Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-12-18

OF the exchange OF the rttihcItionS OF the
British convention with Honduras prior IN
point OF tIms to the rattle ltiOn OF our
treaty with Great Britain would. 'in cH ct
have hid the siine signiiciliIn us thu orig
inul wording aud thus have nullifiei the
amendment Of the Senate, may WILL Ia
doubted. 1t is. perhaps fortunate that
the question has never arisen.
Tue British government, Immediately af-
ter rel citing the treaty as amended pro-
posed to enter into IL new treaty. with the
United States, similar in all respects tJ tho
treaty which they have Just refused to ra-
tifv, if the United States would consent 70
add to the Scnate's clear and uuaualiti ID
recognition OF the sovereignty of Honduras
over the Buy lsends the following conIi
tional stipulation " Whenever and so soon
as the republic of Honduras shall have con
cluded and ratified treaty with Great
Britiin, by which Great Brit lin shall have
ceded, and the republic of Hon luras shall
have accepted, the sad islands, suhjtct t.
the provisions and conditions contained in
such treaty"
This proposition was Of course, rejected,
After the Senate had refused to reco snize
the British convention with Honduras OF
the 9th of August, 1856, with full know
led OF its contents it was impossible for
ms. necessarily ignorant of "the provisions
and Conditions which might he contained
m a future convention between the same
ptrtieA, to sanction them IN advance
Inc fact is. when two nation like Great
Britain and the United States, mutually
d srnus, as they are, and trust ever NAV
he, OF maintaining the most friendly rela.
tiOns with each other, have unfortunately
concluded a treaty which they understand
in senses directly opposite, the wisest course
is to abrog,te such treaty by mutual con
sent, and to commence anew. Had this
been done promptly, al! difficulties in Cen
trail America would most probably ere this
have been adjusted to tine satisfaction OF
both parties The time spent in discu ssiny
the meaning OF tho Clayton and Bulwer
treaty would have been devoted to this
prdseworthy purpose, and the task would
have been the more easily accOmp ished be-
cause the interest OF the two countries in
Central America is identical, baing confined
to securing safe trinsits over all the routes
across the lsthmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments, |
shall, nevertheless, not refuse to cuntribut te
to any reasonable adjustment of the C,n-
trdl American questions which is not pric-
lically lncon sistent with the American in
terpretation ot the treaty. Overtures fer
tins rurposee have been recently m tdc by
the British Gjvernment, lna friendly spir-
u, W lch cOrdlslly reclprOcats out
whether this renewed chIrt Will result in
success | AN not yet prepared to express an
opinion. a briet p;rlUd VIII d,trrntn;
With France our Hnrient relations OF
friendship still continue to exist. The
French government haye in several recent
ms ances, whlcl need not he enumerated
evidenced spIrit OF god will ana kindness
towards our country which | heartily recl-
prucLte. 1t Is, nOtwithstin Ins, much To
pv regretted that Two na i Jns whose pro luc-
tlous are Ot 81 h a character as to Invite
the most extensive exchanges and frerst
cUnne clal intercourse. should continue u
enforce ancient aud ab,Ulete restrictions Of
trade against each other. Oar commercial
treaty with Franc, Is In this respect an ex-
crptiun lrom our Treaties with all other
cu,umercial nations. IL jsilOuslS lei
discriminating duties both on tonnage and
On articles, the grrwth, produce, or manu-
tacture Ui the one country, when arrIvIug
III vessels belonging to the other
More t1tn turty years ago, oa the 81 of
March, lclo, Congress passed an acc I'll ;r-
IN, to all nations 70 ad nit their vessels Id
den With their national productions into
the ports of the United States upon the
sam. terms with our own vessels. provided
thJy would reclprocdte to US slmll ir Gdvan-
tAges. Inls act cuuhned reciprOci to the
productions of the respective foreign nd.
lions who might enter into the prVpos ID
arrang.mcn with the United States Inc
act oi May "a, lc2o, rem Jved this res r!ct-
| ion, ami -Hered Il similar reciprocity 10 ali
! such vessels, without References 10 the ori-
gin OF their carg0es Upon these prlncl-
pies our commercial treaties and arrange
nents have been founded, except with
fance; aud let US hope that THE exception
mIy not long exist
Our Relations with Russia remain, a.
they have ever been, 90 the most lrIenily
Iootiug. The present Emperor, as wel uc
ais predecessors, have never Jailed wheu
the occasion offered, to manifest their good
wIll u our cJuutry AMI their friendship
has always been hishly appreciated by tne
government and people VI the United
/ States.
with all other European government
exc pit that OF Spain, our Relations are Il
peaceful rs Wa cJuli d,.ire regret ia
say that NJ progress whatever has beer
made since the adjournment of Congress
towards the settlement of any of the nu
meruus 'ltms Of our citizens against th.
Spanish government. B B,sides. the outrag
committed on our Gag by the Splnisl
war frigate Ferrolani on the hist
seas, of the coast of Cuba
in March, 1855, by firing into the Amer
lean mail steamer Ell Dorado, and dstsinin
and searching her, rem tins unacknowedge
and unredressed. The general tone an
temper OF the Spanish vernnl"nt toward
that of the United States, are much 10 b
regretted. Our present Envoy Eytr4orinAr
and Minister Pleni nipotentiary at Madrid ha
asked to be recalled and it is INV purpo.
to send out a new Minister to Spain, wit
special instructions on all questions pend
Ing between the two governm snts, and wit
IL deter uinat'on to have them speedily an
amic ,by adjusted, If this he possible.
In tha meantime, whenever our MIniste
urges the Just cl limS OF our citiz ,ns On tn
notice Of the Spanish governm mt, ne
met with the objection that Congress hav
never made the appropri ,tion recon-
mendrd by President Polk in his annul
IN 'sslge OF December, lS41, to b
p.d to the spanish government for tn
purpose of distribution among the claimant
IN the Amlstad case A similar recon
menialion was IN ,ie by my imm ,diits PR
decessor IN his me,siga nl D Gem 1er, lS5l
.nl entirely cIncurrlng with both in th
opinion that this indemnity ia justly du
under the treaty with Spin Of the eth o,
tober. l195, | earnestly recommend sue
an appropriation to the favorable consld 81
alton OF Congress.
; A treaty of friendship and com no ce W.
o,naluded at Cpnstantinople IN the 49,
December, 1886, between the United Stitt
and Persia, the rattle atoms of which wei
exchanged at Constantinople on the l3t
= June, 1897, and the treaty was proclaim
by the President on the 18th August. ls5
, lnis trel y, it is believed will prove hen
fetal to American commerce. The Shah HI
manifested ar earnest disposition to cult
vote friendly relations with our countr
! and has expressed strong wish that v
should he represented ut Teeeran by a mi
{ lister plenipotentiiry, and | recommer
: that an appropriation be IN .de for this pu
pose.
Rec Mt Occurrences in China have he
y untavorable to u revision of the trea
I