American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-12-18
WHOLE NO $50.

purpose redistribution among the claim
ants in tho Amistad casc.' A similar
Recommendation was made by immedi-
ate predecessor in his message Of De-
cember, 1858, and entirely concurrinp
with both in the opinion that this in,
oemnlty isJustly due under the treaty.
with Spain of the 17th of October,
1888, | earnestly recommend such an
appropriation to the favorable consid,
Grafton of Congress-.
A treaty of friendship and commcrco
was concluded at Constantinople on tho
18TH OF December, 1856, between tho
United States and Persia, the rati6ca-
ton OF which were exchanged at Con-
stantlnoplc on the 18th of June. 1857.
and the treaty was proclaimed by tho
PRESIDENT onthe 18th ofAugust, 1857.
This treaty, it is believed, will prove
beneficial to American commerce.-
Ihe Shah has manifested an earnest
disposition to cultivate friendly relo,
tlons with our country, and has ey.
pressed strong wish thatwe should be
represented at Teheran by minister
plen'potentiary; and recommend that
an appropriation be made for this pur-
pose.
Recent occurrences in China have
been unfavcrable to a revision of the
treaty with that empire of the Sd of Ju-
~, 1914, with view to the security
and extension of our commerce. Tho
24th article Of this treaty stipulated
TOR a revision Of it, in case experience
should prove this to be requisite ;"in
which case the two governments will,
at the expiration of twelve years from
the date OF said convention, treat ami
cably concerning the same, by means of
suitable persons appointed to conduct
such negotiations" These twelve
years expired on the Sd of July, 1856:
but long before that period it was asccr-
tanned that important changes in tho
treaty were necessary; and several
trultless attempts We're made by the
commissioner Of the United States to
effect these changes. Another effort
was about to be made for the same pur-
pose by our commissioner, in coninnc-
ton with the minister Of England and
France, but this was suspended by tho
occurrence of hostiltics in the Canton
river between Great Britasn and the
Chinese Empire. These hostilities
have necessarily interrupted the trade
or all nations with Canton, which ia
now in state of blockade, and have
occasioned serious loss of life and
property. Meanwhile the insurrection
within the empire against the existing
Imperial dynasty still continues, and
1t IS difficult to anticipate what will be
the result.
Under these circumstances, I have
deemed it advisable to appoint distin-
guished gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA
envoy extraordinary and minister plen-
Ipotentiary to proceed to China, and to
avail himself Of any opportunities which
may offer to effect changes in the cxis-
ting treaty favorable to American COM
merce. lie left the United States for
the place Of his destination in July last,
IN the war steamer Minnesota. Spe-
cial ministers to China have also been
appointed by the government of Great
Britain and France.
Whilst our minister has been instruc-
ted to occupy a neutral position in ref
erence to the existing holtilitics at Can
ton, he will cordially co.operte with the
British and French ministers in all
peaceful measures to secure by treaty
stipulations, these just concessions to
commerce, which the nations of the
world have a right to expect, and which
China cannot long be permitted to
Withhold. From assurances received, L
entertain no doubt the three ministers
will act in harmonious concert to OBJ
tain similar commercial treaties for
each of the powers they represent.
We cannot fail to feel deep inter
est in all that concerns the welfare Of
the independent republics on our own
continent, as we'll as Of the empire Of
Brazil.
Our difficulties with New Grenida,
which short time ago boro so threat.
ening an aspect, are, it is to be hoped,
in fair train ofsettlomcnt in manner
just and honorable to both parties.
The Isthmus Of Central America, in
Guiding that of Panama, is the great
highway between the Atlantic and Pa
cifc, over which large,portion of the
commerce of the world is destined to
pass. The United States are more
deeply interested than any other nation
in preserving the freedom and secur.
~ of oll Tho communication. .o..-..
this l5thmus. It's our duty, therefore,
to take care that they shall not be in,
torrupted either by invasion from our