New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-05

gaQed Ia foreign commerce. that the claim on the part
of Great Britain forcibly 10 visit and search American
merchant vessels on The high seas In ,me OF as
been abandoned. This by far the most dangerous
ouestion TO the peace Of the two countries which mas
existed since the war of 1872 While 1t remained
open, they might at any moment have been predpna-
tad into n war This was rendered manifest by tue
exasperated state Of public feeling throughout our en
tire country produced by the orcbie search OF Amer
lean mercl ant vessels by British cruisers on the coast
of Cuba, In the Srring Of 1883 Tie American people
hailed with general acclaim the orders Of the secretary
of tho Navy TO our naval force In the Gulf Of Mexico,
"to protect all vessels Of the United States on the high
seas from search or detention by the yeseeBofwar OF
any other nation" These orders insight have produced
an immediate collision between the naval forces OF the
two countries This was most fortunately prevented
by an appeal to tho Justice Of Great Britain and TO the
aw Of nations as sxpounded by her own most eminent
jurists.
mains open is the disputed title between the two
governments TO tho Island Of San Juan In the vicinity
OF Washington Territory. As this question Is stlii
undor negotiation it IL not deemed advisable at the
present moment to make any other aliusion 10 the
subject.
character to the people Of this country has proved 70
be mos! suspicious event In its e9Ise9aencss
cannot. fail to increase the kindred and kindly eehngs
which trust may.ever actuatc the government ana
people Of both countries in their political aud SOCIAL IN
tercourse with each ott1er
FRANCE.
With Franco our ancient and powerful ally, our re-
ations continue to be Of the most friendly character
decision hss recently been made by freneh judicial
TRIBUNAL with the appreciation oil the imPeria! 'oVern
ment which cannot fail to foster the sentiments |"
mutual regard that have go long existed between the
two countries. Under the French law no person can
serve in the armies Of France unless ne be trenon
citizen. The law Of France recognizing the patursl
right of expariaor, il follows az necessary conse-
qGence that Frencbman, by the fact Of having be-
come citizen Of the United States, has Changed lis
allegiance and has lost lis native character He can
not therefore be compelled to in the French ar
mics In case he should return to his native country.
These pinoiyes were announced in 1852 by the French
Minister of War, aud in two late cases have been con-
Grmed by the French judiciary In these, two natives
of France have been discharged from the French army
became they bad become American citizens To EN-
poy the language Of present Minister u France,
who las rendered good service On this occasion, do
hot think French naturahzed fellow,cizens VIII
hereafter experience much annoyance On this subject
venture to predict that the time 10 NOT far distant
when the ether Continental Powers will adopt the
same wlse and just policy which has done so much
honor to the enlightened Government Of the Emperor
In any event our Government is bound to protect the
RIGHTS of our naturalized citizens everywhere to the
same extent as though they had drawn their first
breath in thls country. We can recognize no dstlne'
ton between our native and atuiazed citizens.
RUSSIA.
Between TIE great empire Of Russia and the United
States the mutual friendship and regard when has 20
long existed still continues TO prevei, and II possible,
10 increase. Indeed our relations with that Empire
I'll that we could &c iTe.
SPAIN
Our relation. with Spain now Of more compi-
Gated though less dangerous character than they have
been for many years. Our citizens have long held, and
continue TO hold, numerous claims against the Spanish
Government These had been ably urged for series OF
wears by our successive diplomatic representatives. at
Madrid but without obtaining redress. Inc Sps.nish
Government finally agreed to institute joint COM
misson for the adjustment Of these claims, and ON The
5th day Of March, 1850 concluded convention Tor
this purpose with cur present Minister at Madrid.
Under this Conveuti$n, what have been Disseminated
"the Cuban claims amounting to Sl28, 63o 81, In
which more than one hundred Of our feow-eiti1ens
ere interested we're recognized and the Spanish Gov
eminent agreed 10 ray 100000 Of this amount
within three months following the exchange 81 ran.
fcatons" The payment Of the remaining 81, 63o %
was to await the decision OF the Commissioners for or
against the "Anistad tlain.' But in any event the
balance YVES TO be paid to she claimants either by Spain
or TIE United States. These terms have every rea-
son TO know highly satisfactory to the holders OF
the Cuban claims. Indeed, they have made formal
offer authorizing the State Department. to settle these
cl4iins sd to deduct the amount Of the Amistad claim
from the which they are entitled 10 receive from
Spain. This offer, of 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, including the "Amlstad
Claim" by this Convention referred to Board
of Commissioners in the usual form. Neither the val
idiy OF the Amstad Claim any other claim against
either party with the single exception of the Cuban
claims was recognized BY tie Convention. Indeed,
the SpDish Government did hot insist that validity OF
the Ami,tad claim should lie thus recognized, notwith
standing ito payment had been recommended to Con-
gess by two of my predecessors as wei as by myseh
ard an appropriation for that purpose had passed tho
Senate OF the United States. 1tey were content that
il should be submitted TO the Board for examination
and decision, like the other claims.
Both Governments were bound respectively to ray
the amounts awarded TO the several claimants at
such times and places as may fixed by and according
TO tie tenor feaid awards"
transmitted this convention TO the Senate for their
constitutional action on the 81 May, D6O and on the
9th Of the succeeding June they determined that they
would "not advise and consent to its ratification.
These proceedings place our relations with Spain in
an awkward and embarrassing POSITION IL Is more
than probable that the hna adjustment OF these claims
viii deyolve upon my SUCCESSOR
l reiterate the recommendations contained in my An
nual Ne sage OF December 1853 ard repeated in that
Of December 1852 in favor Of the acquisition of Cuba
from Spain By fair purchase. firmly believe that
such acquisition would Contribute essentially to the
wel-being and prosperity OF both countries in all fu
ture time web az prove tie certain of hnme
diatey abolshimg the African slayerade throughout
the world. would not repeat this recommendation
upon the present OCCASION if believed that the trans
FER Of Cuba to The United States, upon conditions high
ly favorable to Spain could justly tarnsh the national
honor OF the proud and ancient Spanirh Monarchy
Surely person ever attributed 10 the first Napoleon
disregard to the national honor Of France for trans
fering Louisiana 10 the United States for "a fair
equivalent both in money ana commercial advantages.
AUSTRIA, &C,
With the Emperor of Austria and the remaining
Continental Powers of Europe, including that of the
Sultan, relations continue TO be OF the most friendly
character.
CHINA.
The friendly and peaceful policy pursued by the
Government OF the United States toward the Empire
of China has produced the most satisfactory results
The treaty of 1entsin Of the 18th of June 1853 has
been faithfully observed by the Chinese authorities.
The convention Of the 9Th November, 1883, supple