Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-04
WASHINGTON CITY, DECEMBER 6. 1858.

both countries almost since the period of the
ution to have been annoyed by succession of irritating
and dangerous questions threatening their friendly rsa.
lions This has partially prevented the full DEVELOPMENT
OF those feelings of mutual friendship between the people
of the two countries natural in themselves and SO
conducive to their common interest Any serious inter
rupton Of the commerce between the United States and
Great Britain, would be equally injurious to both In
fact two nations have existed on the face of the
earth, which could do each other much GOOD or so
much harm.
Entertaining these sentiments am cratiei to inform
you that the Ion. pending controversy between the two
governments i'll relation to the question of visitation and
search, has been amcably adjusted The claim ON the
part of Great Britain forciby to visit American vessels ON
the high seas in time of peace could not be sustained
der the law Of nations and it had been overrued by her
own most eminent juriss This question was recently
brought to ISSUE by the repeated acts of British cru
er III boarding and searchn. merchant vessels in the
Gulf of Mexico and the These acts were the
more injurious and annoying these waters are tayerse
by large portion OF the and navigation of the
United States and their free and unrestricted use is
ta to the security of the coastwse trade between different
States OF the Union. Such vexaous Interruptions could
not tail to excite the feelings of the country and to re-
quirc the inerposon of the government "Reminiscences
were addressed to the British government against these
violations of rights of sovereignty and naval force
was at the time ordered to the Cuban waters with
directions to protect all vessels of the United States ON
the high seas from search detention by the yesseso
war OF any other nation These measures received the
unqualified and enthusiastic appreciation of tba
American people Most fortunately however no coils
ion took place. and the British government promptly
avowed its recognition of the principles of international
law upon this subject laid down hy the government m
the United States in the the Secretary of STATE In
the British minister at Washington of April TO- ls5s
which secure the vessels of the United States upon the
high seas from visitation search in time of peace uu-
der any circumstances whatever The claim has been
Abandoned in rejecting honor Oh the british
government and evincng just regard for the law of ma
TONS and cannot fail to strengthen the Rcbc relations
between the two countries
The British government at the same time proposed 10
the United States that mode should be aopted y
mutual arrangement between the two countries of char
acter which may be found effective without being otfe-
slvc for veryn. the nationality of vessels suspected ON
good grounds of Carrying false coors They have also
invited the United States to take the initiative and
pose measures for this purpose. Whilst declining to a.
grave responsibility the Secretary of Stat. has
informed the British government that We ara ready TO
receive any proposals which they may feel di.posed To
Offer having this object III view, and consider them in
All amicabs spirit. strong opinion is however ex-
pressed that the occasional abuse Of the flag any nation
an evil far less to be deprecated than would he the e
adjustment OF any regulations which might be incom-
patibe with the freedom of the This government
has yet received communication specifying the manner
In which the British government would propose to carry
out their suggestion and inclined " believe that no
plan which can be devised will be free from grave embar-
EASEMENTS. STILL shall form decided opinion on the
subject until shall have carefully and i'm the best spirit
sxaminedany proposals which they may think proper to
make.
am truly sorry cannot also inform you that the COM
pications between Great Britain and the United States
arising out Of tn. Clayton and Buwer treaty of AprI
1850, have been finally adjusted
At the commencement of your last session had rea-
Tnn ~ le that themselves further
"'aiIg discusslons the two governments would mo-
coed to settle the Central American que.sis. s.e
teal manner alike honorable and satisfactory to both
and this hope have not yet abandoned In nv last an
nua message stated that oyerures had been made by
the British government for this purpose in friendly
SPIRIT which cordially rcciprocated. Their proposal
was 10 Withdraw these questions from direct negotiation
between the two governments but to accomplish the
same object, by negotiation between the British govern
men and each of the Central American republics whose
territorial interests Immediately involved The set
Element 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 modifi-
cations. As negotiations are still pending upon this Ia
SIS, 1t would not be proper for to communicate
their present condition final settlement of these Gues
tons greatly to be desred this would wipe out the
last remaining subject of dispute between the two eoun-
tries
Our relations with the great empires of France and
RUSSIA, as well As with all other governments the
continent of Europe except that Spain continue TO be
If the most friendly character.
With Spain our relations remain in AN unsatisfactory
condition In my message of December last informed
you that our envoy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
Tertiary to Madrid had asked l his recall and il was
my purpose to send out minister that court with
special instructions ali questions pending between the
two governments. and with a determination to have
them speedily and amicaby adjusted if that were posi-
bic This purpose has been hitherto defeated 10y CAUSES
which need not enumerate
The mission to Spain has been intrlsteI to distin-
gulsled citin of Kentucky who will proceed to Madrid
without delay and make another and final attempt to
obtain justice from that government
Spanish officials under the direct cSutro of the captain
general of Cuba have insulted our national flax and in
repeated instances, have from time time inflicted in
Jurics on the persons and property of our chns These
have given birth To numerous claims against the Spanish
government the merits of which have been ably discussed
for series of years. 10y successive diplomatic repre-
sentatives Notwithstanding this have not arrived
at practical result in any single instance unless we may
except the case Of the Black Warrior under the late adj
and that presented an outrage of such a
character Us would have Justified Immediate
wlr All attempts To obtain redress have been baf
He'd and defeated The frequent and oft recurring changes
III the Spanish ministry, have been employed as reasons
for delay. We have been compelled to wait again and
again. until the minister shall have had time in
vestigate the justice of our demands
Even what have been denolninatcd 1.-the Cuban
claims, III which more than hundred of our citizens
are directly interested, have furnished 10 execution
These claims for the efunding of duties unusty ex
acted from American vessels at different custom houses in
Cuba so long ago as the year ISL The principles upon
which they rest are 80 mancsty equitable and just that
after period Of nearly ten years iii 1854 they
oSnscd by the Spanish government Proceedings
Afterwards instituted to ascertain their amount and this
was finally fixed according to their stscmcnt with