The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-10
VOL. XI.

p.
nations 10 admit their vessels laden III " a.
national productions iGto the ports of H. T .i
+ ted > states, upon the same terms wi h 81
vessels, provided they would reciproco,a wv
similar advantages. This act corfpsd I
/ ciproclty to the productions Of the rs,.-.'s'
foreign nations who might enter M, L.e-''':
/ posed arrangement with the Cp:ta5 F~
/ The act of May "a, 1923. removed ,b;s -
( ton, and offered a similar recirroo;,- ~. ING
such vessels, without reference n the go d
their cargoea. Upon these princp'es on ~ C.
mercal treaties and arrangement r. LII IL
founded, except with France; aud 70. ~, -
/ that thi1 exception ros7 not Jry exis. ~.
Our relations with Russia remain o., :,
have ever been, on the most frierd'v fooS,
The present Emperor, as we'll 90 his nrs s5..l-
sors, have never failed, when the ooc,s:,, sF
/ ed, to manifest their good will to ovr 60.
and their friendship has always been bi,bI.l
! preciated by the Government and pe2rla - q. aP
| United States. y Ut
! With all other European Goyer7r,.-.-
! cept that of Spain, our relations are as met
/ as we could desire. / regret to saw ia.
/ progress whatever has been made. since The ~
/ JouFnnent of Congress, towards the ga.,lg-,e.
/ OF any Of the numerous claims Of orr ,;,.,-.
! against the Spanish Govern neut. Bssids, Il
outrage committed on our ~ by the So
war trigate Ferrolans, on the high seas 49,
coast of Cuba, in March, 1855 by f-;r, Wv
! tie American mail steamer L, Dorado ana 4
tanning aud searching her, remains INA. -,
/ edged and unredreased. The general ta,ao,3
temper OF the Spanish Government tor,,'-
! that Of the United States are much >, l..
/ GREETED. Oar present Envoy Exrra,rd.r,..
and Minister Plenipotentiary to N,d-l l..
asked to be recalled; ard i is M uq-aas1,
( send cut new Minister 10 Spain. win s,ac...
Instructions On all questions pending BE-, ,.-r
/ the two Governments, and with = 5ef.r-,;-.,..,--
/ 20 nave them speedily and amicaAly 40 i1s.-5
/ it this be possible. Ia the mean TIM r.
/ ever our Minister urges the jus, claims ac an.
/ citizens on the notice Of the S7anisb G,r..-
ment' ne IS met with the objection that Cr.
! gress have never made the auprouria.i,, -
commended by President Polk in his ANN
message Of December, 1917, "to be paid 1,b.
Spanish Government for the purpose Of 4. =.
! button among the claimants in the ni,.,,
/ case" similar recommendation vas ma.
! by my immediate predecessor, IN his n,es.g-o
! OF December, 1853; and entirely copc1r-;r,
/ with both IN the opinion that this indemnify "a
! justly due, under the treaty with Snain Of The
/ Z7;h October, 1875, | earnestly recommend
such ali appropriation to tAe favorable cog,i1
Grafton OF Congress.
A treaty of friendship and commerce wa.
concluded at COnetantinople on the 18Th De-.
| cember, 1856, between the United States and
Persia, the ratiEcatiOns Of which were ~.
changed at Coustantinople on the 18Th J.,a.
1901, ard the treay was proclaimed bg the
! President on the 18Th August, 1871. This
treaty, 1t is believed, will prove beneficial To
American commerce. The Shah has marif4s,
ed an earnest disposition to cultivate friendly
relations with our country, and has expressed
a strong wish that we should be repra,aptaI at
Ieheran by Minister Pleuipo,entilry; and I
recommend that an appropriation be made for
! this purpose.
! Recent occurrences in China have been m.
! favorable to a revision of the treaty with H.,
empire of the 3 July, 1874, with n view 10 To
/ security and extension Of our commerce. T5s
Zlgh article of this treaty stipulated for reyis
! ion OF 1t, in case experience should prove tli,
to be requisite; 4" in which case, the two Go7|
| ernments will, ct the expiration of twelve yea-
! from tbs date Of said convention. treat araic,l
| by concerning the same, by means Of suitable
! persons appointed to conduct such regoti,
tons" These twelve years expired on the Il
Jaly, 1856; bat long before that period. It VA
| ascertained that important changes in the treat i
were necessary; and several frui.less attengtI
| were made By the Commissioner of the UrreI
| States 10 effect these changes. Another eaj 4
was about to be made for the same purposa Fl
our Commissioner, in conjunction with the Nj
listers Of England and France; but this w.
suspended BY the occurrence of hostiIit;ss in
| Canton river, between Great Britain and iis
; Chinese Empire. These hostilities have nee,
| sarily interrupted the trade of all nations viii
| Canton, which is now In a state of blo,laia|
| aud have occasioned a serious loss Of life anil
! property. Meanwhile, the instruction within.
the empire against the existing Imperial dynas
ty still continues, and it Is difficult 10 autcipa,e
what will be the result.
Under these circumstances, | have deemed +,
advisable 10 appoint distinguished citizen al
Pennsylvania Elvoy Extraordinary and Minis
ter Plenpotentary, TO proceed to China and to
avail himself OF any opportunities which ma7
Offer to effect changes in the existing treaty. e.
vorable TO American commerce. He lef. the
United States for the place OF bis destination IL
| July last, in the war steamer Minnesota So
cial Ministers TO China have also been appoil
| ed by the Governments of Great Britain an
| France.
| Whilst our Minister has been instructed t
occupy neutral position in reference TO tie
existing hostiities at Canton, he will cordalf
cooperate with the British and French Minis
teTs in ali peaceful measures to secure By fresr
atipulations those just concessions to commerce
which the nations of the world have n rich, q
expect, and which China cannot long be per
mltted to withheld. From assurances received
L entertain no doubt that the three Nini5er /
VIII act IN harmonious concert to obtain simla
commercial treaties for each Of the Power
they represent.
We cannot fail to feel deep interest in q.
that concerns the welfare of the niepeude.
Republics on our own continent, as well IS Of
the empire of Brazil.
Oar difficulties with New Granada. which Il
short time since bore so threatening an aspect
are, 1t 10 TO be hoped, in fair train of settle /
ment, IN manner ust and honorable to bot !
parties.
The Isthmus of Central America, ircluiir! /
that OF Panama, is the great highway betRea- /
| the Atlantic and Pacific, over which q lsrst
| portion of the commerce of the world Is DE- /
tined to pass. The United States are nor
deeply interested than any other nation in pr
serving the freedom and security OF oil the con
municetions across this Isthmus. II is on
duty, therefore, TO take care that they shall 10
be interrupted, either by invasions from OF
own country, or by wars between the indaper
ent States of Central America Under q
treaty with New Granada of the l2ta Decer
Der, 1886, we are bound to guaranty the ne1t'a
ity OF the lsthmus of Panama, through WI
the Panama railroad passes, Gas well as
rights of sovereignty and property which Ne7
Granada has and possesses over the sal! ter
tory" This obligation is founded upon equiv"
Tents granted by the treaty to the Go7erameH
and people Of the United States.
Under these circumstances, l recommend
Congress the passage of an az authorizing Il
President, in case Of necessity, to employ n
land and naval forces Of the United STATES
carry into effect this guarantee of neltrah.
and protection. / also recommend similar L
islation for the security of any oher r5a.I
anrnss The Isthrnns in which We may ecln.I