The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-09
VOL. XII.


with the English and French Plenipotentia,,
and each of the four Powers has concluds5
separate treaty with China, of highly s,i'
factory character The treaty concluded =
our own Plenipotentiary will immedateIv Z
submitted to the Senate. III
am happy to announce that, THROUGH j.
energetic yet conciliatory efforts of our con-
general in Japan, a new treaty has been ~.
cluded with that Empire, which may be expec,5
materially to augment our trade and intercor,-,
in that quarter, and remove from our CONF
men the disabilities which have heretofore h..
imposed upon the exercise Of their religion m
treaty shall be submitted to the Senate e,r -.
proyal without delay.
1t is my earnest desire that every misur5.-
Standing with the Government of Great Bri..
should be amicably and speedily adjusted
has been the misfortune of both countries q.
mos ever since the period Of the Revoutior -
have been annoyed by a succession Of irrita,r,
and dangerous questions, threatening ,l..
friendly relations. This has partially prever,.j
the full development of those feelings of mut,I
friendship between the people of the two Com,
tries, so natural in themselves, and SO copd
Give to their common interest ANY serir,
interruption of the commerce between the In.
ted States and Great Britain would be eougrr
injurious to both. In fact no two nations bs,,
ever existed on the face of the earth. wbiJ
could do each other so much good or so much
harm.
Entertaining these sentiments, am grati6e5
to inform you that the ngpending conn,
versy between the two Governments. in reat;r.
to the question of visitation and search b,,
been amicably adjusted. The claim, on h.
part of Great Britain, forcibly to visit Amer
loan vaScnlo nn ho bi,,b uaoo -, t;,,, e
could not be sustained under the law of nation,
and it had been overruled by her most emn,r,
jurists. This question was recently BROUGHT
an issue, by the repeated acts of British cri.
ers, in boarding and searching our merchant
vessels in the Gulf of Mexico and the adiacar
seas. These acts were the more injurious and
annoying, these waters are traversed bya
large portion of the commerce and navigati0r
of the United States, and their free and uur4
stricted use is essential to the security OF he
coastwise trade between different States of tia
Union. Such vexatious interruptions could not
fail to excite the feelings of the country, and Ia
require the interpOsitiOn of the Goyemmenr
"Reminiscences were addressed to the British
Government against these violations Of orr
rights of sovereignty, and naval force was q.
the same time ordered to the Cuban water,
with directions "to protect all vessels of he
United States, on the high seas, from search or
detention by the vessels of war of any other Ia.
ton" These measures received the unuua..
fed and even enthusiastic appreciation Of the
American people. Most fortunately, however.
no collision took place, and the British Govern.
ment promptly avowed its recognition Of the
principles of international law upon this subject.
as laid down by the Government Of the United
States, in the note of the Secretary Of State 10
the British Minister at Washington, Of April TO-
1853, which secure the vessels of the United
States upon the high seas from visitation Or
search in time fpeace, under any circumstance
whatever. The claim has been abandoned In
manner rejecting honor on the British Govern.
ment, and evlnclng just regard for the law
of nations, and cannot fail to strengthen the
amicable relations between the two countries
The British Government, at the same time
proposed to the United States that some mode
should be adopted, by mutual arrangement be-
tween the two countries, of a character which
may be found effective without being offensive
for verifying the nationality Of vessels suspected
on good grounds of carrying false colOrs. They
have also invited the United States to take the
initiative, and propose measures for this pur
pose. Whilst declining TO assume so grave
responsibility, the Secretary of State has IN.
formed the British Government that We are
ready to receive any proposals which they NAV
feel disposed to Offer having this object in view,
and to consider them i'm an amicable spirit. A
strong opinion is, however, expressed that the
occasional abuse of the flag of any nation is an
evil far less to be deprecated than would be- the
establishment of any regulations which might
be incompatible with the freedom of the seas
This Government has yet received no cOmmu-
nication specifying the manner in which the
British Government would propose to carry Ou,
their suggestion; and | am inclined to believe
that no plan which can be devised will be free
from grave embarrassments. Still, shall form
no decided opinion on the subject, until shall
have carefully, and in the best spirit, examined
any proposals which they may think proper to
make
am truly sorry l cannot also inform you that
the complications between Great Britain and
the United States, arising out of the CLAYTON and
Bulwer treaty of April, 1850, have been finally
adjusted.
AT the commencement Of your last session.
had reason to hope that, emancipating them
selves from further unavailing discussions, the
two Governments would proceed to settle the
Central American questions in practical man
ner, alike honorable and satisfactory to both
and this hope | have not yet abandoned In
my last annual message, stated that overturcs
had been made by the British Government for
this purpose, i'll friendly spirit, which / cor
daily reciprocated. Their proposal was to
withdraw these questions from direct uegoia
ton between the two Governments but 10 ac
cOmplsh the same object by negotiation be-
tween the British Government and each of the
Central American Republics whose territorial
interests are Immediately involved The settle
ment was to be made in accordance with the
general tenor of the Interpretation placed upon
the Clayton and Bulwer treaty by the United
States, with certain notifications. As negoua
tons are still pending upon this basis, it would
not be proper for me now to communicate Their
present condition. A final settlement Of these
questions is greatly to be desired, as this would
wipe out the last remaining subject Of dispute be-
tween the two countries.
Our relations with the great Empires Of
France and Russia, as well as with all other
Governments on the continent of Europe, except
that Of Spain, continue to be of the most friend
ly character
With Spain our relations remain in an unsat
isfactOry condition. In my message Of Deem
Der last informed you that our Envoy ExtnOr
binary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Madrid
had asked for his recall and it was my purpose
to send out new Minister to that Court, with
special INSTRUCTIONS on all questions pending be-
tween the two Governments, and with deter
mnation to have them speedily and amicably
adjusted, if that were possible. This purpose
has been hitherto defeated by causes which
need not enumerate.
The mission to Spain has been intrusted toa
distinguished citizen of Kentucky, who will pro
coed to Madrid without delay and make another
and final attempt to obtain justice from that
Government.
Spanish officials, under the direct control Of
the Captain General of Cuba, have insulted our
national flag, and in repeated instances have
from time to time inflicted injuries on the per.
sons and property of our citizens. These have