Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-01-11

=" ''@'"-@"f~f - |. IFf-| 49, -" " VIZ
Sound dues differ from that Of the
tribute formerly conceded to the Bar
barry States, still their cxacticn by|
Denmark has no better foundation In
right Each was in its origin. moth
| ing but a tax on q common natural
right. extorted by those. who were at
that time. able to obstruct the free
and secure enjoyment OF Il, but who
mo longer possess that power.
Denmark, while resisting our ass.
sertion OF the freedom Of the Baltic
Sonnd and Belts, has indicated Al
readiness TO make some new arrange.
rnent on the subject. and has invited
the governments interested, including
the United States. to be represented
in a convention 70 assemble for the
purpose Of receiving and considering
ia proposition. which she intends 10
submit for the capitalization Of the
Sound dues and the distribution of
the sum to be paid rs Communication
anon the governments, according TO
the respective proportions 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
other right to levy the Sound dues.
A second is that, IL the convention
were allowed to take cognizance Of
that particular question. still it would
not be competent to deal with the
great international principle involved
which affects the right in other sscases
ofnavigation and commercial freedom,
as well as that ofaccess to the Baltic.
Above all. by the cxpresstenns u the
proposition it is contemplated. that
the consideration Of the Sound dues
shall be commingled with, aud made
subordinate to, a matter wholly extra
neous, the balance Of power among
the governments Of Europe.
While. however, rejecting this
proposition, and insisting on the right
Of free transit into and from the Bal
tic, 1 haveJ expressed to Denmark, a
willingness on the part Of the United
States, to share literally with other
powers in compensating her for any
advantages. which commerce shall
thereafter derive from expenditures
made by her for the improvement and
safety OF the navigation of the Sound
or the Belts. ,ss
lar before you, herewith. sundry
documents on the subject, in which
my views are more fully disclosed. =
Should no satisfactory arrangement
be soon concluded shall again cali
your attention to the subject, with
recommendation of such measures as
may appear to be required ia order to
assert and secure the rights of the
! United States, so far as they are
effected by the pretensions Of Den
mark.
FRANCE.
4 l announce with much qualification
that, since the adjournment of Con-
igress, the question then existing be-
tween this government and that ol
France. respecting the French consul
at San Francisco, is. satisfactorily
determined and that the relations ol
the two governments continue 10
be of the most friendly nature.
GREECE. ~ ~
A question. also. which has beer
pending for several years between the
United States and the kingdom o.
Greece, growing out of the sequestra-
ton. by public authorities Of thai
country, of property belonging to the
I present AmericaH Consul at Athens,
{ and which bad been the subject o|
: very earnest discussion heretofore, has
recently been settled TO the satisfac
} ton ofthe party interested: and o.
} both governments. H.s
With Spain, peaceful relations arr
: still maintained, and some progress
has been made in securing the redres.
Of wrongs complained ofby this gov
ernment. Spain has not only disavow-
ed and disapproyed the. conduct o.
? the officers. who illegally seized and
detained the steamer Black Warrior al
Havana, but has also paid the sun
] claimed as indemnity for the los
= thereby inflicted on citizensof the U
, States. ~
In consequence Of destructive hur
ricane, which visited Cuba in 1914
l tie supreme authority Of that island
: . decree. permitting the importation
for the period ofsix months, Of GER
tain building materials and prosis
? ions. free of duty, but revoked it
c when about half the period only, hac
elapsed, 10 the injury Of citizens o
: the United States, who had proceeded
! to act on the faith Of that decree. Th'
: Spanish government refused indemni
: fcation to the parties aggrieved unit
recently, when it was assented TO
payment being promised to be mad
: as soon as the amount due can be as
certained.
9 Satisfaction claims for the arres
0 and search of the steamer FL Dorad,
D has not yet been accorded. but ther'
$ is reason to believe that it will be ant
$ that case with others continues to b
i urged on the attention OF the Spanisl
t Government. do not abandon tn,
a hope Of concluding with Spain som'
= general arrangement, which if il d,
: not wholly prevent the recurrence o
n difficulties in Cuba, will render then
less frequent. and whenever they shal
: occur, facilitate their more speedy set
tlement.
Q MEXICO.
1 The interposition Of this govenmen
e has been invoked by many of its eiti
J, Gems, on account Of injuries done 4
n their persons and property, for vhicl
the Mexican republic is responsible
: The unhappy situation Of that coun
j. try. for some time past. has not allow
g ed its government to give due consid
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