Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-12-12

Britain would "in elect" have had "the same
signifcation as the original wording" and
thus have nulliied the amendment Of the
Senate, mny well be doubted. II is, perhaps,
fortunate that The question has never arisen.
The British government, immediately after
rejecting the treaty ns amended, proposed TO
enter into new treaty with the United
States, similar in all respects to the treaty
which they had just refused to ratify, If the
United States would consent to add TO the
Senate's clear and unqualified recognition Of
the sovereignty Of Honduras over the Bay
Islands the following conditional stipulation:
Whenever and so soon as the republic of
Honduras shall have concluded and ratified q
treaty with Great Britain, by which Grent
Britain shall have ceded, and the republic Of
Honduras shall have accepted, the said
islands, subject TO the provisions and condi-
tons contained in such treaty"
The proposition was, Of course, rejected.
After the Senate had refused to recognize
the British convention with Honduras, of the
9th August, 1856, with full knowledge Of its
contents, it was impossible for me, necessarily
ignorant OF "ths provisions and conditions"
which might be contained in future conven-
tion between the same parties, to sanction
them in advance.
The fact is that when two nations like
Great Britain nnd the United States mutually
desirous, 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
directly opposite, the wisest course is to
abrogote such q treaty by mutnal consent
and to commence anew. Had this been done
promptly, oil difficulties in Central America
would most probably ere this have been
adjusted to the satisfaction of both parties.
The time spent in discussing the meaning
of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty would have
been devoted to this praisewortby purpose,
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 securing safe
transits over oil the routes across the
Istbmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments. ]
shall petberless not refuse contribute to any
reasonable adjustment of the Central Ameri.
can questions, which is not practically ihcon-
sistent with the American Interpretation OF
the treaty. Overtures for this purpose have
been recently made by the British government
in friendly spirit which cordially recipro.
cate but whether this renewed effort will
result in success am not yet prepared TO
express an opinion. A brief period will de.
| termine.
| With France our ancient relations OF friend
ship still continue to exist. The French gov
crnment have in several recent instance
which need not be enumerated, evinced q
spirit of good will and kindness towords our
country which heartily reciprocate. II is
Notwithstanding, much to be regretted that
| two nations whose productions ore of such O
character as to invite the most extensive ex
changes and freest commercial intercourse
should continue totepforce ancient and obso
lete restrictions Of trade against each other
Our commercial treaty with France is in this
respect an exception from our treaties will
all other commercial nations. 1t jealousy
levies discriminating duties both on tonnag,
and on articles, the growth, produce or man
ufacture Of the one country when arriving il
vessels belonging to the other.
More than forty years ago, on the Sd o
March, 1918, Congress passed an act Offering
TO ell nations to admit their vessels laden will
national productions into the ports Of the
United States upon the same terms with ou
own vessels, provided they would reciprocat
to US similar advantages. This act confine,
the reciprocity to the productions Of the re
spectve foreign nations who might enter int
the proposed arrangement with the Unite,
States. The act of May 81, 1928, removes
| u
ty to oil such vessels without reference to ih
origin Of their cargoes. Upon these princ
Piles our commercial treaties and Arrangement
have been founded except with France au
let us hope that this exception niay;not lon
exist.
Our relations with Russia rcmain as the
have ever been, on the most friendly footing
The present Emperor as well as his predeces
sors, have never fhiled, when the occasion o
cred 10 manifest their good will to our coun
try md their friendship has always bee
highly appreciated by the government an
people Of the United States.
With all other European governmcE,
except that of Spain, our relations are n
peaceful as could desire. regret TO say thi
no progress. whatever has been made. sine
the adjournment of Congress towards the Sc
tlement Of any of the numerous claims of ou
, citizens against the Spanish Government
| Besides the outrage committed on our aageb
the Spanish war frigate Ferrolana, on tt
high seas, of the coast OF CABIN in March, lS6
by firing into the American mail steamer
= Dorado, and OBTAINING and searching he
remains unacknowledged and unrsdressed
I The general tone and temper the SPANS
e government towards that ofthe United Stat,
t are much to be regretted. Our present envs
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary
n Madrid has asked 10 be recalled and il is IT
e purpose to send out new minister to Spai
I with special instructions on all questions pc
!. ding between the two governments. and wi
II q determination to have them speedily al
II amicably adjusted, if his be possible. In Il
r mean time, w6enever our minister urges Il
/ just claims of our citizens on the notice of Il
;, Spanish government, he is met with the O
: lection that Congress have never made Il
l. appropriation recommended by Preside
i Polk in his annual message of Decembt
lS47, ito be paid by the Spanish governme
IS for the purpose of distribution among the cl,
Z mants in the Amistad case"
e A similar recommendation was made by y
!, immediate predecessor in his message of Decor
u Der, 1853; and entirely concurring with both
N the opinion that this indemnity is justly due u
D der the treaty with Spain of the a7th Octob
], 1885, earnestly recommend such an appIopr
II ton to the favorable consideration of Congre
81 treaty Of friendship aud commerce was CO
cluded at Constantinople on the 9Th Decemb
n, 1856, between the United States and Persia, I
Of rsrifcations of which were exchanged at Go
sr stantinopIe the 18th June, 1857. and the tr,
CT ty was proclaimed by the President on the, Is
II, August, 1857. This treaty, il is believed, "
lh prove beneficial to american commerce. I
Id Shah has manifested an earnest disposition
in cultivate friendly relations with our country a
le has expressed u strong wish that we should