed supplemental arrangement be con-
Cured in by all the parties to be affected by
il, the objects contemplated by the original
convention will have been fully attained.
The treaty between the United States and
Great Britain, Of the 9Th of j une, 1854, which
went into effective operation in 1855, put an
end to causes of irritation between the two
countries by securing to the United States
the right of fishery on the coast of the British
North American Provinces, with advantages
equal to those enjoyed by British subjects
Besides the signal benefits of this treaty to a
large class of our citizens engaged in pursuit
connected to no inconsderable degree with
our national prosperity and strength, it has
had favorable effect upon other interests i'll
the provision it made for reciprocal freedom of
trade between the United States and the Brit
ish Provinces in America
The exports of domestic articles to those
Provinces during the last year amounted to
fvua -ttrn millionc Of 1ollarc
-ceeding those Of the preceding year by nearly
seven millions Of dollors. and the imports
therefrom during the same period, amounted
to more than twenty-one mnlionS-an in
crease of six millions upon those of the pre-
vious year.
The improved condition of this branch OF
our commerce is mainly attributable to the
above mentioned treaty.
Provision was made in the first article of
that treaty, for commission to designate the
mouths of rivers to which the common right
Of fishery, on the coast of the United States
and the British Provinces, was not to extend
This commission has been employed part of
two seasons, but without much progress in
accomplishing the object for which it was in
stituted, in consequence of serious difference
of opinion between the commissioners not
only as to the precise point where the rivers
terminate but in many instances as to what
constitutes a river. These difficulties, how
ever, may be overcome by resort to the UNI
pirage provi led for by the treaty.
The efforts perseyeringly prosecuted since
the commencement OF my administration, to
relieve our trade to the Baltic from the exac-
ton of sound dues by Denmark, have not yet
been attended with success. Other govern
ments have also sought Ito obtain like relief
to their commerce, and Denmark was thus
induced to propose an arrangement to all the
European Powers interested in the subject
and the manner in which her proposition was
received warranting her to believe that a sat
isfactory arrangement with them could soon
be concluded she made strong appeal to this
government for temporary suspension Of def
mite action on its part, in consideration of the
embarrassment which might result to her Eu-
ropean negotiations by an immediate adjust
ment of the question with the United States.
This request has been acceded to, upon the
condition that the sums collected alter the
18th of June last, and until the 10Th of June
next, from vessels and caTgoes belonging to
our merchants, are to be considered as paid
under protest and subject to future adjust
ment. There is reason to believe that an ar
rangement between Denmark and the mari
time powers of Europe on the subject, will be
soon concluded, and that the pending negotia-
ton with the United States may then be re-
Sumed and terminated IN satisfactory man
ner.
With Spain no new difficulties have arisen,
nor has much progress been made in the adj
justment of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the purpose of
relieving our commercial intercourse with the
Island of Cuba Of some of its burdens, and pro-
vidinr for the more speedy settlement of local