Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1856-12-11

dollars is to be attributed to the additional
compensation allowed postmasters by the
| act of Congress of June %, 1854. The mail
| facilities in every part of the country have
| been very much increased in that period,
and the large addition of railroad service,
amounting to seven thousand nine hundred
and eight miles, has added largely to the
| cost Of transportation.
| The inconsderable augmentation Of the
income of the Post Office Department under
| the reduced rates of postage, and its lncreas-
! ing expenditures, must for the present make
! it dependent to some extent upon the treasury
support The recommendations of the Post
master General, in relation to the abolition
of the franking privilege, and his views on
the establishment of mail steamship lines
deserve the consideration of Congress. | also
call the special attention of Congress to the
statement of the Postmaster General respect
ing the sums now paid for the transportation
of mails to the Panama Railroad Company
and commend to their early and favorable
consideration the suggestions of that otfcer
in relation to the new contracts for mail
transportation upon that route, and also
upon the Tehuantepec and Nicaragua routes.
| The United States continue in the enjoy
ment of amicable relations with all foreign
| powers.
When my last annual message was trans
mitted to Congress two subjects OF contro-
! versy. one in relation to the enlistment of
! soldiers in this country for foreign service,
| and the other to Central America, threaten
ed to disturb good understanding between
! the United States and Great Britain. OF
{ the progress and termination of the former
/ question YOU were informed at the time;
/ aud the other is now in the way of satstac-
tory adjustment
The object of the convention between the
United States and Great Britain Of the l9th
Of April, 1850 was to secure for the benefit
Of all nations the neutrality and the com
mon use Of any transit way, or the inter
oceanic communication, across the isthmus
of Panama, which might be opened within
the limits Of Central America. The preten-
sion subsequently asserted by Great Britain,
to dominion or control over territories in or
near two of the routes, those of Nicaragua
and Honduras, were deemed by the United
States, not merely Incompatible with the
main object Of the treaty, but opposed even
to its express stipu!atlons. Occasion Of
controversy on this point has been removed
by an additional treaty, which our minister
at London has concluded, and which will be
Immediately submitted to the Senate for its
consideration. Should the proposed supple
mental arrangement be cOncurred in by all
the 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 9Th 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 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 a pursuit connected to no inconsiderable
degree with our 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 millions Of dollars,
exceeding those Of the preceding year by
nearly seven millions of dollars and the i'm
ports 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
above mentioned 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 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
instituted. in consequence Of a serious dli-
ference of opinion between the commission
ers not only as to the precise point where
the rivers terminate, but in many instances
as to what constitutes river. These dlth-
cuties, however, may be overcome by resort
to the umpirage provided Tor by the treaty.
The efforts perseveringly 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. Other gov
ernments have also sought to obtain like
relief to their commerce and Denmark was
induced to propose arrangement to all
the European powers interested in the sub
iect; and the manner in which her PROPOSE
ton was received, warranting her to believe
that a satisfactory arrangement with them
could soon be concluded, she made strong
appeal to this government for temporary sus-
pension of definite action IN its part, IN
consideration of the embarrassment which
might result to her European negotiations
by an immediate adjustment of the question
with the United States. This request has
been acceeded to, upon the condition that
the sums collected after the 10th of juno
last, aud until the 10th of June next, from
vessels and cargoes belonging to our merch-
ants. are to be considered as paid under
protest and subject to future adjustment
There is reason to believe that an arrange
ment, between Denmark and the maritime
powers of EurOpe on the subjeet, will soon
be concluded, and thatthe pending negotia-
ton with the Unitedi States may then be
resumed and terminated in n satisfactory