The true Democrat., 1856-01-15

'elative to the territory of Oregon. have req. son to believe that cession of the rights of both companies to the United States, which would De the readlest means of terminating all questions, can be obtained on reasonable terms. and, with view to this end, present the sub. ect to the attention of Congress-
 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 and the British North Amer. lcan provinces, has beed organized, and has commenced Its labors; to complete which there IS needed further appropriations for the service of another season.
 SOUND DUES
 In pursuance of the authority. conferred h., a resolution of the Senate of the United Stot., passed on the Sd of March last. notice was gi2 ven to Denmark, on the 14th day of April or the intention of this government to avail its.If of the stipulation of the subsisting convertion of friendship, commerce, and navigation be- tween that Kingdom and the United State. whereby either party might, after ten years. ter. inmate the same at the expiration of one vear from the date of notice for that purpose
 The considerations which led me to call tba attention of Congress to that convention and induced the Senate to adopt the resolution re. terred to, still continue in full force The con- venton contains an article which, a1-louohit does not directly engage the United States to submit to the imposition of tolls on the yessos and cargoes of Americans passing into or from the Baltic sea, during the continuance of tbe treaty, yet may, by possibility, be construed as implying such submission The exactjon of those tolls not being justified by any princinIo of international law, 1t became the ri5bt and the duty of the United States to reIevo themselves from the implication of engaga. ment on the subject, so as to be perfectly free to act in the premises in such a way as their public interest and honor shall demand.
 remain of the opinion that the United States ought not to submit to the payment of the Sound dues, not so much because of their amount, which is secondary matter, but be- cause 1t is in effect the recognition of the right ot Denmark to treat one of the great maritime highways ol nations as closed sea, and the na- vlSation of it as a privilege for which tribute may he imposed upon those who have occasion to use it.
 This government on a former occasion. not unlike the present, signalzed its determination to maintain the freedom of the seas. and of the great natural channels of navigation. The Barbary States had, for long time, coerced the payment of tribute from all nations whose ships frequented the Mediterranean. To the last demand of such payment made by them. the United States, although suffering less by their dcpredations than many other nations. re- turned 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 lgnominlous tax, so long submitted to by the more powerful nations of Europe.
 Ii the manner of payment of the Sound dues differ from that of the tribute formerly conceded to the Barbary States, still their exaction by Denmark has no better founda. ton in right. Each was, in its origin, nothinc but a tax on a common natural right, extorted by those who were at that time able to ob struct the free and secure enjoyment of it, but who no longer possess that power.
 Denmark, while resisting our assertion to the freedom of the Baltic Sound and Bets. has indica. ted readiness to make some new arrangements on the subject, and has invited the governments interested, including the United States. to he represented Ill a convention to assemble for the purpose of receiving and considering a proposj ton, which she intends to submit, for the capj tahzation of the Sound dues, and the distribu- tion of the sum to be paid as communication among the governments, according to the re- spectlve proportions of their maratime com. merce to and from the Baltic. have declined in behalf of the United States to accent this invitation, for the most cogent reasons. One Is, that Denmark does not offer to submit to the convention the question of her right 10 lew the Sound dues. A second s, that, if the con- veHtlon were allowed to take cognZance of that particular question, still it would not be competent to Ieal with the great international principal involved which affect the right in oth- er cases of nav gatiOn and commercial freedom. as well as that ot access to the Baltic Above all, by the express terms of the proposition it Is contemplated, that the consideration of the Sound dues shall be comminged with, and made subordinate to, matter wholly extraue- ous, the balance of power among the govern mcnts of Europe.
 While, however, rejecting the proposition, and Insisting the right of free transit into and from the Baltic, l have expressed to Denmark a willingness on the part of the United States to share literally with other powers in compen- sating her for any advantages which commerce shall hereafter derive from expenditures made by her for the improvement and safety of the navigation of the Sound or Belts. |, l lay before you herewith, sundry documents on the subject, in which my views are more fully disclosed. Should no satisfactory ar rangement be soon concluded, shall again caA your attention to the subject, with a recom- mehdatlon of such measures as may appear to be requlrei ln order to assert and secure the rights of the United States, so far as they are affected by the pretentions of Denmark.
 FRANCE.
 announce with much qualification that since tha adjournment of the last Congress. the oues. tion then existing between this government and that ot France, respecting the French Consul at San Francisco, has been satisfactorily deter mined, and that the relations of the two Co., vernments continue to be of the most friendly nature.
 GREECE. II
 A question, also, which has been pending for | several years between the United States and | the Kingdom of Greece, growing out of the | sequestration, by public authorities of that | country of property belonging to the presen, American Consul at Athens, and which had | been the subject of every earnest discussion heretofore, has recently been settled to the Sd. tisfaction of the party interested and of both | Governments.
 SPAIN.
 With Spain, peaceful relations are still main tanned, and some progress has been made in se- curing the redress of wrongs complained of by thls government. Spain has not only disavow- ed and al approved the conduct of the officers who illegally siezed and detained the steamer Black Warrior at Havana, but has also paid the sum claimed as indemnity for the loss thereby lhilicted on citizens ot the United States.
 In consequence of destructive hurricane, which visited Cuba in l844, the supreme au- thority of that island issued a decree. permit ting the importation, for period of six months, of certain building materials and provisions free of duty, butrevoked it when about half the period only had elapsed, to the injury ofcitze3 of the United States, who had proceeded to acs on the faith of that decree. The Spanish go. vernment refused indemnidcation to the parties aggrleved until recently, when 1t was assentell to, payment being promised to be made so soon as the amount due can b, aScertaihed.