The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-04
NO. SIS.

NOR. The recommendations OF the Post
~ l,er General, in relation to the abolition of
:. ranking privilege, and his views On the es-
..-Ii.bment of mail steamship lines, deserve
"a consideration Of Congress. / also call the
...cisl attention of Congress to the statement
's,be Postmaster General respecting the sums
W raid for the transportation of mails to the
panama Railroad Company, and commend to
- early and favorable consideration the
.--sstions of that officer in relation to tie new
tracts for mail transportation upon that
..,,s. and also upon the Tehuantepec and Mic
Tss United States continue in the enjoyment
,,smicable relations with all foreign Powers.
When nv last annual message was trans
.-;,ed 10 Congress, two subjects of contro-
-a-sv one relating to the enlistment of soldiers
= this country for foreign service, and the
..bsr 10 Central America, threatened to disturb
"a understanding between the United States
nd Great Britain. Of the progress and term
;nation of the former questionyou were inform
a AT the time; and the other is now In the way
If 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 the common use OF
any transitway, or interoceanic communication
across the Isthmus of Panama, which might be
onened within the limits of Central America.
The pretension subsequently asserted by Great
g-itain. to dominion or control over territories,
q, near two of the routes, those of Nicaragua
and Honduras, were deemed by the United
Safes. not merely incompatible with the main
object of the treaty, but opposed even to its
sypress stipulations. Occasion of controversy
On this point has been removed by an addi-
tional treaty, which our minister ct London
has concluded, and which will be Immediately
admitted to the Senate for its consideration.
Should the proposed supplemental arrangement
beconcurred in by all the parties to be affected
Ii 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 June, 1854, which
wen, 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 uncomfortable degree with
cur national prosperity and strength, it has had
favorable effect upon other interests in the
provision it made for reciprocal freedom of
trade between the United States and the British
Provinces in America.
The exports of domestic articles to those
Provinces during the last year amounted to
more than twenty-five million dollars, exceed
il- hose Of the preceding year by nearly seven
million dollars; and the imports therefrom,
during the same period, amounted to more
Than twenty-one million-an increase of six
million upon those of the previous 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 a 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
stituied, in consequence OF q serious difference
Of opinion between the commissioners, not only
as 10 the precise point where the rivers termi-
nate, but in many instances as to what consti
tues river. These difficulties, however, may
be overcome by resort to the umpirage provi
dad for by the treaty.
The efforts perseveringly 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
Sc. been attended with success. Other Govern
nsHt9 have also sought to obtain like reliei
i0their commerce, and Denmark was thus in
dlced to propose an arrangement to all the
European Powers interested in the subject
sad the manner in which her proposition was
received, warranting her to believe that salts
atory arrangement with them could soon be
concluded, she made strong appeal to this
O'yernment for temporary suspension of def
lite action on its part, in consideration of the
Embarrassment which might result to her
European negotiations by an immediate ad
llstment of the question with the United
States. This request has been acceded to-
upon the condition that the sums collected
alter the 10th of June last, and until the 10th
oiJuHe next, from vessels and cargoes belong
ing 10 our merchants, are to be considered as
pad under protest, and subject to future ad Just.
Eent. There is reason to believe that an
arrangement between Denmark and the mari.
tine Powers of Europe on the subject, will be
soon concluded, and that the pending negotia.
ton with the United States may then be
resumed and terminated in a satisfactory
manner.
With Spain, no new difficulties have arisen
nor has much progress been made in the ad-
.lstment of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the purpose oi
relieving our commercial intercourse with the
Island of Cuba of some ofits burdens, and pro
WANG for the more speedy settlement of loca
disputes growing out of that intercourse
have not yet been attended with any results
Soon after the commencement of the late wal
10 Europe, this Government submitted to the
consideration OF all maritime nations, two prin-
dples for the security of neutral commerce
one, that the neutral flag should cover enemies
goods, except articles contraband of war and
tae other, that neutral property on board mer
chant vessels of belligerents should be exempt
from condemnation. with the exception of con
heband articles. These were not presented as
new rules of International law; having been
generally claimed by neutrals, though not always
admitted by beligerents. One of the parties
10 the war-Russia-as well as several neutral
Powers, promptly acceded to these propositions
and the two other principal belligerents, Great
Britain and France, having consented to observe
them for the present occasion, favorable OBJ
poriuuity seemed to be presented for obtaining
general recognition of them both in Europe
and America
But Great Britain and France, in common
with most Of the States of Europe, while for.
Tearing to reject, did not affrmatively act upon
The overtures Of the United States.
While the question was in this position, the
representatives. of Russia, France, Great Brit
am, Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, and Turkey
assembled at Paris, took into consideration the
SUBJECT OF maritime rights, and put forth a dec
iSfetlon, containing the two principles which
THIS Government had submitted, nearly two
Years before, to the consideration of maritime
Powers, aud adding thereto the following prop
oSitons: Privateering is and remains abolish
ed, and " Blockades, in order to be binding
must be efective-that is to say, maintained Oy
!, force sufficient really, to prevent access t.
the coast Of the enemy" and to the declaration