The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-12-21

II
between the temporary incumbent OF
the Office and the Government of the
Pacha resulted in q suspension Of iuter-
course. The evil was promptly corrected
on the arrival Of the successor in the con-
suIate, and our relations with Egypt, as
well as our relations with the Barbary
powers, ere entirely satisfactory.
CHINA.
The rebellion which has been SO lcng
ragiug in China has been suppressed,
with the cooperation and Offices of this
Government, aud of the other Western and
commercial States. ....
The iudicious consular establishment
there has become very difficult and oner.
Gus, and it will need legislative revision
to adapt it to the extention of our com
merce, and te the more intimate inter,
course which has been Instituted with the
Government and people Of that vas:
empire. "a
China seems to be accepting with hearty
good will the conventional laws which
regulate commercial and social intercourse
among the western nations. #..
Owing to the peculiar situation of
Japan, and the anomalous form Of its gov
erwent, the action of that empire in per-
forming treaty stipulatious is lnconstant
and capriclous. Nevertheless good prog,
ress has been effected by the Western
powers moving with enlightened concert.
Our own pecuniary claims have been
allowed or put in course of settlement,
and the inland sea has been reopened to
commerce. There is reason to believe
that these proceedings have increased
rather than diminished the friendship Of
Japan towards the United States.
THE OPENING OF BLoCKADED PORTS.
The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina, and
Pensacola have been opened by procla-
nation. 1t is hoped that foreign mer.
chants will consider whether it is not
safer and more profitable to themselves,
as well as just to the United States, to
resCrs to these and other open ports, than
it is to pursue, through many hazards
and vast cost, contraband trade with
other ports which are closed, if not
I by actual military occupation, at least by
lawful and effective blockade For my
self have 90 doubt Of the power of the ex-
ec1tive, under the law cf nations, to
exclude enemies of the human race
from an asylum in the United States. If
Congress should think that the proceed.
ings in such cases lack the authority Of
law, or ought to be further regulated by il,
I recommend that provision be made for
efectually preventing foreign slave tra-
ders from acquiring domicile and facilities
| for their criminal occupation 10 our coun-
TRY. It is possible that if it wero new
and open question. the maratime Powers,
with the rig ITS they now enjoy, would not
concde the privileges of a naval belligerent
to the insurgents of the United States,
destitute as they are, and always have
been, equally of ships of war and cf ports
and harbors. DisloYai emissarivs have
been, nevertheless, assiduons, no more
successful during TIE last year than they
were before that privilege, to embroil our
country IN foreign war Che desire and
determination Of the government of the
maratime States to defeat the design are
believed TO be sincere, and cannot be
more earnest than our own. Neverthe-
less, unforeseen political difficulties have
arisen particularly in Brazilian and Brit
ish ports, and on the northern boundary
of the United States which have required,
and are likely 70 continue to require, the
practice of constant vigiIencc, and 4 just
and conclatory spirit on the part of the
United States, as we'll as of the nations
concerned and their Governments.
THE BRITISH PROVINCES.
Commissioners have been appointed
under the treaty with great Britain, on
the adjustment Of the claims Of The Hud-
son Bay and Puget Sound Agricultural
Companies in Oregon, and are now pro-
ceeding to the execution of the trust
assigned to them.
Ia view of the Insecurity Of life and
property in the region adjacent to the
Canadian border, by reason cf recent
assaults and depredations committed by
inimieal and desperate persons who are
harbored there, it has been thought pro,
per to give notice that, after the expira-
ton of six months, the period coDstitu-
tionally stipulated in the existing ar
rangemeuts with Great Britain, the Z nited
States must hold themselves at liberty to
iae4eaee their naval armament npon the
Lakes, if they shall End that proceeding
necessary. The cohditiou of the border
will necessarily come in consideration
with the question of continuing or modi
fying the rights of transit from Canada
through the United States, as we'll as the