Year: 1869

f the rights or treat with disrespect the soye


regnty of this nation.


5 The question of the seizure of the brig Mari
Lowell, at Bahama, by the Spanish authorize.
J Is now the subject of correspondence between
TINS Government and Spain and Great Britain


Inc captain General Of Cuba about May last
issued proclamation authorizing the searching
OF vessels on the high seas. Immediate re-
monsfrance was made against this, whereupon
the Captain-General issued new proclamation
limiting the search to vessels of the United
States authorized under the treaty of 1895
This proclamation, however, was immediately
withdrawn. | have always felt that the most
| intimate relations should be cultivated between
the United States and independent nations on
this continent. 1t may be we'll worth consider
ing whether new treaties between US and them
may not be proftably entered into to SECURE
more intimate ENTHUSIASTICALLY, commercial,
and otherwise.


| CENTRAL AMERIcA-THE DARIEN CANAL.
| The inter oceanic canal, to connect the At
lantlc and Pacific oceans through the Isthmus
OF Darlen, is one In which commerce is greatly
interested. instructions have been given the
Minister to the United States of Colombia to
endeayor to obtain authority for a survey to de-
termlne the practicability of the undertaking
In order to comply with the agreement with
the United States of Colombia as to a mixed
commission at Lima it became necessary to
send commissioner and secretary to Lima.
The good offices of the United States to bring
about peace between Spain and the South A
mer!can republics having been accepted by
Spain, Peru, and Chill. a congress has been in
vited to be held in Washington during the
present winter.


4 grant has been given TO Europeans Of an
exclusive right of transit over the territory of
Nicaragua to which Costa Rica has given its
assent which, it is alleged, conflicts with the
vested rights of citizens of the United States
The Department Of State now has the subject
under consideration


rHE SPANISH GUNBoArs.


The Minister to Peru having made represent
ations that there was a state of war between
Peru and Spain, and that Spain was construct
ing in and near New York thirty gunboats
which might be used by Spain to relieve the
naval force at Cuba to operate against Peru, orr
ders were given to prevent their departure. No
further steps having been taken by the repre-
sentatives Of the Peruvian Government to pre-
vent the departure OF these vessels, and | not
feeling authorized to detain the property of
nation with which we are at peace on mere
Executive order, the matter has been referred
to the courts


SOUTH AMERICA.



and the Republic of Paraguay has made inter
course with that country difficult, and it has
been deemed advisable to withdraw our repre-
sentative from there.


THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.


Towards the close Of the last administration
convention was signed at London for the set
element of outstanding claims between Great
Britain and United States, which failed to re
ceive the consent of the Senate The time and
the circumstances attending the negotiation Of
that treaty were unfavorabie to its acceptance
By the people of the United States. and its pro-
visions were wheily inadequate to the settlement
of the grave wrongs sustained by this Govern
ment.


The injuries resulting to the United States
by reason of the course adopted by Great Brit
ain during the war in the increase of the rates
of insurance, in the dminution of exports and
imports and other Instructions to domestic in
dustry and production, in its effect upon the
foreign commerce of the country in the de-
crease and transfer to Great Britain of our COM
merclal marine, in the prolongation of the war,
and in the increased cost both in treasure and
in lives Of itssuppression, could not be adjus-
ted and satisfied as ordinary commercial claims
which continually arise between commercial ma
| tions and yet the convention treated them
simply as such ordinary claims, from which
| they differ more widely in the gravity of their
| character than in the magnitude of their a.
mount. Great even as is that difference, not a
word was found in the treaty. and not an infer
ence could be drawn from it. to remove the
sense of the unfriendliness of the course of
Great Britain In our struggle for existence
which had so deeply and universally impressed
itself upon the people Of this country. Be-
| ieving that convention thus misconceived in
Its scope and inadequate in its provisions would
not have produced the hearty, cordial settle
ment of the pending questions which alone is
consistent with the relations which desire to
| have firmly established between the United
States and Great Britain, regarded the action
Of the Senate in the rejection Of the treaty to
have been wisely taken in the interest of peace
and as necessary step in the direction of
perfect and cordial friendship between the two
countries.


a sensitive people, conscious of their power,
are more wholly at ease under great wrong
wholly unatoned, than under the restraint of a
settlement which satisfies neither their ideas of
justice nor their grave sense of the grievance
they have sustained. The rejection Of the
treaty was followed by state of public feeling
on both sides which thought not favorable to
an immediate attempt at renewed negotiations
| accordingly so instructed the Minister Of the
United States to Great Britain, and found that
my views in this regard were shared by her
| Majesty Ministers. hope that the time may
soon arrive when the two Governments can ap-
proach the solution Of this momentOus question
with az appreciation of what is due to the
rights dignity, and honor of each, and with
the determination not only to remove the causes
OF complaint in the past, but to lay the toun-
dation Of broad principle of public law which
will prevent future differences, and tend to firm
and continued friendship This is now the on
ly grave question which the United States has
with any foreign nation.


RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA


The question of renewing the treaty for re-
ciprocai trade between the United States and
the British provinces on this continent is not
favorably considered In conformity with the
recommendation OF Congress proposition to
abolish mixed courts for the suppression of the
slave trade Is under negotiation.


THE FRENCH CABLE


1t having come to my knowledge that cor
porate company, organized under British laws,
proposed to land upon the shores of the United
States, and to operate there submarine cable
under a concession of the Emperor of the
French of an exclusive right for twenty years
tor telegraphic communication between the
shores of France and the United States, with
the very Objectionable feature OF subjecting al
messages conveyed thereby to the scrutiny and
control OF the French Government, caused the
French and British legations at Washington te
be made acquainted with the probable policy o1
Congress on this subject as toreshadowed by a
bill which passed the Senate in March last.


This drew from the representatives of the
company an agreement to accept as the basis o1
their operations the provisions of the bill OF