Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-12-12

I
peeial attention Of Congress to the state
inent Of the Postmaster General respecting
the sums now paid for tue transportation Of
mails to the Panama Railroad Company,
and commend to their early and favorable
consideration the suggestions of that officer
| in relation to new contracts for mail trans
portation upon that route, and also upon the
Tehuantapec and Nicaragua routes.
The United States continue in tho en-
joyment of amicable relations with all for
eign powers.
When my last annual message was trans
mitted to Congress, two subjects OF contro-
yersy, one relating to the enlistment Of sol
diers in this country for foreign service,
and the other to Central America, threaten
cd to disturb good understanding between
tie United States and Great Britain. Ot
ihe progress and termination of the former
question you we're informed at the time;
and the other is now in the way Of salts
factory adjustment.
The object of the convention between
the United States and Great Britain Of the
10th of April, 1850, was to secure, for the
| benefit of all nations, the neutrality and
the common use Of any transit way, or in
teroceanic communication, across the 18TH
mus of Panama, which might be opened
within the limits of Ceutral America. The
pretension subsequently asserted by Great
Britain, TO dominion or control over terri-
tories, in or near two of the routes, those
of Nicaragua and Honduras, were deemed
by the U. States cot merely incompatible
with the train object of the treaty, but op-
posed even to its express stipulations.
The export of domestic articles of those
provinces during the last year rmounted to
more than twenty Two 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 yoar.
The improved condition of this branch
of our commerce is mainly attributable to
thesabcYe mentioned treaty.
Provision was made, in the 6rst article Of
that treaty, for commission to.deslgnate
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 en-
ployod par, of two seasons, but without
much progress in accomplishing the object
for which 1t was Instituted, in consequence
Of serious difference Of opinion between
the commissioners, not only as to the pre-
else point where the rivers terminate, but
| in many Instances as to what constitutes q
river. These difficulties, however, may be
overcome by resort 10 the umpirage provi-
ded for by the treaty.
| The efforts rerseveringly prosecuted since
the commencement Of my administration to
relieve our trade to the Baltic from the ex-
action of sound dues by Denmark, have
not yet been attended with success. 9th
er governments have also sought to obtain
a like relief to their commerce, and Den
mark was thus ind uced to propose an ar
rangement to all the European powers in
terested in the subject; and the manner il
which her proposition was received, war
ranting her to believe that satisfactory ar.
rangement with them could soon be conelu.
ded, she made a strong appeal to this gov,
ernment for temporary suspension of def
mite action on its part, in consideration o
the embarrassment which might result to be-
European negotiations by an immediate ad
justment of the question with the Unitet
States.
This request has been accedcd to, upol
the condition that the sums collected afte
the 18th of June last, and until the litl
of June next, from vessels and cargoe
:, belonging to our merchants, are to he con
sidered as paid under protest and subjec
: TO future adjustment. There is reason t
believe that an arrangement, between Den
mark and the maritime powers of Europ
. on the subject, will soon be concluded, au
that the pending negotiation with tie Uni
: ted States may then be resumed and termiu
s ated in satisfactory manner.
+ With Spain no new difficulties kav
: arisen, nor has much progress been made i
= the adjustment of pending ones.
/ Negotiations entered into for the purp os
: of relieving our commercial intercours
with the Island of Cuba of some of its bur
. dens, and providing for the more speed
y settlement of local disputes growing out 9
that intercourse, have not yet been attent
'e ed with any results.
Soon after the commencement of Il
ID late war in Europe. this government sui
ID misted 10 the consideration of all maritim
t nations two principles for the security
?. neutral commerce: one, that the neutral Ga