Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-12-15
ASHTABULA o. SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER Is, 1860.


on China, referred to in my last annual Mes
sage. has been already carried into effect, SC
far as this was practicable.
Under this convention the sum Of 300,
600 taels, equal to about 500 900, way
stipulated to be paid in satisfaction of the
claims OF American citizens, out Of the
one-ffth OF the receipts for tonnage import,
and export duties on American vessels at
the ports OF Canton, Shanghae and Fuchan;
and 1t was "agreed that this amount shall
be in full liquidation Of all claims of Anne.
rlcan citizens at the various ports to this
date" Debentures for this amount, to.wit:
100000 taes for Canton, 100000 for
Shaughae, aud 100, 900 for Fuchan-were
delivered according TO the terms of the
convention, by the respective Chinese col
lectors OF the customs of those ports TO the
agent selected by our minister to receive
the same.
Since that time the claims of our citizens
have been adjusted by the Board Of Com
missloners appointed for that purpose, un-
der the act of March Bird, 1859, and their
awards, which proved satisfactory to tho
claimants, have been approved by our Min
listers. In the aggregate they amount to
the sum of $49S,694 TS. The claimants
have already received large proportion of
the sum awarded to them out of the fund
provided, and it is confidently expected that
the remainder will ere long be entirely paid.
After the awards shall have been satisfied
there will remain surplus of more than
5000, 600 at the disposition of Congress.
As this will in equity belong to the Chinese
government, would not justice require its
appropriation to some benevolent object in
which the Chinese may be specially inter.
ested
Our Minister to China, iu obedience to
his instructions, has remained perfectly neu
trail in the war between Great Britain and
France and the Chinese Empire although
in conjunction with the Russian Minister,
he was ever ready and willing, had the op.
portunity offered, to employ his good Off
ces in restoring peace between the parties.
1t is bat an act Of simple justice, both to
our present minister and his predecessor
to state that they have proved fully equal
to the delicate, trying and responsible po.
sitions in which they have on different oc
casions been placed.
JAPAN.
The ratiflcatonS of the treaty with Ja-
pan, concluded at Yeddo on the 29th July,
1858, were exchanged at Washington th c
22d May last, and the treaty itself was pro-
claimed on the succeeding day. There is
good reason to expect that, under its pro-
lection and influence our trade and inter.
course with that distant and interesting
people will rapidly increase.
The notifications of the treaty we're ex.
changed with unusual solemnity. For this
purpose the Tycoon had accredited three OF
his most distinguished subjects as ENJOYS
extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary,
who were received and treated with marked
distinction and kindness both by the gov
ernment and people Of the United States
There is every reason to believe that they
have returned to their native land entirely
satisfied with their visit, and inspired by
the most friendly feelings for our country
Let us ardently hope in the language of the
treaty itself, that there shall henceforward
I've perpetual peace and friendship between
the United States of America and his Mai
esty the Tycoon Of Japan and his success
sors.'
BRAZIL.
With the wise, conservative and liberal
government of the empire of Brazil our re.
lations continue to be of the most amiable
character.
NEW GRANADA
The exchange Of the ratifcatons of the
convention with the republic of New G ira,
NADIA, signed at Washington on the 10th oI
September 1851, has been long delayed from
accidental causes for which neither party is
cenSurable. These ratii1ations were duly
exchanged 10 the city on the 5th of No
Vember last. Thus has the controversy
been amicably terminated which had be
come so serious at the period of my inau.
guration as to require me, on the lTth OF
April, 1851, to direct our Minister to de-
mand bis passports aud return to the Uni
ted States.
Under this convention the government
of New Granada has specially acknowledg
ed itself to be responsible to our citizens
for damages which were caused by a rio
at Panama on the 18th of April, 1856
These claims, together with other claims o
our citizens which had been long urged il
vain, are referred for adjustment to Boar
of Commissioners. l submit copy of tn
convention to Congress, and recommend
the legislation to carry it into effect.
COSTA RIGA AND NICARAGUA.
PerSevering efforts have been made TO
the adjustment of the claims of American
citizens against the government of Cost
Rica, and am happy to inform you tina
these have finally prevailed. A convention
was signed at the city Of San Jose on tn
Cd of July last, between the Minister c
the United States in Costa Rica and tn
penipotentaries of that republic, referring
these claims to Board of Commissioner
and providing for the payment of their q
wards. The convention will be submtte
to the Senate for their immediate con
stitutional action.
The claims of our citizens upon the re
pubcs of Nicaragua have not yet bee
provided for by treaty, although diligent e
forts for this purpose have been made D.
our Minister resident to that republic
These are still continued, with fair pro'
lpect Of success
MEXICO.
Our relations with Mexico remain In
most unsatisfactory condition. In my la;
two annual messages discussed extensiv
4 u