The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-01-11

ton. The Barbary States had, for n long
time, coreced the payment of tribute from all
nations, whose ships frequented the Mediter
ranean. To the last demand of such pay
nlent made by them the United States. al.
though suffering loss by their depredatons
than many other nations returned the cxplic.
1t answer, that We preferred war to tribute,
and thus opened the way to the relief of the
commerce of the world from an Ingenious
tax, so long submitted to by the more pow.
erful nations of Europe.
III the manner of payment of the Sound
dues differ from that of the tribute formerly
conceded to the Barbary States still their
exactlon by Denmark has no better found
alton in right. Each was in its origin, moth.
ing but tax on common natural right, ex
torted by those who were at that time able
10 Slstruct the sea and secure enjoyment of
u, but who no longer possess that power.
Denmark, while resisting our assertion of
the freedom of the Baltic Soud Belts, has
Indicated n readiness to make some new mr..
rangelnent on the subject, and has invited the
governments interested, including the United
states, to be represented in n convection to
assemble for the purpose of receiving and
considering proposition, which she intends
TO submit, for the capitalization of the Sound
PAD as commutation among the governments.
necoruihg TO the respective proportions of
Their maritime commerce to and from the Bal.
tic. ] have declined in behalf of the United
States to accept this invitation for the most
cogent reasons. One is, that Denmark does
not offer to submit to the convention the
question of her right to levy the Sound dues,
second is, that, if the convention were al.
lowed to take cognizance of that particular
question. still it would not be competent to
deal with the great international principle in
voIved which affects the right in other cases
OF navigation and commercial freedom ns
well MS that of access to the Baltic. Above
nll, by the express terms of the proposition
It is contemplated, that the consideration of
the Sound dues shall be commnrIed with.
and made subordinate to, Il matter wholly
eXtraneous, the balance Of power among the
governments of Europe.
While, however rejecting the proposition
and insisting on the right of free transit in.
tn and from the Batc, | have expressed to
Denmark Willingness on the part of the
United States to share literally with other
Powers IN compcnsating her for any advan.
tases which commerce shall hereafter de-
rive from expenditures made by her for the
Improvement and safety Of the navigation of
! the Sound or Belts.
lay before YOU herewith sundrv docu.
mchis on the subject, in which my views are
more fully disclosed. Should no satisfacto.
ry arrangements be soon concluded, | shall
again call your attention TO the subject, with
recommendation of such measures as NAV an.
| peare 10 be required in order to assert and
secure the rights of the United States, 80 far
as they are affected by the pretcntions of
/ Denmark
announce, with much qualification, tha.
/ since the adjournment Of the last Congress,
the question then existing hctwacn this Gov
ernment and that of France, has been salts.
iactorlally determined, and that the relations
OF the two Governments continue to be of
the most friendly nature.
a question also which has been pending
Tor several years between the United States
ana the Kingdom of Greece, growing out of
the sequestratlon by public authorities of that
country, ct property belonging to the present
American Consul at Athens, and which had
been the subject Of very earnest discussion
heretofore, has recently been settled to the
satisfaction of the party interested and of
both Governments.
with Spain, peaceful relations are still
maintained, and some progress has been made
IN securing the redress Of wrongs complained
of by this Government. Spain has not only
disavowed and disapprovcd of tho officers
who Illegally seized and Detained the steamer
Black Warrior at Havana, but has also paid
the sum claimed as indemnity for the loss
thereby inflicted on citizens of the United
States.
In consequence of destructive hurricane
which visited Cuba in 1914, the supreme
authority Of that island issued decree per.
mltled the importation, for the period of six
months, Of certain building materials and
provisions, free of duty, but revoked it when
half the period only had elapsed, to the injury
OF citizens of the United States, who had
proceeded to act on the faith of the Decree
lhe Spanish Government refused indcmnifi-
cation to the parties aggrieved until recently,
When IL WAS assented to, payment being
| promised to be made so soon as the amount
due can be ascertained.
| Satisfaction claimed for the arrest and
search Of the steamer I'll Dorado has not vet
! been accorded, but there is reason to believe
that 1t will be, and that case, with others,
continues to be urged upon the attention of
the Spanish Government. do not aband on
/ the hope OF concluding with Spain some
| general arrangement, if i: do not wholly pre-.
vent the recurrence of difficulties in Cuba,
viii render them less frequent; and whene, er
they shall occur, facilitate their more speedy
settlement.
The nterposition of the Government has
been invoked by many of its citizens, on ac-
count of Injuries done to their persons and
property, for which the Mexican Republic is
responsible. The unhappy situation of that
country, for some time past, has not allowed
IFS government to give due consideration ia
claims of private reparaton, and has appeared
to call for and justify some forbearance in
such matters on the part of this government
But, if the revolutionary movements, which
have lately occurred in that republic, end il
the organization Of Il stable government, ur
gent appeals to its justice will then be made
and, it may be hoped, with success, for the re
dress of all complaints of our citizens.
In regard to the American republics, whi.h
from their proximity and other considerations
have peculiar relations to this government
while it has been my constant aim strictly I,
observe all the obligations of political friend
ship and of good neghborhood, obstacles #
thls nave arisen in some of them, from thei
own insufficient power to check lawless II
ruptions, which in effect throws most of IN
task on the United States. Thus the dis
trncted internal condition of the State a
Nicaragua has made it incumbent on me f.
appeal to the good faith of our citizens {,
abstain from any unlawful Intervention il
its aiialr4, and to adopt preventive meas
urcs to The same end, which, on n similar oc
casior, had the best results in re.assurinr N,
peace of the Mexican States of Sonora nm,