The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1858-12-16

] Ihc event mas proved Jne WISDOM OF
our neutrality Our minister has exc
cuted his instructions with eminent skill
and ability. Tn conjunction with the
Russian plenipotentiary he has peace
| fully Bat efTectually co-oporatod with
the English and French plonipotenta-
ries; and each Of the four powers has
concluded q separate treaty with China,
Of highly satisfactory character. The
treaty concluded by our pienipotentiary
will Immediately be submitted to the
Senate.
JApAN.
I am happy to announce that,
through the energetic yet conciliatary
efforts Of our Consul General in Japan,
new treaty has been concluded with
that empire, which may be expected ma
terially to augment our trade and inter
course in that quarter, and remove from
our countrymon the disabilities which
have heretofore been imposed upon
the exercise of their religion. The
treaty shall be submitted to the Senate
for approval without delay.
GREAT BRITAIN.
It is my desire that every misunder-
standing with the government of Great
Britain, shonld be amicably and speed
Il ily adjusted. 1t has been the misfor.
tune Of both countries, almost ever
since the period of the revolution, to
have been annoyed by a succession Of
irritating and dangerous questions,
threatening their friendly relations.
This has partially prevented the full
development Of those feelings of mutual
! friendship between the people Of the
two countries, so natural in themselves
| and so conducive to their common in
terest. Any serious interruption of the
commerce between the United States
and Great Britain, would be equally
Injurious to both. In fact, no two ma
tions have ever existed on the face of
the earth, which could do each other
so much good or so much harm.
THE RIGHT OF SEARCH.
Entertaining these sentiments, I am
gratifcd to inform you, that the long
pending controversy botwcon the two
.
of visitation and search. has been ami
cably adjusted. The claim on the part
of Great Britain. forcibly to visit Amer
lean Vessels on the high seas in time Of
peace. could not be sustained under the
law of nations, and it has been ovcrrul-
ed by her own 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
the more injurious and annoying, as
these waters arc travcrsed by Il large
portion Of the commerce and naviga-
ton of the United States, and their free
and unrestricted use is essential to the
scurity Of the 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 intorposition Of the gov.
ernment. RcmOustrancCs were address
ed to the British government against
these violations of our rights of sover-
eighty and a naval force was at the same
time ordered to the Cuban waters, with
directions "to protect all vessels of the
United States on the high seas, from
search or detention by the vessels-of.
war Of any other nation" These meas,
ures received the unqualified and even
enthusiastic appreciation of the Ameri-
can people. Most fortunately, however
no collision took place, and the British
Government promptly avowed its recOg.
milton of the principles of international
law upon the subject, as laid down by
the government Of the United States
in the note Of the Secretary of State, tc
the British Minister at Washington, of
| April 10, 1858, which secure the YES
sells of the United States upon tho
high seas from visitation or search in
time of peace, under any circumstances
whatever. The claim has been aban,
doned in a manner rejecting honor on
the British government, and evincing
Just regard for the law of nations, anC
cannot fail to strengthen the amicablC
relations between the two countries.
The British Government, at the same
time proposed to the United States thai
some mode should be adopted, by mu.
tual arrangement between the two coun.
tries, Of a character which may bC
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 purpose
| Whilst declining to assume so grave O
responsibility, the Secretary Of State
has informed the British Government
that we are ready to receive any propo.
sal which they may feel disposed to Of.
fer, having the object in view, and tC
consider them in 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 dep.
rccatod than would be the establishment
Of any regulations which might be in,
compatible with tho freedom Of the seas
This Government has yet received NO
communication specifying the manner
in which the British Government would
propose to carry out their suggestion;
am inclined TO believe that no plan
which can be devised will be free from
fgravo embarrassmonts Still, / shall
form no decided opinion on the sub
| iect. until I have carefully, and In the