Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-12-17
EIFEkllN COUNTY, PAo

9Th August, 1856, with full knowledge oft
contents it was impossible for me, necessar
| lily ignorant of "the provisions and condi
tions" whirh might be contained in in a flu
ture convention between the same parties
! to sanction them in advance.
The fact is, that when two nations like
| Great Britain aud the United States, mutu
ally deslrous as they are, and | trust ever
may be, of maintaining the most friendly
relations with each other, have unfortunate
ly concluded "a treaty which they understand
IN senses directly opposite, the wlsest course
IS to abrogate such a treaty by mutual CON-
sent, and to commence anew. Had this
been done promptly, all difficulties in Cen
trail 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 praisewor>
thy purpose, and the task would have been
the more easily accomplished because the in
terest OF the two countries in Central Amer
lea is identical, being confined to securing
safe translts ever all the routes across the
Isthmus
Whilst entertaining these sentiments,
shall nevertheless not refuse TO contribute to
any reasonable adjustment of the Central
American questions which is not practically
incon sistent with the American iuterpreta.
tion of the treaty. Overtures for this purpose
have been recently made by the British
government in a 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 exist. The French
government have, in several instances, which
need not be enumerated, evinced spirit of
good will and kindness towards our country
which heartily reciprocate. 1t is, notwith-
standing, much to he regretted that two ma
tions whose productions are of such char
acter as to invite the most extensive exchanges
and freest commercial intercourse, should
continue to enforce ancient and obsolete re
strlctlons ut trade against each other. Our
commercial treaty with France is in this re
spect an exception from our treaties with all
other commercial nations. 1t jealously leyies
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 ago, on the Sd OF
March, 1915, Congress passed an act Offering
to all nations to admit their vessels laden with
their national productions, into the ports of
the United States, upon the same terms with
our own vessels, provided they would recip-
rocate to similar advantages. This act
confined the reciprocity to the productions of
the respective foreign nations who might enter
into the proposed arrangement with the Uni
ted States. The act Of May 81, 1928, re.
moved this restriction and offered similar
reciprocity to all such vessels, without refer
ence to the origin of their cargoes. Upon
these principles our commercial treaties and
arrangements have been founded except with
France; and let 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, rs well as his predeces-
sors, have never failed, when the occasion
offered, to manifest their good will TO our
country; and their frie ndship 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 Us peace
full as we could desire. | regret to say that
no progress whatever has been made, since
the adjournment of Congress, towards the
settlement of any Of the numerous claims OF
our citizens against the Spanish government.
Besides, the outrage committed on our flag
by the Spanish war-frigate Ferroriata, on the
high seas, off the coast of Cuba, IN March,
1855, by firing into the American Mail
Steamer, FL Dorado, and OBTAINING and
searching her, remains unacknowledged 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 minister
AT In,d hos LoI fo hn
recalled; and il is my purpose to send out a
new minister to Spain, with special lnstruc
tions on all questions pending between the
two governments, and with determination
to have them speedily and amieably adjusted,
if this be possible In the meantime. when
ever our minister urges the just claims of our
citizens on the notice of the Soanish govern
ment, he is met with the objection that Con
gress have never made the appropriation rec
commended by President Polk in his annual
message of December, l847, " to be paid to
the Spanish government fer the purpose OF
distribution among the claimants In the Am
istad CASE" A similar recommendation was
made by my Immediate predecessor In ms
message of December, 1858; and entirely
concurring with both in the opinion that this
indemnity is justly due under the treaty with
Spain on the 9th October, 1895, earnestly
recommend such an appropriation to the tav-
orable consideration of Congress.
A treaty of friendship and commerce was
concluded at Constantinople on the 18th De.
cember, 1850, between the United States and
Persia, the rati6cations of which were ex-
changed at Constantinople on the 18th june
1857 and the treaty was proclaimed by the
President on the 18th August, 1897. Tins
! treatv. it is believed, will prove beneficial t.
American commerce. The Shah has mani
tested an earnest disposition to cultivate
| friendly relations with our country, aRd has
expressed strong wish that we should be
represented at Teheran by a minister pleni
petentary; and / recommend that an appro
priation be made for this purpose.
Recent occurrences in China have been un
favorable to revision of the treaty with tina
empire of the I'd July, 1874, with view t,
the security and extension of our commerce