Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-09

"0S' ~ NRNh'o us ndNC OGCu hDDIc
hended and convicted. Some OF the
officers thus implicated are of high off
c;al position, and many of them beyond
our jurisdiction. so that legal proceed
ings could not reach the source of the
mischief.
These considerations, and the fact thai
the cause of complaint was not a mere
casual occurrence, but a deliberate de.
sign, entered upon with full knowledge
of our laws aud national policy. and con.
Quoted by responsible public functiona.
ries, impelled me TO present the case tC
the British government, in order to Sc.
cure, not only a cessation of the wrong
but its PREPARATION. The subject is sill
under discussion. the result of which
will be communicated 10 you in du,
time.
BRITISH RELATIoNs-continued.
/ repeat the recommendation submit
ted to the last Congress. that provision
be made forti e appointment ofa commits.
%sioner, in connect on with Great Britain,
to survey and establish the boundary line
which divides the territory of Washing
ton from the contiguous British posses
sions. By reason Of the extent and i'm.
portance of the country in dispute, there
has been imminent danger of collision
between the subjects of Great Britain
and the citizens of the United States. in
GLIDING their re pective authorities in
that quarter. The prospect Of a speedy
arrangement has contributed hitherto TO
induce on both sides forbearance to as
sert by force what each claim as right.
Continuance of delay on the part of the
two governments to act in the matter will
increase the dangers and difficulties OF
the controversy.
misunderstanding exists as TO the ex.
tent. character and value of the posesso-
ry rights of the Hudson's Bay Company,
and the property of the Puget's Sound
Agricultural Company, reserved in our
treaty with Great Britain, relative TO the
Territory Of Oregon. | have reason TO
believe that a cession of the rights of both
companies in The United States, which
would he the readiest means of termina-
ting all questions, can be obta ned on
reasonable terms; and, with a view to
this end, l present the subject to the at
%tention of Congress.
The colony Of Newfoundland having
enacted the laws required by the tire ,ty
of the 9Th Of June, 1854, is now placed
on the same footing, in respect TO COM
mercial intercourse with the United
Safes. as the other British North Amer.
lean provinces.
The commission, which that treaty
contemp sted, for determining the rights
of fishery in the rivers AID mouths Of
on the coasts ri the United States
and the British North American provin
ces, has been organized and has com
menred its labors TO complete which
there is needed further appropriations for
the service of another season.
SOUND DUES.
In pursuance OF the authority confer.
red by a resolution of the Senate of the
United States passed on the 5 of March
asst, notice was given to Denmark on
he 18th day Of April. of the intention of
his government to avail itself of the
stipulation of the subsiSting convention of
friendship, commerce. and navigation
oetwf en- that Kingdom and the United
whereby either party might after
en- years terminate the same at the ex
of one year from the date of the
for that purpose.
The considerations which led me to
the attention of Congress to that
convention. and induced the Senate tn
Idopt the resolution referred to, still con-
niue in full force. The convention con
aims an article which. although it does
lot directl, engage the United States to
ubmit to the imposition of tolls on the
.essels and cargocs of Americans pass
ng into or from the Baltic sea during
he continuance of the treaty. yet may,
y possib lily, he construed rs implying
admission. The exaction Of those tolls
OF being justified by any pr nciple of in
irrational law. it became the right and
he duty of the United States to relieve
themselves from the implicati n of en-
agement on the subject, so as to be per
.ctly free to act in the premises in such
'ays as their public interests and honor
hall demand.
l remain of the opinion that the Uni
ID States ought not to submit to The pay
rent OF the Sound dues, not so much,
ecause Of their amount. which is a Sec
ndary matter, but because it is in effect
he rec gnition of the right of Denmark
, treat one of the great maritime high
avs of nations as a close sea. and the
avigation of it as a privilege for which
ibute may be imposed upon those who
ave occasion to use it.
This government, IN a former occasion
Of unlike the present, signalized its de-
to maintain the freedom OF
lie seas, and of the great natural chan
els of navigation. The Barbary States
adj for a long time, coerced the pay.
tent of tribute from all nations whose
/ ps frequented the Mediterranean. To
le last demand of such payment made
= them, the United States, although (
lffering less by their depredations than !
any other nations, returned the explicit A.,
lswer that We preferred war to tribute, {
I'd thus open d the way to the relief of
commerce OF the world, from an ig- >
,minious tax, so long submitted 10 by G
e more powerful nations Of Europe. i
If II e manner of payment of the Sound I
les differs from that OF the tribute form 7
ly concrded to the Barbary States, ]
their exaction by Denmark has no I
foundation in right. Each was, r
its origin. nothing but a tax ON a com.
on natural right, extorted by those who
ere at that time able TO obstruct the n
and secure the enjoyment of it, but c
no no longer possess that power. h
Denmark, while resisting our assertion
the freedom of the Baltic Sound and r.
elts, has indicted a readiness to make 4
me new arrang ments on the subject, Q
ID has invited the governments inter f
ted inrluiinU tho limited Stata, 20 h.