Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-12-10

hat the question has never ARISEN
The British government, Immediately alter
rejecting the treaty as amended, proposed 10
enter into new treaty with the onlteu ot .,
similar IN all respects to the treaty Which they
bod inst rfI,sed to ratify, If the United States
,,-onId consent TO add to the Senate's clear and
,nonoIified recognition Of the sovereignty oil
Hondnras over the Bay Islands the following
conI;tional stipulation: Whenever and so
coon as the republic of Honduras shall have con-
Guided and ratified treaty with Great Britain,
hv which Great Britain shall have coded, and
the repubIic of Honduras shall have accepted,
the said islands, subject to the provisions anu
conditions contained in such treaty"
This proposition was, OF course, reJecteu.II
Aher fbe Senate had refused to recognize the
British convention with Honduras OF the 2fth OF
August. 1856, with full knowledge of its con-
tents. it was impossible for me, necessarily lg-
nornnt of the "provisions and conditions" which
might be contained in future convention be-
tween the same parties, to sanction them IN ad-
vance. o..
Britain and the United States, mutually desi-
ro.,s as they are and trust ever may be, OF
maintaining the most friendly relat'9nS I WIN
eachIother have unfortunately &C" cluded Aitreaty
which they understand in senses directly oPpo-
site the wiSest course is to abrogate such
treaty by mutual consent, and to commence
anew. Had this b en- done promptly, all DIM
entities in Central America would most probably
ere this have been adjusted to the satisfaction oil
both parties. The time spent III discussing the
meaning of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty
would have been devoted to this Praiseworthy
nurnose. and the task would have been the more
easily accomplished because the interest OF the
two countries in Central America IS identical
being confined to secure safe transits over all the
routes across the ISthmuS.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments. shall
nevertheless not refuse to contribute to any rea-
snnable adjustment Of the Central American
questions which is not practically inconsistent
with the American Interpretation OF the treaty.
Oyertures for this purpose have been recently
made by the British Government in friendly
spirit which cordially reciProcate; but wheth-
e. this renewed effort will result in success am
not vet prepared to express an opinion. Or'et
period will determine.
With France our ancient relations OF friend
ship still continue to exist. The French Gov
eminent have in several recent instances which
need not be enumerated, evinced a spirit OF good
will and kindness towards our country which
heartily reciprocatc. 1t is, notwithstanding,
much to be regretted that two nations whose
productions are of such character as to invite
the most extensive exchanges and freest COM
|mercial intercourse, should continue to enforce
ancient and obsolete restrictions of trade against
each Otner.. OUE COMMENSURATE VIII l1uNS
is in this respect, an exception from our treaties
with all other commercial nations. 1t jealousy
Ieyies discriminating duties both on tonnage and
ON articles the growth, produce or manufacture
Of the one country, when arriving in vessels be-
longing to the other.
More than forty years ago, on the I'd March,
1915, Congress passed an act offering to all ma
tons to admit their vessels laden with their ma
tional productions into the ports of the United
States upon the same terms with our own yes
sells, provided they would rcciprocate to us sim
liar advantages This act confined the recipro-
city to the productions of the respective foreign
nations who might enter into the proposed ar
rangement with the United States. The act OF
Nav 81, 1928, removed this restriction, and Of
fered similar rcciprocityto all such vessels with
out reference to the origin of their cargocs.-
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 well as his predeccs-
sors, have never failed, when the occasion offer
ed to manifest their good will to our country;
and their friendship has always been highly APP
preciated by the government and people of the
United States.
With all other European Governments ex-
cept that of Spain, our relations are as peace
progress whatever has been made. since the ad-
iournment of Congress, towards the settlement
of any of the numerous claims of our citizens
against the Spanish government Besides, the
outrage committed on our flag by the Spanish
war-frigate Ferrolana on the high seas, off the
coast of Cuba, in March, 1855, by firing into the,
American mail steamer Ell Dorado, and detain-
ing and searching her, remains unacknowledged
and unredressed. The general tone and tenn
per of the Spanish government towards that OF
the United States are much to Ebe regretted
Our present Envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to Madrid, has asked to be re-
called; and it is my purpose to send out new
minister to Spain, with special instructions on
all questions pending between the two govern
mcnts, and with determination to have them
speedily and amicably adjusted, if this be pos
sible. In the mean time, whenever our minis
ter urges the just claims of our citizens on the
notice of the Spanish government, he is met with
the objection that Congress have never made
the appropriation recommended by President
Polk in his annual message of December, 1917,
''to be paid to the Spanish government for the
purpose of distribution among the claimants in
the AniStad case" A similar Recommendation
was made by my Immediate predecessor in his
message of December, 1858; and entirely con-
curing with both in the opinion that this in
demnity is justly due under the treaty with
Spain of the 2Tth October, 1895, earnestly re-
commend such appropriation to the favora-
bic consideration Of Congress