The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1860-01-07

L
1859. This was rendered impossible by reasons
and events beyond his control, not necessary to
detail but still il is due to the Chinese authori-
ties at Shanghai to state they always assured him
no advantage should be taken Of the delay, and
the pledge has baen faithfully redeemed
On the arrival Of Mr.. Ward at Pekin, he re-
quested an audience with the Emperor to pre-
sent his letter Of credence. This be did not OBJ
tain in consequence of his very proper refusal to
submit to the humiating ceremonies required
by the etiquette Of this strange people in ap-
preaching their sovereign. Nevertheless the in
| terviews on this question were conducted in the
most friendly spirit and with all due regard to
his personal feelings and the honor of his coun-
try. When q presentation to his Majesty was
found to be impossible, the letter of credence
from the President was received with peculiar
honors by Kweiling 1.-THE Emperor's Prime Min
| ister and the second man in the empire to the
Emperor himself" The notifications Of the
treaty were afterwards, on the 18th of August,
exchanged in proper form at Pei-tsang As the
| exchange did not take place until the day pre-.
| scribed by the treaty, 1t is deemed proper, be-
fore its publication, again to submit it to the
| Senate.
| 1t is but simple justice to the Chinese author
tiles TO observe, that, throughout the whole tram
saction, they appear to have acted in good faith
and in friendly spirit towards the United States
~ - Hits DetH uOut aItef tutlf OWL Pc
| culiar fashion; but we ought to regard with a
lenient eye the ancient customs of an empire da-
ting back for thousands of years, as far as this
may be consistent with our own national honor.
| The conduct OF our minister the occasion has
received my entire appreciation.
In order to carry ont the spirit of this treaty,
and to give it full effect, it became necessary to
| conclude two supplemental conventions--the one
for the adjustment and satisfaction of the claims
tf,fs xboc Alc. A.
imports and exports, and to regulate the transit
duties and trade of our merchants with China
| This duty was satisfactorily performed by our
| late minister. These conventions bear date at
| Shanghai on the Sth of November, 1858. Hay-
ing been considered in the light of binding agree
ments subsidiary to the principal treaty. and to
be carried into execution without DELAY, they do
| not provide for any formal ratification or ex-
| change of ratifcations by the contracting par
ties This was not deemed necessary by the
Chinese, who are already proceeding in good
faith to satisfy the claims of our citizens, and il
is hoped, to carry out the other provisions of the
| conventions. Still l thought il was proper
to submit them to the Senate, hy which they
were ratified on the Sd March, 1889 Tho
ratified copies, however, did not reach Shanghai
until after thu departure of our minister to Pc
kin, and these conventions could not, therefore.
be exchanged at the same time with the princi-
pal treaty No doubt is entertained thst they
will be ratified and exchanged by the Chinese
government, should this be thought advisable !;
but, under the circumstances presented shall
consider them binding engagements from their
date on both pIrties, and cause them to be pub
lishcd as such for the information and guidance
OF our merchants trading with the Chinese EN-
pire.
1t affords me much satisfaction to inform YOU
that all our difficulties with the republic of Para
quay have been. satisfactorily adjusted 1t hap
ply did not become necessary TO employ the
force for this purpose which Congress had placed
at my command, under joint resolutions of I'd
June, 1858 On the contrary, the President of
that republic, in friendly spirit, acceded
promptly to just and reasonable demands of the
government OF the United states Our commits
sioner arrived at Assumption, the capital of the
republic, on the 25th of January, 1859, and left
it on the 18th OF February, having in three
weeks ably and successfully accomplished all the
objects of his mission. The treaties which he has
concluded will be Immediately submitted to the
Senate.
In the view that the employment of other than
peaceful means might become necessary to OBJ
tain '4inst satisfaction" from Paraguay strong
naval force was concentrated in the waters of the
La Plata to await contingencies, whilst COM
missioner asco4aea the river of Assumption
| The Navy Department IL entitled to great credit
| or the promptness, efficiency and economy with
| which this expedition was fitted out and conduct
| ed 1t consisted Of nineteen armed vessels
| great and small, carving 300 guns and $500
| men, all under the command OF the veteran and
| gallant Shubrick. The entire expenses of the
expedition have been derayed ont of the ordinary
1 appropriations for the naval service, except the
sum Of $2s9, 900, applied to the purchase of Sc
! ven sf tae steamers, constituting part of il,
under the authority Of the naval appropriation
| act of the Sd March last. 1t is believed that
| these steamers worth more thai their cost
| and they are now nsefully and actively employed
| in the naval service.
The appearance of SO large a force fitted out
| in such a prompt manner, in the far distant wa
tars Cf ttle La Plta, and the admirable conduct
of the oiiicers ald men emyloped in it, have
made happy effect in tavo. nf our country
| throughout all that remote portion of the world.
ouR RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.
| Our relations with the great empires of France
and Russil, as web as with all other governments
on the continent of Europe unless may ex-
cept that of Spain, happily continue to be of the
1 most friendly oh ,racter.
| In my las! annual message presented state
ment of the unsatisfactory condition of our re-
| lations with Spain; and regret to say that this
has not materially improved Without special
| reference to other claims even the Cuban
claims" the payment of which has been ably
urged by our Ministers, and in which more than
| a hundred Of our citizens directly interested,
remains msatisfed, notwithstanding both their
Justice and their amount tsl2s, ,635.5f) had been
recognized and ascertained by the Spanish Cow
| ernment itself.
| | again recommend thtt an appropriation be
made TO be paid to the Spanish Government
for tho purpose of distribution among the claim
ants in the Amistad case" In common with
two of my predecessors, l entertain no doubt
that this is required by treaty with Spain of
the a1th October, l795. The failure to discharge
this obligation has been employed by the Cabi-
net OF Madrid reason against the settlement
| of our claims.
| PURCHASE OF CuBA.
/ need not repeat the arguments which urged
in IN, last annual message in favor of the acqui
| sition of Cuba by fair purchase. Ny opinions
ON that measure remain unchanged. therefore
again invite the serious attention Of Congress tC
this important subject. Without recognition
Of this policy on their part, it will be almost i'm
possible to institute negotiations with any reason
abis prospect OF success.
CONTROVERSY WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
Until recent period there was good reason I,
suppose that l should be able TO announce to yo,
ON the present occasion that our difficulties witt
Great Britain, arising out of the Clayton ans
Buwer Treaty, had been finally adjusted in
mai,uer alike honorable aud satisfactory to boti
, parties. from csnses, however, which the Brit
ish Government had not anticipated, they hav
. not vet completed treaty arrangements with tn
Republics Of Honduras and Nicaragua, in pursu
i ance with the understanding between the tw'
Governments. 1t is nevertheless, eonfidentl
expected that this good work will ere long b
accomplished.
Whilst indulging the hope that no other sat
: ect remained which could disturb the good u
: derstanding between the two countries, the ques
ton arising out of the adverse claims of the pal
: ties TO the Island Of San Juan, under the orego
! treaty Of the 18th Of june, 1886, suddenly q
! sumea 4 threatening prominence In order
nreyent unfortunate collisions on ihat remot
frontier, the late Secretary Of State, on the i7t
OF july, 1855, addressed a note TO Mr. cramptol
! the British Minister at Washington, commnnic'
ting to him copy Of the instructions which
!. INF. Marcy) had given on the l4th OF July,
4 Governor s,e,eps Of Washington Territor,
! having special reference 70 az ,.aRIrshssnds
I ;acts ON the Island of San JUAN" TO prevel
) th;s the Governor was instructed, that the OF