The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-12-15
WHOLE NO. 1882.

tratlon of Mr.. John Qnincy Adams, Mr.
Clay unquestionably demonstrates the
natural right of the citizens of the United
States to the navigation of this river
| claiming that the act of the congress of
Vienna, in opening the Rhine and other
rivers to all nations, showed the Judge
ment of European jurists and statesmen
that the inhabitants Of a country through
which navigable river passed have a
natural right to enjoy the navigation of
that river to and into the sea, even though
passing through the territory of another
power. This right does not include the
coequal right of the soverein possessing
the territory through which the river de-
bouches in the sea to make such regula-
tons relative to the policy of the naviga-
ton as may be really necessary, but these
regulations should be framed in O liberal
spirit Of comfy, and should not impose
needles burdenss upon the commerce
which has the transit 1t has these re-
qulrements by mutual agreement.
The United States are ready to make
any reasonable arrangement as to the po-
lice of the st. Lawrence which may be
suggested by Great Britain. If the claim
by Mr.. Clay was just, when the popula-.
ton of the States bordering on the shores
of the lakes was only 100000, it now de-
rives greater force and equity from the
increased population, wealth, production
and tonnage Of the States on the Cana
dian frontier. Since Mr. Clay advanced
his argument in behalf of our rights, the
principle for which he contended has
been frequently and by various nations
recognized by law or by treaty, has been
extended to several other great rivers.
BY the treaty concluded at Mayence in
1881, the Rhine was declared free from
the point where it is first navigable into
the sea. By the convention between
Spain and Portugal, concluded in 1885.
the navigation of the Dours throughout
its whole extent was made free for the
subject of both crowns. In 1853 the Ar
gentine cotederation by treaty threw
open the free navigation of the Parana
and Uruguay to the merchant vessels of
all nations In 1856 the Crimean war
was closed by treaty which provided for
the free navigation of the Danube. In
1858 Bolivia, by treaty, declared that it
regarded the rivers Amazon and La Plata.
in accordance with the fixed principles of
natural law, as highways or channels
opened by nature for the commerce ofall
nations. In 1889 the Paraguay was made
free by treaty, and in December, 1866,
the Emperor of Brazil, by Imperial decree,
declared the Amazon to be- open to all
the frontier of Brazil to the merchant
ships af all nations.
The greatest living British authority on
: ba 11l,i1p+- i.
right OF the British claims says it seems
difficult to deny that Great Britain may
ground her refusal on strict law, but it is
equally difficult to deny, first, that in so
doing she exercises harshly an extreme
and hard law; secondly, that her conduct
with respect to the navigation of the st.
Lawrence is in glaring and ddiscreditable in
with her conduct with respect
to the navigation of the Mississippi On
the ground that she possessed small do
main in which the Mississippi took its
rise, she insisted on this right to navigate
the entire volume of its waters. On the
ground that she possessed both banks of
the st. Lawrence where it disambouges
into the sea, she denies to the United
States the right Of navigation through
about one half of the waters of the lakes.
Ontario, Erie, Huron, and Superior, and
the whole of Lake Michigan through
which the river flows, are the property of
the United States.
The whole nation is interested in secur-
ing cheap transportation from the agri-
cultural States of the West to the Allan
tic seabord. To the citizens of those
States it secures a greater return for their
labor; to the inhabitants of the seaboard it
offers cheaper food and to the nation an
increase in the annual surplus of wealth.
1t is hoped that the government of Great
Britain will see the justice of abandoning
the narrow and inconsistent claims to
which her Canadian Provinces have urged
her adherence.
Our depressed commerce is a subject to
which | called your special attention at
.he last session. suggest that we will,
II the future, have to look more to the
south of us, and to China and
Japan, for its revival Our representa-
ives to all these governments have exert
ID their influence to encourage trade be-
wcen the United States and the coun-
ries to which they have been accredited,
,ut the fact exists that the carrying is
lone almost entirely in foreign bottoms.
nd while this state Of affairs exists We
an not control our due share of the COM
nerce of the world. That between the
Pacific States and China and Japan is
bout all the carrying trade now conduct
d in American vessels would recon-
nend liberal policy toward that line of
american steamers one that will insure
Is success and even increase its usefulness.
he cost of building iron vessels the only
mes that compete with foreign ships in
he carrying trade, is so much greater in
he United States than in foreign coun-
rics, that without some assistance from
he government they can not successfully
c built here There will be several prop
sitions laid before Congress in the course
the present session, looking to rene
V for this evil. Even if it should be at
lme cost to the National Treasury, hope
Ich encouragement will be given as will
,cure American shipping ON the high
las and American ship building home.
The condition of the archives at tho
apartment of State calls for the early
,tion of Congress The building now
,nted by that department is frail struc-
ire at an ineonvenient distance from the
xecutive Mansion and from the other
apartments. 1t is i'll adapted to the pur-
)se for which it is used, has not capacity
accommodate the archives and is not
e proof Its remote situation, its slen-
er construction and the absence of sup
Y of water in the neighborhood, leave
1t little hope of safety for either the
lilding or its contents i'll case of the ac-
lnnt of q Iirn LIZ dcstructin,n arnI,Id in