Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-12-13

yenon for this purpose with the present minister at Mad
1.-THE Cuban claims amounting to s128 634 81 cents in
which more than hundred OF our 1elow czens are IN
greed to nav Of this amount within three months
following the exchange of rafcations The payment OF
the remaining S2S63554 was await the decision of the
commissioners for or against the Amistad claims :" but in
any event the balance to be paid to the claimants eth
reason to know highly satisfactory the holders of the
Cuban claims. Indeed they have made formal offer au.
to deduct the amount of the Amstad claim from the sums
which they entitled to receive from Spain This Offer
of course, cannot be accepted.
All other claims of citizens of the United states against
Spain of the subjects of the Queen of Spain against the
United States, including the " Amistad claim" were 6y
usual FORM Neither the validity of the Amistad claim mol
of any other claim against either party with the eA
ception of the Cuban claims recognized Dy the con
vention Indeed tire Spanish government did not insist
that the validity of the Amstad claim should be thus recog
nized notwithstanding its payment had been
Congress by two of predecessors, as Wen as Dy my
SELF and appropriation for that purpose had passed ne
should be submitted to the board examination de
cson like the other claims Both were bOunC
respectively pay the amounts awarded to the seVera
claimants such times and places may be fixed by and
according to the tenor of said awards.
transmitted this convention to the Senate for Their cor
succeeding June they determined that they would not ao
wise and consent" to its ratification: .., e 49,
These proceedings place our relations with SPAN IN an
awkward embarrassing position 1t is more than prob
able that the final adjustment of these claims will de"oVe
reterate the recommendation contained in my Annual
Message of December 1885, and repeated in that Of Decem
ber 1859 in favor of the acquisition of Cuba from Spain by
fair purchase. firmly believe that such an acquisition
would contribute essentially to the webeng and prosper
ty of both countries all future time well as prove the
certain of Immediately abolishng the African slave
throughout the world would repeat this
mendaon the present occasion believed that the
transfer OF Cuba the United States upon conditions high
y favorable SPAIN could justly tarnsh NJ national hon
person attributed the first Napoleon disregard of
the national France for transferring Louisiana to
the United States for fair equivalent both IN money and
commercial advantages.
With the Emperor of Austria and the remaining CONT
mental powers Europe including that Of the Sultan,
relations continue to be of the most friendly character
CHINA.
The friendly and peaceful policy pursued by the Govern
ent of the United States towards the empire of China has
produced the satisfactory results The treaty of 1en
stn of 18th of june 1885, has been faithfully observed
by the Chinese authorities The convention OF the 8th No
vember 1885, supplementary this treaty. for the adjust
ment and satisfaction of the claims of citizens China
referred to in my annual message has been already
Tied into effect so far as this was practicable
Under this convention the of 600 taes equal to
about $500 OO stipulated to be paid in satisfaction of
receipts tonnage and export duties American
vessels the ports of Canton, Shanghoe and Fuchau and
II was agreed that this shall be in full Liquidation
OF all Claims American citizens at the various ports to
this date" Debenures for this amounttO wit 100000
taes for Canton Shanghae and 100000 for Flu
chauwere delivered according to the terms Of the conVen
ton by the respective Chinese collectors OF the customs of
ports the agent selected by our minister to receive
the same.
1usted by the board commissioners appointed for that
purpose under the act of March g. 1882 awards
proved satisfactory to the claimants have been ap
Se sem O Of 49, The claimants have already re-
ceived large proportion of the awarded to them out
of the fund provided and confidently expected that the
shall have been satisfied there will remain surplus of
than 5000 at the disposition of Congress As this will
equity belong the Chinese government would hot Justice
require it's appropriation to some benevolent object in
which the Chinese may be specially interested:
Our minister to China IN obedience to his instructions,
has remained perfectly neutral in the between Great
Britain and France and the Chinese empire although in
conjunction with the Russian minister he ready
and willing had the opportunity offered to employ his
GOOD offices in restoring peace between the parties 1t
but an act of simple justice both to present minister
and his predecessor state that they have proved fully
equal to the delicate trying and responsible positions IN
which they have on different occasions been placed
JAPAN
The notifications of the treaty with Japan concluded
at Yeddo the 29th July, 1858, were exchanged at
Washington on the 22d May last and the treaty tsefwas
proclaimed the succeeding day. There is good
to expect that under its protection and influence,
trade and intercourse with that distant and interesting
people will rapidly increase
The notifications of the treaty were exchanged with I'M
usual soemnity. For this purpose the Tycoon had
credited three of his most distinguished subjects
voys extraordinary and ministers penpotentiary who
were received and treated with marked distinction and
kindness both by the Government and people of the
United States There every to believe that they
have returned to their native land entirely satisfied with
this visit and inspired by the most friendly feelings for
our country Let us ardently hope in the language vi
the treaty ITSELF that there shall henceforward be per
peual peace and friendship between the United States of
America and his Majesty the Tycoon of Japan and his
successors"
With the wse conservative and liberal government of
the empire of Brazil relations continue to be of the
most amcable character.
NEW GRANADA.
The exchange of the ratification of the convention with
the republic of New Granada, signed at Washington on
the 10th Septeer 1851 has been long delayed from
cdental causes for which neither party is censurabe-
These notifications duly exchanged in this city the
9Th Of November last Thus has controversy been
icaby terminated which had become serious at the
Rod of my inauguration to require me, the 17tn
April 1857 to direct our minister to demand his passports
and return to the United States.
Under this convention the government of New Grana
de- has specially acknowledged itself to be responsible
citizens Tor damages which caused by the riot
at Panama on the 18th of April, 1856" These claims
together with other claims of citizens which had been
long urged in vain referred for adjustment to board
of commissioners submit copy of the convention to
Congress- and recommend the legislation necessary to
carry it into effect.
COSTA RIGA AND NICARAGUA
Persevering efforts have been made for the adjustment
OF the claims of American citizens against the govern
ment of Costa Rica and happy to inform you that
these have finally prevailed A convention signed at
the city of San Jose the I'd of July last between the
minister resident of the United States Costa Rca and
the plenipotentaries OF that republic, referring these
claims to board of commissioners and providing for the
payment of their awards This convention will be sub
mtted Immediately to the Senate for their constitutional
action
The claims of our citizens upon the republic OF Near
aqua have not yet been provided for by treaty. although
dgent efforts for this purpose have been made by our
minister resident to that republic These are still contn-
ued, with a fair prospect of success.
Our relations with Mexico remain in most unsatisfac-
tory condition. In my last two annual messages dis
cnssed extensively the subject OF these relations and do
not propose to repeat length the facts and
mens then presented They prove concusvey that our
citizens residing in Mexico and merchants trading