The Wabash Courier, Volume 23, Number 16, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 9 December 1854 — Page 1

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VOL. Xlin. NO. 16.

WABASHjCOURIER.

PUBLISHED SATURDAY MORNINGS.

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From the Cincinnati Gazette.

The Financial Ability of the Conntry— Proportions of Money to Population, The problem of determining how much moncy^,necessary to perform the exchanges of argiven number of people has never been solved. In fact, it never can bo solved fpr it is not the quantity so much as the quickness of exchanges, which must bo ascertained and, in addition of that, the amount exchanged by bartef. As locomotion increases its rapidity, tho quantity of inoney required to make a given amount of payments in a country will obviously be less, 13ut, on the other hand, as the practice of barter diminishes, tho nmount of money required is greater. Tho problem ofdcicl-mining tho amount of currency necessary to perform the exchanges of tho country is what mathematicians call indeterminate. But we mny approximate it by comparisons between different countries and different periods in tho same country. We can Hpproxrma'.e it, forexample, in our own country though the statistics of money ore not among those returned in the census. The Secretaries of tho Treasury have, at difforont times, token pains to determine* tho amount of money in circulation, and though their returns are not exact, yet they will give us general idea of tho proportions of currency nt different times in the United States. Tho following are the estimates made by different persons

Years* AcliveCir'lion. A't head. Authority. J811 $13,000,000 ]8U» (5,000,000 ]8D0 70,000,000

money

Gallatin. Crawford. Gallatin. Tro'y Rcp,t. It. R. Record

COO

"11 00

5 :o oo

Sift 148,000,000

issr

12 00 tho most accurate

295,457,237

Mr. Gallatin was financier wo ever had, and it is probnblo his estimntes wore nearly correct. The last ones aro mode by taking his as the basis, and determining the addition by tho actual statistics of finance since

The amount for 1042 3 wo have not ascertained but ns half the banks in tho .gauntry wero then destroyed, it is probable that tho amount of actual money in the couniry then was lcs6 relatively to the population, than at any other period. Wo have reason to bo liove that the proportion was about the same as in 1830. If so, wo have this table of rjfccls, as connected with the condition of the country 1811...ratio jifl00..Stoady prices. 1810.... do 00. .Inflation of prices—specTns1830... .do ft 50. .Steady prices. 1836....do 11 00. .Inflation—speculation. 1812....flo ft00..-Depression of fric«s. 18ft3.... do 12 00.. Inflation.

The period of inflation in 1816 con tinued to 1819 20 so that, allowing for the time required to expand and con tract, we find that tho scaio ascemls during soven or eight years, and descends for nearly tho same period. This arises from the fact that it necessarily requires considerable period to settle accounts, to soil property, and to adjust an immense number of balances. Will this bo tho case now As we aro not speculators, wo shall not pretend to say that iho variations of the currency are necessarily the cause of tho fluctuations of price, credit, and commerce. Wo give only tho lacts, undoubtedly, and it is vain to deny it. Tho state of our/areign balances has much to do with it. So also the proportions between the coin nnd tho paper currency have much to do with it. And more than any of these, the state of Industry and of harvests influence the value of property. It is national industry only which can create national wealth. Labor is property. Hut however wealthy a people may be. unquestionably the markot prices must fluctuate with iho

of

money-

Wealth is intrinsic but price is relative. If we wore to

obovo ,ai

l»les. with a view t« deter»»)'»nQ how much money w»« ro,u!«d Mr tho Jomos.lc exchanges of 1I1U country, we mlgl» bo led to infer these principles that 96 nor hood was too IiiUg*and 812 per u03u 100 groat. At the former rate prices wero depressed, and commerce inactive at tho latter, prices rose too rapidly and speculation was rife. Probably a currency oqual to §10 per head, uniformly maintained, would keep up the ox» change of tho couniry, without exciting commercial speculation too

a

®'y-

But hero again we must remark, that tho problem is entirely varied by the iiM.of circulation, whether coin or paper. Experience proves that coin circulates more slowly, and is retained in larger masses than papor. If then, coin is the chief circulation of a country, more

will bo required. Uenco.weaee

that this couniry requires a larger proportion of currency than formerly, from the fact that wo have a much larger proportion of coin. In 1816 the propor. tion of coin was only to II, but in 1854 it it *han 1 to 2. The Pr®" portion of coin to paper ha« incroawdr

in less than forty years, full six fold.— I

Had the most acute financier of this country been told, by a prophet, that in such a period coin would have been so enormously increased, he would have said, in accordance with popular opinion, that coin would then be the common currency of the people but such is not the fact. It is no more a common currency than it was thirty years ago. Tho reason is now plain. Coin or bullion is retained in masses, as the las: resort or defense of credit. Thus there are, at this time, sixty million of coin in three ciiies but these three cities contoin only one-twentieth part of the people, so that coin cannot become a common circulation. It is always hoarded, it l.)llows, then, that our currency is not, at this time, so much inflated as first glance at the above tajjle would' lead us to suppose. In this is our great hope, that the present state of things is not so much the result of inflated currency as of other general causes. That this hope is well founded, will appear evident from the following comparisons of the kind* of currency in 1836 and 1853. viz

Bank No'es. Coin- Proportion.

1836 $120,000 $26,000,000 41 to 1 1853 153,958 141,498,899 1 1-10 to 1 From this we draw the following inferences 1st. That the bank notes increased 23 percent. 2d. That the coin increased. ...... 400 3

J. That the aggregate inc. currency 100 We see, then, that the increase of circulation is almostentirely in coin, which is in the vaults of banks and sub treasuries, -while the active circulation of ihe country in bank notes has increased but little. Mere, then, tho parallel with the condition of the country, in 1816 and 1836 fails altogether. The inflation of our currency is apparent, not real. It is true that tho aggregate amount of dollars in the coutry has doubled, but ihe amount by which the exchanges of the country are performed has increased bui little. In tho meanwhile, the positive wealth cf the countryjias increased immensely.

From this state of fact, we are led to infer, that the financial basis of the Country is sound. The Government credit is also untarnished. The State credit is good. The power of sustaining credit, by banks, is four fold, in consequence of the increase of coin—and it only remains to curtail our foreign commerce, and settle balances, in order to restore perfcct confidence, and give the utmost facilities to trade.

According to Mormonism, the people of the Union must look out for a casiigaiion "about thoso days." President Grant, in speaking of ihe shedding ol the blood of Joo Smith, nnd the consequences to flow therefrom, says •Ml is no matter how much ihey deal in compromise measures, or how often thoy try to adjust ifHcu I tics that thicken around them—it is a stern fact that iIip people ol the United States Jhave shed the biood of the prophets, driven out the saints of God, rojocted the priest hood, and set at naught the holy gospel and tho result of rejecting tho gospel has been in every ago, a visitation from tho chastening hand of the Almighty which chastisement will be administered in proportion to the magnitude and enormity 5f their crimes. "Consequently, 1 look for the Lord to use his whip on tho refractory son called

MUncle

Sam I expect to *ce him

chastised among the first of nations. I think Uncle Sam is one of the Lord's boys that he will take the rod to fust, and make him danco nimbly to his own tuno of "Oh Oh for his transgres sions, for his high-mindedness, and loftiness—for his evil, for rejecting ihe gospel and causing tho earth to drink the blood of the saints for this, I say, I expect ho-will be well switched amongthe first of the sons. 'I expect John Bull will get the next whipping, and I have no Idea of the Lord whipping Russia and letting those refractory sons escapo who aro better taught—who have had kind Father teaching and instructing them by the voico of his eldors sending prophets to ihcm to warn ihom late and early, inviting them by the voico of his spirit —crying unto them to repent their sins and turn unto him I say, I do not expect ho will pass by these refractory sons who have turned a deaf car.to all his instructions, maltreating his messengers, and whip ihose boys who have not been so woll instructed."

The Worlo Suspended—"The adventitious people did'nt bring the world's end about so casj ns they thought," aaid Mrs. Partington, smiling at the recollection of seeing a long-legged saint in a white coiton gown on the top of a neighboring house the night before. "Yea," replied old Roger gravely, "it did come to an end it suspended for a little while, when a meeting of its creditors was held, and though its affairs were found a little shaky it was thought best to let it go on, and it woatd come out all right enough." You don't aay ao cried the "well, that is the reason why tnv dock i* half an hour alow, and I declare't could'nt account for it." Ike said nothing but that he was allowed to stay wit till half past seven the night previous, made it look aa if he had put tho clock hack, but there was DO knowing.—Posi*,

A

friend, speaking of composition of the K. N.'s says It resembles the Fourth of July processions, closing up with ••citizens generally/'

Tal1

~~~~~~~

Snooks sayt that the beat sewing ma•chine in the'world is one about seventeen years old. with a short sleeve dress and pretty Hide with gaites boou on. t'.-t :'K* tgftt

Singer, or the Power of Masic.

We were seated in the cabin of a river steamboat. There was a large number of passengers, who seemed desirous of beguiling away the tedium of the trip by contribuiing something to the general amusement.

Among the passengers was one long, lank specimen whom no one could fail to recognize as a Yankee. He sat apart from the rest, notwithstanding, while the singularity of his appearance did not fail to draw many curious eyes towards him.

At length, when all the resources of ihe company seemed exhausted, one of them turned dubiously to our Yankee, and politely requested hira to favor the company wiih a song. 'A song echoed he, looking up. 'Yes, sir, you sing, do you not •I did once,' replied he and I may add. it saved my life.' 'Saved your life

All were eager to hear how this could be, and after some little urgirj, the stranger consented to gratify them. 'You must know,' said he, 'that I was one of the first to gn to California when the repori first reached us at home of its stores of gold. It was nothing then to what it is now—a perfect waste in faci, with hardly a murk of civilization, where now you can see flourishing towns numbering their thousands of inhabitants.' •Being fond of adventure, I separated from my company, and determined to find my way to the diggings myself.— One night I found myself lying on ihe grass, with my pack for my pillow, just on the edge of a large forest. It did not enier my head to be afraid until it became somewhat daik, and 1 heard with fearful distinctness the cry of the prairie wolf. I listened again, and was alarmed to find the cry enming nearer. Evidently they scented mo.' •At length a whole pack of blood-thir-siy rascals came bounding on till they came within a hundred yards of me, nnd then stood stock still, and began to draw nearer. 'My hoir rose on end. I was terribly alarmed I endeavored to think of some possible way of scaring them. Having heard that they were terrified by fire, I lighted a match. They o'rew off a little, but immediately retraced their steps This movement was repeated on both sides. I found this would never do I must think of something jjnore decisive. But what 1 'I recollected having in my youth attended a singing school for the space of two evenings, during which I received somo indistinct notions of the manner of singing 'Old Hundred.' That recollcction saved me. •Without more ado. I began, and did as well as could. By the time I had got through the first line, I observed the wolves began to look a little wild and uneasy, and—will you believe it, gentlemen said the nnrrotor earnestly—•before I finished, every individual wolf, putting his fore paws up to his ears, scampered away as if old Jack was after him

A shout of laughter both loud and lono followed this narrative, ot tho end of which the speaker, who had not stirred a muscle, gravely continued •You seo, gentlemen, I have been frank with you I did not wish to take advantage of your very kind and complimentnry invitation without forewarning you of the consequence. If, after wlioi I havo told you, you are still desirous of hearing mo, I will endeavor to give you 'Old Hundred,' which is the only song I know, and to which, for reasons already given, I feel uncommonly attached/'

Afier that story, lie was unanimously excused.

FORESEEN FUN.

Tho New Orleans Picayune is a bright mirror, reflocting for our mirth all the fun and frolic culminated around it. 'We have heard in our day of legal qaibbles,' says that witty journal 'but if a Philadelphia lawyer can beai the following, lately argued to a jury in this city, he can take our corduroys. The prisoner is on trial for entering a house in tho night lime with intent to steal.'

The testimony was clear that he had made an opeuing sufficiently largo to admit the upper part of his body, and through which he protruded himself a bout half way, and stretching out his arm committed the theft.

Mr. Oofusiicaie Brief addresses the jury. What an outrage,' (looking horrified, and with outstretched and trembling arms,) *t repeat, what an outrage upon your intelligence and your common sense is it for the Statcs's attorney to ask at your hands ihe conviction of n^y client on such testimony The law is against entering a house and can a man be said to enter a house, when only onehalf of his body is in and the other half out Gentlemen, look to ihe Divine Law on this point. God commanded Adam and Eve not to eai the apple—i. e. the whole of tho apple. And all the commentators agree that if they bad only eaten one-half, ihey would not have been expelled from ihe garden of Eden.'

Tho jtury brought in a verdict of 'guilty* as 10 one-half of his body from the waist up, *nd 'not guilty* as to (he other half.

The Judge sentenced the guilty half to one year's imprisonment, leaving it to the prisoner's option to have the innocent half cut off, or take it along wiih him, '7 rVt

•*G«ntly the dews are o'er me steal ing(" said tho man who had fire due bills presented to hint at once. £***.

WTJ

TEERE HAUTE, IND., DECEMBER 9,18541

A Blind Girl Feeling for a Sunbeam The sun had just burst out through the clouds, ahd a heavy golden beam comes in at our window. How bright and cheerful It comes in so sileniiy, yet it speaks to the heart. Thank a kind God for sunshine Ages on oges it has illumined and gladdened a world, yet we hardly think of the great fountain of light and beauty.

Writing of sunshine brings to mind a touching incident which came under our observation as we were travelling in the cars. Opposite us were seated a family of four, consisting of a man and his wife and two children—a boy and a girl— twins, and totally blind. Two lovelier children we never saw. The family wero from the S juth. A southern sun had tinged each cheek a rich olive-com-plexion, relieved by a beautiful bloom upon the children's countenances. The boy was lightly built, had finely chiselled features, and hair of a dark brown, clustering in rich curls around his neck. The girl was yet more slender, as fragile as the leaf, and of the most spiritualized beauty. Her habit was dark. Her hair was as black as night, its heavy, glossy tresses confined by a golden band which glittered brightly upon tho dark background. They both seemed happy, conversing wiih an intelligence beyond their years.

The train stopped for a moment upon the route. The windows were all raised, and the children leaning out as if to see. The little girl, heaved a long sigh, and leaned back in the seat, exclaiming, "0, mother! 7 cannot see anything." A tear trembled in "her eye, and her voice was so sad and low that it went to the heart of every passenger who heard the beautiful but unfortunate creature.— "Neither can I see, Bell but 1 know everything is beoutiful," said her brother, os the light winds lifted the thin locks upon his cheek. "You're beautiful, are you not, Bell

Just then rt flood of sunshine gushed from the wliiid clouds in tho west like a flash, and el I full nnd warm upon the cheek of the sad girl, and upon the tears in her oyes. Quick os thought she put up her hand, and attempted to grasp the golden pencils that were playing through her thick braids upon her neck and cheek. E'igerly she shut her hand upon and a shadow fell on her

vacancy, countenance as she failed to touch the sunshine. "Moihet I cannot feel it has it fled out of ihe window V' "What Bell .,,f said her brother. "The sunshine, Marion, touched my cheek, bui 1 cannot touch that." The mother's eyes swam in tears, ns did those of nearly all in the car. A blind girl feeling for a sunbeam upon hor cheek Thnt beam was radiant with beauty, yet she could not behold it. It gleamed upon a world, but all was night to her. Its silver bursting in the east, or its golden fading in ihe west, followed ns day followed day but it burst not upon Iter vision, nor faded at decline of day. li glowed in the sky upon forest, and field, nnd flower, and Inko and river bui not in the blue orbs of the sightless girl

By singular Coincidence, ihe boy tried to feel of the breeze that came cool upon the cheek us the cars sped swiftly on. The breeze swept over the yeilriw fields, ond meadows, anil still waters, nnd coquetted with the locks of the blind Ssoy but its foot sieps were unseen by hun.

We involuntarily thanked God that we could look upon the beautiful world he has made, and dropped a icar for ihe hapless children, who must grope their way to the grave through a long night. But tho light of bliss will burst upon ihem I

Long shall wo remember the uvo blind children.

IMPERTINENCE PU1TISIIKD. We find in the Courricr des Eiats U,iis nn account of a curious incident whi-:li occurred at a charity fair in Paris:

A young lady, Miss A celebrated for her beauty and her wit, presided at one of the tables. Among tho throng which pressed around the fair vender of elegant articles, was a young gentleman of much assurance, tfho gazed upon ihe lady with offensive freedom, and affected, in admire ihe various articles exposed for sale, but bought nothing. .f

Wiiat will you please to buy, sir asked Miss A with a.smile of peculiar meaning.

Oh.'* replied the efquisitf, with a languishing look, what I most wish to purchase is unhappily not for sale." "Perhaps It is said," the lady.

No. no, I daro not declare my wishes." Nevertho ess," said Miss A., "let me know what you wish to buy."

Well, then, since you insist upon ft, I should like a ringlet of you glossy black hair."

The lady manifested no embsrassment at the bold request, but wiih a pair of scissors immediately clipped off" one of her beautiful locks, and handed it to the astonished youth remarking ihat tho price was five hundred francs

Her bold admirer was thunderstruck at the demand, but dared not demur, as by this time a group had collectcd and were listening to the conversation* He took the hair, and paid over ihe five hundred francs, and with an air of mortification and sadness left the htll

~~~~~~~

An Agent soliciting subscribers for a book, showed the prospectus to a msn who, after re«ding "one dollar in boards and one dollar and twenty-five cents in sheep," declined subscribing, as he might not have boards or sheep on hands when called upon for payment, pat

-. VF

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE,

Fellow Citizens of the Senate ,1 and of the House of Representatives: The past has been an eventful year, and will bis hereafter referred to as a

marked epoch in the history of the world. While we have been happily preserved from the calamities of wai, our domestic prosperity has not been entirely uninterrupted. The crops, in portions of ihe country, have been nearly cut off. Disease has'pirevailed to a greater extent than usual, nnd the sacrifice of human life, through cesualties by sea and land, is without a parallel. But the pestilence has swept by, and restored salubrity invites the absent to their homes, and the return of business to its ordinary channels. If the earth has rewarded the labor of the husbandman less bountifully than in preceding seasons, it has left him with abundance for domestic wants, and a largo surplus for exportation. In the present, as in the past, we find ample grounds for reverent thankfulness to the God of Grace and Providencg, for His protecting care and msrciful dealings with us as a people.

Although our attention has been arrested by painful interest in passing events, yet our country feels no more than the slight vibrations of the convulsions which have shaken Europe. As individuals, we cannot repress sympathy with human suffering, nor regret for the causes which produce it. As a nation, we are reminded, that whatever interrupts the peace, or checks the prosperity, of any part of Christendom, tends, more or less, to involve our own. The condition of States is not unlike that of individuals. They are mutually dependent upon each other. Amicable relations between them, and reciprocal good will, are essential for the promotion bf whatever is desirable in their moral, social and political condition. Hence, it lias been my earnest endeavor to maintain peace and friendly intercourse with all nations.

The wise theory of this government, so early ndopted and steadily pursued, of avoiding all entangling nlliunoes, 1ms hitherto exempted it from many complications, in which it would otherwise have become involved. Notwithstanding this our clearly defined and wellsustained course of action, and our geographical position so remote from Europe, increasing disposition has heen manifested by some of its governments, to supervise, and in some respects, to direct our foreign policy. In plans for adjusting ihe balance of power among themselves, ihey have assumed to take us into account, arid would constrain us to conform our conduct to ihcir views. One or another of the powers of Europe has, from time to time, undertaken to enforce arbitrary regulations, contrary in many respects to established principles of international law. That law, the United States have, in their foreign intercourse. uniformly respected nnd observed and they cannot recognize any such interpolation therein, as the temporary interests of others may suggest. They do not admit, that the sovereigns of one continent, or of a particular communiiy of Siaiesj can legislate for all others.

Leaving the trans Atlantic notions to adjust their political system, in ihe way ihey muy think best for their common welfare, the independent powers of this continent may well assert the right to be exempt from all annoying interference on their part. Systematic abstinence from intimate political connexion with distant foreign nations, does not conflict with giving the widest range to our foreign commerce. This distinction, so clearly marked in history, seems to have been overlooked, or disregarded, by somo leading foreign States. Our refusal to be brought within, and subjected to, their peculiar system, has, I fear, created a jealous distrust of our conduct, and induced on their purt, occasional acts of disturbing effect upon our foreign relations. Our present attitude and past course give assurances, which should not be questioned, that our purposes are not aggressive, nor threatening to the safety nnd welfare of other nations. Our military establishment, in'time of .peace,

JiaWeWvo

filled,to maintain exterior defences. order among ihe origi*

,e

liniiisof the Union.

d)'uc nav'oi force is intended only for the protection of our citizens abroad, and of our commerce, diffused as it is, over all ibe seas of the globe. The government of the United Slates, being essentially pacific in policy, stands prepared to repel invasion by the voluntary service of a patriotic people, and provides nj permanent means of foreign aggression.— These considerations should allay all apprehension, ihat wo are disposed to encroach on ihfe rights, or endanger the security of other States.

Some European powers have tegardcd with disquieting concern, the terriiorial expansion of the United States.— This rapid growth has resulted from ihe legitimate exercise of sovereign rights, belonging alike to all nations, and by many liberally exercised. Under such circumstances ii could hardly have been exported that those among them, which have, withio a comparatively recent period, subdued and absorbed ancient kingdoms, planted their standards on every continent, and now possess or claim ihe control of, the islands of every ocean as their appropriate domain, would look with unfriendly sentiments upon the acquisitions of this country, in every, instauce honorably obtained, or would feel themselves justified in imputing our advancement to a spirit of aggression or to passion for political predominance.

Our foreign commerce lvis reached a magnitude and extent nearly equal to that of the first maritime power of the earth, and eSccedin^j that of any other. Over this great interest, in which not only our merchants, but all classes of citizens, at least indirectly are concerned, it is the duty cf the executive nnd legislative branches ot the government to exercise a careful supervision, and adopt proper measures for its protection. The policy which I have had in view, in regard to this interest, embraces its future as well as its present security.

Long cxpetfeneb has shown that, in general, when the principal powers of Europe nre engaged in war, the

RusEin acted promptly in this matter and a convention wns concluded, between that cdTtntry nnd tho IJnited States, providing for iho observance of the principles already announced, not only as between themselves, but also as between them and all other nations which shall enter into like stipulations, None of the other powers have as yet token final action on ihe subject. I am not aware however that any objection to ihe proposed stipulations has been made but, on ihe controry. they arc acknowledge to bo essential to tho security of neutral commerce, and the only apparent obsiicle to their general adoption is in tho possibility, that ii may bo encumbered by Inadmissible conditions.

The King of the two Sicilies has expressed to our Minister at Naples, his readiness to concur in our proposition relative to neutral rights, and to enter into a convention on that subject.

The l^ing of Prussia entirely appprbVe£ of the project of a treaty to the same effect, submitted to him, but proposes an additional article providing for the renunciation of privateering. Such an article, for most obvious reasons, is much desired by nations having natfal establishments, large in proportion to their foreign commerce. If it were adopted as an international rule, the commerce of a nation having comparatively

Bmall naval force, would be very much at the mercy of its enemy, in case of war with a power of decided naval superiority. The bare statement of the condition in which the United States would be placed, after having surrendered the right to resort to privateers, in the event of a war with a beiigerent of naval supremacy, will show that this government could never listen to such a proposition. The navy of the first maritime power in Europe is at least ten times as large os that of tha United States. The foreign '•ommcrce of the two countries is nearly equal, and about equally exposed to hostile depredations. In war between that power and the United States, without resort on our part to our mercantile marine, the means of our enemy to inflict injury upon our commerce would be tenfold greater than ours to retaliate. We could not extricate our country from thla unequal condition, with such an enemy, unless we at or.ee departed from our present peaceful policy, dnd become a great navai power. Nor would this country be better Situated in war with one of the secondary novaf powers. Though the navol disparity would be less, the greater extent,' and more exposed condition of otrr wide-spread commerce would give any of them alike advantage over us.

The proposition to enter into engagements to forego resort to privateers, in case this country should be forced into war with a great naval power,is not entitled to more favorable consideration than would be a proposition, to agree not to accept the services of volunteers for operations on land.— When the honor or Aa rights of our country require it to assume a-hostile attittsde, it confidently relies upon the patriotism of its citiftensf not ordinary devoted to the military profession, to at'^ment the army and the navy, €6 Ss to make them fully adequate to the emergency which calls them into action. The proposal to surrender the right to employ privateers is professionally founded upon the principle, that private property of unoffending non-combatants, though enemies, should be exempt from the ravages of war but the proposed surreuder goes but

WHOLE-Jin. 1160.

ri

Rh

,s

There is difference of opinion between the United States and Great Britain, as to the boundary line of tho Territory of Washington ndjjininrr the British possessions on tho Pacific, which has already led to difficulties on the part of the citizens and local authorities of tho two governments. I recommend ilint provisions bo made for a commission, to be joined by one oa the part of her Britanic Majesty, for the purpose of running and establishing tho line in controversy. Certain stipulations of tho third and fourth articles of the treaty concluded by the United States and Great Britain in 1846, regarding possessory rights of tho Hudson's Bay Company, and property of tho I'uget's Sound Agricultural Company, havo given rise to serious disputes, and it* is important to all concerned, that summary means of settling the in amicably should be devised, have reason to believe, that an arrangement can bo made on just terms, for the extinguishment of the rights in question embracing also, tho right of the Hudson's Bay Company to tho navigation of the river Columbia and I thcreforo Buggest to your consideration, tho expediency of making a contingent appropriation for that purpose.

France was the early and efficient ally of the United States in their struggle for independence. From that time, to the present, with, occasional slight interruptions, cordial relations of friendship have existed between tho governments nnd people of the two countries. The kindly Bentim'erlts, cherished alike by both nations, have led to extensive social and commercial intercourse, which, I trust, will not bo interrupted or checked by any casual event of an apparently unsatisfactory character. The French consul at San Francisco was, Hot long since, brought into the United States District Court at that place, by compulsory process, as witness in favor of another foreign consul, in violation, os tho French government conceives, of his privileges under our consular convention with France. There being nothing in the transaction which could imply ariy dlsrcepect to Franco or its conaul, such explanation has been made,as I hop a will be satisfactory. Subsequently, misunderstanding arose on the subject of the French government having, as it appeared, abruptly excluded the American Minister

to Spain, from passing through France, on his way from London to Madrid. But that government has unequivocally disavowed any design to deny the right of transit to the Minister of the United Slates and, after explanations to this effect, he has resumed his journey, and actually returned through France to Spain. I herewith lay before Congress the correspondence on this subject between our envoy at Paris, ond the minister of Foreign relations of the French government.

The position of our affairs with Spain remains as at the close of your last session. Internal agitation, assuming very nearly the character of political revolution, has recently convulsed thai country. The Inte ministers were violently expelled- from power, and men of yer? different tiews in relation to its internal affairs,'have succeeded. Since this change, there has been' no propitious opportunity to resume, and p'resa on, negotiations for the adjustment of serious questions of difficulty between the Spanish government and the United States. There is reason to believe that our mini«ter will find the present gofernment more favorably inclined thon the preceding to comply with our just demands, and to make suitable arrangements for restoring harmony, and preserving peace, between the two countries

Negotiation* are pending wfth Denmork to discontinue the practice of levying tolls on our vessels and their cargoes pasting through the Sound. I do not doubt that we can clsim exemption therefrom, as a matter of right. It is admitted on all hands, that this exaction is sanctioned, not by the general principles of the law of nations, but only by special conventions, which most of the commercial nations have entered into with Denmork. The fifth article of our treaty of 1S2G, wiihr Denmark, provides,

little way in carrying otit that principle"* which equally requires that such- private property should not be seised pr molested by national ships of war. Should the leading powers of Europe concur in proposing, as a rule of international law, to exempt private property, upon the ocean from seizure by' public armed cruisers,' as well as by privet, tcers, the United States will readily meet them upon that broad ground. *u

Since the ndjodrnment of Congress, the.^ ratifinations of the treaty between the Uni-. ted Stntes and Great Britain, relative to coast fisheries and, to reciprocal trade with the British North American provinces,haycL been exchanged, and some of its anticipated advantages are already enjoyed by us -'iHbugh its full execution was to abide cer« acts of legislation not yet fully per-* formed. So soon as it was ratified, Great Qfitain opened to our commerce the free navigation of the riyer St. Lawrence, and to our fishermen unmolested acccsi to tho shores and bays, from which they had been

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of neutral nations are endangered.— ^v!rn This consideration, led, in the progress of the war of our independence, to the formation of the celebrated confederacy of nrmed neutrality, a primary object of which was, to assert the doctrine, that free ships make free goods except In the case of oriicles contraband of war a doctrine which from the very commencement cf our national being, has been a cherished idea of the statesmen of" this country. At» one period or another, every maritime power has by some solemn treaty stipulation recognized that principle and it might have been hoped that it would come to be universally received nnd respected as a rule of international law. Bit the refusal of one power prevenied this, and in the next great war which ensued. that of tho French revolution, it failed to be respected among the belligerent states of Europe. Notwithstanding this the principle is generally admitted to be a sound and salutary one so much so that at the commencement of the existing war in Europe, Greai Britain and France announced their purpose to observe it for ihe present, not however, as a recognized international right, bui as a mereconsession for the time being. The co-operatii-n however of these uvo powerful maritime nations in the Interest of neutral rights, appeared to me to afford nn occasion, inviting nnd justifying, on tho part of the United Slates, a renewed effort to mnke the doctrine in question a principle of international law, by means of specinl conventions between tho several powers of Europe and America. Accord ingly a proposition, embracing not only the rule, that free ships make frpe goods, e.xcepi contraband oriicles. but also ihe less contested one, the neutral property. other than contraband, though on board enemy's ships, shall be exempt from confiscation, has been submitted by this government to those of Europo and America.

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revioiisly excluded, on tho coasts of her. American provinces in return for which she asked for the introduction, free oif duty, into the ports of tho United States, of the lish caught on the same coast by British fishermen. This being the compensation^ stipulated in the treaty, for privileges of tha highest importance ond value to the United Stutes, which were thus voluntarily yielded bafore it became effective, tho request secm«[ ed to me to be a reasonable one but it could not be acceded to, from want of authority to suspend our laws imposing duties upon all foreign fish. In the meantime, the Treasury Department issued a regulation, for ascertaining the duties paid or secured by bonds on lish caught on the coasts of the British provinces, nnd brought to our markets by British subjects, after the fishing grounds had boen made fully accessible to tlie United States. I recommend to your favorablo consii'e-ation a proposition, which will bo submitted to you, for authority to refund the duties and cancel the bonds thus received.— The provinces of Canada and New Biunswick have also ariticipnted the'full operation of tho treaty, by legislative arrangements, respectively to odmit, free of duly, tho products of the United States mentioned in tho free list of tlie treaty and an arrangement,' similar to that regarding British fish, has been made for duties now chargeable on the ^products of those provinces enumerated in the same free list, nnd introduced therefrom into tho United Slates a proposition for refunding which will, in my judgment, be in like manner entitled to your favorable consideration.