True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-12-16

ing of the Clayton and Bulwer> treaty
would have been devoted to this praise
worthy purpose, and the task would have
been the more easi y accomplished, because
the interest of the two countries in Central
! America is identical, being confined to Sc
curing safe transits over all the routes
across the Istbmus.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments, !
shall neS ertheless not refuse to contribute
to any reasonable adjustment of the Central
American question, which is not practically
inconsistent with the American inteSpreta
ton of the treaty. Overtures for this pur.
pose have been recently made by the
British government in friendly spirit,
which l cordially rociprocate; 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
friendship still continue to exist. The
French government have, in several recent
instances, which need not be enumerated,
evinCed spirit of good will and kindness
toward our country which | heartily reciP'
rocate. 1t is, notwithstanding, much to
be regretted, that two notions, whose pro-
ductions are of such character as to invite
the most extensive exchanges and freest
commercial intercourse, should continue to
enforce ancient and obsolete restrictions OF
trade against each other. Our commercial
treaty with France is in this respect an ex.
ception from our treaties with all other
commercial nations. 1t jealousy levies
discriminating duties both on tonnage and
on articles, the growth, produce, or manu-.
facturc 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 offer.
ing 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 reciprocate to us similar adj
vantages. The act confined the reciprocity
to the productions of the respective foreign
nations who might enter into the proposed
arrangement with the United States The
act of May "a, 1928, removed this re.
striction, and ordered similar reci iprocity
to all ouch vessels without reference to the
origin Of their eargoes. Upon these prin-
ciples, our commercial treaties and ar.
rangements have been founded, except with
France; and let us hope that this excep-
tion may not long exist.
Our relations with Russia remain, Jas
they have ever been, on the most friendly
footing. The present Emperor, as we'll as
his predecessors, have never failed, when
the OCCASION offered, to manifest their good
will to our country; and taeir friendship
has always been highly appreciated by the
government and people of the United
States.
With all other European governments,
except that Of Spain, our relations are as
peaceful as we could desire. regret to
say that no progress whatever has been
made, since the adjournment Of Congress,
toward the settlement Of any Of the nu.
merous claims Of our citizens against the
Spanish government. Besides the outrage
committed on our flag by the Spanish war
frigate Ferrolana, on the high seas, off the
coast of Cuba, in March, 1855, by firing
into the American Mail steamer Ell Dora.
dl, and OBTAINING and searching her, re.
mains uuacknowlcd ged and unredressed
The general tone and temper of the Span
ish government toward that Of the United
States are much to be regretted. Oul
present Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to Madrid has asked to b.
recalled, and it is my purpose to send ou
new Minister to Spain, with special in
structions on all questions pending betweel
the two governments, and with determi
nation to have them speedily aud amicabl,
adjusted, if this be possible. In the mean
time, whenever our Ministers urge tn
Just claims of our citizens on the notice o
the Spanish government, he is met will
the objection that Congress has never mad
the appropriation recommended by Presi
dent Polk in his annual message of Decem
her, l847, "to be paid to the government
for the purpose of distribution among tn,
claimants in the Amistad case." A simila
recommendation was made by my imme
.diate predecessor, in his message of De
cember, 1858; and entirely conCurrin
with both in the opinion that this indomnit
is justly due under the treaty with Spai
of the 9th October, 1895, ! earnestl
recommend such an appropriation to th
favorable consideration of Congress.
A treaty of friendship and commerc
was concluded at Constantiuople on tn
18th December, 1856, between the Unite
States and Persia, the ratifcations of who
} were exchanged at Constantinople on th
18th June, 1857; and the treaty, was pro
claimed by the President on the 18th Au
gust, 1857. This treaty, it is believed
, will prove beneficial to American com
/ merce. The Shah has manifested a
: earnest disposition to cultivate friendly re
1 lations with our country, and has expreSse
+. strong wish that We should be represent
!. cd at Teheran by minister plenipOtenti'
4 ry; and l recommend that an apprOpri'
/ tion 10 made for this purpose.
Recent occurrences In China have bee
i. uuia vorable to revision Of the treaty wit