Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-12-14

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eminent towards that of the United States
are much 10 be regretted. Our present envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary TO
Madrid has asked to be recalled; and 1t is my
purpose to send out a new minister to Spain,
with special Instructions on allquestiOns pend.
ing between the two governments and with
a determination TO have them speedily and
amicablv adjusted. if this he possible.
in the meantime, Whenever our minister
urges, the just claims of our citizens on the no.
tice 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
1847, TO be paid.to the Spanish Government
for the purpose of distribution among the claim.
ants in the Amistead case.'' A similar recon-
mendation was made by his immediate prede-
cessor in his message of December, 1853 and
entirely concurring with both in the opinion
that this indemnity is justly due under the
treaty with Spain on the 9th October, 1875
I earnestly recommend an appropriation to the
! favorable consideration Of Congress.
arv oi tri nd-hip and 60 was cons
Gu led At COns'antinople on the 18th December SO
| tween the Unite States and Persia, the ratiica-
| tons of which exchanged at Coustantinope
on tn 18th Of june 1857 and the treaty was pro-
! aimed by the Presi lent on the 18Th of August
1852. This treaty, it is bell vrd, will prove bene-
! fetal to the American commerce. The Shah his
m2uISsLfu an earnest dlSpOSLOn 10 cultivate
! y relations with country, ami has expressed
! strong wish that we should be represented at Te-
! heran by Minister Peuipote ltiary; and recon-
| mend that an appropriation be made for this pur
| pose.
! Recent occurrences IN China have been unfavor-
able to a revision Of the treaty with that Empire,
! of the / of July, 1874, with a view to the secu-
/ rity and extension of our commerce. The oath
article of this treaty stipulated for revision OF IT,
| in case experience should prove this to b. requ-
] - 81.
the expiration of twelve years from the date of
| said convention treat amicably concerning the
! same, by of suitable persons appointed to
| conduct such negotiations"
These twelve years expired on the 9rd of July
1856; bat long before that period it was ascertain
ed that important changes in the treaty were ne
cessary; and several fruitless attempts we're made
by the commissioner Of the United States effect
these changes.
Another effort was about to made for the
same purpose by our commissioner, in coniunc-
ton with the ministers of England and France,
but this was suspended by the occurrence of
hOstlilies in the Canton river between Great
Britain and the Chinese Empire.
These hostilities have necessarily Interrupt
ted the trade of all nations with Canton, which
is now in a state of blockade, and have occas-
toned a serious loss of life and property.
Meanwhile the insurecction within the en-
pire against the existing imperial dynasty still
continues, and it is difficult to anticipate the
result.
Under these circumstances, have deemed
it advisable to appoint distinguished citizen
of Pennsylvania Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary to proceed to China,
and to avail himselfOfany opportunities which
may offer to effect changes in the existing
treaty favorable to American commerce. He
left the United States for the place of his des-
tinatiOn in July last, in the war steamer Mine
sofa. Special Ministers to China have also
been appointed by the governments Of Great
Britain and France.
Whilst our minister has been instructed to oc-
cupy neutral position in reference to the ex-
listing hostlities at Canton. he will cordially CO.
operate with the British and French ministers in
all peaceful measures to secure by treaty stipu-
latiOns those lust concessions to commerce which
the nations of the world have right to expect
and which China cannot long be permitted to
withhold
From assurances received, entertain no doubt
that the three ministers will act in harmonious
concert to obtain similar commercial treaties for
each of the powers they represent
We cannot fail to feel a deep interest in all
that concerns the welfare of the independent re-
publics on our own continent, as we'll as of the
empire of Brazil.
Our dltic ulues with New Grenada which a short
time since nor threatening an asp ct are il j.
to he hoped, in fair tTaic OF ttletnsnt in a man
ner just aud honorable to both pirti-4
TIE Ithmus Of Central Am RE, including that
of Panama, is the great highway between tn, A.
sntic and Pacific, which large portion of the
commerce Of the world il destined to ptss The
UHitei States are more deeply interested than any
other nation in pr rvin the freedom md security
of ell the communications aero. this Isthmus Il
is our duty, ther FORE to take that they ball
not b. int rrupted either by invasion from our own
, country by between the IndepeDdent States
Of Central Americs.
Under tr~.ry with New Grenada of the 18th
December, 1916, bound to guarantee the
n, utraIitv of the Isthmus Of Panama throu oh
which the Panama Railroad passes ''as well as the
rights OF sovereignty aud properly which New
Grenada has in possession over the same Territory
This Obligation is founded upon equivalents grant
ed by the treaty to the government and people of
the United Stat 2.
Under tn sc circumstances, commend to
Congress the passage OF authorizing the Presi
dent, in case ct Necessity, to employ the land and
naval forces Of the United States carry into ei-
feet this guarantee of neutrality and protection.
also recommend similar legislation for the security
of any other route across the Isthmus in which we
NAV acquire interest Fy treaty.
With the independent republics on this con.
tinent it is both our duty and our interest to
cultivate the most friendly relations. We can
never feel in different to their fate, and must
always rejoice in their prosperity. Unfortun-
ately, both for them and for Us, our example
and advice have lost much of their ipfiuence
have been fitted out against some of them
within the limits Of our country. Nothing is
better calculated to retard our steady material
progress, or impair our character as a nation,
than the liberation of such enterprises, in vio-
lRtion of the law of nations.
1t is one of the first and highest duties of
any Independent State, in its relations with the
the members of the great family of nations,
TO restrain its people from acts of hostile ag-
gresson against their citizens or subjects. Tie
most eminent writers on public Law do not
hesitate to denouuce such hostile acts as rob-
berry and murder.
Weak and feeble States, like those Of Central
America may not feel themselves able to assert
and viulicate their rights The case would be far
diff, rent if expeditions foot within our
own territories 10 make private war against a
powerful natiO0 II such expeditions were fitted
out from abroad against any portion of our own
country, TO burn down cti >, murder and pnnder
our people, AID usuTP our government should
call any power rarth to the striclest for
not pr venting such enornfitiss.
Ever since i dmHi,tritiOn Of Gsn. Washing
ton, Ac's OF Congress tave en- in rec 70 pun
sh severely the crimes Of setting foot a military
expedition sitiiu the limits OF the Urited Statez
10 proceed from thence against nation STATE
~itn whom 81 peace. The present neutral
ity act OF AptH &c. 1878 is but little more than
collection of pre-vXistug liWs Uudvr this act tie
President is empoWered TO employ the land and
uaV forces, aud the militia "foT the purpose Of
preventing the carving on of any such expedition
or enterprise from the {, rroTes AMI jutis d ton
OF the UniJer States, and the collectors OF customs
are authorized aud required TO detain any vessel 10
port when there Is reason TO believe she is about
TO take part in such lawless enterprises.
when Il ~Hs 81 r ndered probable that an at