Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-01-06

France and Russia. Our "treaty, or general con
vention OF peace, amity and commerce." with ~!
empire, was concluded at Ticntsin on the lStl
June 1858, and was ratified by the President, "
and with the advice and consent Of the Scra si
the 2lst December following.
On the 18th December, 1885, John +. Ward.
distinguish, citizens of Georgia, was duly con
missioned as envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentary TO China. lie left the United
States for the place Of his destination on the otn
of February, 1859, bearing with him the rstiase
copy of this treaty, and Arrived at Shanghai on
the 2sth May. From thence he proceeded q
: Pekin, on the 10th June, but did not arrive st
{, that city until the 9th July. According TO the
terms Of the treaty the notifications were 10 be ex'
changed on before the 18th June, 1859. Thil
was rendered impossible by reasons and events
beyond his control, not necessary to deiaili bus
still it is due to the Chinese authorities ut Shang-
hae to state that they always assured him no
advantage should be taken ofthe delay, anG this
pledge has been faithfully redeemed.
On the arrival OF Mr.. Ward at Perkin, he re-
quested audience of the Emperor to present his
letter of credence. This he did not obtain, In
consequence of his very proper refusal to submit 70
the humiliating ceremonies required by the
etiquette of this strange people in approa ching
their sovereign. Nevertheless, the interviews %
this question aucted in the most friendly
spirit and with all due regard to his personal
feelings and the honor of his country. When
presentation to his ma jesty was found to be i'm.
.
of the United States received with peculiar
bonors BY Kwelling 4"the Emperor's Prime Nina
| lister and the second IN n in the empire to thS
Emperor himself" The ratifcations Of the treaty
were afterwards on the 18th of August, exchaag.
ed in proper form at Peitsang. As the exchange
did not take place until the day prescribed BY
the treaty. it is deemed proper before its publicas
| ton, again to submit il to the Senate.
| 1t is but simple justice TO the Chinese authors
ties to observe, that throughout the whole tran
sacton they appear to have acted in good faith and
ia friendl, spirit towards the United States
1t is true, this IS been done in their peculiar
fashion; but we ought to regard with q lenient
eye the ancient customs Of an empire dating back
for thousands of years, so far this may be con-
sistent with our national honor. The conduct OF
our Minister the occasion has received my
entire appreciation.
In order to carry out the spirit of this treaty.
and to give it full effect, it became necessary to
conclude two supplemental conventions-the ono
for the adjustment and satisfaction OF the claims
of our citizens and the other to fix the tariff on
imports and exports, and to regulate the transit
duties aud trade of our merchants with China -
This duty satisfactorily performed by our late
minister. These Conventions bear date at Shang.
haze on the Sth Of November, 1858. Having been
considered in the light of binding agreements
subsidiary to the principal treaty, and to be car
ried into execution without delay, they do not
provide for any formal ratification exchange Of
ratifcatons by the contracting parties. This was
not ,emed necessary by the Cainese, who are
already proceeding in good faith to satisfy tho
claims Of our citizens, and it is hoped, to carry
out the other provisions of the conventions.-l
Still thought 1t was proper to submit them to
the Sena.e, by which they were ratified on the
Sd March, 1859. The ratified copies, however did
not reach Shan ghae until after the departure Of
our minister to Pekin, and these conventions
could not be exchanged at the same time
with the principal treaty. No doubt is entertained
H.. "a E.l .l,. L. tha
Chin sc government should this be thou int advisa
Bile; but, under the circumstances presented,
shall consider them binding enga gemerts from
their date on both farti $, and cause them to be
published such for the information and guidancS
of our merchants trading with the Chinese en-.
pire.
1t affords me much satisfaction to inform you
that all our difficulties with the Republic of Para
quay haze been satisfactorily adjusted. 1t happily
did not become necessary to employ the force for
this purpose which Congress had placed at my
comnand, under their j1int resolution Of I'd June,
1888 On the contrary, the President Of that
Republic, in friendly spirit, acceded promptly
to the just and reasonable demands Of the govcrn-
meut of the United States. Our commissioner
arrived at Assumption, the capital of the republic,
on the 18th of January, 1859, and left it the
7th OF February, hating in three weeks ably and
successfully accomplished all the objects Of his
mission. The treaties which he has concluded
will be Immediately submitted to the Senate.
In the view that the employment of other than
peaceful means might become necessary to obtain
+juSt satisfaction" from Paraguay a strong naval
force was concentrated in the waters of the La
Plata to await contingencies, whilst commits.
sioncr assembled the rivers to Assumption. The
Nary Department is entitled to great credit for
the promptness, efficiency and economy with
which this exp ,dtion fitted out and Conducted.
1t consisted of nineteen armed vessels, great and
small, carrying two hundred guns and twenty five
hundred men, all under the command of the vet
eran and gallant Shubrck. The entire expenses
of the expedition have been betrayed of tho
ordinary appropriations for the naval service ex-
except the sum of $3.50 900, applied to the pur.
chase of seven steamers, constituting part of it,
under the authority of the naval appropriation
act Of the Sd March last. 1t is believed that these
steamers were worth more than their COST and
they are all now usefuly and activity employed in
the naval service.
The appearance of SO large force, fitted out in
such prompt manner, in the far distant waters
of the La Plata, and the admirable conduct of the
officers and men employed in it, have had hap
py effect in favor OF our country throughout all
that remote portion of the world.
Our rslations with the great empires of France
and Russia, as well rs with all other governments
on the continent of Europe, unless we may except
that of Spain, happily Continue to be 0: the most
friendly character.
In my last annual messoge presented state
ment of the unsatisfactory condition of our rela.
tluns with SPAIN ana regret 10 say tnat thls
has not materially improved. Without special re.
ferance to other claims, even the Cuban claims
the payment of which has been ably urged by our
III insters and in which more than q hundred Ut
our citizens directly interested, remain unsat-
isied, notwithstanding both their justice and their
amount (Sl2s, Gas 5l) had been recognised and
a.certaned by the Spanish government tself
again recommend that an appropriation be
made " to he paid to the Spanish government for
the purpose OF distribuation among the claimants
in the Amistad case" In common with two OF
my predecessors, entertain no doubt that this is
required by cur treaty with Spain of the 2Ith
October, l7a5. The failure to discharge this obli-
cation has been employed by the Cabinet of Ma
drid as u reason against the settlement Of our
claims.
need not repeat the arguments which urged
in my last annual message in favor of the acqui-
stion of Cuba by fair purchase. My opinions on
thrt measure remain unchanged /, therefore,
az lin invite the serious attention Of Congress to
this important subject. Without a recognition of
this policy on their part, it will be almost iinpossi
bic to istitute negotiations with any reasonable
prospect Of success.
Until II recent period there was gool rea-
son to believe that SHOULD BE- able to an
nounca to You On the present occasio" that
our difficulties with Great Britain, arising
out Of the CLAYTON and Bulwcr treaty, had
been finally adjusted in IL manner alike hon
orable and satisfactory to both PARTIES
From causes, hJwevcr, which the British
Government had not anticipated, they have
not completed tre,ty arrangements with re-
publics Of Honduras and Nicaragua, in pur-
suance Of the understanding between the two