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- M ' ?HilFfi "" i < - ? Vv . . 1 , ? ~ j w . ? _ * & ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Lti^'-4ia^.yH^J.^ Ji-UM~Aul?>,jU&^ L'l ? 1 -J'-'-1- -' - JLLXXU^-JIL-L^- ?x. U^--?; 4.?- ? -*-: j^- - f.-* ^ 1L- *"-'" -' ? - * '-J---'/J3 . 4i % , "TO THINK OWN SELF UK TRUE, AND IT MUST FOLI-OW, AS THE NHMIT THE DAY, TflOt) CANST NOT THEN BE FAI.SE TO ANY MAN." *' ' t ' ? - ? * BY ttOB'T. A. THOMPSON. PICKENS COURT HOUSE, S. C. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1857. VOL. IX. NO. M. ' ? * 'r " ^ '. '..l-'j' ?..'. LM-1-, ... J."".' - i'l-"! !! . ? JPKiSSIJJiSNT'S MESSAGE. Fellow-citizeitfi of the. Sr.nntc and J louse of ltcpr* *cn to lives : In obodience to the coiarini.nl of tho constitution, it has now.become my duty *'to givo to Congress .information of the state of the Union, and recoinmond'to their consideration such measures' as I judge to bo "necessary and expedient." But tirst, and above all, our thanks arc M-1 ? Vtwv vvf iXliill^UVJ \ (UU IVi I IIU HUIIIC.nillcS benefits which lie has bestowed upOn this people ; and our united prayors ought to flScoudto Him thnt lie would continue to bless our great republic iu tiiue to come as lie has blessed it>*in time past, ttince tho :adiouri?ment of the last Congress: our constituents lmve enjoyed an ufmdhal degree of health. The earth has yielded her fruits abundantly, a. d Inte bouutifully rewarded the. toil of tho husbandman. Our great Kt.'in1i>!i linvn witniiiitnili<il lii.rli nulnno x 1'IIU) tip till within a brief pfcriod, our manufacturing, mineral, and mechanical occupations llavo largely partaken of thf, gouornl prosperity. Wo have, pofwesped all the elements of material wealth in rich nbundancn. anil yet, notwithstanding all these advantages, oyr coUntry, in its monetary intercuts, is at the present moment in a deplorable condition. In the mi.lit of unsurpassed plenty in all the productions of agriculture and in all the elements of national wealth, wo find oar inanufuetur?.r susponded, o\?r publio works retarded, our private enterprises of different kinds abandoned, and thousands of useful laborers thrown out of employment and reduced to wnnt. The rovtnue of tho government, whioji is chiefly' derived from dutiefl on imports from abroad, has beeu greatly reduced, wjiilfit the appropriations made by JJongro&ffht its hint seabion for the our rout fine a 1 year are very largo iii amount.' tinder these eircuinstnnccs n loali may be required before the close of your present H'cmon; but, although deeply tobe rc grettea, would prove to lio only a nlight misfortune whoa compared with tire Huftoring and distress prcvuiHng*anioY)gj:feho people. With this the government cannot fail deeply to aymp^thize, though ituiay.be -without the power to extend reliof. It is our duty to iiujuiro what has produeo<l puoh unfortunate rCKiillK, and wheth -vr m';;j rwuiTouuo can do preventedf In nil twiner ^evulsions the blwtio might hfive been fairly nttributed to u variety of eooporating causes j but not so upon tho prc.so.nt occasion. It" is. apparent that our, existing misfortune have proeeoded uolcly frorti our oxtravagant and vicious aystom of papor currency and bank credits, exciting the DOOldo to wild snrmllilt.iiuivj niifl mmK. ?r?r-- ? Wling in stocks. These revulsions mu&tcdntipuo to recur at euoccssivo intervals so iloug as tl?o amount of the paper eurroncy ..ami hank loans and discounts-of the country shall he left to the discretion of fourtoou hundred irresponsible banking; institutions, which from the vory law of their , nature will consult tho. interest of their stockholders rather than the public welfare. i Usi?, The fraiucrs of: the constitution.. whAn thoy gave toi'vopgreas tho powor VtOcoiiv money and to regulate tho value thcVeof/' and pi* Mbited tho Stutoa from coining money milting bills of credit, or making anythi g but gold and silver coin a tender, in payi unfc of debts, supposed they had prote.gtc 1 t.he people agftinut tho evils of an c^ccssive- and irredeemable pnper currcuoy. They are not rcspotiHiblo for the exifjtiug anomaly that a government endowed with tho sovereign attribute of cohjiln# money and regulating the value thereof should^ IlllVn HA r???A?r/v?<i I. A?< J ' . Y "V . |T/nv? T,; I'lVVUMI UVIIl'lit iruill (IIIk -ving this win put of. the i&tintry.fuid filling - * p. tho olianacts of : circulation With paper which docs not repfesunt gold and silver, It in onoof thoJiigheH/md inostfrpspOm ^Tible dutien ??f government to insure, to the people a sound circulating niodiuui,: th<i amount of whioh ought to be Adopted with tho upmost po^iblo wisdom and skill to thq wants of internal trado and foreign oxutmugos. If this be either greatly above or groatly below the propou standards tho innrkotoblo valuo of bvqtv ^an'n property b ?nqr?u?9?i or tutyittinhed in tlme^mo proportion, fli.4 injustice4a iRvtividunln oh woll (V? iocaloulublo ovils to the coiimliuiity arc $1je coiHMiqUonftp? llufortunatolv, under;tho cowtrudtion of tlic fedoral eMMtrtutfon, ttbinh lis* oof* pity vailojI ?oo loti^ to- bo cltungod, this itnpor* i;iiiL mid delicat'.'. duty &*? been distflvi>ro4 rl? the cfWuin?,pot/or\ifid Virtually trona* - tarred to inorotWn fourteen hundred State bnnkw, acting independently of eaotiV?tH^? nud rogulstipg, their pnper i^ue.n nlihos^ >m lnttivftly by n ro.'.ml to tin*. pMSwhit.ln-: twroifr of bhe>f .HtoelclHiUU!^ tl?c . p^vfor of ftratfi^UR 8Wrr?'in: y, in- f.'.ud of f"i' i1"' C >U?tr( , $?e tjvat duty which tlu^o.haokp pvfo to tl?4 p.!'!;,: is to koepin I lunounl, of .-'''-'l -'i'l.t sihvr to in itW> th<j cooYort^mt# olf tU^u* ll0t4"s intp oouv at S?* jlpiCH and under nil oiro.i... >m< i, ; i !; <V(V ('< he ehnrtewd without >?. .. '"li.-UW*# WX tofHHMlJM I' i i > I > J! i i) ;< . :u( oil', paiuiivcly vain. This i.i tho only tniri toufil , til- only - Ml' ten I ';r ' VSKWt CU?#*nCV the onhfc mm -il.w !? **>< ; ? ' ' ' ' * '' ' rity against over-issuon. On the contrar it may bo nervortedto inflate the etirronc; Indeed it is possible by thi?* moans to coi vert nil the debts of the United States ai State government into bank notes, withoi refercncc to the specie required to redce them. However vuluable these soeuriti may bo in themselves; they cannot be coi verted into gold and silver at the momci mi uiui?)tiui us uur cxporienoe loaencs, i suflicient timo to prevent bank suspensioi and the depreciation of bank notes. In England, which is to a considcrab extent a paper monoy country, though van Jy behind our own in this respect, it vn deemed ad visa bio, anterior to the act < Parliament in 1H 44, which wisely separ tod the igxuo of notes from the banking d partmcnt, for the Hank of England alwa; to keep on hand gold and silver equal one-third of its combined circulation ai depositea. If this proportion was no mo than unffieifciit to securo the eonvortihilii of its notes, with the whole of Great Uri ain, and to some ox tout frhe Continent < Kuropc, as a Geld for itp oireulation, id dering it almost impossible that n suddf rthd immediate run to n dangerous anioui should be niado upon it, the same proj>o tion would certainly bo insufficient und< our banking system. Each of our fourtcc hundred banks has but a limited circmi ference for ite eirculntion, and in the coufi nf ;i fl*W <1?VJ V- ?- . J .VII vwjir. UIW UVJIUOHV.IIO illiu IIU holders might demand from eneh n bank sufficient amount in specio to compel it suspend, Won although it hod coin in i vault* equal to otic-third of its immedia liabilities. AAd yet. I am not aware, wit tho exocption of tho banks of Louisian that any State hank throughout the Unit has boen required by its charter to ke< thin or any other proportion of gold ar silver compared with the amount of i combined circulation and depositee. Wh haa been the cbnscquenco r In a rccei report made by the Treasury Peoni-tinei on tho eoiulitiou of the bauks throughoi the different States, neeording to re tun dated nearest to January, 1857, the aprgr mito amount of actual specie in their vaul is 858,819,888 of their circulation 821 -I 778,822, and of their depohites, $280)851 852. Thus it appears that these banks in .tl aggregate have oon*idch?Wy less than oi dollar in seven of gold and silver, com pa c<i with their circulation ntiddepositcs. was palpable, thcreforo, that the very fir pressure mt&t drive them to uusncn&io atid deprivo the people of ;v convorttblc'eu reney with all it? disastrous consequcuoc It is truly trnndoilul that they should ha^ so long continued to preserve their crcdi \Vhen a demand for. tho payment of on 8ov.cn th of their immediate liabilities won liaYU driven fliom intn iiiwilvmmv A? tbia is the god(Utton of the banks, not wit stundi.ig that four huudvcd millions of go from California have flowed in upon i within-tho last eight years, und the ti? stil' continues to flow. Indeed such h bes-n the cxtravoganec of bank crcdits to the bunks now bold ft considerable lc . Amount of specie, either in - proportion thcif capital or to their circulation and d poauiM cou??>lnca? thnn they did before tl d'moovcry iff gold in California. Whilut: tlic year 1848 their upeeie, in proportion their capital, w?? more than en tin 1 to en dollar for four nnd a hah*, in 1857 it do .not amount to one dollar for every ?ix di lavs and thirty-throe Cents of their capita >ln tho yoAr lfU8 tho npocic wan ofjtwl wit: in a vury small fraction to one dollar in fii of then- circulation and depositee in IB;" it i? not to.cno doUur-in soVcii and liwlf.of tboir oirtfldartion and depoHitOK. From this Htutomout it is eo?y.to aocoui for out finnnoinl history for the hvst for .year#. It has been ft hintoryfofoxtr&Vagai expansion in tho.business of tho CQUivtr follovyqd by ruinous contractions. At'su co5;.sivo intervals tho best and most cntc pilwing'meh havo boon tempted to iheir ru i>y oxceawivo bank loans of mere paper cru it, exciting thorn to extravagant, import ' tiong of foroign goods, wild Bpeonlntioti und rubious and demoralising stock gam ling^ Vrinin tho eriwia arrives, as arrive mm?t, the banks tan extend no rolu'l'tu tl :l>eople. In rt Vain struggle to rodbom the liabilities in specie they aro compelled .contract their loans and their issues} ni at nut, in the hour of distress, when the a&HBtahee is merit needed, they and ftht debtors.together >\uk into iusolvcoey'. pt, It lit t.liLi nfthW ?v?)Anvrtf flvli-tvwKWinf c m pngni nones ior nmmwra xq utn ^?~as &*-**.<&%.. !. & p -. yiiuisloti, raining iho nomine! price of ovc rttttola'fnr beyond itn vonl vidtt'o "whftn pfa pnrod with thO cQtst- of nfwltrtr nVticlwt ooniMe* who^??iss?tet.iq2 luted, whiih hps prevented uh from oorftpc t?g fn <mt own inaHtelHwilH frtVeipjft rhft Uftioturm^v wrbdtteod Vxtravecartt i? porlutionrt/ tfnd'fine nountoWictod t\to offa of the Ittf^fclniaUentM $>rotcciion ftfTonh to our domcKtio V?y tliu pre ent i-ovttiub tariff/lUH fot" thia+W bry oH<>$iof!mir in;nnxfil(}t?ftib CO!irttf>sO<l of lj rimeftsrfrf/ Hjo pMkW.tioric.f oar own ctm try? ?uch 6# cottoo, iron, 1 bVics -would not only hfivo <rf ibo homo u.i'.rkc jut oMlfffiftVM ?#fctlo4?; jpjMHemftet YW \\>n'x ; m:u k< ! ;hi'ou?;l:ou| thu world, k ;3)o^OVAb?e, 1t^-ev?Ty tyr'tir* Mt v^nHUtfon, y?t irtd.dj y, ; crgies of our population, and tlic 8pi y. , which never quails before difficulties v 11- enable us floon to recover frpui our preai id liuancial euil rrassinont, and may even ! ' *i -i - 1 i.u | immuu un 11 V lu lUljJUI. UIU ICBSOll WJI, 111 i they have tnngbt. us \ In the meantime it is the duty of 1 11- government, by all proper means within it power, to aid in alleviating the HUflering in the people, occasioned by the suspension ;is the banks, and to provide against a rec renco of the same calamity. Unfortumi l.. i.. :ii - - ? r ' n: i i>, in riiuor tispuot oi iuo ease, it can it- i but littlo. Thanks to the indeperiui [is ' treasury, tlic government lias not gusnei of ed payment, ?.-? it was compelled to do a- tlic failure of tho banks in 1H37. It v e- continue to discharge its liabilities to I ys people in gold and silver. Its disbur to j mc'nts in coin will pass Into circulation, a id i materially assist in restoring n sound c re ! reiicy. From its high credit, should Wq ty j'eoinpCillcH (o make a temporary loan, it c t- be effected on advantageous terms. T1 of however, shall, if possible, be avoided ; b a- if not, then tho amount ^hall bo limited in tho lowest practicable sum. fit 1 havo, therefore, determined thntwbi r- no useful government works already sr progress shall be suspended, now works, l n already commenced, will be postponed, a- this can be done without injury to the coi Jn, ?r. T1.,..k ... r - Si . *!-! rjv jl iiwv: uvj ivjsir^y iui iifi umi'HCO S11 to procccd as though there had boon no cri a in our monetary affairs. to But the todev.il government cannot t? much to provide against a recurrence of < to isting evils. Kven if insurmountable ci :h stitutional objections did not exist agni a, the creation of a National Hank, thfc **oi >n furnish no adequate preventive sccuuty. >p The. history of the last bank of the I'nii id States abundantly proves the truth of t ts assertion. Such a bank could not, if nt, would; wigulate the credit J\nd issues of fo lit teen hundred State banks in .-'uch a nil nt ner as to prevent the ruinous expansii it and contractions in our currency which us flicted tho country throughout the existei e- of the Into bank, or KCcure m- ngainst futi t.s fiunpflurtioDH. In 1S25 an cft'ovt was mi by the Batik of England to curtail the sues of the country banks under tho 111 favorable circunistaucca. The piper c 10 reney had been expanded to a ruinous ie tent, mid the Bank put forth all its po\ r- to contract it in order to rcdueo prices n It. restore the equilibrium of the foreign i Rt ehaniTS. It !iCPftHliinrl\> fliimmniiwl ? <! o -- r".' ?? n, torn of curtailment of its loans anil lflBu r- in the vain hopo that tho joint stock n 8. private banks of the kingdom would , c compelled' to follow its example, lbfoui it, however, that as it contracted they expai e- ed, and at the end of tho process, to eiup Id the language of a very high official auth< ul ty, "whatever reduction of the paper cir L i -i - .1* il 1* * * " ii- ihiiu" -vn? eiiecieq ny uic uanK ot ftlfgin l<l (in 1825) wn8 moro than mndo up by'i ijs issues of tho country banks." But a Bank of the United States woi as not, if it could, restrain tho issues and loi of the State banks, because its duty ?r a r ?3 ujntor of tho curreuey must oftou bo in to rcet conflict with tho immediate interest c- its stockholders. If wo oxpect one agi to i-estj-ain or control another, their iutcr< hi' must, at least in some dc<n-eo, be antng t(I U..? >: c - " ? 1 " ro.IV JLJtlV HlU IIIIWU.HB HI U OUI1K OI . 1 United Suites would feel the s.';nic inter m and the name .inclination with the dircet d- of tho State banks to expand tho eurren J- to accommodate their favorites and frici h-* with loans, and to deolare largo dividon "J Such has oeon our experience in regard >7 the lust hank. a After all, wo niust mainly rely upon I patriotism and wisdom of tho States at the provention and redress of tho ovil. , fv ...tn ?nv^.i ? - - - * v y>"-j ??? ?u*vru w? ii rem tpoci'-l 0WSI8 "t our paper circulation by increasing the y, nomination of bank notes, 11 ret to twon 0* and afterwards to fifty dollars ; if they v require that the banks sjhall at alj tin?ttt k< b* on hand at least on? dollar of gold and d- ver for every throws dollars of thoir circi tion and dciwiltos j and if they will p jp, vide by nsolf-exccuting enactment, wh V' nothing can arrest., that the moment tl it suspend they fibftll go into liquidation, i*Q boliove that such provisions, with a wee publication by ouch bni*k of a utatemont to its condition, would . go. far to securo \<\ n garnet future suspensions of apeoio p 'it iiMntu, <* <./. -t iiVM-w Congress, in my opinion, possesses power; to pn*8 ft uniform bankrupt law plieabto to all bankina- institutions throui yy I put tho United Suites, aotl I rtfcrongly Uomwond ita; exorcino. This would n? In Ufc.^ho irreversible orgauio law of each ban PI ?xi?Unco. that n suspension of specie o it-1 inMlte fib all produce ita civil <tri??b. rJ nU?u8ti?ctfH>i* ftdf-prcsemtiun would t! compel it to perform it* duiien in sue fet nwnnov at* to cwxipe the ponaJty ahd j i<\ norve it-. lifa. a 1*n* , (B- The ftx'mtonco of b&nks and the eWii u, t|fl? of bank paporarott) identified w ,v: the bnbit* uf omVtoe<H>lo, that they emv n- at thijj.dav be situdoDlv ahnlishnrl wiMi. J rtXTOh jmmduxic hljuty to tha country, li wo could confine' tl.cm tothoir nppiop. , p'noro, ??d ptotcnt them front admiral O. ih? to the Bpitft Wild and. rceklofe *p 7* illation by extravagant loans and iw? fei tlu v mijfrt bo w. *\+ ? * ? _ f ' *4? 5"# . ? M i ^ j#' , r .**. <w ft. ?. * ?.? ? < irit which the excesses of the bunks liavc hitli- tho nil cvto inflicted upon tbe country, it would ry Mjt then be far the lesser evil to deprive them fen oc- Altogether of the power to issue a paper ere ich currency and coniinc them to the functions pro of banks of deposite nnd discounts. vas tho Our relations with foreign governments pro its arc, upon the whole, in a satisfactory con- lirn Ul UIUOI1. Ill, i of Tin; diplomatic difficulties which exist- I ur- ed between the Government of the United she ite- States and that <?f Groat Britain at the ad- of : do joumiyont of the last Con press have been bet int happily tbrniinntcd by the appointment of sol id- a liritish Minister td this country, who has Mo by been cordially received> i'10 nil Whilst it is greatly to tho interest, I am ?l ( Jie convinced it is the sinccie desire, of the rec so- governments and people of tho two conn- tlit nd tries to be on terms of intimate friendship dm ur- with each other, it litis been our misfortune *pii be. utmost always to have had sonic irritating, wci ran >i 'ivi uiugun?u?> outstanding question Willi i_>1? lis, Grout Britain. and ut, Since tho origin of tlie government wo. ''0| to have boon employed in negotiating treaties 'be with that power, ami afterwards in discuss- " ' ilst ing their trno intent nnd meaning. In 111,1 in this respect tho convention of April 19, 'bo not lSf>0, commonly called the. Clayton and ',ar if Uulwer treaty, has been the most unfortu- lb>; m- uatc of all; because the two governments rH1 inn | pmee uirectiy opposite and contradictory l''g isis constructions upon its first and most impoitnut nrticlo. Whilst in tiio United \ do States, \vc believed that this treaty would ,,9SI ex- plnee both powers upon an exuet equality ''ca an-1 by the stipulation tliat neither will ever Sus nsfc' "occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume 1,01 lid -V>r exerciso any dominion" over, nny part ^101 ? of Central America, it is contended by the l'or ted British governmo.jt that the true con- true- urn his tion of this language has l<;ft thoin m the H8' it rightful possession of all tliut portion of l',c ur- Central America which was in their occr ixu- pancy at tlio date of the treaty ; in i'nct, wo jus that tlie treaty is a virtual recognition on af- the part of the United States of the right ) ice of Groat Britain either ;s owner or protec- nn uro tor, to the whole extenaivo coast of Central P?' ide America, sweeping round from the Itio |y is- Hondo to the port and harbor of San Juan . av opt dc Nicaragua, together with tlie adjacent ,nH J *1 ?n? ? ?- j??j aiimiiuoj va\ v ( ' 111) vv.ll 111' ( 1 i( 11 N I.'I j) DllUiJl cx- port ion of (liis between the Surstoon and ,'?l {i.r Cape Honduras. According to their con- 1"' Jul struction, tlie treaty does no more than ex- simply prohibit them from extending their n y.s- possessions in Central America beyond the P?8 cs, present limits. It is not too much to as- " lid sort, that if in tho United States the treaty l.ri'1 bo hud been considered misceptiblo of such u '-v> ad, eons'ruetio.., it never would have been nc- .t id- gotintcd under the authority of the Presi-1 rec lojy dent, nor would it have received th\>. appro- | ?vc )ri- DnUOn of tlm Senate. The universal Con- 1,1 en- viction in t)ic United States was, that when aj" ' md our government consented to violate its the traditional and timc-houoved policy, and to stipulate) with a foreign government never ' idd '? occupy or acquire territory in the Cen- , v 1UiS tral American portion of our own continent, 11,0 <?g. the consideration for this sacrifice was that <ji- Great Britain should, in this respect, at ;0f least, ho placed in the same position with j eut ourselves. Whilst wo liav? 110 right to l!,u doubt the sincerity of the British govern- 1 J.. ItlPllf ill tliAii* nnnatmnliAn /.f !* ' un- m.mj, ik l}l0 ik nt the Manic time m/ deliberate convicCst tjon that this construction, is in uupopition !"" ors both to its letter and its .spirit. Cy( Under tlio Into administration negotia- ',,l| ){]3 lions wero instituted between the two gov- ~ " (j8t erninents for tho purpose, if possible, of re10 moving these dimcuftie?; and it treaty !>i\v- a ^ ing tins laudable object in view wa* t>igued t},G at London on tho I7tli October, 1850, and [? f01. was submitted by the President tothi< Son- ^ ( r?* ate on ihe following 10th of T)<J6ertlbor.-? M" r I VVK-a.-. .1.:- i? . -- ?OI lOj. < iiviiici iiiliving, uiiiht nit vrijjuuu or (j0 amended form, \\oulci havo accomplished !'!' I- tlio object intended without giving birth to ,,n vyj new nmUmbfunsijingcomplications between /!' 30., tho two goveiniDnnis, may perhaps ho \yqjl sil- <l^stl6ncd. Certain it is, nowevor it whs ,Jn. tehclcWfl much h*ss cbjeciiormblo by (he sl"' iro, different amendments mado to it l?y the w.1!' i?l. Stnnte. Tho trerty.n# intended, was rati- 111 |.? mil. \l ?. 1 H 1 wot jCy 1ICVI i>y Hill UII tut) l ilil HiniUII, I Oil I, nilU |. 'l wb# transmitted to London for ratification' J' klv ky British government. The govern(>f ment expressed its willingne.es lo concur in ^ ^ nil tho iiineiidtnoiils nmdo ly tho Sonato , iv>ill i1k> single X'.*oi? ?? <>f tin- clause re- \ ^ Intitiff (o Runlan and the other island* in; * 1 j|J0 tho Bay of i jotidilMii. Th'fc article in tho .? ! . original treaty, as sid>nritted to the Senate, after reciting llial these falanda and their . c I. inhabitant* " hnvipg been by a content ton , vko '^ring date llits 27th dhy of August, 1850 jjbetween her Britannic Miijcwty and ,tlie renv. Houdnrap, ?on*lUulcd ?bd dw- cr , 'bo c"irct' a ^ree t^rr.'ltwy utvly tbo sv^^iHH- j a ion >'of (lio said t-ppnblio of Jfoqdurn?,1'^ ^ lilted tlint " tho tw6 cbfmaflting parties do kg iier^Dy mntunny engrfp^ft to nnnl v. rc-spoiit it* i\H future time lh6 indfcpomlento ? V ami right# 6t the iwil free terrilW; na A prtrl * !\ pf tli0 republic, of Hoiulwran. , < Upon ??) ??ifm?nntion of tiiir, e<kn>*nlU>t. JJJl T,J MweoniOreal Britain nml Hoiulura* ofihe r# $?)> Au^nt, 1850.hw.AA fo^octthirt.vhil.^ . t| (l^Uring tin? Hay Unrwh to bo "a fr*o tor- ^ jito^y^jukr tbo Kon-rt-vgnty ofihotepub -JX 1 Tift of npmWw." U dt>pr?vc??i thftt fre, Ct ?f \trtl I rr? z ?to^ssM u < ? ,?e Hivi.l,.: ii,,,? from il,? remhimlcV of IT.,,,. lr,( . gftw to theWWhilbimwti n etxh "or islanda from the performance of militacluty except for their own exclusive dece. It aUo prohibited that republic from uting fortifications up>.ii them for their taction?thus leaving them open to ioion from any nuarlcr; ami, finally, it vided 41 that slavery shall not at nnv e hereafter be permitted to exist therelad Honduras ratified this convention, would have ratified tho establishment , .....!-1 --.1.1 I uwuu nillDllllltinilT IIIUV11VJI1UUIH Wlllll.ri own limits, and a State at all times ijcOt to IVitish intlucnco and control.-rreovcr, had tho United States ratified treaty witli (irent I'lilain in its origin 01 m, wo should have been bound "to ognise and respect in nli future time" su stipulations to tho prejudice of Honas. Being in diroet opposition to tho fit and meaning of the Clayton and Bul treaty as understood in the United tes, the Senate rejected tho enti: 9 clauso I submitted in its stead a simple recogni? of the sovereign right of Honduras to so islands in the following language: he two contracting parties do hereby many engage to recognise and respect inlands of Kuatan, LUmaco, Utila, Baretta. Helena, and Moral situate in the y of Honduras, and oft' tho coast of the ublio of Honduras, as under the soverntv and as part of tho said republic of nd u ras." jlreat Britain rejected this amendment, igniug as the only reason, that the ralitions of tho convention of (ho 27th Auit, 1850, between her and Honduras,had been "exchanged, owing lo tho hesita^ of that government." Had this been re, it is stated that "her Majesty's govment would have had little difficulty in oeihg to the modification proposed by Senate, which then would have had in el tho samo signification ns tho original riling." Whether this would have boon effect; whether the mere circumstance he exchange of the ratifications of tho lisl) <*rinvi>nt inn willi lTnnrlnrnc ??5a.. i.? nt of lime to the ratification of our treawitli Groat Britain would, in "effect," 0 liad the sumo signification as theorig1 wording," and thus have nullified tho endinent of tho Senate, may well ho tbted. It is, perhaps, fortunate that the jstion has never arisen. fhe British government, immediately ?r rejecting tho treaty n3 amended, proed toenterinto a new treaty with tho ited Stales, similar in all respects to the ity which they had just refused to rati if tlio United Stales would consent to I to tho Senate's cloar and unqualified ognition of the sovereignty of Honduras r the Bay Islands the following condiinl stipulation : "Whenever and so soon Iho republic of Honduras shall have condod and ratified a treaty with Great lain, by which Great Britain shall have led. mill I lift r?mililif? nt' IT?in/lnrne oliall c accepted, thosiiid islands, subject to provisions and conditions contained in h treaty." l'his proposition was, of coarse, rejected, er '.lie Senate liad refused to reconnisc i British convention with Honduras ol 27th August, 1850, with full knowlre of its contents, it wo; impossible for , necessarily ignorant of" the provisions 1 conditions" which might bo contained i futuro convention between the same ties, to sanction them in advance. piie fact i? that when two nations like ?nt Britain and the United States, imit.u* >' desirous, as they are, and I trust ever y bo, of maintaining tho most friendly .. . v... .. .in vuuii uuivji, 14 five i# If Ivi i II llil if ;on eluded a I rent y wine)) they mult-rod in senses directly opposito, tho wisest irso is to abrogate such a Irenly by mii1 consent, and to commenco anew. Had ? bflen doqo promptly, all difficulties ?? i?lr?l America would most probably ere s luivo been adjusted to ilio satisfaction both parties. TJitt time spent in disous% tho meaning of the Clayton and Bulr treaty would have been devoted to * praiseworthy purpose, and tho task ufd havo boon (ho more easily accumdied because the interest of the two conn 3 :r. 'Cent fid AtoCrfca is Idfctitloid, beSnjf ifined to securing safe transits ovor Jill routes across tho Isthmus. Whilst entertaining these' sentjincnts, I ii imvmiicii'Ks not rwfuRQ to coniriiniu: ipy reasonable adjustment of the C'enI American questions which is not prae(fly inconsistent wiil? tho American inpletatfort of tho treaty. Overtures for i purpose Tu'ivo been recently made by iJritiah Government in a friendly spirit io!? I cordially reciprocate ; but wbeth iins renewed onorr, will result ?n rticrton" m not yet prepare*} loexpros* art opin/V brief period will dutornilne. Witli Frniicu o?>r ancient rclatipn* ol Mm continue W . exist. Tin ??i;ls govommeM have in eoveiflf rocoVil l^t whieb need tfot to bo fenuTtri^a . evinced a snirit of r?ond will muf'tin/I. * io.wrirds ofrr country which I heartily ipr-oent?. e H'.-fy hotwuhslnndiiig', much Uo,r<?gre(tocl lib*' imtiw* whow pro tiortH nry of.ftuph <? 'jhiuuctar ?a to in,1 the mo:U (txteiiPivc GxchftOffy* nucl est comincroiol iuteruoimn, nhoulii conwo to ^nforod auoUnt anil 6t>sol?to V?s tionft offrinh> cncli oilier. Qui 11 #.? 1 m ijram-.? ih in UU8 an ux<'opti?>n from our tre?U?e will) natlonv fo jealosy -r;r - -J """" JJ Li ""lii'K . living in vessels belonging to tlio other. More llian forty years ago, on tho 3<J March, 1813, Congress passed an nut offering to nil nations to admit tlioir vessels laden with their national productions into the ports of tho United t-5tnie& upon th?f samo terms with our own vessels, provided ' they would rccipiocate to us similar advantages. This act confined tho reciprocity to tho productions ?f the respective foreign nations who mifflil o.ntor info tnX nronosnd arrangement wi'.h tho'tXrtttcd Staton. Tito, nr,t of May 2 f, 1828, removed this rail*'' . trrclion, ami offered a nunilar reciprocity to all such * without reference to the . . origin of I heir carhop*. Upon these prinelples our coniihcroial IrQnties and arrange inoutfl bavo been fountlfii, cxcept with France; and lot u& hope that this exception may not long exist. Our relations with Jiussia remain, iih they have ever been, on tho inost friendly footing. The present Emperor as well as his predecessors, h.wo never failed when tho occasion oftored, to manifest their good will to our oountry : and their friendship' has always been highly appreciated by tho government and people of tho U. Slates. With all other European governments, except that of Spain, our relations areas peaceful as wo could desire. I regret to say that no progress whatever has been made sinco tlio adjournment of Congress, towards llio settlement of any of the numerous claims of our citizens against tho Spanish government. Besides, tlio outrago committed on our flag by tlio Spanish waTfrigale Fcrrolana on tho high sens, oft' tlio coast of Cuba, in March, 1855, by firing into tho American mail steamer Kl Dorado and detaining and searching her, remains unacknowledged and undressed. The general tone and temper of the Spanish government towards that of the United Stales aro much to he regretted. Our present envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Madrid Fins nsked to he recalled ; and it is my purposo to send out a new minister to Spain, with specific; instructions on all questions pending between the ivvo governo.wi ...iii. ~ .~ 1 0| DIIU null <? UU^IUIIIHUIUII IKJ Mil* 17 iliem speedily nnct auupably adjusted, if this be possible. In t'.ie mean time, whenever our minister urges the ju<it claims of our citizens on tlio notice of tho Spanish government, he is met with the objection that Congress havo never made the appropriation recommended by President 1'olk in his annual message of December, 1847. " lo bo paid to tbo Spanish government for the purpo?o of distribution among tho claimants in tho Amistad case." A similar recommendation was mado by my immediate predecessor in his mcssago of December, 1853; arid entirely concurring with ? jjfcjxi be ?|i in tho opinion thai this indemnity is ' 'Tjj jus ' ' duo under tbo treaty with Spain of tho 7ib October, 1795, I earnestly recommend such t?n appropriation to tho favorablo consideration of Congress. ^ A treaty of friendship aud commerce was concluded at Constantinople on the 13th December, 1850, between tlio U. States and l orsia, ido rnuncnuons ot wuigii wore exi changed at Constantinople on llio 13th June, 1857, and tho treaty was proclaimed by iho President on tho 13lb August, 1857 This tresty, it is believed, will prove beneficial to American commerce. Tho Shah has manifested an earnest disposition to cultiwde friendly relations with our country, and ex messed a alronrr wish tRiit wr> sknitM be represented at 'IVheran by ft minister plenipotentiary; find I recommend that an appropriation be made for this purpose. Kecent occurrences in China bavo boon unfavorable to n Revision of the treaty with that ISmpire of the 3d July, 1841, with a View to tho security nnd extension of our commerco. The '24th article of this treaIry stipulated for a revision of it, in c'.'u experience should prove this to be requisite; "in which case the two governments will, al tho expiration of twelve years from tho dale of said Convention, treat nmirahlv eon V - - - cerriing* the *amo by mean* of finstablo persons appointed to conduct such negotiations," Thoso twelve yonra expired on tho 3d July, I860; but long before tliat period it was ftscertaicicd that important change* in the treaty woro nccossnry; ant! several frnitloss attempts weto mat.lQ by the commissioner of tbo United Stales to otFuot j tii030 cimngot. Another eltort was nbotifc to ho tm'du for tho same purpose by stir commissioner in conjunction with the ministers of Knghmd and Prance, hilt this wm suspended by tho occurrence of hostilities^ in tlie Canton river,'between Gfeai Britain nnd tho Chinese Empire. These hostility have neeewatlly interrupted tho trade of nil nations will) C?nto?r, which is now iit n state of blockndo, and hayo occasioned n swious loss of life and property. Mean wlnio t^e insurrection within. the Komlro aghjuftt Uw.cxipting imnorinl dynasty ?ti(l : continue*, nrnl it ia <IifticuU to anticipate , jWJial will bq the result. > ^mlcr t|}?o?o bircunistnucos, T hat? depm cfl it aflAMsahle to apjwint a dis<tir?gui?hM citizen of Pennsylvania onvoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to procecd to China, ftndto avnil himself of any o(>pot-? ?rin?Uck which may offer (o oflfocfc cha^gta 'j in <Wfc bating ti*nt^ favorable to Amcridaii fcoilimoroe. lie lefi th? U nitcd I for tho plkfto of hto rlrfctirtfttion in July lant I in tlio vrai KtOAIVlPP MtniKMuuit!! Kiwivl ? ... minister.-* to China 'JIIVO ?)8o LeoiK.nwioinfcs<1 Uy tnc govemmutits of Cjroat JJntuin un<l Fn*n<& . . ' . ' ',it i ^ Whilst our minister hn? l>o<n in.-tnirt< >1 to* ocotrn] position in reference to tho rxWrtj-: mwlilitiM ?t Canton, h> will