The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-12-14

onr French naflalIZed fellow CltlZeb5 VIII
hereafter experience much annoyance on this
subject / venture to predict that the time
is not far distant when the other continental
powers will adopt the same wise and just
policy which has done SO much honor 10 the
senlig htened government OF the Emperor
In any event. orr government Is bound ID
protect the rights OF her naturaIzed citizens
everywhere 10 the same extent, though
thev had drawn their first breath ID tbs
country. We can recognize 30 distinction
between our native and nataraiIzad CITIZENS.
Our relations with Spain are now OF
complicate, though less dangerous character
than they have been for many years. Cor
citizens have long held and still continue to
hold, numerous claims against the Spanish
government These havs been ably urged
for q series of years by our successive dipo-
matte representatives at Madrid, but with
out obtaining redress The Spanish Gov
ernmeni finally agreed to institute joint
commission for the adjustment of these
claims and on the fifth day OF March. 1860
concluded a convention for that purpose
with our present Minister at Madrid.
Under this Convention, what has been
dcnominated the Cuban Claims amounting
toSI26, 635. "a, in which more than one
hundred Of our fellow citizens are nteres-
ted. were recognized, and the Spanish Gov
eminent agreed to pay one hundred thous'
and dollars of this amount within three
months following the exchange Of ratihca>
cations The payment of the remaining
S26, OBS. 81 was to wal, the decision of
no or
tad claim but in any event. the balance
was to be paid to the claimants, either by
Spain or the United States. These terms
| have every reason to know, are highly sat
isfactory to the, holders OF the Cuban
Clames Indeed. they have made for
nal offer, authorizing the State Depart-
ment to settle their claims, AID to deduct
the amount of the Amstad claims from the
sums which they are entitled to receive
from Spain.
This offer Of course, cannot be ac-
cepted. All other claims Of cit zcGs
Of the United States, against Spain;
or OF subjects of the Queen OF Spain
against the United States, including
the Amisted claim, were by this
Convention referred to a Board Of
Commissioners in the usual form.
Neither the validity of the Amslted
claim, nor any other claim against
either party, with the single excep-
ton of Cuban claims, was recognized
by the Convention. Indeed the Span
ish Government did not insist that
the validity Of the Amisted claim
shonld be thus recognized, notwlth-
standing its payment had been reco-
mcndcd to Congress by two Of my
predecessors, as well as by myself,
and an appropriation for that pur~
pose had passed the Senate of the
Unitd States. They were content
that it should be submitted to the
Board for examination and decision
like the ;c''hnr claims.
Both Governments were bound re-
spectivu,y to pay the amounts awar-
ded to the several claimants, at such
times and places "a may be fixed by
and according to the tenor of said
awards, and transmitted by this
Convention to the Senate tor their
constitutional action. On the Sd of
May, 1860, and on the 9th Of the
succeeding June, they determined
that they would not advise and con
sent to its ratification, These pro-
ceedings place our relations with
Spain in an awkward and embarras-
sing position. It is more than pros
babe that a final aajustmentot these
claims Will devolve upon my success
sor. | rcitcratc the recommendation
contained IN my animal message Of
December, 1853, and repeated in
that of December, 1859, in favor of
the acquisition Of Cuba from Spain
by fair purchase.
| firmly believe that such an ac-
QUESTION would contribute essentially
to the welbeing and prosperity of
both countries, in all future time, as
Well "a prove the certain means of
Immediately abolishing the African
slave trade, throughout the world. l
would not repeat this recommends
ton upon the present occasion, if [
believed that the transfer of Cuba to
the United States, upon conditions
highly favorable to Spain, could JUS
tly tarnlsh the national honor Of the
prond and ancient Spanish monarchy.
Surely no person ever attributed to
the first Napoleon disregard of the
national honor of France, for trans
terring Louisiana to the United
States for fair equivalent, both in
money and commercial advantages.
CHINA
Tho friendly and peaceful policy pursued by
the Empire of China. has produced the most
satisfactory results. The treaty of Ten tain,
Of tho 18th OF juno. 1853; has been faithfully
observed by ths Chinese authorities Tho Con
vcnton Of the Sth of November, 1853. supple
mentGry to th. treaty, for the adjustment and
satistar ton of the claims of our citizens in Chi
M, referred to in my Ia t Message, has already
been carried into effect, SO far as this was prlc-
ticable.
Under this convention. the sum of 500. 900
taels equal 70 about S700.00 was stipulated
t. be paid in al isfaction Of the claims IF Anne
ricar citizens out Of the o1e-iftieth of receipt
of tonnage. import and export du';e, on Ame-
rican We se.s, - t;rv rts Of Cluton. Shanghai
and Fuchou; and i. was agreed hat this amount
shall be in full liquidation Of all the claims ~f
American citizens at the various ports of this
date. Dabentures Of this amount. to wit: 30C,
90 taels for Canton 100, 900 for Shan gha AMI
100, 0G0 for Fuchou, were delivered according
TO the terms of the convention, to the respec-
tive Chinese collectors Of the customs of those
ports to the agent selected by our Minister to
receive the same. Since that time the claims