while claiming the full enjoyment of their rights as a neutral Power, will observe the strictest neutrality towards each and all the belligerents. The laws of this country impose severe restrictions not only upon its own citizens, but upon all persons who may be residents within any of the territories of The United States, against equipping privateers, receiving commissions, or enlisting men therein, for the purpose of taking a part in any foreign war. It is not apprehended that there will be any attempt to violate the laws; but should the just expectation of the President be disappointed, he will not fail in his duty to use all the power with which he is invested to enforce obedience to them. Considerations of interest and the obligations of duty alike give assurance that the citizens of The United States will in no way compromit the neutrality of their country by participating in the contest in which the principal Powers of Europe are now unhappily engaged.

J. F. Crampton, Esq.

The Undersigned, &c.

W. L. MARCY.

[Same mutatis mutandis, to the French Minister at Washington.]

No. 15.-The British Minister at Washington to The United States' Secretary of State.

Washington, May 9, 1854. THE Undersigned, Her Britannic Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to The United States of America, has the honour, by the instructions of his Government, to communicate to the Honourable W. L. Marcy, Secretary of State of The United States, a copy of the "London Gazette" of the 18th ultimo, containing 2 orders issued by the Queen in Council: one extending to the 15th of the present month, the period of time allowed to Russian ships to clear out of harbour, and bring their cargoes to Great Britain from any Russian ports in the Baltic or White Sea, not being blockaded; the other granting additional facilities to trade beyond those specified in Her Majesty's declaration of the 28th of March last. The Undersigned, &c.

The Hon. W. L. Marcy.

JOHN F. CRAMPTON.

(Inclosure.)-British Orders in Council of April 15, 1854.

[See Pages 49, 50.]

No. 16.-The United States' Secretary of State to The United States' Minister at St. Petersburgh.

SIR,

Washington, May 9, 1854. You have probably seen the joint declaration of Great Britain and France, referred to in the enclosed copy of a note to Mr. Cramp

ton, Her Britannic Majesty's Minister to this Government. This declaration was communicated to me by the Ministers of France and England, accompanied by a note, to which I replied. The note to the French Minister is substantially the same as that sent to Mr. Crampton.

It is the settled purpose of this Government to pursue such a course, during the present war in Europe, as will give no cause to either belligerent party to complain, and it sincerely hopes neither will give this country any ground for dissatisfaction.

The danger of a misunderstanding is much less with Russia than with Great Britain and France. I believe, however, these latter Powers are desirous to pursue a fair and liberal course towards neutrals, and particularly towards The United States.

You will observe that there is a suggestion in the enclosed for a Convention among the principal maritime nations to unite in a declaration that free ships should make free goods, except articles contraband of war. This doctrine has had heretofore the sanction of Russia, and no reluctance is apprehended on her part to becoming a party to such an arrangement. Great Britain is the only considerable Power which has heretofore made a sturdy opposition to it. Having yielded it for the present in the existing war, she thereby recognizes the justice and fairness of the principle, and would hardly be consistent if she should withhold her consent to an agreement to have it hereafter regarded as a rule of international law. I have thrown out the suggestion to Great Britain and France to adopt this as a rule to be observed in all future wars. The President may instruct me to make the direct proposition to these and other Powers. Should Russia, Great Britain, and France concur with The United States in declaring this to be the doctrine of the law of nations, I do not doubt that the other nations of the world would at once give their consent and conform their practice to it. If a fair opportunity should occur, the President requests you to ascertain the views of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia on the subject.

The decisions of Admiralty Courts in this and other countries, have frequently affirmed the doctrine that a belligerent may seize and confiscate enemy's property found on board of a neutral vessel; the general consent of nations, therefore, is necessary to change it. This seems to be a most favourable time for such a salutary change. From the earliest period of this Government, it has made strenuous efforts to have the rule that free ships make free goods, except contraband articles, adopted as a principle of international law; but Great Britain insisted on a different rule. These efforts, consequently, proved unavailing; and now it cannot be recognized, and a strict observance of it secured, without a conventional regulation among the maritime Powers. This Government is desirous to have

all nations agree in a declaration that this rule shall hereafter be observed by them respectively, when they shall happen to be involved. in any war, and that, as neutrals, they will insist upon it as a neutral right. In this The United States are quite confident that they will have the cordial consent and co-operation of Russia.

T. H. Seymour, Esq.

I am,

&c.

W. L. MARCY.

CONSTITUTION of the State of Buenos Ayres.--Buenos Ayres, April 11, 1854.

(Translation.)

THE Honourable Chamber of Representatives, exercising the extraordinary sovereign power with which it is invested, has sanctioned with the validity and force of a fundamental law, the following Constitution for the State of Buenos Ayres.

SECTION I. Of the Sovereignty, Territory, and Religion of the State.

ART. I. Buenos Ayres is a State possessing the free exercise of its internal and external sovereignty, so long as it does not expressly delegate the same in a Federal Government.

II. Without prejudice to the cessions that may be made in a General Congress, its territory is declared to extend from north to south, from the Arroyo del Medio to the entrance of the Cordillera into the ocean, bounded on the west and south-west by a line comprising the slopes of the Cordillera, and on the north-east and east by the rivers Paraná and La Plata, and the Altantic Ocean, comprehending the Island of Martin Garcia, and the other islands. adjacent to its fluvial and maritime coasts.

III. Its religion is the Roman Catholic Apostolic: the State shall defray its celebration, and all the inhabitants, whatever their religious opinions, are bound to show it due respect.

IV. Nevertheless, it is the inviolable right of all persons within the territory of the State to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences.

V. The exercise of the religious liberty, declared in the preceding Article, is subjected to the injunctions of morality, public order, and of the existing laws of the country.

SECTION II.-Of Citizenship.

VI. Citizens of the State are all those born therein, as well as in the other Provinces that compose the Republic, provided they have attained the age of 20 years and upwards.

VII. Nevertheless, the right of vote is accorded to those of less age than that specified, who are enrolled in the National Guard, as well as to married men above the age of 18 years.

VIII. The children of an Argentine father or mother, born in a foreign country, are also citizens; entering into the exercise of citizenship from the moment they tread the territory of the State.

IX. The following may claim citizenship: 1st. Foreigners who have fought or may fight in the army or navy of the Republic; 2nd. Foreigners married to native born females and who profess any science, or follow some trade, with an establishment for carrying on the same; 3rd. Those employed in commerce or other dealings with a known capital, or who possess immovable property, and are resident in the State at the time of swearing to this Constitution; 4th. After the taking of the oath, any foreigner possessing either of the qualifications that have just been mentioned, and who shall have resided for an uninterrupted period of 2 years in the State; the privilege is also granted to those who have distinguished themselves by notable services or superior merit.

X. The foreigners mentioned in the preceding Article, enter upon the privileges and obligations of active citizenship, by the mere act of inscribing their names in the civic register, or of declaring before the authority the law may appoint, their wish to accept the citizenship of the State.

XI. These same persons shall, after having entered 10 years previously upon the duties and privileges of citizenship, elect to the passive suffrage, while such as shall have elected to it before the establishment of this constitution shall continue in the possession of that right.

XII. The rights of citizenship are suspended: 1st. By the fact of being made a bankrupt; 2nd. By being a debtor to the Public Treasury, and not paying the debt when legally sued; 3rd. By mental alienation; 4th. By being a vagrant; 5th. By being legally prosecuted in a criminal cause visited by corporal and degrading punishment; By non-inscription in the National Guard.

XIII. The rights of citizenship are forfeited: 1st. By naturalization in another country; 2nd. By accepting employments or titles from another Government, without the special permission of the Legislature of the State; 3rd. By fraudulent bankruptcy, declared as such; 4th. By a sentence that imposes degrading punishment: in either of which cases rehabilitation may be petitioned for and obtained.

SECTION III.-Of the form of Government.

XIV. The Government of the State of Buenos Ayres is a popular representative one.

XV. The sovereignty resides originally in the people, and its exercise is delegated to the 3 powers, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

SECTION IV.--Of the Legislative Power.

XVI. The Legislative Power of the State resides in a General Assembly which shall consist of a Chamber of Representatives and another of Senators.

CHAPTER I. Of the Chamber of Representatives.

XVII. The Chamber of Representatives shall consist of Deputies elected directly by the people in conformity with the electoral law. XVIII. The election of Deputies for the first Legislature shall take place immediately after the promulgation of the Constitution; and afterwards successively on the last Sunday of March.

XIX. One Representative shall be elected for every 6,000 souls, or for a fraction that does not fall below 3,000.

XX. The Deputies for the first Legislature shall be named in the following proportion: For the city 24, and for the rural dis tricts 26.

XXI. For the second Legislature the general census of the State shall be taken; the provisions of the preceding Article to be observed should the said census from any unexpected casualty not have been effected. The said census shall be renewed only every 8th year.

XXII. The functions of the Representatives shall last 2 years, but one half of the Chamber shall be renewed yearly. Immediately on assembling the first year it shall be decided by lot who are to go out for the city, and for each section of the rural districts.

XXIII. No one can be a Representative unless he possess the following qualifications: Natural citizenship in exercise, or a legal citizenship acquired in conformity with Article XI; 25 years complete, or less should the party be emancipated; a capital of at least 10,000 dollars, or in default thereof a profession, art, or trade producing an equivalent income.

XXIV. The Chamber of Representatives is exclusively competent to: 1st. The initiative in the imposing of contributions or taxes; 2nd. The right of accusing before the Senate, the Governor of the State and his Ministers, the Members of both Chambers, and those of the High Court of Justice, for treason, abuse of power, malversation of the public funds, violation of the Constitution, or other crimes that may merit degrading or capital punishment.

XXV. Immediately on being incorporated the Representatives