Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-06

nv out ito other provisions or the Conventions.
Still thought il was proper TO submit them to
the Senate, by which they were ratified on the
i 3 lof March, 1859. The ratified copies, how
ever. did net reach Shanghai until after the de-
parture OF our Minister to Pekin, aud these
Conventions could not, therefore, be exchang-
ed at the same time with tue principal treaty.
No doubt is entertained that they will be rati-
fed and exchanged by the Chinese Government,
should this DO :hought advisable; but, under
The circumstances presented, [ shall consider
them binding engagements from their date on
both parties, aud cause them 10 be published
as such for the information and guidauce of
our merchants trading With the Chinese Em.
pira.
Il affords me mueh satisfaction 10 inform YOU
thai all difficulties with the Republic of Para.
quay have been satisfactorily adjusted 1t
| happily did not become necessary 10 employ
| tho force for this purpose which Congress had
| placed at my command under their Joint reso-
| luton of "a June, 1858. Ga the contrary,
the President of that Republic, ia friendly
spirit, acceded promptly to tho just and reason
! able demands of the Government of the o..
States Oar Commissioner arrived at Assump-
tiou, the capital of the Republic, on the 25ih
| Of January, 1859, and left it on III, 18th os
February, having in three weeks ably and sue
sasatolly accomplished all the objects OF his
mission. The treaties which be has concluded
viii be immediately submitted to the Senate
| ia the view that the employment Of otner
than peaceful means might become necessary
to obtain '.just satisfaction" from Paraguay,
strong uay4l force was eopccntrated 10 tic wa.
ters Os the la Plata to await contingencies,
whilst our commissioner aseeRded the river TO
Assumption. The Navy Department is entitled
10 great credit for the promptness, efficiency,
and econmy with which this expedition was
| fittcd out and conducted. Ii consisted of
| Nineteen armed vessels, great and snail, carry
ing 200 guns and 1900 men, all under the
cosEnaaa OF the veteran and gallant naahriek.
The euti:e expenses of the expedition have
been betrayed out of the ordinary appropria-
tlons for the naval service, except the sun Of
| 1900, applied to the purchase Of seven Of
the stamers, constituting part of it, under
the authority of the naval appropriation act of
the Sd March last. 1t is believed that these
steaine!s are worth more than their cost, aud
they are all now usetuliy and actively employed
in the naval service.
The appearance of 30 large force, fitted out
in such prompt manner, ia the far distant wa
duet Of the officers aud men employed IN it,
lave had happy effect in favor of our couu-
try throughout all tha; remote portion Of the
world.
Ourrelatious with the great empires of France
aud Russia, as we'll as win all other govern
.neuts on the continent of Europe. unless We
| may except that Of Spain, happily continue to
he of the most friendly character.
L 4 ,4.,1
meut OF the unsatisfactory condition of our re-
latioas with Spain; and regret 10 say that this
has not materially improved. Without special
reference to other claims, even tie "Cuban
cIaims," the payment of which has been ably
urged by our MINISTER'S and in which more than
hundred of our citizens are directly interest
ed, remain unsatished, Notwithstanding both
their justice aud their amount (Sl2S,635 54)
had been recognized and ascertained BY the
| Spanish government Itself.
| again recommend that an appropriation be
. made "to he paid to the Spanish government
! for the purpose Of distribution among the cfai-
man 10 the Amistad case la common with
swo o. nv predecessors, eatertain no doubt
that this is required by our treaty with SPAN
| os the 2?th October, lT95- Tue failure to
discharge this obligation has been employed by
! the Cabinet of Madrid as reason against the
settlement OF our claims.
| need not repeat The arguments which |
| urged 10 my last annual message in favor of
the acquisition of Cuba BY fair purchase. Ny
! opinions of that measure remain unchanged.
| |, Therefore, again invite the serious attention
of Congress to this important subject With
out recognition of this policy on their part,
il Will be almost impossible to institute negotl-
atons with any reasonable prospect Of sue
cess.
Uutila recent period there was good reason
TO believe that | should be able to announce to
you on the present occasion that our dlthcuitles
with Great Britain. arising out Of the Clayton
! and SulWer treaty, had been hually adjusted IN
manner alike honorable and satisfactory to
both parties. From causes, however, whieA the
British Government had not anticipated, they
have not yet completed treaty arrangements with
the republics of Honduras and Nicaragua, IN
pursuance of the understanding between the two
governments. 1t is, nevertheless, confidently
expected that this good work will ere long be
accomplished.
Whilst iB6ulging the hope that no other sub
jec. remained which could disturb the good un-
derstanding between the two countries, the ques-
ton arising out of the adverse claims OF tue par
lies to the Island Of San Juan, under the Ore
gon treaty of the 18th of June, lS46, sudden
ly assumed threatening prominence. In Or
der 10 prevent unfortunate collision on that re-
mote frontier, tho late Secretary of State, on
the lzfh July, 1855, addressed cote 10 Mr..
Champion, then British minister at Washington,
communicating TO him copy of the insiruc;ious
which he Mr.. Maroyl bad given, On tbe l4th
July, to GOV, S:egens. of Washington Terri
tosy, having special reference 70 an "s.Pre-
hended ooDaIct between car citizens aud the