THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The opening paragraphs of the message of the President of the United States contained the following statements, which were as just and true as they were remarkable, coming from that source:—
“It has been the misfortune of both countries, ever since the period of the revolution, to have been annoyed by a series of irritating and dangerous questions threatening their friendly relations. This has partly prevented the full development of those feelings of mutual friendship between the peoples of the two countries, so natural in themselves, and so conducive to their common interest. Any serious interruption to the commerce between the United States and Great Britain would be equally injurious to both. In fact no two nations ever existed on the face of the earth which could do one another so much good and so much harm.”
The year 1858 terminated one of the questions thus referred to by the president—“the right of search.” It was settled, as all questions between England and the United States have been, by concession on the part of the former. English ships of war were, on no pretence, in time of peace, to board, or detain, the American commercial marine on any pretence whatever.