UNITED STATES.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 507, 12 June 1850, Page 4

UNITED STATES.

The Hibernia arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday, the 9th January, haying left New York on the 26th December. The news from Washington is interesting. The contest in the House of Representatives had been brought to a close. Five days were spent in further negotiations and divisions, without any effect in bringing over to either side the small compact body of the Free Soil party, who held the balance of power. It was at last resolved to elect the Speaker, by a bare plurality of votes. At the sixty- third ballot, the supporters of Mr. Cobb and Mr. Winthrop re-mustered in their original strength, and the former was elected as Speaker, by 102 to 100 votes of his opponent. As twenty votes were given to " other candidates," Mr. Cobb is, after all, only elected by a minority of the Representatives. The two houses having perfected their organization, they met in the thirty-first Congress of the' United Sjates, on the 24th of December. Message to Congress. — On that day President Taylor delivered his message. The document is dated 4th December. It is not so long as has been usual of late years. We copy those passages which will be of most interest to our readers. Foreign Relations. — 'Our relations with Great Britain are of the most friendly character. In consequence of the recent alteration of the British Navigation Acts, British vessels from British or other foreign ports will, under our existing laws, after the Ist day of January next, be admitted to entry in our ports, with cargoes of the growth, manufacture, or production of any part of the world, on the same terms as to duties, imposts, and charges, as vessels of the United States, with their cargoes ; and our vessels will be admitted to the same advantages in British ports, entering therein on the same terms as British vessels. Should no order in Council disturb this legislative arrangement, the late Act of the British Parliament, by which Great Britain is brought within the terms proposed by the Act of Congress of the Ist March, 1817, it is hoped will be of benefit to both countries. ' A slight interruption of diplomatic intercourse which occurred between this Government and France, I am happy to say, has been terminated, and our Minister there has been received. It is, therefore, unnecessary to refer now to the circumstances which led to that interruption. I need not express to you , the sincere satisfaction with which we shall welcome the arrival of another Envoy Extra- | ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, from a sister republic to which we have so long been, and still remain, bound by the strongest ties of amity.' Transit of the Central Isthmus.— A. contract having been concluded with the State, of Nicaragua, by a company composed of Amer rican citizens, for the purpose of constructing a ship canal through the territory of that State to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, I have directed the negotiation of a treaty with Nicaragua, pledging both Governments to protect those who shall engage in and perfect the work. All other nations are invited by the State of Nicaragua to enter into the same treaty stipulations with her, and the benefit to be derived by each from such an arrangement will be the protection of this inter-oceanic communication against any power which might seek to obstruct it, or to monopolise its advantages. All States entering into such a treaty will enjoy the right of passage through the canal on payment of the same tolls. The work, if constructed under these guarantees, will become a bond of

peace, instead of a subject of contention and | strife, between tbe nations of the earth, j Should the great maritime States of Europe consent to this arrangement (and we have no reason to believe that a proposition so fair! and honorable will be opposed by .any one), , the energies of their people "And oars will co-operate in promoting the success of the' .enterprise. Ido not recommend any appro- 1 .priation from the national treasury for this ' .purpose, nor do'l believe such an appropriation is necessary. Private enterprise, if properly protected, will complete the work, should it prove to be feasible. Should such a work be constructed, under the common protection of all nations, for equal benefit to all, it would be neither just nor expedient that any great maritime State should command the communication. 'The, routes across the Isthmus, at Tehuantepec and Panama, are also worthy of our .serious consideration. They 'did not fail to engage the attention of my predecessor. The negotiator of the treaty of Guadulupe Hidalgo was instructed to offer a very large sum of money for tbe right of transit across the Isthmus of Tehuan tepee. The Mexican Government did not accede to the proposition for the purchase of the right of way, probably because it had already contracted with private individuals from the Gussaculaco River to Tehuantepec. I shall not renew any proposition to purchase for money a right 1 which ought to be equally secured to all nations on payment of a reasonable toll to the owners of the improvement. 'We have reason to hope that the proposed railroad across the Isthmus of Panama will be successfully constructed under the protection of the late treaty with New Granada, ratified and exchanged by my predecessor, on the 10th day of June, 1848, which guarantees the perfect neutrality of the Isthmus, and the rights of sovereignty and property of New Granada over that territory.' Finances of the Union. — * The receipts into the Treasury for the financial year ending on the 30th day of June last, were in cash 48,830,097 dols., and in Treasury notes funded 10,833,000 dols., making an aggregate of 59,663,097 dols., and the expenditures for the same Jtime were, in cash 46,798,667 dols. The accounts and estimates which will be submitted to Congress in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury show that there will probably be a deficit occasioned by the j expenses of the Mexican war and treaty, on the Ist day of July next, of 5,828,121 dols., and on the Ist day of July, 1851, of 10,547,092 dols., making in the whole a probable deficit to be provided for of 16,375,214 dols. The extraordinary expenses of the war with Mexico and the purchase of California and New Mexico exceed in amount this deficit, together with the loans heretofore made for these objects. I therefore recommend that authority be given to borrow .whatever sum may be necessary to cover that deficit. I recommend the observance of strict economy in the appropriation and expenditure of public money. 1 1 recommend a revision of the existing tariff, and its adjustment on a basis which may augment the revenue. I do not doubt the right or duty of Congress to encourage domestic industry, which is the greatest source of national as well as individual wealth and prosperity. I look to the wisdom and patriotism of Congress for tbe adoption of a system which may place home labour at last on a sure and permanent footing, and, by due encouragement of manufactures, give a new and increased stimulus to our vast resources, and the extension of our commerce. Believing that to the attainment of these ends, as well as the necessary augmentation of the revenue and the prevention of frauds, a system of specific duties is best adapted, I strongly recommend to Congress the adoption of that system ; fixing the duties at rates high enough to afford substantial and sufficient encouragement to our own industry, and at the same time so adjusted as to insure stability.' Among other subjects of the message are the recommendation of a mint in California and a railway to it. The extension of Pacific territory leads to the recommendation of an increase in the several army corps at the distant western ports. A reduction of postage charges is submitted, and the confident belief is expressed that a uniform rate of five cents per single rate, without regard to distance, would not impose a greater tax on the Treasury than would be a very moderate compensation for the service. Postal regulations have been framed under the postal treaty wjjth. Great Britain,: the attempt to extend the arrangement through England and France has not been equally successful, but in not abandoned. Her Majesty's steam-sloop Hecate, with Sir Henry Bulwer <jn board, arrived in the Potomac on the 2 1st December, from Bermuda. Sir Henry was received by President Taylor, at Washington, on the 24th ; and made a complimentary speech on presenting.

"his credentials ; .to which the President replied with an .expression of personal and national friendliness beyond the usual warmth of diplomatic courtesies.