Year: 1869

ment of the grave wrongs that had


been sustained by this Government.
as we'll as by its citizens. The injuries re-
sulting to the United States by reason
of the course adopted by Great Britain
during our late civil war, in increased
rates of insurance, in the diminution OF
exports and imports, and in other OBJ
structions to domestic industry and pro-
duction, in its effect upon the foreign
commerce of the country, in the de-
crease and transfer to Great Britain
of our commercial marine, in
the prolongation of the war, and in the
increased cost both in treasure
aud in lives of its suppression, could


not be adjusted and satisfied as ordinary
commercial claims which continually
arise between commercial nations, 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 magni-


tude Of their amount. Great even as is


that difference, not q word was


found in the treaty, and not an


Inference could be drawn from


it which would remove the sense of un-
friendliness of the course of Great Brit
ain in our struggle for existence, which
had so deeply and universally impressed
itself upon the people of this country.


Believing that a convention thus mis-
conceived in its scope and and made
narrow in its provisions would not have
produced the hearty and cordial settle
ment of the pending questions
which alone is consistent with
the relations which l desire
to have established between the
United States and Great Britain, re-
garded the action Of the Senate in re-
iecting the treaty to have been wisely
taken, in the interest of peace, as a
necessary step in the direction of per-
feet and cordial friendship between the
two countries. A sensitive people, con
scious of their power, are more at ease
under great wrong, wholly unatoned,
than under the restraint of settle
ment which satisfies neither their
ideas Of justice nor their grave sense OF
the grievances they have sustained.
The rejection of the treaty was followed
by q state of public feeling on both
sides which / thought not favorable to
an immediate attempt at renewed nego-
tiations. My views in this re-
gard were shared by her
Majesty's ministers. l hope that the
time may sooR arrive when the two
Governments can approach the solution
of this momentous question with an
assurance of what is due to the rights,
dignity and honor of each, aud with
the determination not only to beware
of the causes of complaint ia the past,
but to lay the foundation of broad
principle of public law which will pre-
vent future differences and tend to
| firm and continual frienshiE.
This is now the only grave
question which the United States
have with any foreign nation.
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.


The queetion ofa treaty for reciprocity
between the United States and the Brit
ish provinces on this continent has not
been favorably considered by the Ad
ministration. The advantages of such |
a treaty would be wholly in favor OF
the British provinces except possibly q
few engaged in the trade between the |
two countries. accordingly so instruct |
ed the Minister of the United States to |
Great Britain and found that in many
sections no citizen of the United States |
would be benefited by reciprocity.
Our internal taxation would prove n |
protection to the British producer al
most equal to the protection which our
manufacturer now receives from the
tariff. Some arrangement, however, for
the regulation of commercial inter
course between the United States and
the Dominion of Canada may
be desirable.
CERTAIN COMMISSIONS.


The Commission for adjusting the
claims Of the Hudson Bay and Pugets
Sound Agricultural Company upon the
| United States has termi mated its labors.
| The aw ard of $3.50 900 has been made and
all right and titles of the company on
the territory of the United States have
been e1tinguished. Deeds for the prop
erty of the company have been recei we'd.
An appropriation by Congress To meet
this sum is asked for. The Commission
for determining the north western land
boundary between the United States
and the British possession under the
treaty of 1856, have completed their
labors and the commission has been dis
solved in conformity with the recon-
mendation OF Congress. A proposition
was early made to the British Govern


ment to abolish the mixed Commission
under the treaty of April Z, 1862,
for the suppression of the slave
trade, and the subject is still under
negotiation.


THE FRENCH CABLE.


1t having como to my knowl-
edge that corporate company,
organized under British laws, proposed
to land upon the shores of the United
States, and TO operate there, a sub-ma


rine cable, under a concession from bis
majesty the Emperor of the French
of an exclusive right for
twenty years Of telegraphic
communication between the shores
of France and the United States, with


the very Objectionable feature of sub.
jecting all messages conveyed thereby
TO the sovereignty and control of the


French Government, caused the


French and British legations at Wash
ipgton to be made acquainted with the


probable policy of Congress on the sub


iect as forshadowed by the bill which
passed the Senate in March last.


This drew from the representatives OF
the company an agreement 10 accept


as the basis of their operations the
: provisions Of the bill or Of such other
esactments on the subject as might be
passed during the approaching session


of Congress; also to use their influence


to secure from the French government
a modification of their concession, so as


to permit the landing upon French soil
Of any cable belonging to any company
incorporated by the authority of the
otUnited States or Of any State in The
] Union, and on their part not to oppose
the establishment of any such cable.


In consideration of this agreement,


directed the withdrawal of all opposi-
ton by the United States authorities to
the landing of the cable aud to the
; working of 1t until the meeting Of Con-
gress.


Iregret to say that there has been no


modification made in the company's
concession, nor SO far as can learn,
; have they at empted TO secure one.
: Their concession excludes the capital
and the citizens of the United States
=