St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-12-18


over territories, in or near two Of the
routes, those of Nicaragua and Hon
duras, were deemed by the United
States, not merely Incompatible with
the main object of the treaty, but OPP
posed even to it's express stipulations.
Occasion Of controversy on this point
has been removed by an additional
treaty, which our minister at London
has concluded, and which will be i'm.
mediately submitted to the Senate for
its consideration. Should the proposed
supplemental arrangement be concur
ed in by all parties to be affected by
it, the objects contemplated by the
original convention will have been
fully attained.
The treaty between the United
States and Great Britain, of the 5th of
June, 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 provin-
ces, 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
a pursuit connected to no inconsidera-
bic degree with our national prosperi-
ty and strength, it has had afavorable
effect upon other interests in the pro-
visions it made for reciprocal freedom
of trade between the United States
and the British provinces in America.
The export of domestic articles to
those provinces during the last year
amounted to more than twenty-five
millions of dollars, exceeding those Of
the preceding year by nearly seven
millions Of dollars and the imports
therefrom, during the same period,
amounted to more than twenty-one
millions,--an increase of six millions
upon those of the previous year. The
improved condition of this branch of
our commerce is mainly attributable
to the aforementioned 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 a
part of two seasons, but without much
progress in accomplishing the object
for which it was instituted, in conse-
quence of q serious difference of
opinion between the commissioners,
not only as to the precise point where
the rivers terminate, but in many in
stances as to what constitutes a river.
These difficulties, however, may be
overcome by resort to the umpirage
provided for by the treaty. E
The efforts perseveringly prosecuted
since the commencement of my admin
istration, to relieve our trade to the
Baltic from the exaction of sound dues
by Denmark, have not yet been attend
ed with success. Other governments
have also sought to obtain like re-
lief to their commerce and Denmark
was thus induced to propose an ar
rangement to all the European Powers
interested in the subject and the
manner in which her propositions was
received, warranting her to believe
that b satisfactory arrangement with
them could soon be concluded, she
m ade strong appeal to this govern
ment for temporary suspension of def
mite action on its part, i'll consideration
of the embarrassment which might re-
suit to her European negotiations by
an immediate adjustment of the qucs-
ton with the United States. This re-
quest has been acceded to, upon the
condition that the sums collected after
the 10th of June last, and until the
10th of juno next, from vessels and
cargoes belonging to our merchants,
are to be considered as paid under
protest and subject in future adjust
ment. There is reason to believe that
an arrangement between Denmark
and the maritime powers of Europe on
the subject, will be soon conclud-
ed, and that the pending negotiation
with the United States may then be
resumed and terminated in satisfact-
tory manner.
With Spain no new difficulties have
arisen, nor has much progress been
made in the adjustment Of pending
ones. Negotiations entered into for
the purpose of relieving our CONNER
cial intercourse with the Island of
Cuba of some of its burdens, and pro-
viding for the more speedy settlement
of local disputes growing out of that
intercourse, have not yet been attend
edr with any results.
Soon after the commencement of the
late war in Europe, this government
submitted to the consideration of all
maritime nations, two principles for
the security of neutral commerce one,
that the neutral flag should cover enc
mics goods, except articles contra
band Of war and the other, that
neutarl property on board merchant
vessels Of belligerents should be ex-
empt from condemnation, with the ex-
ception of contraband articles. These
were not presented as new rules of in
ternational law T; having been gener-
ally claimed by neutrals, though not
always admitted by belligerents. One
of the parties to the war-Russia-as
well as severalncutral powers, prompt
ly acccded to these propositions and
the two other principal belliger-
ents, Great Britain and France, hav-