Eastern times., 1856-01-03

wrong, but its reparation. The subject IS still
under discussion, the result of which will be
communicated to you in due time.
repeat the recommendations submitted to
the last congress that provision be made for the
appointment of commissioner in connection
with Great Britain to survey and establish the
boundary line which divides the territory OF
Washington from the contiguous British pos
| sessions.
By reason of the extent and Importance OF
| the country in dispute. there mas oeen im"'.
nent danger Of collision between tne SUBJECTS OF
| Great Britain and the citizens OF the states.
/ including the respective authonties In thss
quarter. The prospect OF speedy arrange
| mept has contributed hitherto to induce on both
s;5as c,rhearnnce to assert by force what each
| cI.;,r. AZ a right Continuance of delay on the
i c,r, of the two governments to act in the mat
| Ter will increase the danger and difficulty oi
| thc controversy.
Misunderstanding exists as to the extent,
character and value of the possessory rights of
the Hudson Bay Company and the property OF
the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, re-
served in our treaty with Great Britain relative
to the territory of Oregon. have reason to
believe that a cession Of the rights of both COM
panies to the United States. which would be
the readiest means of terminating all questions.
can be obtained on reasonable terms, and. with
attention Of congress.
The colony Of Newfoundland having enacted
the laws required by the treaty of the 9th of
June, 1854. is now placed the same footing
in respect to commercial interests with the Uni
ted States as the other British North American
Provinces. The commission which that treaty
contemplated for determining the rights of fish
cry in rivers, and mouths of rivers on the coast
of the United States and the British North
American Provinces has been organized, and
has commenced its labors, to complete which
there is need of further appropriation for the
service of another season.
SOUND DUES.
In pursuance Of the authority conferred by a
resolution of the senate Of the United States,
passed on the Sd of March last, notice was Civ
en- to Denmark on the l4th day of April OF the
intention of this government to avail itself of
the stipulation of the subsistIng convention OF
friendship, commerce and navigation between
that kingdom and the United States, whereby
either party might, after ten years, terminate
the same at the expiration of one year from the
date of notice for that purpose. The consid-
erations which led me to call the attention of
congress to that convention, and induced the
senate to adopt the resolution referred to, still
continue in full force The convention con-
tains article which. although it does not di-
recIly engage the United States to submit to
the imposition of tolls on the vessels and car
goes of Americans passing into or from the
Baltic Sea during the continuation of the trea-
ty, yet it may by possibility be construed as
implying such submission. The cxaction of
those tolls not being justified by any principle
of international law. it became the right and
the duty of the United States to relieve them
selves from the implication of the engagement
nff fho S,,h1a 70 hn pnfl IN aPt
in the premises in such way their public in
terest and honor shall demand. j remain of
the opinion that the United States ough: not
to submit to the payment of the Sound dues
not much because of their amount, which
is secondary matter. but because it is in ef-
feet the recognition of the right of Denmark
to treat one of the great maratime highways of
nations as close sea. and the navigation of it
privilege for which tribute may be impo-
sed upon those who have occasion to use it =
This government on former occasion, not un-
like the present signalized its determination to
maintain the freedom of the seas and of the
great natural channels of navigation. The
Barbary States had for long time coerced the
payment of tribute from all nations whose ships
frequented the Mediterranean. To the last
demand of such payment made by them, the
United States, although suffering less oy their
depredations than many other nations, return
ed the explicit answer that we preferred war
TO tribute. and thus opened the way to the re-
lief of the commerce of the world from an igno-
minious tax so long submitted to by the more
powerful nations of Europe. II the manner of
payment differ from that Of the tribute
mery conceded to the Barbary Sates STILL their exacon
by Denmark has better foundation in right Each was
in its origin, nothing but tax the common natural
right extoed by those who at that time enabled to
obstruct the free and secure enjoyment Of it, but who
longer possess that power. Denmark, while resisting
assertion Of the freedom Of the Baltic Sound and Belts has
indicated readiness to make some arrangement
the subject, and has invited the governments interested
including the United States he represented in
on tn assemble for the purpose Of receiving and consider
ing proposition which she intends submit the cap
alizaton Of the Sound Dues and the distribution to he
paid commutaon the governments according tn
the respective proportion OF their maratme to
and from the Baltic. have declined in behalf Of the Uni
ted States to accept this for the potent One
is that Denmark does not offer to submit to the convention
the question Of her right levy the Sound dues. A
second is that If the convention allowed to take
cognzance Of that particular question: still it would be
to deal with the international principle
and commercial freedom, well that of the
Baltic. Above ALL by the express terms OF the proposition
it is contemplated that the of the Sound
shall he cnmminse with, and made subordinate
ter wholly extraneous the balance of the
governments of Europe While, however, rejecting this
proposition and insisting the right Of free
and from the Baltic have expressed Denmark will
ngness on the part Of the United States share literally
with other powers in cpmpensating her for avanta-
ges which shall hereafter derive expendi-
made by her for the and of
navigation of the Sound Belts. lay before you here
with sundry documents the subject in which views
fully discussed Should satisfactory
ment be concluded shall again call your attention
the subject with recommendation Of such
may appear be required in order and the
rights Of the United they affected by
the pretensi0n Of Denmark.
FRANCE
announce with much qualification that since the ad-
ournment of the last congress the question then existing
between this and that of France respecting
determined and that the relation the two
continue to be Of the most friendly nature.
question which has been pending for years be-
tween the United States and the kingdom of Greece grow
ing out Of the sequestraton by public authorities
country property belonging the present
sui Athens and which had been the subject very
the satisfaction of the party interested and of both
ments.
With Spain peaceful relations still maintained and
some progress has been made in securing the redress
wrongs complained Of by this government Spain
only dsayowe and dsapproved he conduct of the officers
who Illegally subjected and detained the steamer Black
Warrior Havana hnt has paid the sum claimed
indemnity for loss thereby inflicted citizens of the u
states In consequence Of destructive hurric which
visited Cuba in 1884, the authority Of that island
issued decree, admitting the Importation, for the period
of six mouths Of certain building materials and provisions
free of duty, but revoked it when about half the period
only had elapsed to the injury Of citizens of the L. who
had proceeded to the faith Of decree. The
Spanish government refused naturalization parties
agrieved until recently, when assened payment
being promised to be made the due
be ascertained satisfactorily Claim for the
search Of the EDorao has yet accorded
but there is to believe that with others coutn