Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-12-12

| the Cnlleu StHlcS L nave feCoSulIsu liiS
change The ratification of the new
treaties OF commerce between the United
States and Italy have been exchanged
Tha two powers having agreed to this
treaty that private property aL sea shall
be exempted from capture in case OF war
between the two powers. The United
States have spared no opportunity OF in
cooperating this rule into the obligations
of nations.
SPANISH CLAIMS COMMISSION.
The Forty Congress al its third sos.
sion, made an appropriation Tor the or
ganization of a mixed commission, tor
adiudicating upon The claims OF citizens
OF the United States against Spain, grow
ing ont ol the insurreclion in Cuba. That
commission has since been organized
transmit herewith The correspondence re-
laing 10 its formation and its jurisdiction.
It is hoped that this commission will at.
ford the claimants complete remedy Tor
their injuries.
II has been the agreeable duty OF the Uni
ted States TO preside over 4 conference at
Washington between the plenipotentia-
ries of Spain and the allied South Ameri.
can republics with The reasonable assur.
ancc of permanent peace.
RUSSIA.
The intimate friendly relations which
have 80 long existed between the United
States and Russia continue undisturbed
The visit ui the third son OF the Emperor
| l. Il proof .hai there Is no desire, on The
! part al trat government, 10 diminish the
turdialiu al ihcsr rrtlliOns The Uspit.
;,nlc rrcrpuou that has been given the
Grand Duke. Is = proof that. on our side.
wc share The wishes Of that government
! The iHcNcu>ahlc course ol the Russian
Minister nj Washington renders il neces-
,ary lo ask his recall aud 10 decline Ia
/ longer receive that iunctionary as diplo
matic representative. Ii was impossible
With the self respect or with ust regard
! 10 the dignity OF the country 10 permit
Mr.. Catacazy 10 continue 10 hold inter
course with this government. after his
personal abuse of government officials.
AMI during his persistent interference,
! through various means. with the relations
| between the United States and other pow
ers. In accordance with my wishes, the
government has been relieved OF further
intercourse with Mr.. Catacazy and the
management OF the affairs OF The lmpc-
rial legation has passed into the hands oil
II gentleman entirely unobjectiOnable.
JAPAN AND CHINA
continue 10 MAINTAIN intimate relations.
The cabinet OF the Mikado has, since the
/ close of the last session Of Congress, Sc.
/ l.. -. II Nit fnI f.aS m
serve in offices OF Importance in several
/ departments Of that government. have
reason TO think that this relation Is due to
an appreciation OF our disintercsted policy
! towards Japan. 1t is our desire To con-
! llnue To maintain tins disimterestcd and
| Just policy with China rs well rs Japan.
The correspondence transmitted herewith
shows that there is no deposition, on The
! part of this government ID swerve from
lis established course.
CoREAN AFFAIRS.
Prompted by desire To put an end to
! the baibaruus treatment OF our ship
wrecked scamen on the Corean coasts, |
instructed our minister at Pekin 10 en-
| deavor 10 conclude convention with
! Corea Tor securing the safety and humane
| treatment OF such mariners. Ad iral
/ Rodgers was instructed to accompany
him with sufficient force TO protect him,
in case OF need. A small surveying party
was sent out and on reaching the coast
was treacherously attacked, ut II dlsad-
vantage. Ample opportunity was given
for an explanation and apology for the
insult, but neither came. A force was
| landed and after an arduous march over
a rugged and difficult country, the forces
by which the insult had been committed
were reduced by gallant assault, and
were destroyed Having thus punished
the criminals, and having vindicated the
honor of the flag, the expedition return
ed, finding it impracticable under the cir.
cumstanccs. TO conclude the desired con-
vention. respectfully refer to the cor
respondence relating thereto, herewith
submitted, and leave the subject for such
action as Congress may SEQ lit to take.
MEXICO.
The Republic of Mexico has not yet
repealed the very Objectionable laws. es.
tablishing what is known rs the Free
Zone" on the frontier of the United
States. 1t is hoped that this may yet be
dope, and also, that more stringent
measures may be taken by that Republic
for restraining lawless persons on its
frontiers. hope that Mexico, by its
own action, would soon relieve this Gov.
ernment of the difficulties experienced
from these causes.
REPUBLICS OF SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMER
Our relations with the various repub.
lies OF Central and South America con.
tinue. with one exception, TO be cordial
and friendly. recommend some action
by Congress, regarding the overdue i'll
staments under the Venezuela claims
commission of 1866. The internal dis.
sensions of that government present no
justification for the absence of an effort
10 meet its solemn obligations.
The ratification OF an extradition treaty
with Nicaragua has been exchanged.
BRAZIL.
1t is subject for cengratulation that
the great Empire of Brazil has taken the
initiatory steps towards the abolition OF
slavery. Our relations with that En-
pire, always cordial, will naturally be
made more so by the act 1t is not too
much to hope that the government OF
Brazil. may, hereafter, find it for its in
teres, rs well as intrinsicaly right. to
advance toward entire emancipation
more rapidly than the present act con-
templates. The true prosperity and
greatness of 4 nation is to be found in the
elevation and education of its laborers
THE SPANISH COLONIES.
1t is n subject for regret that the re"
forms in this direction, which were vol.
UNFAIRLY promised 10y the statesmen ol
Spain, have not been carried out in its
West India colonies. The laws and reg
ulations for the apparent abolition ol
slavery in Cuba and Porto Rico leave