Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-12-15

authorities, The Convention OF the 9Th
November, 1858, supplementary to this
treaty, for the adjustment and satisfaction
of the claims of our citizens on China, re-
ferred to in my last Annual Message, has
been already carried into effect, so far as
this was practicable.
Under this convention the sum of 500,-
600 taels, equal to about 100000, was
stipulated to be paid in satisfaction of
the claims of American citizens, out of
the one-6fth of the receipts for tonnage
import, and export duties on American
vessels at the ports Of Canton, Shanghae,
and Fuchau and it was "agreed that
this amount shall be in full liquidation of
all claims of American citizens at the
various ports to this date" Debentures
for this amount-to wit 100000 taels
for Canton, 100000 for Shanghae, and
100000 for Fuchau-were delivered
according 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 the claims of our citizens
have been adjusted by the board of commits.
sioners appointed for that purpose under
tbe act of March 3, 1859, and their
awards, which proved satisfactory to the
claimants, have been approved by our
Minister. In the aggregate they amount
to the sum of s49S,6 7S. The claim
ants have already received a large proper
ton of the sums awarded TO them out Of
the fund provided, and it is confidently
expected that the remainder will ero long
be entirely paid, After the awards shall
have been satisfied, there will remain O
surplus of more than $500, 900 at the dis.
position of Congress. AS this will in equity
Lelong to the Chinese government, would
not justice require its 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 war between Great Britain
and France and the Chinese empire ;
although, in conjunction with the Russian
minister, he was ever ready and willing,
had the opportunity offered, to employ
his good offices in restoring peace between
the parties. 1t is but an act of simple
justice, both to our present minister and
his predecessor, to 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 ratifications of the treaty with ia
pan concluded at Ycdo on the both july,
1858, were exchanged at Washington on
the 22d May last, and the treaty itself
was proclaimed on the succeeding day.
There is good reason to expect that, un-
der its protection and influence, our trade
and intercourse with that distant and inter-
esting people will rapidly increase.
The notifications of the treaty were
exchanged with unusual solcmnity. For
this purpose the Tycoon had accredited
three of his most distinguished subjects as
ENJOYS extraordinary and ministers pleni-
potentiary, who were received and treated
with marked distinction and kindness both
by the Government and people of the
U. States. There is every reason to
believe that they have returned to their
native land entirely satisfied with their
visit, and inspired by the most friendly
feelings for our country, Let us ardently
hope, in the language of the treaty itself,
that ''there shall henceforward be perpetual
peace and friendship between the United
States OF America and his Majesty the
Tycoon OF Japan and his successors"
BRAZIL.
With the wise, conservative, and liberal
government of the empire of Brazil our
relations continue to be of the most ami.
cable character
NEW GRENADA.
The exchange of the ratifcations of the
convention with the Republic of New
Granada, signed at Washington on the
10th of September, 1857, has been long
delayed from accidental causes, for which
neither party is censurable. These rati-
fcatlons were duly exchanged in this city
on the 9th of November last. Thus has
controversy been amicably terminated
which had become so serious at the period
Of my inauguration, as to require me, on
the l7th OF April, 1857, to direct our
minister to demand his passports and re-
turn to the United States.
Under this convention the government
of New Granada has specially acknowled-
ged itself to be responsible to our citizens
"for damages which were caused by the
riot at Panama on the 18th April, 1856"
These claims, together with other claims
Of our citizens which had been long urged
in vain, are referred for adjustment to a
Board of Commissioners. l submit CO.
py of the Convention to Congress, and
recommend the legislation necessary to
carry it into effect.
COSTA RIGA AND NICARAGUA.
Perseyering efforts have been made for
the adjustment Of the claims of American
citizens against the government of Costa
Rica, and I am happy to inform you that
these have finally prevailed. A conven-
ton was signed at the city of San Jose ON
the I'd of July last, between the minister
resident of the United States in Costa
Rica and the plenipoteniaries of that re.
public, referring these claims to board
of commissioners, and providing for the
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