New Orleans daily crescent., 1857-12-15

Honduras had not been exchanged, owing to the
hesitation Of that government Had this been done,
il is stated that 1. her Majesty's government would
have had little difficulty in agreeing to the modHca
ton proposed by the Senate which then would have
had IN effect the same Specification as the original
wording Whether this would have been the effect,
whether the mere circumstance Of the exchange Of
the ntications Of the British convention with Hon
duas prior in point Of time to the ratification Of our
treaty with Great Britain would, /" in effect, have
had the same Specification as the original wording,
and thus have nulihed the amendment OF the Senate
may well be doubted. It is, perhaps fortunate that
tho question has never arisen.
The British Government, Immediately after, reject
ed the treaty as amended, proposed 70 enter into
new treaty with the United States, similar IN al re-
spects to the treaty which they bad just refused TO
ratify II the United States would consent to add to
the Senates clear and unequaed recognition Of the
sovereignty OF Honduras ever the Bay Islands the
following conditional stipulation " whenever and
90 soon as the republic Of Honduras shall have con-
cluded and ratified treaty with Great Britain, by
which Great Britain shall have ceded, and the re.
public Of Honduras shall have accepted, the said
Islands, subject to the provisions and conditions con-
tanned in such treaty. ~
This proposition was, of course, rejected. After
the Senate had refused to recognize the British
yention with Honduras Of the 27th August, 1856,
with full knowledge Of its contents it was impossible
for me, necessarily ignorant Of the provisions and
conditions y which might be contained in future
convention between the same parties, to sanction
| them Ia advance. 345s5it ~ - .5r2 80
The fact is that when two nations like Great Britain
and the United States, mutually desirous as they are,
and trust ever may be, of maintaining the most
friendly relations with each other have unfortunately
concluded treaty which they understand in senses
directly opposite, the wisest course is TO abrogate
such treaty by mutual consent, and to commence
anew Had this been done promptly, all difficulties
in Central America would most probably ere this
have been adjusted to the satisactiOn both parties
The time spent in discussing the meaning of the
Clayton and Bulwer treaty would have been devoted
have been the more easly accomplished because the
interest Of the two countries in Central America
is IDENTICAL being confined TO securing safe transits
4 over oil the routes across the lsthmns.
Whilst entertaining these sentiments shall never
theess not refuse to contribute to any reasonable ad
justment of the Central American questions which is
not practically inconsistent with the American inter
probation Of the treaty Overtures for this pnrpose
have been recently made by the British Government
in @ friendly spirit, which cordially reciprocate |;
but whether this renewed effort will result in
am not yet prepared to express opinion. brief
period will determine. @ ID 8S
With France our ancient relations OF friendship still
continue to exist. The French Government have in
several which need not be
evinced spirit Of good will and kindness towards our
country which heartily reciprocate. II is, notwith-
standing much to be regretted that two nations whose
productions are of such character as to invite the
most extensive exchanges and reest commercial inter
course should continue to enforce ancient and obsolete
restrictions Of trade against each other Our CONNER
cial treaty with France is in this respectan exception
from our treaties with all other commercial nations.
1t ealousy leyies discriminating duties both on tun-
mage and articles, the growth produce, or manu-.
acture Of the country, when arriving in vessels
belonging to the other
@ More than forty years ago, the Sd March, 1915,
Congress passed an act Offering to all nations to admit
their vessels laden with their national productions in.
to the ports Of the United States upon the same terms
with their vessels provided they would reciprocate
to us similar advantages This act confirmed the re-
cprocity to the productions of the respective foreign
nations who might enter into the proposed arrange
ment with the United States. The act OF May ~
1925 removed this restriction. and offered similar
reciprocity to all such vessels without reference to the
origin Of their cargoes Upon these principles, our
commercial treaties and the arrangements hay. 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 En-
peror as well as his predecessor have never failed
when the occasion offered to manifest their good will
to country; and their 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 could de-
sire. l regret to say that no progress whatever has
been made, since the adjournment of Congress to-
wards the settlement Of any Of the numerous claims
OF our citizens against the Spanish Government Be-
sides the outrage committed on our flag by the Span.
ish war frigate Ferroana the high seas, Off the
coast of Cuba, in March, 1854, by firing into the
American mail steamer Ell Dorado and OBTAINING and
searching her, remains unacknoWledged and unre.
dressed. The general tone and temper Of the Spanish
Government towards that Of the United States, are
much to be regretted Our present Envoy Extraordi-
nary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Madrid has
asked to be recalled and it is my purpose to send
new Minister to Span with special Instructions on
all questions pending between the two governments
and with determination to have them speedily and
amicably adjusted, il this be possible In the mean
time, whenever our Minister urges the just claims of
citizens on the notice of the Spanish Government
he is met with the objection that Congress have never
made the appropriation recommended by President
Polk in his annual message of December lS47, !" to
be paid to the Spanish Government for the purpose
of distribution among the claimants in the Amistad
case.n A similar Recommendation was made by nv
immediate predecessor in his message of December
1853; and entirely concurrng with both in the opn-
ion that this indemnity is justly due under the treaty
with Spain of the 9th October 1885, earnestly re-
commend such an appropriation to the favorable CON
sderation of Congress. ,9lG.
A treaty of friendship and commerce was con-
cuded at Constantinople, on the 18th OF December.
1856 between the United States and Persia the rati
fcations of which were exchanged at Constantincpe
on the 18th OF June, 1857, and the treaty was pro-
claimed by the President on the 18th of August,
1857 This treaty 1t is believed will prove beneficial
to American commerce. The Shah has manifested
an earnest disposition to cultivate friendly relations
with our country, and has expressed strong wish
that we should be represented at Teheran by minis.
ter plenipotentary and recommend that an appro.
priation be made for this purpose. - -
Recent occurrences in China have been unfayorabe
to revision Of the treaty with that empire of the Sd
july 1874 with view to the security and extension
of our commerce. The oath article of this treaty
stipulated for 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 AMIGA
bly, concerning the same, by means of suitable per-
sons appointed to conduct such negotiations" These
twelve years expired on the Sd July, 1856 but long
before that period it was ascertaned that important
changes iii the treaty were necessary, and several
fruitess attempts were made by the Commission.
of the United States to effect these changes An
other effort was about to be made for the same pur.
pose by our Commissioner, in conjunction with the
Ministers Of England AMI France, but this was sus
pended by the occurrence of hostlities in the Canton
river, between Great Britain and the Chinese Empire
These hostilities have necessarily Interrupted the
trade of all nations with Canton which is now in a
state of blockade and have occasioneda serious loss
Of life and property. Meanwhile the insumecton
within the empire against the existing dynasty still
continues, and it is difficult to anticipate what will be
the result. -
Under these circumstances, have deemed it adyi.
sable to appoint distinguished citizen of Pennsyva-
mia envoy extraordinary and minister penipotentiary
to proceed to China and to avail himself of any op.
portunities which may offer to effect changes in tile
existing treaty favorable to American commerce He
IN July last in the war steamer Minnesota. Special
ministers to China have also been appointed by the
governments of Great Britain and France,
Whilst our minister has been instructed to OCCUPY
neutral position in reference to the existing hostI-
ties at Canton, he will cordially cooperate with the
British and French ministers n all peaceful measures
to secure by treaty stipulation those just concessions