Washington telegraph., 1858-12-22

sel- On the high scas IN time of peace. could
not hc sustained under the law of nations and
il had been overfulcd by her own most eminent
iurist This question was recently brought 70
an issue by the repeated acts of British cruis-
crs in boarding and searching our merchant
vessels in the Gulf Il Mexico and the adjacent
seas. These acts were the more injurious and
annoying. NJ these waters arc trnverscd nv ~
large portion WI the commerce nnh navigation
uf the United States. and their free and unrc-
stTicted use il essential % the security u the
coastwisc trade between diff, rent States Of the
Union. Such vexatious interruptions could
not fail 60 excite the feelings of the country.
al 70 require the intCrposition of government.
ECmCnstTancrs were addressed to the British
government against violations NJ our rights of
sovereignty. ana naval force wa at the same
time ordered % the Cuban waters. will direc-
tians to protect all vessels Of the United
States tie high seas from search or deteH-
ton by the vessels Of war Of any other ma
iion.' These measures received the unqualih-
ed and even enthusiastic appreciation Of the
AIarricnn people. Most fortunately, however,
n0 collision tnnk place. and thc British govern
mcut promptly h,owcd ill., recognition NJ the
principles of intcrnati, mi law upon this sub-
icci. a> laid down hy the government Of the
United States. in the note Of the Secretary Of
state to the British Minister at Washington. Of
April 10. ISIS. which secure the vessels uf the
United States upon The high from vista
tiun nr search in time nf peace. under any cir
cuin4tanrrS whatever. TILE calm has been
abandoned ID 4 manner rejecting honor on the
British government. and ,yincing just regard
for the law uf nations. and cannot fail to
siren Etheu the amicahle relations between the
two countries.
The British government, NJ the same time.
proposed N the United States that some mode
should hr adopted by mutual arrangement BE-
tween thr two countries. uf u character which
may ~ found effective without being offensive,
for verifying the nationality ~ vessels suspect
e,i good grounds Of carrying false colors.-
They have also invited the United States to
take the initiative. and propose measures for
tli- purpose. Whilst declining 70 assume sn
grave responsibility, thr Secretary nf State
ha- informed the British government thut We
are ready to receive my proposals. which they
may icrl disposed 70 offer. having this object in
view and to consider them in an amieahlc spir-
H.. \ strong opinion j.. however. expressed
that the occa.irIlal abuse rf the flag q any ua-
fion ni- an evil far lc-- to hc deprecated, than
would hc the establishment NJ any regulations
which might hc incompatible wiih thr freedom
uf the -tas. Thr government hn- yct received
na communication specifying Tie manner IN
which the British government would propose
T. carry out their suggestion. aud am inclined
t. believe that no plan which can he devised.
2
shall form MP decided opinion nn the subject.
until -hnll iavc carefully ani ~ Ehe br-t rpii-
II examined AMY proposals. Rl4irA they may
'h,"A a rr~Err " makc.
that the complications between Great Britain
ani the United State. arising out uf the Clay
ton aud Bulwer treaty uf April, 1870, have been
finally adjusted.
AZ the commencement ~ your last session,
hhh reason N hope that. cmancipatinE them
selves from further unlvailinE discussions
thr twu governments would proceed to settle
tee Crntral American questions in a practical
maurcr. alike honorable and satisfactory 10
both. and this hopc have not yet abandoned.
H. my Last annual uic.saec. I stated that over
tunes had cen mad, hy the British government
flr ihi- Inrpn-s. IN = friendly spirit. which
cordially rrrirrocatul. Their proposal waS M
withdraw thr-r questions frum direct rrrrtin-
tiun between the TIVE governments; INT tu ar-
camrii-h thc same object Ny negotiation ~
tween the British government and each Of the
Central American republic who-c territorial
Interests are Immediately involved The settle
ment Wa. 70 DC mndc in accordance with thc
general tenor NJ the Interpretation placed upon
tir Clayton nun Bnlwrr treaty ly thc United
State. with certain modification. A- nrEn-
tatinns arc It'll pending upon this basis. II
would not ic proper for me 70 communicate
their present condition. \ final settlement Of
these questions j. greatly e. bc desired. a this
would wipe out the last remaining subject q
dispute between the two cnuniIic-.
Our relation. with thr great empires ~
France ani Russia. W. wcll hs with Hll other
governments IN thc continent NJ Europe except
that ~ Spain, continue 70 bc " the most friendly
character.
With Spain our relations remain in an un-
satisfactory condition. In my message Of De
ccrnbcr last informed You that cur envoy ez-
traor,linnry and minister plenipotcntinry ~
Madrid hml u Eri for hiH recall; Anh IN wa my
purpose io -rnl unt 4 new minister tu TINT court,
with special instructions on MI lrsiionE pending
between ihc two governments. and with de-
termination 10 have them speedily and amicnbly
adjusted. if that were possible. This purpose
has been hitherto defeated by causes which |
need not cnumeraic.
The mission % spain has been iniruStcd N q
distinguished citizen uf Kentucky, who will
proceed VI Madrid without delay, and make
another nnl nnal attempt ~ obtain Justice from
that government
Spanish officials under the direct control Of
the captain-general OF Cuba. have insulted our
national flag, aud. in repeated instances. have
from time to time inflicted injuries on the Per
sons and property Of our citizens. These have
riven birth IN numerous claims against tho
Spanish government. the merits of which have
been ably discussed FOR series of years, by our
successive diplomatic representatives. Not
t
practical result in any single instance, unlcs:
We may except the case Of the Black Warrior
under the late administration, and that pre-
sented an outrage Of such character would
have justified an immediate resort 10 war. All
our attempts 10 obtain redress have been baffied
and defeated The frequent and ofs-rccurrine
changes in the Spanish ministry, have been en-
ploycd a. reasons for delay. We have beer
compelled 10 wait, again and again. until the
new minister shall have had time to investigate
\ the justice N CUT demands.
/ Even what have been dcnomnntci ..th'
Cuban claims" in which more than hundrcf
" our citizens arc directly interested, have
furnished no exception. The claims were foi
the refunding of duties unjustly exaeied iron
American vessels at different customhouses II
Cuba. 20 long ago a. the year lsf4- Inc prin
ciplrs upon which they rcst are - manifest,
equitable aud jnst, that after period n ncnrl.
ten ycar~. in 1864. they were recognized by th'
Snanish government Proceedings were after