The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-12-08

Sl28,635 "a, in which more than one hun
dred OF our fellow citizens are interested, wer
recognized, and the Spanish governmen
agreed TO pay one hundred thousand dollar
OF this amount within three months follow
, ing the exchange of ratifcations. The paw
ment of the remaining $28, ,635 81 was t
= await the decision of the commissioners fo
or against the Amistad claim, but in any
event the balance was to be paid to the
claimants either by Spain or the United
States. These terms l have every reason
to know are highly satisfactory to the hold
ers Of the Cuban claims. Indeed, they
have made a formal offer, authorizing the
state Department to settle these claims, and
to deduct the amount of the Amistad
claim from the sums which they are enti-
tied to receive from Spain. This offer, oil
course, cannot be accepted All other
claims of citizens of the United States
against Spain, or of subjects of the Queen
of Spain against the United States, includ-
ing the Amistad claim, were by this Con-
vention referred to a Board of Commission
ers in the usual form. Neither the validi-
ty of the Amistad claim, nor any other
Claim against either party, with the single
| exception of the Cuban claims was recog-
nized by the convention. Indeed, the
/ Spanish Government did not insist that the
validity OF the Amistad claim should be
recognized, notwithstanding its payment
had been recommended to Congress bv two
/ of my predecessors, as well as myself and
an appropriation for that purpose had
/ passed the Senate of the United
! States. They were content that il
should be submitted to the Board for exam
inaten and decision, like the other claims.
Both Governments were bound, respective
ly, to pay the amounts awarded TO sae sew
eral claimants atsuch times and places as
may be fixed by and according to the tenor
of said awards, and transmitted this con-
ventiOn to the Senate for their constitution
al action, on the third of May, 1860, and on
the 9th of the succeeding June, they de-
termined that they would not advise and
consent to its ratification. These proceed
ings placed our relations with Spain in an
awkward and embarrassing position. 1t is
more than probable that the final adjust
ment of these claims will deyolve upon my
successor. | reiterate the Recommendation
contained in my Annual Message of Decem-
ber 1858, and repeat that of December,
1859, in favor Of the acquisition OF Cuba
from Spain by fair purchase. firmly be-
lieve that such an acquisition would con-
tribute essentially to the well being and
prosperity of both countries, in all future
time, as well as prove the certain means of
Immediately abOlishing the African slave
trade throughout the world. | would not
repeat this recommendation upon the pres
ent occasion, if | believed that the transfer
Of Cuba to the United States upon condi-
tions highly favorable to Spain-could just
ly tarnish the national honor of the proud
and ancient Spanish monarchy. Surely no
person ever attributed to the first Napoleon
a disregard of the national honor of France
for transferring Louisiana to the United
States for fair equivalent, both III money
aud commercial advantages.
AUSTRIA, ETC.
With the Emperor Of Austria, and the re-
manning continental powers of Europe, in
Guiding that of the Sultan. our relations
continue to be Of the most friendly charac-
ter.
CHINA
The friendly and peaceful policy pursued
by the Government of the United States to-
wards the Empire of China, has produced
the most satisfactory results. The treaty Of
Tientsin, of the 18th of June, 1858, has been
faithfully observed by the Chinese u'hori-
ties. The Convention Of the 8th November,
1858, supplementary to this treaty for the
adjustment and satisfaction of the claims OF
our citizens in China, referred to in my last
annual message, has already been carried
IHAO 81 IsL as tIllS WAS pIdGIlCdD4c--
Under this convention, the sum of 500, 900
taels, equal to about $500, 900, was stipula-
ted to be paid in satisfaction of the claims
of American citizens, out of the one-hfth |
of the receipts for tonnage, import and ex-
port duties on American vessels at the ports
of Canton, Shanghai and Fuchow, and it
was agreed that this amount shall be in full
liquidation of all claims of American citi-
zens at the various ports to this date. De-
bentures for this amount, tO-wit: 800, 600
taels for Canton, 10000 for Shanghai, and
100000 for Fuchow, were delivered accord
ing to the terms of the convention, by the
respective Chinese Collectors of the Customs
Of these ports, to the agent selected by our
Minister to receive the same Since that
time claims of our citizens have been adjust
ed by the Board of Commissioners appoint
ed fo- that purpose, under the act of March
3 1859, and their awards, which proved
satifactory to the claimants, have been ap-
proved hy our Minister. In the aggregate
they amount to the sum of $498, 694 rs
The claimants have already received large
proportion of the sums 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 a surplus
of more than $500, 900 at the disposi-
ton of Congress. As this will in
equity belong to the Chinese Govern
ment, would not justice require its appro-
priation to some benevolent object in which
the Chinese may be especially interested ?
Our Minister to China, in obedience to his
instructions, has remained perfectly neutral
in the war between Great Britain and France
and the Chinese Empire althoughin conjunc-
ton with the Russian Minister, he was ever
ready and willing, had the opportun nifty Of
fered, to employ his good offices in restoring
peace between the two parties. If is but an
act Of simple justice, both to our present
Minister and his predecessor, to state they
have both proved fully equal to the delicate,
trying and responsible positions in which
they have on different occasions been
placed.
JAPAN.
The Publications of the treaty with ia
/ pan, concluded at Yeddo, on the 29th OF
i July, 1858. were exchanged at Washington
on the 22nd of May last, and the treaty it
self was proclaimed on the subsequent day.