Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-09
sPY~WEDNEsDAY DE CEMBER 9, 1891

hotaht OF the provisions and conditions
which might be contained in a futare conven-
ton between the same parties, to sanction
them in advance
The fact is, that when two nationa like
| Great Britain and the United States, mutually
DESTROYS as they are and | trust ever may be,
of maintaining the most friendly relations with
/ each other, have unfortunately concluded q
treaty which they understand in senses d.
| recty opposite, the wisest course is to abrogate
sneh treaty, by mutual consent, and to COM
mence anew. Had this been done promptly,
| all difficulties in Central America would most
| probably ere this, have been adjusted to the
satisfaction OF botl parties. The time spent
| IN discussing the meaning of the Clayton and
| Bulwer treaty, would have been devoted to
| this Trustworthy purpose, and the task would
have been the more easily accomplished be-
cause the interest of the two countries in Cen
trail America is identical, being confined to
securing safe transits over all the routes across
the Isthmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments, I shall,
nevertheless, not refuse to contribute to any
! reasonable adjustment of the Central America
| questions whichis not practically inconsistent
with the American Interpretation of the treaty
| Overtures for this purpose have been recently
made by the British government, in a friendly
spirit, which | cordially reciprocate but
whether this renewed effort will result in sue
cess, l am not yet prepared to express an opin-
ion. A briefperiod will determine
With France our ancient relations of friend
| ship still continue to exist. The French goy-
eminent have in several recent instances,
which need notbe enumerated evinced spir-
it of goodwill and kindness towards our coun-
| try. which | heartily reciprocate 1t is, not
| wsthstanding, much to be regretted that two
nations whose productions are of such IL char
acter as to Invite the most extensive exchange
es and freest commercial intercourse, should
continue to enforce ancient and obsolete re-
strictions of trade against each other Our
commercial treaty with France, is in this re-
spect an exception from our treatses with all
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, 1915, Congress passed an act offering
to all nations to admit their vessels laden with
their national productions into the ports of the
| U. 5. upon the same terms with our own yes
sells, provided they would reciprocate to us
similar advantages. This act confined the re-
ciprocity to the productions of the respective
foreign nations who might enter into the pro-
posed arrangement with the United States
The act of May "a 1928, removed this restric-
ton, and offered a similar reciprocity to all
such vessels without reference to the origin of
their cargoes. Upon these principles, our COM
mercial treatises 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 prede-
cessors, have never failed, when the occasion
offered, to manifest their good will to our
country, and their friendship has always
been highly appreciated by the government
and people of the United States.
With all other European governments, ex-
cept that of Spain, our relations are as peace
full as we could desire. | regret to say that
no progress whatever has been made since the
adjournment of Congress, towards the settle
ment 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 FeTolana on the high
seas, off the coast of Cuba, in March 1855,
by firing into the American mail steamer Ell
Dorado and OBTAINING and searching her, re-
main unacknowedged and unredressed. The
eminent towards that of the United States
are much to be regretted. Our present Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenpotentiary to
Madrid has asked to be recalled and it is my
purpose to send out new Minister to Spain,
with special instructions on all questions PEN
ding between the two governments, and
with determination to have them
speedily and amicably adjusted, if this
be possible. In the meantime, whenever
our Minister urges the just claims of our cit-
zens on the notice of the Spanish government
he is met with the objection that Congress
have never made the appropriation recon-
mended by President Polk in his annual mes
sage Of December, l847, "to be paid to the
| Spanish government for the purpose of dis
| tribution among the claimants in the Amistad
case" A similar recommendation was made
by my immediate predecessor in his message
of December 1852 and entirely concurring
with both in the opinion that this indemnity
is justly due under the treaty with Spain Of
| the 9th October, 1875, l earnestly recon-
mend such an appropriation to the favorable
consideration of Congress.
A treaty of friendship and commerce was
! concluded at Oonstantinople on the 18th De-
cember, 1856, between the United States and
Persia, the notifications of which were ex-
changed at Constantinople on the 18th June,
1857, and the treaty was proclaimed by the
President on the 18th August, 1857. This
treaty, it is believed, will prove beneficial to
American commerce. The Shah has mani
tested an earnest disposition to cultivate friend
ly relations with our country, and has express
ed strong wish that we should be represent
ed at Teheran by a minister penipotentiary
and | recommend that an appropriation be
made for this purpose.
Recent occurrences in China have been un-
favorable to a revision of the treaty with that
empire of the I'd July, 1874 with view to
the security and extension of our commerce.
The twenty-fourth article of this treaty stipu-
lated for q revision of it, in case experience
should prove this TO be requisite ain which
case the two governments will, at the expra-
ton of twelve years from the date of said
convention, treat amicably concerning the
same, by means of suitable persons appointed
| to conduct such negotiations These twelve
years expired on the Sd of July, 1856 but
| long before that period it was ascertained that
important changes in the treaty were necessa-
| ry and several fruitless attempts were made
| by the Commissioner of the United States to
effect these changes. Another effort was
about to be made for the same purpose by
our Commissioner, in conjunction with the
| Ministers of England and France, but this
was suspended by the occurrence of hostilties
in the Canton river between Great Britain and
the Chinese empire. These hostilities have
necessarily interrupted the trade of all nations
with Canton, which is now in state of
blockade, and have Oceasioned n sarinus Ioes