Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-12-16


ue to enforce ancient and obsolete restrictions
! of trade against each other. Our;commerclai
treaty with France is in this respect an eXcep-
| tion from our treaties with all other CONNER
! cial nations. Its jealousy levies discrimInat-
| ing duties both tonnage and on articles, the
! growth, produce, or manufacture OF the one
country, when arriving in vessels belonging 10
| the other.
More than forty years ago, on the Sd March:
| 1915. Congress passed act offering to all ma
! tions TO admit their vessels laden with their
national productions into the ports of the u
| nited States upon the same terms with our
| own vessels, provided they would reciprocate
! to us similar advantages. This act confined
the reciprocity to the productions of the res
| pectir asforeign nations who might enter into
! the proposed arrangement with the U. States.
| The act of May "a, 1928, removed this restric-
| tion, and offered a similar reciprocity to all
! such vessels without reference TO the gin of
their cargoes. 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, well as his PredeccS
sors, have never failed, when the occasion Of
| fered, to manifest their good will to our coun-
| try; and their friendship has always beer
| highly appreciated by the government and
| people of the United States.
! W I'm all Otner European governments. SA
cept that of Spain, our relations are as peace
| ful 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 ci-
| tizens against the Spanish government. Be-
| sides, the outrage committed on our flag by
| the Spanish war frigate FerrolaEa, on the high
| seas off the coast Of Cnba, in March, 1855. by
| firing into the Americal mail steamer FL Dora
| do, and dctaining and searching her, remains
| Unacknowiedged and unredresSed. The gem
/ cral tone and temper of the Spanish govern
ment towards that of the United States are
much to be regretted. Our present envoy eN-
! traordinary and minister plenipotentiary 10
| Madrid has asked to be recalled; and it is my
purpose to send out new minister to Spain,
| with special instructions all questions pen
| ding between the two governments, and with
| determination to have them speedily and ami
cably adjusted, if this be possible. In the
/ mean time, whenever our minister urges the
just claims of our citizens on the notice of the
| Spanish government, he is met with the ohicc-
tion that Congress have never made the appro-
priation recommended by President Polk in
his annual message of Dec. 1S47, s.to be paid
to the Spanish government for the purpose of
distribution among the claimants in the Amis-
| tad case.' a similar Recommendation was
made by my immediate predecessor in his
message of December, 1853 and entirely con-
curing with both in the opinion that this in-
| demnity is justly due under the treaty with
| Spain of Oct. %, 1895, earnestly recommend
such an appropriation to the favorable consid-
Grafton of Congress.
| A treaty of friendship and commerce was
| concluded at Constantinople on the 18th De-
cember 1856 between the United States and
| Persia. the ratificationS 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 manifes
| ted an earnest disposition to cultivate friendly
relations with our country, and has expressed
| a strong wish that we should be represented at
| Teheran by minister plenipotentiary 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 Sd July, 1874, with view TO
the security and extension OF our commerce.
The 9th article of this treaty stipulated for
revision of it, in case experience should prove
this to be requisite, Sin which case the two
governments will, at the expiration of twelve
years from the date OF said convention, treat
amicably concerning the same, by means of
suitable persons appointed to conduct such
negotationS.'' These twelve years PXI ired on
the Sd July. 1856 but long before that period
| it was ascertaincd that important changes In
/ the treaty were necessary and several fruit
( less attempts were made by the commissioner
! of the United States 10 effect these changes.
| Another effort was about TO be made for the
same purpose by our commissioner, in con-
| junction with the ministers of England and
France. but this was suspended by the occur
| renee OF hostilities in the Canton river be-
| tween Great Britain and the Chinese Empire.
These hostilitics have necessarily interrupted
| the trade of all nations with Canton, which is
! now in a state of blockade, and have occasion
| ed serious loss of life and property. Mean
! while the nsurrection within the empire a.
| gainst the existing imperial dynasty still con-
| tinues, and it is difficult to anticipate what
! will be the result.
| Under these circumstances, have deemed
| it advisable to appoint distinguished citizen
| of Pennsylvania envoy extraordinary and min
| lister plenipoten tiary to proceed TO China,
| and avail himself of any opportunities which
may offer to effect changes in the existing trea
| ty favorable to America commerce. He left
| the United States for the place of his distina-
| tion in July last in the war steamer Minnesota.
| Special ministers to China have also been ap-
| pointed by the governments of Great Britain
| and France.
Whilst our minister has been instructed to
| occupy neutral position in reference to the
existing hostilties at Canton, he will cordially
| cooperate with the British and French minis
ters in all peaceful measures to secure by trea-
| ty stipulations, those just concessions to COM
merce 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 harmon-ou concert 10
/ obtain similar commercial treaties lor each Vi
| the powers they represent
| We cannot fail to feel deep interest," II, an al,
| republics of our own cohtiben'' % "e'' 90 vi
| the empire of Brazil.
Our difficulties with New Granada, which a
1 short time since bore so threatening an aspect