Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-12-12

not been exchanged, owing 70 the ueSSte-
ton Of that government" Had this been
done, it is stated that Her MAjesty's gov
eminent would have had little difficulty in
agreeing to the mobilization proposed by the
Senate, which would then had, in effect, the |
same Specification As the original wording"
Whether this would have been the effect, |
whether the mere circumstance Of the ex- |
change Of the notifications sf the British |
convention with Honduras, prior in point Of
time to the ratification Of our treaty with |
Great Britain, would, :" in effect" have had |
- the same Specification as the original word |
ing" and thus have annulled the amend
ment Of the Senate, may well be doubted
1t is, perhaps, fortunate that the question
has never arisen.
The British government. Immediately af
ter rejecting the treaty rs amended, pro-
posed to enter into now treaty with the
United States, similar in all respects to the
treaty which they had inst refused to ratify,
if the United States would consent to add
to the Senate's clear and unqualified recoe-
milton Of the sovereignty Of Honduras over
the Bay Islands the following conditional
stipulaton whenever and so soon Is the
republic Of Honduras shall have concluded
and ratified a treaty with Great Britain by
which Great Britain shall have ceded, and
the republic of Honduras shall have accep-
ted the said islands, subject to the provi-
sions and conditions contained in such
treaty."
This proposition was, Ct course, rejected.
After the Senate had refused to recognize
tue British convention with Honduras Of
the 9th August, 1856, with full knowledge
Of its contents, it was impossible for me,
necessarily ignorant Of 6 the provisions and
conditions" which might be contained in
future convention between the same parties,
to sanction them in advance.
The fact ia that when two nations like Great
Britain and the United States, mutually desi-
rous, as they are, and trust ever may be, OF
M intaining the most friendly relations with
each other. have unfortunately concluded
treaty which they understand in senses di 'ectly
opposite, the wisest course is to abrogate such
treaty by mutual consent, and to commence
an W. Had this been done promptly. all diff
culties in Central America would most proba-
bly, ere this have been adju ted to the satisfac-
ton Of both parties. The time spent in dis
cussing the meaning Of the Clayton and 1ul-
wer treaty would have been devoted to this
praiseworthy purpose, and the task would have
| been the more easily acconplishedlbecause the
| interest Of the two cOuntrief in Central Ameri-
| ca is identical, being confined to securing safe
| transit over all the routes across the lsthmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments, | shall
nevertheless ncl refuse to contribute to any
reasonable adjustment Of the Central Ameri-
can questions which il not practically inceesis-
tent with the American Interpretation Of tie
| treaty. Overtures for this ,urp6 Sc have been
recently made by the British Government in Il
| friendly spirit, which cordially reciprocate !;
but whether this renewed effort will result in
| Success am not yet prepared to express an
opinion. A brief period will determine.
With France our ancient relations Of friend
| ship still continue TO exit. The French Cows
| eminent have, III several recent instance
which may net be enumerated, eyinced Il spirit
| Of good vii! and kindness towards our country
which heartily reciprocate 1t is, notwith-
| standing, much to be regretted that two nations
| whose productions are Of such character as
to invite the most extensive exchanges and
| treest commercial intercourse, should continue
| to enforce ancient and obsolete restrictions of
| trane against each other. Our commercial
| treat. with France is in this respect an excep-
ton from our treaties with all other CONNER
cial nations. 1t jcalously 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 ogc, on the 81 Of
March, 1915. Congress passed an act offering in
all nations to admit their vessels laden with
their national productions into the United
States 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, 1929 removed this restrc-
ton, and offered similar reciprocity to all
such vessels without reference to the origin Of
their cargoes. Upon these principles, our com
mercal treaties and arrar gements have been
founded, exception may not long exist.
RUSSIA.
Our relations with Russia remain, as they
have been, on the most friendly footing The
present Emperor. as well as his predecessors,
have never failed, when the occasion offered
to manifest their good will to onr 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 ad
jourument of Congress, towards the settlement
Of any OF the numerous claims Of our citizens
against the Spanish government. Besides, the
outrage committed Oh our flag by the Spanish
war frigate Ferrolana on the high seas, off the
coast Of Cuba, in March, 1855, by firing into
the steamer Ell Dorado, and OBTAINING and
sea chirg her, remains meteorological and
unredressed. The general tone and temper Of
the Spanish Government towards that Of the
United States are much to be regretted.
Our present envoy extraordinary and min
lister pleniptentiary to Madrid has asked te be
recalled and it is my purpose to send out a
new minister to Spain, with special instruc-
tions on all questions pending between the two
governments. and with a determination to have
them speedily end amicably adjsted, if this be
possible In the meantime. Whenever our MN
lister urges the just claims Of our citizens on
the notice Ofthe Spanish government it is met
with the probation recommended by Pres
iden9 Polk in his annual message Of December,
lSi7, ito be paid to the Spanish government
for the purpose Of distribution among the
claimants in the Amistad case" A similar
recommendation was made by my immediate
predecessor, in his message % Defender, 1853
and entirely concurring with both in the opin-
ion that this indemnity is Justly due udcr III
treaty with Spain Of the 9th October, 1895,
earn estly recommend such an appropriation to
the favorable consideration Of Congress-
TURKEY.
A treaty Of friendship and commerce was
concluded at Constantinople on the 18th De
cember, 1856, between the United States ard
Persia, notifications Of which were exchanged
NJ anti la tho vr,no