Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-12-11

nauVh""V :" N0o7oio noHi'tctou ou Hh'A
grounds Of carrying false c,lors. They
have also invited the United Stniea to take
the initiative, aud propose measures for this
purpose. Whilst declining to assume so
grave = responsibility, the Secretary Of State
has Informed the British government that
We are ready to.receive ANY proposals which
they may feel disposed h offst, having this
object in view, and IN consider them IN an
amieable spirit. A strong opinion is, how
ever, expressed, that the occasional .ebnse.of
the flag Of any nation is an evil far less to
be deprecated tlan would be the establish
ment Of any regulations Which might be in
compatible with the freedom of the seas.---
This government has yet reeei ed np com
muuicatiOu specifying themanner in which
the British government would propose to
carry out their suggestion; and anu iuclin-
ed to believe that 20 plan which can be ds-
vised will be free from. grave embarrass-
menls. Still ! shall form no dechded opn-
ion on the subject until shall have careful.
" and in the best spirit examined any pre-
posals which they may think proper to
make. ra m r0Irt t
a l am truly sorry cannot also inform
You that the complications between Great
Britain. aud 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 set
tie the Central American question in
practical manner alike honorable and salts
factory TO both; and this hope have not
vet abandoned In my last annual mes
sage | stated that overtures had been made
by the British government for this purpose,
in friendly spirit, which cordially re-
ciprocated. Their proposal was, to with
draw these questions from direct nego-
tation between the two governments; but
to accomplish the same object by nego-
tiation between the British government and
each of the Central American republics
whose territorial interests are Immediately
involved. The settlement 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 negotiations are
still pending upon this basis, it would not
be proper for me now to communicate their
present condition. Aifiual settlement of
these questions is greatly to be desired, as
/, this would wipe out the last remaining sub
ject for dispute between the two countries.
\ Our relations with the great empires of
France and Russia, as well as with all 9th
er governments on the continent Of Eu-
rope, except that of Spain, continue to be
of 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 penipo-
tentiary to Madrid had asked for his recall;
and it was my purpose to send out a new
minister to that court, with special nstruc-
tons on all questions pending between the
two governments, and with determination
to have them speedily and aruicably ADJUST
ed, If that were possible. This purpose
has been hitherto defeated by causes which
/ need not enumerate. The mission TO
Spain has been entrusted to distinguished
citizen of Kentucky, who will proceed to
Madrid without delay, and make another
and a final attempt to obtain justice from
that government.
Spanish officials, under the direct control
Of the Captain General of Cuba, have in
suited our national flag, and, in repeated in
stances, hav- from time to time inh ced in-
juries on the persons and property of our
citizens. These have given birth to nuiner-
Gus claims against the spanish government,
the merits of which have been ably dis
cussed for q series Of years, by our sue
cessire diplomatic representatives,. Not
withstandug this we have not arrived at a
| practical result in any single instance, un-
less we may except the case of the Black
Warrior, under the late Administration
and that presented an outrage OF such a
character as would have justified an imme-
diate resort to war All our attempts TO
obtain redress have been baffl ID and de-
feated. The. frequent aud oft recurring
changes in the Spaulsh ministry, have been
employed as REASONS for delay. We have
been compelled to wait, again and again,
until the new minister shall have had time
to investigate the justice Of our demands.
Even what have been denorninated ''the
Cuban CLAIMS" in which more than a hun
dred Of our citizens are directly int rested,
have furnished no exception. These claims
were for the refundIng of duties uuiustIy
exacted from American vessels at different
custom houses in Cuba, SO long ago as the
year lS44. The principles upon which
they rest are so manfestIy equitable aud
| just, that after period Of nearly ten years,
IN 1854, they were recognized by the Span
/ ish government. Proceed ngs were after
wards instituted to ascertain their amount,
and this was finally fixed according to then
own statement with which we are satisfied
at the sum of one hundred aud twenty
eight thousand six hundred and thirty-tye
dollars and tifty-four cents. Just at the
moment after delay of fourteen years
when we bad reason to expect that this SUN
would be repaid with interest, we have re.
ceiyed a pf0posa offering 70 refund one
third of that amount, (forty-two thousand
eight hundred and seventy eight dollars and
AfOrty-one cents, but without interest, il we
would accept this in full satisfaction. The
offer is, also, accompanied by a declaration
that this indemnlhcatlon is not fouHded on
any reason Of strict justice, but is made as
special favor.
One alleged cause for procrastination in the ex-
amiHaIOa aud adjustment of our-clalms arlset
from an obstacle which IL is the duty of the Span