Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-09

people of Utah, by the establishment of land
Office in that Territory
II have occasion, also, to congratulate you
on tile result OF our negotiations with China,
81 OUR CHINESE TREATY 4
You were informed by my last annual mes
sage, that. our Minister had been nStrueted 20
occupy neutral position in the hostihtles con
Quoted by Great Britain and France against
Canton. lie was, however, at the same time
directed toscooperate cordially With the British
and French Ministers, in all peaceful measures
to secure by treaty those just concessions to
foreign commerce, which nations Of the world
had right to demand 1t was impossible for
me to proceed further than this on my own au-
thority, without usurping the war-making
power, which, under the Constitution, belongs
exclusively to Congress. g#a " -r.a1 s..i
Besides, after careful examination of the
nature and extent of our grievances, did not
believe they were of such a pressing and ag-
orayated character, as would have justified
Congress in declaring war against the Chinese
Empire. without first making another earnest
attempt to adjust them by peaceful negotia
ton was the more inclined to this opinion,
because of the severe chastsement which had
Jllci DuJ IcCcuJIl DGCIi AuHI1SN bhN Oh'
nese by our squadron, in the capture and dcs-
truction of the Barrier forts, to avenge an in
suit to our flag. "
The event has proved the wisdom of our
neutrality Our Minister has executed his m
struction with eminent skill and ability. In
conjunction with the Russian PlenpOtentiary
he has peacefully, but effectually, cooperated
with the English and French PlenipotentarieS;
each of the four Powers has concluded separ-
ate treaty with China, of highly satisfactory
character The treaty concluded by our own
PIenipotcntiary will Immediately be submitted
to the Senate.
JAPAN.
am happy to announce that, through the
energetic yet conciliatory efforts of our Consul
General in Japan, new treaty has been con-
cluded with that Empire, which may be ex-
pected materially to augment our trade and IN
tercourSe in that quarter, and remove from our
countrymen the disabilities which have hereto
fore been imposed upon the exercise of their
religion The treaty shall be submitted to the
Senate for approval without delay.
OUR RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
1t is my earnest desire that every misunder-
standing with the Government of Great Brit
dlll sIlONlu BC diIliCuDlb anu SpCcuilI duJho'Ih
1t has been the misfortune of both countries,
almost ever since the period of the Revolution
to have been annoyed by a succession OF lrrl'
tatIng and dangerous questions, Threatening
their friendly relations This has partially
prevented the full Development of those feel
ings of mutual friendship between the people oi
the two countries, so natural in themselves, and
so conducive to their common interest. Any
serious interruption Of the commerce between
the United States and Great Britain would
be equally injurious to both. In fact no two
nations have ever existed on the face of the
earth which could do each other so much good
or so much harm
Entertaining these sentiments, | am graft
fed to inform you that the longpending con
troverSv between those two Governments, in
relation to visitation and search, has been am
icaby adjusted The claim on the part OF
Great Britain, foreibIy to visit American YES
sells on the high seas in time of peace, conld
not be sustained by the law of nations, aud il
had been Overruled by her most eminent jurists
This question was recently brought to an issue
by the repeated acts of British cruisers in
boarding and searching our merchant vessels
in the Gulf of Mexico, and the adjacent seas
These acts were more injurious and ANNOYING
as these waters are traverSed by a large pOr
tion of the commerce and navigation of the
United States, and their free cOastwise trade
between different States of the Union. Such
veXatious Interruptions could not fail to excite
the feelings of the country, and to require the
interpoSitiOn of Government Remonstrances
were addressed to the British Government
against these violations of our rights of SOver
eighty, and naval force was at the same time
ordered to the Cuban waters, with directions
:" to protect all vessels of the United States on
high seas from search or detention by the yes
sells of war of any other nation These meas
ures received the unqualified and even entbn
sastic appreciation Of the American people
Most fortunately, however, no collision took
place, and the British Government promptly
avowed its recognition of The international law
upon this subject, as laid down by the Govern
ment of the United States in the note of the
Secretary of State to the British Minister al
Washington, of April Is, 1853 which secure
the vessels of the United States upon the high
seas from visitation or search in time of peace
under any circumstances whatever The claim
has been abandoned in a manner rejecting
honor on the British Government, and evincing
a inst regard for the law of nations and can.
not 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 character which
may be found effective without being offensive,
for verifying the nationality of vessels suspect
ed on good grounds of carrying false coIors.
They have also invited the United States to
take the initiative aud propose measures for
this purpose Whilst declining to assume SO
grave a responsibility, the Secretary of State
has informed the British Government that we
are ready to receive any proposals which they
may feel disposed to offer, having this object