The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-12-24

have made any communi:a ion in reply. |
Several Of the governments, regarding
with favor the proposition of the United |
States. have delayed definite action upon |
1t, only for the purpose Of consulting with |
others, parties 10 he conference OF Paris. |
have the satisfaction Of stating, however, |
that the Emperor of Russia has entirely |
and explicitly approved of that modifca. |
ton, aud viii CO operate in endearoring
to obtain the assent of other powers; ; and
that assurances of similar purport have
been received i'll relation to the disposition
Of the Emperor Of the French.
The present aspect Of this important
subJ' ct allows us TO cherish the hope that
n principle SO humane in its character, SO
just and equal in its operation, so essen
llal TO the prosperity Of commercial ma
tons, and so consonant to the sentiments
Of this enlightened period Of the world,
will command the appreciation Of all mar
itime powers, and thus be incorporated
into the code Of international law.
My views on the subject are more fully
act forth in the reply Of the Secretary Of
State, copy Of which is herewith trans
united, to the communications on the SUBJ
ject made to this government, especially
10 the communication OF Franco.
The government. Of the United State,
has nj all times regarded with friendly in.
terest the other States Of America, for
merry, like this country, European colo
MES, and now independent members of the
great family Of nations. But the unset
tied condition OF some Of them, distracted
by frequent resolutions, and thus incapa-
ble of regular and firm internal admins
tration, has tended 20 embarrass occasion
ally our public intercourse, by reason Of
wrongs which our citizens suffer at their
hands and which they arc slow to re
dress.
Unfortunately y it is against the Repub-
lie OF Mexico. with which i, is our special
desire TO maintain u good understanding,
that such complaints are most numerous;
and a!lh ough earnestly urged upon its at.
tcntion, they ns1e not as ys, received the
consideration which this government had
right to expect. While repara,ion for
past injuries has been withheld, others
have been added. The political condition
Of that country, however, has been such
rs to demand forbearance on the part OF
the United States. | shall continue nv
efforts to procure for the wrongs of our
citizens that redress which is indispensable
TO the continued friendly association of
tho two republics.
The peculiar condition Of affairs in Nj
caragua in the ear y part Of the present
| wear, rendered il important that this Coy-
eminent should have diplomatic relations
with that State. Through its Territory
had been opened one of the principal
! thoroughfares across the Is,bmus connect.
ing North and South America, on which
vast amoant Of property WAS transpor-
ted, and to which our citizens restored in
great numbers, in passing between the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts Of the United
States. The protection of both required
that the existing power in that State
should be regarded as a responsible gov.
ernnent and ITS minister was according
ly received. But lie remained here only
a short time. Soon thereafter the polili
| Gel aftairs Of Nicaragua underwent unfa.
vorable change, and became involved in
much uncertainty and confusion. Diplo-
ma'ic representatives from two contending
parties have been recently sent to this
government but, with the imperfect in
formation possessed, it. WAS not possible to
decide which was the government de facto;
and, awaiting further developments, l
have refused to receive either.
Questions Of the most serious nature
are pending between tho United States
and the Republic Of New Granada. The
government Of that republic undertook,
n year since, TO impose tonnage duties on
foreign vessels III her ports, but the pur.
pose was resisted by this government. a.
being contrary to existing treaty s,ipula-
ton with the United States, and to rights
conferred by charter upon the Panama
Railroad Company, and was accordingly
relinqhshed at that time, it being admit.
ted that our vessels were entitled to be
exempt from tonnage duty in the free
ports OF Panama and Aspinwsll. But
the purpose has been recently revived, on
the part Of New Granada, by the enact
ment Of law to subject vessels visiting
her ports to the tonnage duty of forty
cents per ton and although the law has
not been put in force, yet the right to en-.
force il is still asserted. and may, at any
tine. be acted on by the government Of
that republic.
The congress Of New Granada has also
enacted a law, during the last year, which
levies a tax Of more than three dollars on
every pound Of mail matter transported
across the Isthmus. The sum thus re.
quired to be paid on the mails OF the
United States would be nearly two million
OF dollars annually,in addition to the large
sum payable by contract to the Panama
Railroad Company. II the only objec
ton to this exsction were the exhorbitancy
Of its amount, it could not be submitted
10 by the United States.
The imposition Of it, however, wocld
obviously con,ravene our treaty with New
Grapada, and infringe the contract Of that
rpoSiic with Tire Pesssos Rsilrosa ocn-.