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Leader (1850-1860), 25th December 1852, Edition Country of 2, Page 4

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      Disgraceful Scene In The Cahlton Club. W...

      that there was a gallows outside the club-house , and of the satisfaction with which the speaker , standing with his back to the fire , would see all the Peelites strung up upon it . Lord Mahon , we have heard , interposed some remark , which produced the rejoinder that the first interlocutor intended to include the noble lord in his sweeping extrajudicial sentence . After denouncing this suspension of the Peelite Thirty in the Carlton from all future public action , the Derbyite party withdrew , and sent the waiter to summon a lingerer out of such evil company . " Is the conduct here described to be taken as a specimen of the chivalry of gentlemen of England ?

      1224 The Leader, [Siiwfttu*,

      1224 THE LEADER , [ SiiWfttu *

      Message Of The American President. The A...

      MESSAGE OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT . The America brought the President ' s message on Monday . She left Boston on the 8 th , and Halifax on the 10 th , of December . The message embraces a great variety of topics , of unusual interest to the British reader ; and although its importance is lessened by its being the last message of President Fillmore , it may be fairly taken as embodying the views and mode of conducting of the late great Whig party , which died with Webster , whom , in his message , the President so honourably mentions ; saying truly , that " his commanding talents , his great political and professional eminence , his well-tried patriotism , and his long a nd faithful services , in the most important public trusts , have caused his death to be lamented throughout the country , and have earned for him a lasting place in our history . " The next topics are the F isheries , and Cuba : —

      THE FISHERIES DISPUTE . " In the course of the last summer , considerable anxiety was caused for a short time by an official intimation from the Government of Great Britain that orders had been g iven for the protection of the fisheries upon the coast of the British provinces in North America against the alleged encroachments of the fishing vessels of the United States and France . The shortness of this nqtice and the season of the year seemed to make it a matter of urgent importance . It was at first apprehended that an increased naval force had been ordered to the fishing grounds to carry into effect the British interpretation of those provisions in the convention of 1818 , in reference to the true intent of which the two Governments differ . It was soon discovered

      that such was not the design of Groat Britain , and satisfactory explanations of the real objects of the measure have been g iven both here and in London . The unadjusted difference , howevei-, between the two Governments as to the interpretation of the first article of the convention of 1818 , is still a matter of importance . American fishingvessels within nine or ten years have been excluded from waters to which they had free access for twenty-five years after the negotiation " of the treaty . In 1845 , this exclusion was relaxed so far as concerns the Bay of Fundy , but the just and liberal intention of the Home Government , in comp liance with what we think the true construction of the convention , to open all tho other outer bays to our

      fishermen , was abandoned , in consequenco of the opposi - tion of the colonies . Notwithstanding thia , the United States have , since the Bay of Fundy was re-opened to our fishermen in 1845 , pursued the most liberal course towards tho colonial fishing interests . By tho revenue law of 184 G , the duties on colonial fish entering our ports wove very greatly reduced , and by the Warehousing Act it is allowed to be entered in bond without payment of duty . In this way colonial fish has acquired the monopoly of the export trade in our market , and in entering in some extent into the home consumption . These facts wore among those which increased tho ( sensibility of our fishing interest at tin ; movement in question . The . sc- circumstance *! and the

      incidents above alluded to , have led me to think the moment favourable for a re-consideration of tho entire subject of tho fisheries on the coast , of tho British provinces , with a view to place them upon a more liberal footing of reciprocal privilege . A willingness to meet iih in Homo arrangement of tliis kind is understood to existon the part of Great lirituin , with a desire on her part to include in ono comprehensive settlement as well this subject as the commercial intereourne between tho United States and tho British provinces . I have thought that , whatever arrangement * may be mado on theno two

      tmbjocLs , it is expedient that thoy ahould be embraced in Heparate conventionu . Tlio illness and death of the Into Beorotary of Stall 1 prevented tho commencement of tho contemplated negotiation . Pains liavo been taken to col lech the information required for tho details of nuch mi arrangement .. The tiuhjeeb is attended with ooiiKidorablo dUlk'ulty . If it is found practicable to coiuu to mi agreement mutually aicccpt . ablo to tho two parties , conventions may be concluded in Mm course of the present winter . Tim control of (' oiif » TOfm over all the provimons of buoIi an arrangement affecting the revenue , will of course bo reserved . '

      CMJHA . "Tho alfairfl of Cuba formed a prominent topic in my IhhI , nnnuiil mon-sago . Thoy remain in an uneasy condition , and a feeling of alarm and irritation on I . Ik ; purl , of tho (! uhau authorities appears to exist Thin feeling Iuih interfered with the regular commercial intorcourtui between tho United States and the island , and led to Homo nets of which we hnvo a right to complain . But tho

      Cruz . He was respectfully received by the Captain General , who conferred with him freely on the recent occurrences ; but no permanent arrangement was effected . In the meantime , the refusal of the Captain General to allow passengers and the mail to be landed in certain cases , for a reason which does not furnish in the opinion of this Government even a good presumptive ground for ^ Buch a prohibition , has been made the Subject of a seriOua remonstrance at Madrid ; and I have no reason to doubt that due respect will be paid by the Government of her Catholic Maiesty to the Representations which our minister has been instructed to make On the subject . It is but justice to the Captain General to add , that his conduct towards the steamers employed to carry the mails

      of the United States to Havana has , with . the exceptions above alluded to , been marked with kindness and liberality , and indicates no general purpose of interfering with the commercial correspondence and intercourse between the island and this country . Early in the present year , official notes were received from the ministers of France and England , inviting the Government of the United States to become a party with Great Britain and France to a tripartite convention , in virtue of which the three powers should severally and collectively disclaim , now and for the future , all intention to obtain possession , of the Island of Cuba , and should bind themselves to discountenance all attempts to that effect on the part of any power or individual whatever . This invitation has been

      respectfully declined , for reasons which it would occupy too much space in this communication to state in detail , but which led mo to think that the proposed measure would be of doubtful constitutionality , impolitic , and unavailing . I have , however , in common with several of my predecessors , directed the Ministers of France and England to be assured that the United States entertain no designs against Cuba , but that , on the contrary , I should regard its incorporation into the Union at the present time as fraught with serious peril . Were this island comparatively destitute of inhabitants , or occupied by a kindred race , I should

      regard it , if voluntarily ceded by Spam , as a most desirable acquisition , but , under existing circumstances , I should look upon its incorporation into our Union as a very hazardous measure . It would bring into the confederacy a population of a different national stock , speaking a different language , and not likely to harmonize with the other members . It would probably affect in a prejudicial manner the industrial interests of the south , and it might revive those conflicts of opinion between the different sections of the country which lately shook the Union to its centre , and which have been so happily compromised . " PANAMA TKANSIT . _ . The President notices the rejection by the Mexican Congress of t he convention which had been concluded between that Republic and the United States for the protection of a transit way across the Isthmus of Teherantepec , has thrown obstacles in the way of a desirable object , which he still hopes to see removed . It appears , also , that certain differences in regard to their boundaries between Nicaragua and Costa Ricu have not yet been smoothed down ; and thnt it is considered indispensable , before commencing the ship canal between the two oceans , these differences should be onded . But Nicaragua has objected to placing San Juan de Nicaragua under the government of a civilized power . England and the United States have been jointly operating- to effect thin , but ineffectually hitherto .

      TTtE I . OBOS ISLANDS . " The correspondence of the late Secretary of State with tho Peruvian charge' d ' affaires relative to tho Lobos Islands was communicated to Congress towards the closo of the last session . Since that time , on further investigation of the . subject , the doubts which had been entertained of the title of Peru to those islands have been removed ; and I have deemed it just that tho temporary wrong which had beon unintentionally done her , from want of information , should bo repaired by an unreserved acknowledgment , of her

      sovereignty . I have tho satisfaction to inform you that the course pursued by I ' urfl lias been creditable to tho liberality of tier Government . Before it was known by her that her title would be acknowledged at Washington , her Minister of Foreign AlfairH bad authorized our charge * d ' affaires at Lima to announce to the American vessels which had gone to tho Lobos for guano , that , the Peruvian Government was willing to freight thorn on it » ' ^ jwn account ,. This intention has been carried into effect b y the Peruvian minister here , by an arrangement which is believed to Ik ; advantageous to Miu parties in interest . "

      'I'll 10 JAPAN Ktf PK 0 IT 1 ON . " Our settlements on tbn shores of tho Pacific have already given a great extension , and in soino respwts a new direction , to our commerce in thai ; ocean . A . direct and rapidly increasing intercourse Iiuh sprung up with Ka . sl . crn Asia . Tho waters of the Northern Pacific , uvon into tho Arctic , Sea , have of lale years boon frequented b y our whalemen . Tho application of steam to tho £ < jr ) r > i ** . l piirpowH of navigation is becoming daily morn common , and umkos it dosirahlo to obtain fuel and othor nc « CHMfiry HupplieH at convenient pointN on tlio routes between Asia and our Pacific nhores . Our unfortunato countrymen who

      from tune to time suffer shipwreck , on the coasts of lino eastern seas arn entitled to protection . HosideH these specific objects , the general prosperity of oar states on Mm 1 acifio requires that an attempt , should bo mado to open tlui opposite regions of Asia to n mutuall y beneficial interooui'HO . Jtis obvious that ; this attempt eoilW bo mado by no power to so grout advantage as b f l , he > United States , whoso c ( iiihIilulioiuil system excludes every idea of distant colonial dopondunoies . I have accordingl y boon lod to order an appropriate naval force to Japan , under tho command of a disereet and intelli g ent officer of the hi ghest runk known , to our oorvico . Ho ifl instructed to endeavour to

      obtain from the Government oi that country sotne relaxa tion of the inhospitable and anti-social system which it has pursued for about tfro c 6 htufies . He has been directed particularly to remdnstrate in the strongest language against the cruel treatment to which Our shipwrecked mariners have often been Bubjected , and to insist that they shall be treated with humanity ., He ia instructed however , at the same time , to g ive that Government the amplest assurances that the objects of "the Trnited States are Such , iattd such citify , as'I have indicted , Mnd that the expedition is friendly and peaceful . Notwithstanding the

      jealousy with which , the Government of Eastern Asia regard all overtures from foreigners , X am , not without hopes of a beneficial result of the expedition . Should it be orowned with success , the advantages will not be confined to the United States , blify as in the case of China , will be equally enjoyed by all the other maritime powers . I have much satisfaction in stating" that in all the steps preparatory to thie expedition the Government of tne United States has been materially aided bj- the good offices of the King of the Netherlands , the only European power having any commercial relation's ¦ faith Japan . " :

      DOMESTIC AFPAIES . , Under this head is comprised ^ he statement of the revenue , the Tariff , Indian Affairs , Surveys , Coast Defences , Naval Befbrm , the Post-Office , and matters connected with the efficiency of tne offices of the

      executive . , The revenue is in a highly prosperous state . There had been received on the 30 th of June last , 49 , 728 , 386 dollars ; expended , 46 j 6 o 7 , 896 dollars * , iriclttding tip-Wards of nine millions employed to liquidation of the public debt . The balance at tive Treasury on the 1 st of July was 14 , 632 , 136 dollars ; and since then upwards of two millions had been expended on the debt * The value of foreign merchandize imported during the last fiscal year was 207 , 240 , 101 dollars ' , arid the value of domestic productions exported was 149 , 861 , 911 dollars , besides 17 , 204 , 026 dollars of- foreign merchandize exported , making the aggregate of the entire exports 167 , 065 , 937 dollars ; exclusive of the above , there was exported 42 , 507 , 285 dollars in specie , and imported from foreign ports , 5 , 262 , 643 dollars .

      The President puts on record that on the subject of protection " nothing has occurred to change bis views . " He is still a protectionist , and repeats exactly the same arguments lately used by a great party in this country . Bufc he recommends a mode of taxation worthy

      attention £ — - " Another question , wholly independent of protection , presents itself , and that is , whether the duties levied should be upon the value of the article at the place of shipment , or , where it is practicable , a specific duty , graduated according to quantity , as ascertained by weight or measure . All our duties are at present ad valorem . A certain per centage is levied on the price of the goods at the port of shipment in a foreign country . Most commercial nations have found it indispensable , for the purpose of preventing fraud and perjury , to make She duty specific whenever the article is of such a uniform value in weight or measures as to justify such a duty , legislation should never encourage

      dishonesty or crime . It is impossible that the revenue officers at the port where the goods are entered and the duties paid should know with certainty what they cost in the foreign country . Yet the law requires that they should lovy tho duty according to such cost . They are therefore compolled to resort to very unsatisfactory evidence to ascortain what that cost was . They take tho invoice of the importer , attested by hia oath , as tho best evidence of which the nature of tho case admits . But every one must see that tho invoice may be fabricated , and the oath by which it is supported false , by reason of which the dishonest importer pays a part only of the duties which are paid b y the honest oijo , and thus indirectly roceives from tho Treasury of tho United States a reward for his fraud and perjury . Tho reports of tho Secretary of tho Treasury

      heretofore made on this subject show conclusively tjjftt theso frauda have been practised to a great extent , lhe tendency is to destroy that high moral Character for which our merchants have long beon distinguished ; to defraud tho Government of it « revenue ; to break down the honoflt importer by a dishonest , competition i and , finally , to transfer tho business of importation to foreign and irresponsible agents , to the groat detriment off our own citizens , t therefore again most earnestly recamme , nd tlio adoption of specific duties , wherever it ia practicable , ox ft homo valuation , to prevent Mioho frauds ., 1 would also again call your attention to tjio foot that tUo present tftnu in some eases imnosea a higher duty upon the rtvfr material imported than uppn Uwi article manufactured from * > tho corneauonee of ' whioh is , that the duty oporatew to tho Ol

      encouragement of iho foreigner and tho diacouragt )«"' our own citizens . " , Inditui HuuirB ai-H fiiitirtfactory ,, except on tlio Mexusm frontier , where , out of an army of 11 , 000 i »< m , WMX ) uro eiigaigod in repressing Indian inroads ; find '" ' ' " grni , Texas , and California , whci'o tho Indian hns » ° Hiatus , no exclusive territory . Tho last remnant of " »" bravo tribo of Soininole Indian * aro about to cinigr «« . ° from Florida . A ( rreat many mirvoyH Imvu beon AfToctcd ; bu t' ' 11 () nnrvoy of tho Rio Ontario has boon ritopped on account of tlio vngiienosrt of tho act appropriating tho fun < ln i » payment thereof . Thero hnvo been no Iohh than 3 , 342 , 372 iutcs hoW , located , under warrants , and reserved for improvements , more than in tho previous year . From the Navy department there id a suggestion lor

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 25, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25121852/page/4/