The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-10

third of the whole amount of the service n
! the close of the war. New postal convention
| with Great Britain. North Germany, Bel
| GUM, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and ita
| ", respectively, have been carried into effect
! Under their provisions important improve
| ments have resulted in reduced rates OF inter
| national postage and enlarged mail facilitie
with European countries. The cost of tn
| United States trans Atlantic ocean mai
| service since January l, ls6s, has beer
| largely lessened under the operation.
of these new conven tons. reduction
of over one half having been effect
| ed under the new arrangements for oceaI
mail steamship service which went into effec
on that date. The attention Of Congress l.
| invited to the practical suggestions and re
concentrations made In his report by ths
Postmaster General.
No important question has occurred
during the last year in our accus
| toned cordial and friendly intercours'
with Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras. Sar
Salvador, FRANCE, Apstria, Belgium; Switzar.
sweden and Agasay, Rome, Greece, Turkey
| Persia, Egypt, Liberia, Morocco, Tripol
Muscat, Siam, Bornio, and Madagascar
Cordial relations have also been main taineC
with the Argentine and the Oriental Repub
lies The expressed wish of Congress that
our national good Offices might be rendered &c
those Republics, and also to Brazil and Para
quay for bringing to an end the calamitons
war which has so long been raging in the ' al
lev of the In Plata, has been assidnously
complied with and kindly acknowledged by
all the belligerents. That important negotia-
ton however, has thus far been without re-
suit Charles A. Washbnrne, late United
States Minister to Paraguay, having resigned,
and being DESTROYS to return 10 the United
States, the Rear Admiral commanding the
South Atlantic squadron was early directed to
send n ship of-war to Asunclon, the capital
of Paraguay, to receive Mr.. Washbnrne and
his family and remove them from situation
which was represented to be endangered By
faction and foreign war. The Brazilian COM
mander of the allied invading forces refused
permission to the Wasp" to pass through
the blockading forces, and that vessel re-
turned to its accustomed anchorage. Re-
monstrance having been made against this
REFUSAL it was promptly overruled, and
the "Wasp'' therefore resumed her err
rand received Mr.. Washburue and his fami-
", and conveyed them 10 n safe and conSen len I
seaport. In the mean time an excited contro-
versy had arisen between the President OF
Paraguay and the late United States Minis
ter, which it is understood grew ont OF his pro-
ceedings in giving asylum in the United Sta ties
legation to alleged enemies Of that republic.
The question of the right to give asylum is
one always difficult and often prOduc-
tive Of great embarrassment in States
we'll organized and established foreign Pow
ers refuse either 10 concede or exercise that
right except rs TO persons actually belonging
to the diplomatic service. On the other hand,
Ill such Powers insist upon exercising the
right Of asylum in States where the law of
nations is not fully acknowledged respected
and oheved. The President of Paraguay is
understood to have opposed to MIR. Wash
burne's proceedings the Injurious and very i'm
probable charge of personal completely in
instruction and treason. The correspond
ence, however, has not yet reached the
United States. Mr.. Washburne, in con-
nection with this controversy, represents
that two United States citizens attached
TO the legation were arbitrarily seized Mt
his side when leaving the capital of Pa
raguay, committed to prison, and there sub
iected TO torture for the purpose OF procuring
confessions of their own criminality and tes-
timony to support the Presidents allegations
against the United States Minister. Mr.. Nc
Mahon, the newly appointed Minister to Pa
raguay, having reached the La Plata, has
been instructed to proceed without delay 10
Asuncion, there to inYeS tigate the whole sub.
jpct The Rear Admiral commanding the
United States South Atlantic squadron has
been directed to attend the new Minister
with proper naval force to sustain such
Just demands rs the occasion may require and
TO vindicate the rights of the United States
citizens referred 10, and of any others who
may be exposed to danger in the theatre OF
war. With this exception friendly relations
have been maintained between the United
States and Brazil and Paraguay.
Our relations during the past year with
Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chilli have be
and the Republics of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecua-
dor have expressed their willingness TO accept
the media ton of the United States for termi-
mating the war upon the South Pacific coast.
Chill has not formally declared upon the
question. In the mean time the conflict has
practically exhausted itself, since no belliger-
ent or hostile movement has been made by
either party during the last two years, and
there are no indications OF present purpose
to resume hostiIities on either side. Great
p-;t in, md Erp Ga I'M v
our proposition OF mediation, ana | do not
forego the hope that il may soon be accepted
by all the belligerents, and lead TO secure
Establishment of peace and friendly reli-
lions between the Spanish American Re
publcS of the Pacific and Spain-a result
which would be attended with great benefits
to the belligerents and much advantage 10 all
commercial nations. communicate for the
consideration of Congress correspondence
which shows that the barbarian repu blicS
have established the extremely liberal prncI-
pies of receiving into its citizenship any clu-
zen of the United States or OF any other OF the
American republics upon the simple condl-
ton of voluntary registry. The correspond
ence herewith submitted will be found pain
fully repete with accounts OF the rain and
wretchedness produced BY recent earthquakes
of unparalleled severity in Peru, Ecuador, and
Bolivia. The diplomatic agents and naval
officers of the United States who were present
in those countries at the time OF these disas-
tiers furnished all the relief in their power to
the sufferers, and were promptly rewarded
with grateful and touching Acknowledgements
by the Congress of Peru. An appeal TO the
CHARITY of our fellow citizens has been an
swered by much liberality. In this cennec-
ton submit an appeal which has been made
by the Swiss republic, whose Government and
institutions are kindred TO our own, in behalf
of its inhabitants, who are suffering extreme
restitution produced by recent devastating in
unda tlons.
Onr relations with Mexico during the year
have been marked by IN increasing growth OF
mutual confidence. The Mexican Govern
ment has not yet acted upon the three treaties
celebrated here last summer Tor establishing
the rights Of naturaliZed citizens upon Il lIbe-
raj and just basis for regulating consular pow
ers and for the ad jus tment of mutual claims.
All commercial nations, as we'll rs ali friends
of republican ms situations, have occasion 10 re-
greet the frequent local disturbances which &C.
cur in some of the constituent States OF Colon
bia Nothing has occurred, however TO affect
the harmony OF cordial friendship which has
for several years existed between that youth
full and vigorous Republic and our oWn Nego-
tiations are pending with view TO the sur
vey and construction of 4 ship canal across
the Is thmus of Darien under the auspices of the
United States hope to be able 10 submlt the
result of that negotiation to the Senate uu-
ring its present session. The very liberal
treaty which was entered into last year by the
United States and N!carauga has been ratlned
by the latter Republic.
Costa RIGA, with the earnestness of n sin
cerely friendly neighbor, solicits Il reciprocity
of trade, which l commend TO the considera-
ton Of Congress.
The Convention created by treaty between
the United States and Venezuela in July, 1865,
for the mutual adjustment of claims, has been
held, and its decisions have been received At
the Department of State.
The heretofore recognized Government of
the United States of Venezuela has been sub
verted. A provisional government having
been instituted under circumstances which
promise durability, 1t has been formally re-
cognized.
/ have been reluctantly obliged to ask expa-
nation and satisfaction for national injuries
committed by the President of Hayti. The pc.
litical and social condition OF the republics OF