The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-12-16

VI A I'll
provisions and conditions,r which nigh
be contained in a future convention be
tween the same parties, to sanction then
in advance. The fact is that when tw,
nations like Great Britain and the Unite,
States mutually DESTROYS as they are, an,
I trust ever may be of maintaining tn,
most friendly relations with each other
have unfortunately concluded o treat,
which they understand in senses directl,
opposite, the wisest course is to abrogats
such a treaty by mutual consent, ant
commences anew. Had this been don,
promptly, all difficulties in Central Amer
lea would most probably ere this nav,
been adjusted to the satisfaction of boil
parties. The time spent in discussin.
the meaning of the Clayton and Bulwel
treat would have been devoted to tn
praise-werthy purpose, and the task woulo
have been the more easily accomplished
because the interest of the two countries
IN Central America is indentical, being
confined to securing safe transits over al
the routes across the Isthmus. Wills
entertaining these sentiments I shall new
ertheless not refuse to contribute to any
reasonable adjustment Of the Contra
America question which is not practically
inconsistent with the American interpre-
tation of the treaty. Oyertures for thi.
purpose have been recently made by the
British Government in a friendly spirit
which / cordially re~ciprecate. But wheth.
er this renewed effort will result in sue.
cess I am not yet prepared to express an
opinion. A brief period will determine.
With France our ancient relations OF
friendship still continue to exist. The
French Government has in several recent
instances, which need not be enumerated,
evineed a spirit of good will and kindness
towards our country, which I heartily re-
c%inrocate. It is, notwithstanding, much
to be regretted that two nations, whose
productions arc Of such a character as to
invite the most extensive exchanges and
freest commercial intercourse, should con.
tinue to enforce ancient and obsolete re-
strictioBs of trade against each other
Our commercial treaty with France in
this respect is an exception from our trea-
ties with other commercial nations. 1t
jealousy levies discriminating duties both
on tonnage and on articles the growth,
produce, or manufacture of the one country
when arriving in vessels belonging to the
other.
More than forty years ago, on the Sd of
March 1917, Congress passed an act offer
ing to all nations to admit their vessels
laden with their national productions into
the ports of the United States upon the
same terms with our own vessels, provid-
ed they would reciprocate to US similar
advantages. This act confined the recip-
rocity to the productions of the respective
foreign nations who might enter into the
proposed arrangement with the United
States. The act of May 24, 1928, re-
moved this restriction, and offered a sim
liar reciprocity to all such vessels without
reference to The origin of their cargoes.-
Upon these principles, our commercial
treaties and arrangements have been
founded, except with France; and let US
hope that this exception may not long
exist.
Our relations with Russia remain, as
they have ever been, on the most friendly
footing. The present Emperor, as we'll
as his predecessors, have never failed,
when the occasion offered, to manifest
their good will to our country; and their
friendship has always been highly appre-
ciated by the Government and people of
the United States.
~ W \ III Il 44ASPCo6 dObC4b
except that of Spain, our relations are as
say that no progress whatever has been
made since the adjournment of Congress
towards the settlement of any of the nu-
merous claims of eur citizens against the
Spanish Government. Besides, the out
rage committed on our flag by the Span
ish war frigate Ferrolana on the high seas
off the cos st of Cuba, in March 1855, by
firing into the American mail steamer Ell
dorado, and OBTAINING and searching her,
remains unacknowledged and unredressed.
The general tone and temper of tho Span
ish Governments towards the United
States is much to be regretted. Our
present Envoy Extraordinary and Minis
ter Plenipotentiary to Madrid has asked
to be recalled, and it is my purpose to
send out a new Minister to Spain, with
special Instructions on all questions PEN
ding between the two Governments, and
a determination to have them speedily
and amicably adjusted if this be possible.
In the meantime, whenever our Minis
ter urges the just claims of our citizens
the notice of the Spanish Government, |
be is met with the objection that Con
gress has never made the appropriation
recommended by President Polk in his
annual message of December, l847, ito
be paid to the Spanish Government for
.he purpose of distribution among the
claimants in the Amistad case" A sim
lar recommendation was. made by my i'm
mediate predecessor in his message of De-
1853; and entirely concurring
With both in the opinion that this indem-
lity is Justly due under the treaty with
Spain Of October 27, t795, I earnestly
.ecommend such an appropriation to the
favorable consideration of Congress.
A treaty of friendship and commerce
vas concluded at Con%stantinople on the
I4th December, 1856, between the United
3tates and Persia, the notifications of
which were exchanged at Constantinopie
IN the 18th June, 1857, and the treaty
vas proclaimed by the President on the
9Th August, 1857. This treaty, it is be-
ieved, will prove beneficial to American
The Shah has manifested an
disposition to cultivate friendly
with our country, and has ex-