The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-14

linquishing the Mosquito Pr0tectorate. Besides,
by the former the Bay Islands are recognized
as part of the Republic Of Honduras.
It may be observed that the stipuations of
these treaties conform in every important par.
ticular to the amendments adopted at London.
on the 18th October, 1856, between the two
governments It will be recollected that this
treaty was rejected by the British government
because of its objection to the just and impor-
tant amendment of the S.aate to the article re-
lating to the Ruatan and the other islands in
the Bay of Honduras. 1t is source of sincere
satisfaction to all classes of our fellow citizens
and especially to those engaged in foreign
commerce. that the claim on the part of Great
Britain forcibly to visit and search American
merchant vessels, on the high seas. in time of
peace, has been abandoned. This was, by far,
the most dangerous question to the peace of
war of 1872. Whilst it remained open they
might, at any moment been precipitated into
war. This was rendered manifest by the ex.
asperated state of public feeling throughout
our entire country, produced by the forcible
search of American merchant vessels by Brit
ish cruisers on the coast of Cuba, in the spring
of 1858. The American people hailed with
general acclaim the orders OF the Secretary of
the Navy to our naval force in the Gulf of
Mexico, to protect all vessels of the United
States on the high seas from search or deten.
ton by the vessels OF war Of any other nation.
These orders might have produced an unfortu.
nate collision between the naval forces of the
two countries. This was most fortunately pre-.
vented by an appeal to the justice of Great
Britain, and to the law of nations, as expound.
ed by her own most eminent jurists. The on.
ly question of any importance which still re.
mains open, is the disputed title between the
two governments to the island of San Juan, in
the vicinity of Washington Territory. As this
question is still under negotiation, it is not
od q n
make any other allusion to the subject.
The recent visit of the Prince of Wales in ap.
propriate character, to the people of this cOun-
try, has proved to be most auspicious event
in its consequences. 1t cannot fail to increase
the kindred and kindly feelings of both coun.
tries in their political and social intercourse
with each other
With France, our ancient and powerful ally,
our relations continue to be of the most friend
ly character. A decision has recently been
made by a French judicial tribunal, with the
appreciation of the Imperial Government,
which cannot fail to foster the sentiments of
mutual regard that has so long existed be.
tween the Two countries. Under the French
law no person can serve in the armies of France
unless ne be French Citizen. The law of
France, recognizing the natural right of expa.
triation, it follows as natural consequence,
that Frenchman, by the fact of having be.
COmS d ClIILcu VI Tic OulLcu OIdCcS, udS CuduS'
ed his allegiance and has lost his native char.
acter. He cannot, therefore, be compelled to
serve in the French armies in case he should
return to his native country. These principles
were announced in 1852 by the French Minis
ter of War, and in two late cases have been
confirmed by the French Judiciary. In these,
two natives of France have been discharged
from the French army because they had be-
come American citizens. To employ the Ian
guage of our present Minister to France, who
has rendered good service on this OCCASION
III do not think our French naturalzed fellow.
citizens will hereafter experience much annoy.
ance on this subject. 1 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
to the enlightened government of the Emper-
Or" In any event. our Government is bound
to protect the rights of her naturalized citi-
zens everywhere, to the same extent as though
they had drawn their first breath in this coun.
try. We can recognize no distinction between
our native and naturalized citizens,
RUSSIA,
Between the great Empire Of Russia and the
United States, the mutual friendship and regard
which has so long existed still continues to
prevail, and, if possible, to increase. Indeed,
our relations with that empire are all that we
could desire.
OuT TcIdtlOuS Will SpaI0 are uOW VI d mOTc
complicated, though less dangerous character,
than they have been for many years. Our
citizens have long held, and continue to hold,
numerous claims Sgainst the Spanish govern.
ment. These have been ably urged for Sc
ries of years by our successive diplomatic rep.
resentatives at Madrid, but without obtaining
redress. The Spanish government finally
agreed to institute joint commission for the
adjustment of those claims, and on the 5th day
of March, 1860, concluded convention for
that purpose, with our present Minister at Mad
rid. Under this convention, what have been
denOminated the Cuban claims, amounting to
SIPS, 635 81 in which more than one hundred
of our fellow citizens are interested, were rec.
ognized, and the Spanish government agreed
to pay one hundred thousand dollars of this
amount within three months following the ex-
change of ratifcations. The payment of the
remaining $685. "a was to await the decision
of the commissioners for or against the Amis.
tead 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 satisfactory to the
holders of the Cuban claims. Indeed, they
have made formal offer, authorizing the State
Department to settle their claims, and to de-
duct the amount of the Amistead claims from
the sums which they are entitled to receive
from Spain This offer, of course, cannot be
accepted.
States against Spain, or of subjects of the
Queen of Spain against the United States, in.
GLIDING the Armistead claim, were by this
Convention referred to Board of Commits.
sioners in the usual form. Neither the
validity of the Armistead claim, nor any other
claim against either party, with the sin.
gle exception of Cuban claims. was recognized
by the Convention. Indeed, the Spanish Gov.
ernment did not insist that the validity of the
Armistead claim should be thus recognized,
notwithstanding its payment had been recon-.
mended to Congress by two of my predeces.
sOrs. as well as by myself, and an appropriation
for that purpose had passed the Senate of the
United States. They were content that it
should be submitted to the board for eXamina.
ton and decision like the other claims. Both
governments were bound respectively to pay
the amounts awarded to the several claimants,
at such times and places as may be fixed by
anu according to the tenor of such awards; and
transmitted by this convention to the Senate
for 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 consent to its ratification. These proceed
ings place our relations with Spain in an awk
ward and embarrassing position 1t is more
than probable that the final adjustment of these
claims will devOlve upon my successor. re-
iterate the commentator contained in my an.
nual message of December, 1858, and repeated
in that of December 1859, in favor of the acqui
sition of Cuba from Spain by fair purchase.
firmly believe that such an acquisition would
contribute essentially to the vel being and
prosperity of both countries, in all future time,
as well as prove the certain means of immedi.
ately abolishing the African slave trade through
out the world. would not repeat this recon
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