The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-01-06

} approaching thrir sovereign. Nevertheless
tho interviews on this question wero con
} ductod in most friendly spirit and will
duo regard to his personal feelings and th
honor Of his country. Whom presenta
ton TO his Majesty was found to DO impos
siblo, tho letter OF credcnco from tho Prosi
don't was received with peculiar honors b,
kwoillang, tho Emperor's Primo Minister
aud tho second man in tho Empire to tn,
Emperor himself" Tho ratiGcations of IN,
treaty woro afterwards, on the l6.h o
August, exchanged in proper form at Pei
tsang AS tho exchange did not take plac
until after the day prescribed by the treaty
1t is deemed proper, boforo its publication
again to submit it to tho Senate.
} 1t is but simple justice to tho Chimes
auIhoritics to observe, that, Throughout. tn
whole transaction, they appear to have acto,
in good faith,and in n friendly spirit toward
the United States. 1t is tguo this has bocl
dono after their own peculiar fashion bat
We ought to regard with lonicnt eyo tn
ancieut customs of au empire dating bacl
for thousands OF ycars, so far as this may b,
consistent with our national honor. Tht
conduct of our Minister on the occasion ha
received my ontirc appreciation.
In order to carry out the spirit Of thit
treaty, and to givo it full effect, it became
necessary to conclude two supplements
convontions-the one for the adjustment
aud satisfaction of the claims OF our citizens
and tho other to fix tho tariff on imports
aud exports. and to regulate tho transit du.
tics and trade of our merchants with China
This duty was satisfactorily performed by
our late Minister. These conventions bear
date at Shanghai, on tho Sth of November,
1858. Having been considered in the light
| OF binding agreements subsidiary to tho
principal treaty, and to be carried into cx-
ccution without delay, they do not provide
for any formal ratification or exchange OF
ratifications by tho contracting partics.--
This was not deemed necessary by the
/ Chincsc,who arc already proceeding in good
faith to satisfy the claims of our citizens.
and it is hoped, to carry out tho other pro.
visions Of tho conventions. Still thought
it was proper to submit them to the Senate,
| by which they were ratified on the 80 oi
March, 1859. The ratified copies, however,
did not reach Shanghae until after tho dc.
parture of our Minister to Pekin, and these
conventions could not, therefore, be ex.
| changed at the Same time with the prnci.
pal treaty. No doubt is entertained that
they will be ratified and exchanged by tho
advisable; but under tho circumstances
presented, shall consider them binding en-
gagemcnts from their dato on both parties,
and cause them to be published as such for
tho information aud guidance of our mer.
chants trading With the Chinese Empire.
PARAGUAY MATTERS.
l. affords me much satisfaction 10 in
form you that all our difficulties with the
Republic OF Paraguay have been satisfac-
torily adjusted. 1t happily did not be-
come necessary to employ the force for
this purpose, which Congress had placed
at my command, under the joint resolu-
ton OF the End OF Juno, 1aS8. On the
contrary, the President Of that Republic,
in friendly spirit, acceded promptly to
the just and reasonable demands Of the
Government Of the United States. Our
Commissioner arrived at Assumption, the
Capitol Of the Republic, on the 25th Of
January, 1859, and left it on the l7lh of
February, having, in three weeks, ably
and successfully accomplished all the OBJ
jects OF his mission. The treaties which
he has concluded will be Immediately sub
mitted to The Senate.
In the view that the employment of
other than peaceful means mi ght become
necessary to obtain "just satisfaction"
from Paraguay, strong naval force was
concentrated in the waters OF the La Plata
to await contingencies, while our Com
missioner assembled the river TO Assump-
tion. The Navy Department is entitled
10 great credit for the promptness, efficen-
cy and economy with which this expedi-
tion was fitted out and conducted. II
consisted Of nineteen armed vessels, great
and small, carrying 200 guns and $500
men, all under the command of the vete-
ran and gallant Shubrick. The entire ex-
penses of the expedition have been de-
frayed out of the ordinary appropriations
for the naval service, except the sum of
$3.50, ,O0U applied TO the purchase of sew.
en- OF the steamers, constituting a part of
il, under the authority of the naval ap- |
preparation act, of March 80 last. 1t is
believed that these steamers are worth
more than their cost, and they are all now
usefully and actively employed in the ma
val service.
The appearance Of so large force, fit
ted out in such a prompt manner, in the !
waters of the La Plata, and |
the admirable conduct of the officers and
men employed in il, have had happy e.
feet in favor of our country throughout all
that portion of the world.
Our relations with the great Empires
Of France and Russia, as well as with all
other governments on the Continent Of
Europe, unless we may except that OF
Spain, happily continue to be OF the most
friendly character.
SPANISH AFFAIRS.
In my last Annual Message I presented
a statement Of the unsatisfactory condi-
ion of our relations with Spain, and
regret to say that this has not materially
Without special reference to
other claims, even the "Cuban Claims"
he payment Of which has been ably urged
BY our Ministers. in which more than a
hundred of our citizens are directly in.
crested, remain unsatisfed, notwithsland-
ng both their justice and their amount,
had been recognized and
'scertained by the Spanish Government
tself.
again recommend that an appropria-
ion be made "to be paid to the Spanish
Government for the purpose Of distrbu-
ion among the claimants in the Amistad
,ase." In common with two of my pred
,cessors, l entertain no doubt that this is
equired by our treaty with Spain, of the
)Jth nf ncfnhaP I7QE Tho failura 10