The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-12-10

liens engaged in a pursuit connected to
no inconsiderable degree with our ma
tional 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 10 A.
merica.
The exports Of domestic articles to
those provinces during the last year,
amounted to more than twenty-five mil
lions of dollars. exceeding tboss of tho
preceding year by nearly seven millions
of dollars ; and the import, therefrom;
during the same period amounted to
more than twentv.oue millions AN in
crease Of six millions upon those Of tho
previous year.
The improved condition o fthis branch
Of our is mainly attributable
to tho above mentioned treaty.
Provision was made, in the first arti.
Gle of that treaty, for a commission to
designate the mouths of rivers to which
the common right of fishery, on the cost
of the United States and the British
Provinces. was NOT to extend. This
commission has been employed q part of
two seasons. but without much progress
in accomplishing the object for which it
was instituted in consequence of a seri-
Gus difference Of opinion between the
eommissioncrs,not only as to the precise
point where the rivers terminate. but in
many instances as to what constitutes a
river. These difficulties, however. may
be overcome by resort to the umpirage
provided by the treaty.
The efforts perseveringlv prosecuted
since the commencement of my admins
t%ration. to relieve our trade to the Bal
tic from the exaction of Sound dues BY
Denmark, have not yet been attended
with success. Other governments have
also sought to obtain n like relief to their
commerce, and Denmark was thus indu.
ced to- propose an arrangement to all the
Enropeau Powers interested in the sub.
ioct ; and .he manner in which her pro-
position was received, warranting her
to believe that d satisfactory arrange
ment with then. could soou be concluded,
she made a strong appeal to this govern
ment for temporary SUSPENSION OF den
mite action on its part. in consideration
Of the embar rassment which might re-
suit to her European negotiations by an
immediate adjustment Of the que 7t'on
with the United States. This request
has been acceded to, upon the condition
that the sums collected after the 10th
Of June last, and until the 10th of June
next, from vessels and cargoes belonging
to our merchants, are to be considered
as paid under protest and subject to flu
ture adjustment. There is reason to
believe that an arrangement, between
Denmark and TIE maritime powers of
Europe on the subject, will be soon con-
cluded, and that the pending negotiation
with the United States may then be re-
sumed and terminated 10 q satisfactory
manner.
With Spain no new difficulties have
arisen. nor has much progress been made
in tho adjustment of pending ones.
Negotiations entered into for the pur-
pose of relieving our commercial inter
course with the Island of Cuba Of some
Of its burdens, and providing for the
more speedy settlement of local disputes
growing out Of that Intercourse, have
not yet been attended with any results.
Soon after the commencement of the
late war in Europe, this government
submitted to the consideration of all
maritime nations, two principles for the
security Of neutral commerce one, that
the neutral flag should cover enemies
goods, except articles contraband of war;
AMI the other, that neutral property
on board merchant vessels belligorents
should be exempt from condemnation,
with the exception of contraband arti-
Giles, These wero not presented as new
rules Of international law; have been gen.
orally claimed by neutrals, though not
always admitted BY belligercnts. One of
the parties in the war-Russia-as we'll
as several powers. promptly acceded to
these propositions and the two other
principal belligcrents, Great Britain and
France, having consented to observe
them for the present occasion, a %favora-
BILE opportunity seemed to be pr escnted
for obtaining a general recognition of
them both in Europe and America.
But Great Britain and Franco in
common with most Of the states of Eu-
rope, while forbeariDg to reject. did not
afirmatively act upon the overtures Of
the United States.
While the question was 10 this position
the representatives o. Russia, France
Great Britain, Austria, Prussia. Sardi.
MIA and Turkey, assembled at Psris,took
into consideration the subject Of mari
time rights, and Put forth a dcclara
ton containing the w principles which
this government had submitted, nearly
two years before, to the consideration ol
maritime powers and adding thereto The
following proposition "Privateering is
and remains abolished" and Blockade
in order to be binding, must be effective
that is to say, maintained by a force suf
fcient really to prevent access to tn
coast ofthe enemy; and to the declaration
thus composed of four points, two o
which had already been proposed by thu
United Slater, this government has beef
invited to accede by all the powers re
presented at Paris, except Great Britain
and Turkey. To the last of the two ad
di,ional p,opositions-that in relation t.