Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-12-14

vi ~ liEuItuIe COiiclSei! presents IHe con
dition, wants, and progress OF an interest
eminently worthy the fostering care Of
Congress, and exhibits in large measure
the useful results achieved during the
year to which it refers.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The re-estaldishment of peace at home
AID the resumption of extended trade,
travel and commerce abroad, have served
to increase the number and variety of
questions in the Department of Foreign
Ah;lirs. None Of these questions, how
ever, have seriously disturbed cur rela-
tions with other States. The Republic
of Mexico, having been relieved Of for
cign Intervention, is earnestly engaged III
efforts to rc-establish her constitutional
system Of government. 4 good under
standing continues to exist between cur
government and the Republics Of Hayti
and San Domingo, and or cordial rcla-
tions with the Central and South Amcri-
can States remain unchanged. The tend
e., made in conformity with the rcsolu-
ton Of Congress, Of the good Offices OF
ihe government, with a view to an ami
cable adjustment Of Il C peace between
Blazil and Eer allies ON the one side, and
Paraguay on the ether; and between
Chill and her allies on one side, and Spain
on the other, though kindly received, has
in neither case been fully accepted by The
heiligcrcnts The war i'll the valley Of
the parara is still vigorously ! maintained
On the other hand, actual hostili;ies be
tween the Pacific States and Spain have
been more than Il year suspended. !
shall, Oh any proper occasion that may
occur, renew the conciliatory recommend
ations which have already been made
Brazil, with cnlightcCed sagacly and
compr, r,hcnsive craftsmanship, has opened
the channels Of the Amazon and its tribu-
ta?ies to universal commerce.
One thing more seems necdiul to assure
a rapid aud cheering progress in South
America. I refer to those peaceful habits
without which states and natioHs cannot,
in this age, well expect material prosper
ity or social advancement.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
The Exposition of Universal Industry
ut Paris has passed, and scems to have
fally realized the high expectations Of the
French government. Ii due allowance
be made for the recent politici! lcrangc-
ment i'll industry here, the part which
| the United States has borne IL this cXhib-
iticn Of invention and art may be regard
cd with very high satisfaction. During
the Exposition conference was held ot
delegates from the several nations, the
United States being one, in which the in
convenience to commerce and social III
tercoUrse, resulting from the divers stand
ards OF money value, WIS very fully dis
cuSsed, and plans were Developed for es'
tablishing, by universal consent, 4 COM
mon principle for the coinage Of gold.-
These conferences are expected to be re-
newed with the attendance Of many for
c:Gn States not hitherto represented. y
report Of these interesting proceedings
Will be submitted to Congress, which will,
10 doubt, justly appreciate the great ob-
ec!, and be ready to adopt any measures
which may tend TO facilitate its ultimate
accomplishment.
SPAIN s LEGAL lie 'IOEES.
On the 25th of February, 1852, Con
gress declared by law that the Treasury
notes without interest authorized by that
act should be legal tender in payment
OF al debts, public AMI private, i'll the
United States. All annual remittance of
SO, 600, less the stipulated expenses, &C
cIups to the claimants under 4 cOnven-
ton made with Spain in 1884. These re-
mittarccs, since the passage OF the Act,
have been paid IL such notes. The claim
ants insist that the government ought to
require their payment in coil. The sub
jec; may be deemed worthy your attcn-
ton.
TIE A!.ABAAIA CLAIMS.
No arrangement has yet been reached
for the settlement Of our claims for the
British dcpred;tioEs upon the commerce
of the United States. have 1elt it my
duty to decline the proposition OF arbtra-
ton made by Her Il; jesiy's Government,
because it has hitherto been accompanied
by reservations and limitations incompat-
ible with the rights, interests and honor
of our country 1t is not 10 be appFchend
that Great Britain will pe.sst i'll her re-
fusal to satisfy these .just and reasonable
claims, which involve the sacred prlncI-
pie of non-intcrycntion, Il principle hence
forth not more important to tae United
States than to England itself.
PURCHASE OF ST. THOMAS.
Tie purchase Of Il naval station in the
West Indies, has, during the present year,
a attracted the attention OF the State De
partmcnt. All the commercial nations OF
the West India Islands were settled and
colonizcd by the European States, simui-
tanaously with the settlement and cOloni-
zltion OF The American continent. Aost
Of the colonies planted here became indie
pendent nations in the close Of the last
and the beginning Of the present century.
Our own country embraces communities
which at one period were colonies Of
Great Britain, France, Spain, Holland,
Sweden and Russia The peoples OF the
West Indies, with the exception ofthose
OF the Island OF IIayti, have neither at
tanned nor aspired to independence, nor
have they become prepared for selt-de-
fence. Although possessing considerable
commercial value, they have been held by
several European states, which cGlonlzed
and at the same time conquered them,
chiefly for the purpose OF military and
wal strategy. In carrying out the Eu-
ropean policy and designs in regard to
this continent in our Revolutionary war,
norris and harbors in the West India Isl