VOL. 50
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House of Represen
tatives: in submitting my seventh an
nual message to congress, in this centen
nial year of our national existence as a free
and independent people, it affords me great
pleasure to recur to the advancement that
has been made from the time of the colo
nies, one hundred years ago. We were
then a people numbering only three mil
lions; now we number more than forty
millions. Then, industries were confined
almost exclusively to the tillage of the
soil; now, manufactories absorb much of
the labor of the country. Our liberties
remain unimpaired, the bondsmen have
been freed from slavery ; we have become
possessed of the respect if not the friend
ship of all civilized nations; our progress
has been great in all the arts, in science,
agriculture, commerce, navigation, min
ing, mechanics, law, medicine, etc,- and in
i
general education the progress islike wise
encouraging; our thirteen states have be
come thirty-eight, including Colorado,
which has taken the initiatory step to be
come a state, and eight territories, inclu
ding the Indian territory and Alaska, and
excluding Colorado, making a territory
extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific;
on the south we have extended to the gulf
of Mexico; and in the west from the Mis
sissippi to the Pacific. One hundred years
ago the cotton gin, the steamship, the
railroad, the telegraph, the reaping, sewing
and modern printing machines and numer
-0114 other inventions of scarcely less value
to our business and happiness were entirely
unknown
Li 1776 manufactures scarcely existed
even in name all through our vast terri
tory. In 1870 more than 2,000,000 of
persons were employed in manufactures,
producing more than $2,100,000,000 of
products in amount annually, nearly equal
to our national debt. From nearly the
whole of the population of 1776 being en
gaged in the one occupation of agriculture,
in 1870 so numerous and diversified had
become the occupations of our people that
less than six millions out of more than
forty millions were so engaged. The ex
traordinary effect produced in our country
by a resort to diversified occupations has
built a market fur products for fertile
lands distant from the seaboard and the
markets of the world. The American sys
tem of locating various manufactures next
to the plow and pasture, and adding con
necting railroads and steamboats, has pro
duced in our distant interior country a re
sult noticeable by the intelligent part of
all commercial nations. The ingenuity
and skill of American mechanics have been
demonstrated at home and abroad in a
manner most flattering to their pride. But
for the extraordinary genius and skill of
our mechanics, the achievements of our
agriculturalists, manufacturers and trans
porters throughout the country would
have been impossible of attainment. The
progress of the miner has also been great.
Of coal our production was small ; now
many millions tons are mined annually.—
So with iron, which formed scarcely an
appreciable part of our produce half a cen
tury ago; we now produce more than the
world consumed at the beginning of our
national existence. Lead, zinc and cop
per, from being articles of import, we ex
pect to be large exporters of, in the
near future. The developmentof gold and
silver in the United States and territories
has not only been remarkable, but has had
a large influence upon the business of all
commercial nations. Our merchants in
the last hundred years have had a success
and have established a reputation for en
terprise, sagacity, progress and integrity ,
uniurpas3ed by people of older nationali
ties. This good name is not confined to
their homes, but goes out upon every sea
a n d into every port were commerce enters.
With equal pride we can point to our pro
gress in all of the learned professions. As
we are now about to enter upon our second
centennial, commencing our manhood as a
nation, it is well to look back upon the
past and study what will be best to pre
serve and advance our future greatness.—
From the fall of Adam for his transgres
sion to the present day, no nation has ever
been free from threatened danger to its
prosperity and happiness. We should
look to the dangers threatening us and
remedy them so far as lies in our power.
We are a republic wherein one is as good
as another before the law. Under such a
form of government it is of the greatest
importance that all should be possessed of
education and intelligence enough to cast
a vote with a right understanding of its
meaning. A large association of igno
ant men cannot for any considerable
period oppose a successful resistance to
tyranny and oppression from the educa
tion of a few, but will inevitably sink into
acquiescence to the will of intelligence,
whether directed by the demagogue or by
priestcraft, hence the education of the
masses becomes of the first necessity for
the preservation of our institutions. They
are worth preserving because they have
secured the greatest good to the greatest
proportion of the population of any form
of government yet devised. All other
firms of government approach it just in
proportion to the general diffusion of ed
ucation and independence of thought and
action. As the primary step, therefore,
to our advancement in all that has marked
our progress iu the past century, I sug
gest for your earnest consideration and
most earnestly recommend that a constitu
tional amendment be submitted to the leg
islatures of the several states for ratifica
tion, making it the duty of each of the
several states to establish and forever
maintain free public shools adequate to the
education of all the children in the rudi
mentary branches within their respective
limits irrespective of sex, color, birthplace
or religion, and forbidding the teaching in
said schools of religious, atheistic or pagan
tenets, and prohibiting the granting of
any school funds or school taxes or any
part thereof either by legislative, munici
pal or other authority for the benefit, or
in aid, directly or indirectly, of any re
ligious sect or denomination, or in aid or
for the benefit of any other object of any
nature or kind whatever. In connection
with this important question I would also
call your attention to the importance of
correcting an evil that if permitted to con
tinue will probably lead to great trouble
in our laud before the close of the nine
teenth century. It is the accumulation of
vast amounts of untaxed property. In
1850, I believe, the church property of
the country which paid no tax, municipal
or state, amounted to about $82,t)00,000.
Iu 1860 the amount had doubled. In 1875
it is about $1.000,000,000. By 1900,
without check, it is safe to say that this
property will reach a sum exceeding $3,-
000,000,000. So vast a suns receiving all
the protection and benefits of the govern
ment without bearing its proportions of
the burdens and expenses of the same,
will not be looked at acquiescently by
:.':.;.:. 1
...
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those who have to pay the taxes in a'grow
ing country, where real estate enhances so
rapidly with time as in the United States.
There is scarcely a limit to the wealth that
may be acquired by corporations, religious
or otherwise if allowed to retain real estate
without taxation. The existence of so
vast a property as here alluded to without
taxation may lead to sequestration, with
out constitutional authority and through
blood. I would suggest the taxation on
all property equally, whether of church or
corporations, exempting only the last rest
ing place of the dead, and possibly, with
proper restrictions, church edifices.
Our relations with most of the foreign
powers continue on a satisfactory and
friendly footing. Increased intercourse,
the extension of commerce, and the culti
vation of mutual interests have steadily
improved her relations with the large ma
jority of the powers of the world, render.
ing practicable the peaceful solution of
questions which from time to time neces
sarily arise, leaving few which demand
extended or particular notice.
The correspondence of the department
of state with our diplomatic representa
tives abroad is transmitted herewith. I
am happy to announce the passage of an
act by the general tortes of Portugal, pro
claimed since the adjournment of congress,
for the abolition of servitude in the Por•
tuguese colonies. It is to be hoped such
legislation may be another step toward the
great consummation to be reached when
no man shall be permitted, directly or in
directly, under any guise, excuse or form
of law, to hold his fellow man in bondage.
I am of opinion also that it is the duty of
the United States as contributing toward
that end and required by the spirit of the
age in which we live to provide by suitable
legislation that no citizen of the United
States shall hold slaves in any other coun
try or be interested therein.
Chili has made reparation in the case
of the whale ship Good Return seized with
out sufficient cause upwards of forty years
ago, though she had hitherto denied her
accountability. The denial was never ac
quiesced in by this government, and the
justness of the claim lies been so earnestly
contended for that it has been gratifxing
that she should have at last acknowledged
it.
The arbitrator in the case of the United
States steamer Montijo, for the seizure
and detention of which the government of
the United States of Columbia was held
accountable, has decided in favor of the
claim. This decision has settled a ques-
tion which had been pending for several
years, and which, more or less, disturbed
the good understanding which it is desi
rable should be maintained between the
two republics.
A reciprocity treaty with the king of
the Hawaiian islands was concluded some
months since. As it contains a stipula
tion that it shall not take effect until con
gress shall enact the proper legislation for
that purpose, copies of the instrument are
herewith submitted in order that if such
should be the pleasure of congress the
necessary legislation upon the subject may
be adopted.
In March last an arrangement was made
through Mr. Cushing, our Minister in
Madrid, with the Spanish government, for
the payment by the latter to the United
Ptates of the sum of $BO,OOO in coin for
the purpose of the relief of the families or
persons of the ship's company and certain
passengers of the Virginius. This sum
was to have been paid in three installments
of two months each. It is due to the
Spanish government that I should state
that the payments were fully and sponta
neously anticipated by that government,
and that the whole amount was paid within
but a few days more than two months
from date of agreement, a copy of which
is herewith transmitted. In pursuance of
the terms of the adjustment, I have di
rected distribution of the amount among
the parties entitled thereto, including the
ship's company and such of the passengers
as were American citizens, and payments
are made accordingly on application to
the parties thereto.
The past year has furnished no evidence
of an approaching termination of the ruin
ous conflict which has been raging for
seven years in Cuba. The same disregard
of the laws of' civilized warefare and of the
just demands of humanity which have
heretofore called for expressions of con
demnation from the nations of christen
dom have continued to blacken the sad
scum Desolation, ruin and pillage are
pervading the rich fields of one of the
most fertile and productive regions of the
earth, and the incendiaries' torch, firing
plantations and valuable flietories and
buildings, is the great agent marking the
alternate advance or the retreat of con•
tending parties. The protracted contin
uance of this strife seriously affects the
interests of all commercial nations, but
those of the United States more than oth-.
ers by reason of its close proximity, its
larger trade and intercourse with Cuba
and the frequent, and intimate, personal
and social relations which have grown up
between its citizens and those of the island ;
moreover the property of our citizens in
Cuba is large and is rendered insecure
and depreciated in value and in capacity
of production by the continuance of the
strife and the unnatural mode of conduct.
The same is true, differing only in degree
with respect to the interests and the peo
ple of other nations and the absence of
any reasonable assurance of a near termi
nation of the conflict, must of necessity
compel the states thus suffering to con
sider what the interests of their own peo
ple, and their duty toward themselves may
demand. I have hoped that Spain would
be enabled to establish peace in her colony,
to afford security to the property and the
interests of our citizens, and to allow le
gitimate scope to trade, to commerce and
the natural productions of the island
Because of this hope, and from an extreme
reluctance to interfere in the most remote
manner in the affairs of another and a
friendly nation, especially of one whose
sympathy and friendship in the struggling
infancy of our own existence must ever be
remembered with gratitude, I have pa
tiently and anxiously awaited the progress
lof events. Our own civil conflict is too
recent for us not to consider the difficul
ties which surround a government dis
tracted by a dynasty rebellion at home, at
the same time that it had to cope with a
separate insurrection in a distant colony;
but whatever causes may have produced
the situation which so grievously affects
our interest, it exists with all its attendant
evils, operating directly upon this country
and its people. Thus far all the efforts of
Spain have proved abortive, and time has
made no improvement in the situation.—
The armed bands on either side now oc
cupy nearly the same ground as in the
past, with the difference, from time to
time, of more lives sacrificed, more prop
erty destroyed, and wider extents of fer
tile and productive fields, and more and
more of valuable property constantly and
wantonly sacrificed to the incendiary's
torch.
In contests of this nature where a con
siderable body of people who have at
tempted to free themselves of the control
of the superior government have reached
such a point, in occupation of territory,
in power, and in general organization as
to constitute in fact a body politic, having
a government in substance as well as in
name, possessed of the elements of stabil
ity and equipped with the machinery for
the administration of internal police and
the execution of the laws, and able to ad
minister justice at home, as well as in its
dealings with other powers, it is within
the province of those other powers to rec
ognize its existence as a new and indepen
dent nation. In such cases other nations
simply deal with an actually existing con
dition of things and recognize as of the
powers of the earth that body politic,
which, possessing the necessary elements,
has in fact become a new power. In a
word, the creation of a new state is a fact.
To establish the condition of things essen
tial to the recognition of this fact, there
must be a people, occupying a known ter
ritory, united under some known and de
cided form of government, acknowledged
by those subject thereto, in which the
functions of the government are adminis
tered by equal methods competent to mete
out justice to citizens and strangers, to af
ford remedies for public and for private
wrongs and able to assume the corelative
international obligation, and capable of
performing the corresponding international
duties resulting from its acquisition of
sovereignty. A power should exist com
plete in its organization, ready to takeand
able to maintain its place among the na
tions of the earth. While conscious that
the insurrection in Cuba has shown a
strength aad endurance which makes it
at least doubtful whether it be in the
power of Spain to subdue it, it scorns un
questionat„•le that no such civil organiza
tion exists which may be recognized as an
independent government capable of per
forming its international obligations and
entitled to be treated as one of the powers
of the earth. A recognition under such
circumstances would be inconsistent with
the facts and would compel the power
granting it soon to support by force the
government to which it had really given
its only claim of existence. In my judg
ment the United States should adhere to
the policy and principles which have
heretofore been its sure and safe guides in
like contests between revolted colonies and
their mother country, and acting only
upon the clearest evidence should avoid
any possibility of suspicion or of imputa
tion. A recognition of the independence
of Cuba being in my opinion impractica
ble and indefensible, the question which
next presents itself is tihat of the recogni
tion of belligeraut rights in the parties to
the contest.
In a former message to congress I had
occasion to consider this question and
reached the conclusion that the conflict in
Cuba, dreadful and devastating as were its
incidents, did not rise to the fearful dig•
nity of war. Regarding it now, after this
lapse of time, I am unable to see that any
notable success or any marked or real ad
vance on the part of the insurgents has
essentially changed the character of the
contest. It has acquired greater age but
not greater or more formidable propor•
Lions. It is possible that the acts of for
eign powers, and even acts of Spain her
self, of this very nature might be pointed
to in defense of such recognition ; but now,
as in past history, the United States should
carefully avoid the false lights which might
lead it into the mazes of doubtful law, of
questionable propriety, and adhere rigidly
and sternly to the rule which has been its
guide, doing only that which is right and
honest and of good report.
The question of according or of with
holding rights of belligerency must be
judged in every case in view of the partic
ular attending facts. Unless justified by
necesity it is always and justly regarded
as an unfriendly act and a gratuitous de
monstration of moral support to the rebel
lion. It is necessary and it is required
when the interests and rights of another
government, or of its people are so far
affected by a pending or civil conflict. to
require a definition of its relations to the
parties thereto, but this conflict must be
one which will be recognized in the sense
of international law as war. Belligerence,
too, is a fact. The mere existence of
contending armed bodies and their occa
sional conflicts do not constitute war in
the sense referred to. Applying to the
existing condition of affairs in Cuba the
tests recognized by publicists and writers
on international law, and which have been
observed by nations of dignity, honesty
and power, when free from sensitive or
selfish and unworthy motives, I fail to find
in the insurrection the existence of such a
substantial political organization, real pal
pable and manifest to the world, having
the forms and capable of the ordinary
functions of government toward its own
people and to other states, with courts for
the administration of justice, with a local
habitation, possessing such organization of
force, such material, such occupation of
territory as to take the conceit of the con
test out of the category of a mere rebel
lious insurrection or occasional skirmish,
and place it on the terrible footing of war,
to which a recognition of belligerency
would aim to elevate it.. The contest,
moreover, is solely on land; the insurrec
tion has not possessed itself of a single
seaport, whence it may send forth the flag,
nor has it any means of communication
with foreign powers, except through the
military lines of its adversaries. No ap
prehension of any of those sudden and
difficult complications which a war upon
the ocean is apt to precipitate upon
the vessels, both commercial and national,
and upon the consular officers of other
powers calls for the definition of their re
lations to the parties to the contest. Con
sidered as a question of expediency, I re
gard the accordance of belligerent rights
still to be as unwise and premature as I
regard it to be at present indefensible as a
measure of right. Such recognition en
tails upon the country according it the
rights which flow from it, difficult and
complicated duties, and require the etc
tion from the contending parties of the
strict observance of their rights and obli
gations. It confers the right of search
upon the high seas by vessels of both par
ties. It would subject the carrying of
arms and munitions of war which now are
transported freely and without interven
tion in the vessels of the United States to
detention and to possible seizure. It would
give rise to countless vexatious questions,
would release the parent government from
responsibility for acts done by the insur
gents and would invest Spain with the
right to exercise the supervision recog
nized by our treaty of 1795 over our com
merce on the high seas, a very large part
HUNTINGDON, PA., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1875.
of which, in its traffic between the Atlan
tic and gulf states and between all of them
and the states upon the Pacific, passes
through the waters which wash the shores
of Cuba. The exercise of this supervision
could scarcely fail to lead, if not to abuse,
certainly to collisions perilous to the peace
ful relations of the two states. There can
be little doubt to what result such super
visions would before long draw this na
tion. It would be unworthy of the United
States to inaugurate the possibilities of
such result by measures of questionable
right or expediency or by aHy indirec
tion.
Apart from any question of theoretical
rights I am satisfied that while the accord
ance of belligerent rights to the insurgents
in Cuba might give to them a hope and
an inducement to protract the struggle it
would be but a delusive hope, and it would
not remove the evils which this govern
ment and its people are experiencing, but
would draw the United States govern
ment into complications which it has
waited long and already suffered much to
avoid.
The recognition of independence, or of
the belligerency, being thus, in my judg
ment, equally inadmissible, it remains to
consider what course shall be adopted.—
Should the conflict not soon be brought to
an end by acts of the parties themselves,
and should the evils which result there
from, afflicting all nations, and particular
ly the United States, continue, in such
event I am of the opinion that other na
tions will be compelled to assume the re
sponsibility which devolves upon them,
and to seriously consider the only remain
ing measures possible, mediation and in
termediation. Owing, perhaps, to the
large expanse of water separating the is
land from the peninsular government, the
want of harmony, of personal sympathy
between the inhabitants of the colony and
those sent thither to rule them, and want
of adoption of the ancient colonial system
of Europe to the present times, and to the
ideas which the events of the past century
have developed, the contending parties ap
pear to have within themselves no deposi•
tory of common confidence to suggest wis
dom when passion and excitement have
their way, and to assume the part of peace
maker. In this view, in the earlier days
of the contest, the good offices of the
United States as a mediator were tendered
in good faith, without any selfish purpose,
in the interest of humanity, and in sincere
friendship for both parties, though at the
time declined by Spain with the declara
tion, nevertheless, that at a future time
they would be indispensible. No intima
tion has been received that in the opinion
of Spain that time has been reached, and
yet the strife continues with all its dread
horrors and all its injuries to the United
States and other nations. Each party
seems quite capable of working great in
jury and damage to the other, as well as
to all the relations and interests depend
ent on the existence of peace on the Island,
but they seem incapable of reaching
any adjustment, and both have thus
far failed of achieving any success,
whereby one party shall possess and con
trol the Island to the exclusion of the
other. Under these circumstances the
agency of others, either by mediation or
by intervention, seems to be the only al
ternative which must sooner or later be
invoked for the termination of the strife.
At the same time, while thus impressed, I
do not, at this time, recommend the adop
tion of any measure of intervention. I
shall be ready at all times, and as the equal
friends of those parties, to respond to a
suggestion that the good offices of the
United States will be acceptable to aid
in bringing about a peace honorable to
both.
It is due to Spain so far as this govern
ment is concerned, that the agency of a
third power, to which I have adverted,
shall be adopted only as a last expedient.
Had it been the desire of the United
States to interfere in the affairs of Cuba,
repeated opportunities for so doing have
been presented within the last few years,
but we have remained passive and have
performed our whole duty and all interna
tional obligations to Spain with friendship,
fairness and fidelity, and with a spirit of
patience and forbearance which negatives
every possible suggestion of desire to in
terfere or to add to the difficulties with
which she has been surrounded. The
government of Spain has recently submit
ted to our minister at Madrid certain pro
posals which it is hoped may be found to
be the basis if not the actual submission
of terms to meet the requirements of the
particular griefs of which this government
has felt itself entitled to complain. These
proposals have not yet reached me in their
full text. On their arrival they will be
taken into careful examination and may, I
hope, lead to a satisfactory adjustment of
the questions to which they reter, and re
move the possibility of further occurrences
such as have given rise to our just com
plaints. It is understood also that re•
newed efforts are being made to introduce
reforms in the internal administration of
the Island. Persuaded, however, that a
proper regard for the interest of the United
States and of its citizens, entitle it to re•
lief from the strain to which it has been
subjected by the difficulties of the ques
tions and the wrong of losses which arise
from the contest in Cuba, and that the in
terests of humanity itself demand the ces
sation of the strife before the whole Island
shall be laid in waste and larger sacrifices
of life be made. I shall feel it my duty,
should my hopes of a satisfactory adjust
ment or the early restoration of peace, and
the removal of further causes of complaint
be unhappily disappointed, to make a fur
ther communication to Congress at some
period not far remote, and during the
present session, recommending what may
then seem to me to be necessary appro
priations to the favorable consideration of
Congress.
The powers of Europe almost without
exception, many of the South American
states, and even the more distant powers
have manifested their friendly sentiment
toward the United States, and the interest
of the world in our progress, by taking
steps to join with us in celebrating the
centennial of the nation, and I strongly
recommend that:a more national importance
be given to this exhibition by such legisla
tion and by such appropriations as will in
sure its success. Its values of bringing to
our shores innumerable useful works of art,
in commingling of the citizens of foreign
countries and our own, an-I the interchang
ing of ideas and manufactures will far ex
ceed any pecuniary outlay we may make.
The free zone, so called, several years
since established by the Mexican govern
ment in certain of the states of that re
public adjacent that frontier remains in
full operation. It has always been ma
terially injurious to honest traffic for it
operates as an incentive to traders in Mex
ico to supply without custom charge the
wants of inhabitants on this side of the
line, and prevents the same wants from
being supplied by merchants of the Uni
ted States thereby to a considerable extent
defrauding our revenue and checking com
mercial enterprise. Depredations by arm
ed bands from Mexico on the people of
Texas near the frontier continue. Though
the main :object of these incursions is rob
bing, they frequently result in the murder
of unarmed and peaceably disposed persons,
and in some instances even the United
States post offices and mail communication
have been attacked. Renewed remon
strances upon this subject have been ad
dressed to the Mexican government but
without effect. The military force of this
government disposable for service in that
quarter, is quite inadequate to effectually
guard the line, even at these points where
the ineursions are usually made. An
experiment of an armed vessel on the Rio
Grande for that pnrpose is on trial and it
is hoped that if not thwarted by the shal
lowness of the river and other national ob•
stacles, it may materially contribute to the
protection of the herdsmen of Texas. The
proceedings of the joint commission under
the convention between the United States
and Mexico of the 4th of July, 1863, on
the subject of claims, will soon be brought
to a close. The result of these proceedings
will then be communicated to congress.
I am happy to announce that the gov
ernment of Venezuela has upon further
consideration, practically abandoned its ob
jections to pay to the United States that
share of its revenue which some years since
it allotted towards the extinguishment of the
claims of foreigners generally. In thus re-
considering its determination that govern.
went has shown a just sense of self-respect
which cannot fail to reflect credit upon it
in the eyes of all persons elsewhere. It is
to be regetted, however, that its payments
on account of claims of citizens of the
United States are still so meagre in amount,
and that the stipulations of the treaty iu
regard to the sums to be paid and the pe
riods when these payments were to take
place, should have been so signally disre
garded.
Since my last annual message the ex
change has been made of the ratification of
a treaty of commerce and navigation with
Belgium, and new conventions with the
Mexican republic for the further extension
of the joint commission respecting claims;
with the Hawaiian islands, for commercial
reciprocity, and with the Ottawan empire
for extradition, all of which have been
duly proclaimed.
. . .
The court of commissioners of the Ala
bama claims has prosecuted its important
duties very assiduously and very satisfac
torily. It convened and was organized on
the 23d day of July, 1874, and by the
terms of the act under which it was crea
ted was to exist for one year from that
date. The act provided, however, that
should it be found impracticable to coin
plete the work of the court before the ex
piration of the year, the president might,
by proclamation, extend the time of dura
tion, beyond the expiration of one year.
Having ri ceived satisfactory evidence that
it would be impracticable to complete the
work within the time originally fixed, I
issued a proclamation, a copy of which I
present herewith, extending the term of
the duration of the court for a period of
six months from and after the 22d day of
July last. A report made through the
clerk of the court, communicated herewith,
shows the condition . of the calendar on do:
Ist of November last, and the large amount
of work which has been accomplished.
Thirteen hundred and eighty two claims
have been presented, of which 682 had
been disposed of at the date of the report.
I am informed that 170 cases were deci
ded during the month of November. Ar
guments are being made and decisions giv
en on the remaining cases with all the dis
patch consistent with the proper consider
ation of the questions submitted. Many
of these claims are in behalf' of mari
ners who depend on the evidence of mari
ners whose absence has delayed the taking
or the return of the necessary evidence.
It is represented to me that it will be im
practicable for the court to finally dispose
of all cases before it within the.present lim
it of its duration. Justice to the parties
claimant, who have been at large expense
in preparing their claims and obtaining
evidence in their support, suggests a short
extension to enable the court to dispose of
all the claims which have been presented.
I recommend the legislation which may be
deemed proper to enable the court to com
plete the work before it.
I recommend that suitable provision be
made by the creation of a special court, or
by conferring the necessary jurisdiction
upon some appropriate tribunal for the
consideration and determination of the
claims of aliens against the government of'
the United Staies, which have arisen with
in some reasonable limitation of time, or
which may hereafter, excluding all claims
barred by treaty provisions or otherwise. It
has been found impossible to give proper
consideration to these claims by the execu•
tive department of the government. Such
a tribunal would afford an opportunity to
aliens, other than British subjects, to pres
ent their claims on account of'acts committ
ed agains` their persons or property during
the rebellion, as also to those subjects of
Great Britan, whose claims having arisen
subsequent to the 9th day of April, 1865,
could not be presented to the late commis
sion, organized pursuant to the provisions
of the treaty of Washington.
The electric telegraph has become an
essential and indispensable agent in the
transmission of business and social mes
sages. Its operation on land and within
the limit of particular states, is necessary
under the control of the jurisdiction with
in which it operates. The lines on the
high seas, however, are not subject to the
particular control of any one government.
In 1869 a concession was granted b the
French government, to a company which
proposed to lay a cable from the shore of
France to the United States. At that
time there was a telegraphic connection
between the United States and the conti
nent of Europe, through the possessions
of Great Britan, at either end of the line,
under control of an association which bad
at large outlay of capital and at great cost,
demonstrated the practicability of' main
taining such means of communication.
The cost of correspondence by this agency
was great, possibly not too large at the
time for a proper renumeration for so haz
ardous and so costly an enterprise. It was
however a heavy charge upon a means of
communication which the progress in the
social and commercial intercourse of the
world found to be a necessity, and the ob
taining of this French concession showed
that other capital than that already invest
ed was ready to enter into competition,
with assurance of adequate return from
their outlay. Impressed with the convic
tion that the interests not only of the peo•
ple of the United States but of the world
at large demanded, or would demand the
multiplication of such means of communi-
cation between separated continents. I was
desirous that the proposed connection
should be made, but certain provisions of
this concession were deemed by me to be
objectionable, particularly one which gave
for a long term ofyears the exclusive right
of telegraphic communication by subma
rine cable, between the shores or France
and the United States. I could not con
cede that any power should claim the right
to land a cable on the shores of the I Tnited
States and at the s.me time deny to the
United States, or to its citizen ;4 or grantees,
an equal right to land amble on its shores.
The right to the control of the condi
tions fur the laying of a cable within the
jurisdictional waters of the United States
to connect our shores with those of sty
foreign state pertains exclusive to the
government of the United States under
such limitations of the condition as con
gress may impose. In the absence of leg
islation by congress. I was unwilling on
one hand to yield to a foreign state the
right to say that its grantees might land
on our shores while it denied a similar
right to our own people to land on its
shores; and on the other hand I was re
luctant to deny to the great interests of
the world, and of civilization, the facilities
of such communication as were proposed.
I, therefore, withheld any resistance to the
landing of the cable on condition that the
offensive monopoly feature of the conces
sion be abandoned. and that the right of
any cable which may be established by
authority of the government to land upon
French territory and to c insect with
French land lines, and enjoy all the neces
sary facilities or privileges incident to the
use thereof upon as favorable terms as any
other company -in question renounced the
exclusive privilege, and the representative
of France was informed that understand
ing this relinquishment to be construed as
granting the entire reciproeraey of equal
facilities, which had been denied, the op
position to the landing of the cable was
withdrawn. The cable under this French
concession, was landed in the month of
July, 1869, and has been an efficient and
valuable agent of communication between
this country and the other continent. It
soon passed under the control, however, of
those who had the management of the ca
ble connecting Great Britan with this con
tinent. Thus whatever benefit to the pub
lie might have ensued from competition
between the two lines was lost, leaving on
ly the greater facilities of an additional
line, and the additional security in ease of
accident to one of them. But these in
creased facilities and this additional secu
rity, together with the control of the com
bined capital of the two companies, gave
also greater power to prevent the future
construction of their lines and to limit the
control of telegraphic communication be
tween the two continents to those possess
ing the lines already laid. Within a month
past a cable has been laid, known as the
United States direct cable company, con
necting the United States directly with I ,
Great Britain. As soon as this cable was
reported to be laid in working oilier, the
rates of the consolidated companies were
greatly reduced. Soon, however, a break
was announced in this new cable, and im
mediately rates of the other line, which
had been reduced, were again raised.
This cable being now repaired, the rates
appear not to be reduced by the other line
from those formerly charged by the con
solidated companies. There is reason to
believe that large amounts of capital. bosh
at home and abroad, are ready to seek
profitable investment in the advancement
of this useful and moat civilising means of
intercourse and correspondence. They
await, however, the assurance of the means
and conditions on which they may safely
be made tributory to the general good. As
these cable telegraph lines connect sepa
rate states, these are questions which prob
ably can be best, if not safely, settled by
conventions between the respective states.
In the absence, however, of international
conventions on the subject, municipal leg
islation may secure many points which ap
pear to me important if not indispessible,
for the protection of the public against the
extortions which may result from a mon
opoly of the right of operating cables or
from a combination between several lines.
First. No line should be allowed to land
on the shores of the United States under
the concession from another power which
does not admit the right of any other line
or lines formed in the United States to land
and freely connect with and operate thro'
land lines.
Secdnd. No line should be allowed to
land on tLe shores of the United States
which is not by treaty stipulation with the
government from whose shores it proceeds,
or by prohibition in its charter or other.
wise, to the satisfaction of this government,
prohibited from consolidating or amalga
mating with any other cable telegraph line
or combining therewith for the purpose of
regulating and maintaining the cost of
telegraphing.
Third. All boa should be bound to give
precedence in the transmission of the offi
cial messages of the two government* be
tween which it may be laid.
Fourth. A power should be reserved to
the two governments, either conjointly or
to each, as regards the messages despatch
ed from its shores, to fiz a limit to the
charges to be demanded for the transmit.
sion of messages.
I present the subject to the earnest con
sideration of congress In the meantime,
and unloss congress otherwise directs, I
shall not oppose the landing of any tele
graph cable which complies with and op
erates to the poins above enumerated, but
will feel it my duty to preveat the landing
of any which does not conform to the list
and second points as stated and which will
not stipulate to concede to this government
the precedence in the transmission of its
official messages and will not enter into
satisfactory arrangement with regard to its
charges.
Among the pressing sad important sub
jects to which, in my opinion, the atten
tion of congress should be directed are
those relating to fraudulent naturalisation
and ezpatrition. The United States, with
great liberality, offers its citizenship to all
who, on good faith, complp with the re
quirements of law. These requirements
are so simple, and upon as favorable terms
to the emigrant, as the high privilege to
which he is admitted can or should per
mit. I do not propose any additional re
quirements to those to which tie law de.
wands, but the very simplicity and the
want of unnecessary formality in our law
have made fraudulent naturalisation not
unfrequent to the discredit and injury of
all honest citizens, whether, native born
or naturalized. Cases of this character
are continually being brought to the notice
of the government by our representatives
abroad, and also those of persons represen
ted in our countries, most frequently who,
if they have remained in the country long
enough to entitle them to become natural
ized, have generally not much over-passed
that peri , .l and have renamed to the
country of th..ir orig;n. where tbev
avoiding all rintie-4 to the Unite.' :ital.-,
by their absence and el:timing to he **tempt
from all duties to the eotustry their
nativity and of their reßidenee rrosm
of the allot 41 nattsralirstion. ft is .14yr
to this fzovrrnment it-if t.. the great
mam of naturalivii eit:zot+ wbo entirely.
is.th in 'rune and in fie'_ hee“oise ettric•no
of the. Unite.' : 4 t-tte+ that the high
„r ci!izen.hip of the I sited Stat.-.
Ahoulii n• t. be held by frond or in dcrera
tion of the law. a th, mime or evrri
honest citizen. On many ocemions it has
been bronzht to the knowledge of the rev
ernment that certificate. of sateralization•
are hell and protectioa or interterraet
claimed by parties who admit that trot no
ly they were n. , 1 within the risettml itstes
at the time of their pretended nataraiims
tion, but that they hive iteerer rrai4e4 is
the United State 4. In other, tb3 eertid
Cate and record of the court shove on their
face that the perion el to be 'atm
ralized hul not resided the rept:P.4 time
in the United State.. In others it is ad
mitted, upon csamination. that the r.--
guirement. of law have opt been arespiied
with. In mime caseseven .isch eitrtilkutes
have been niatters of purchase. The.e
are not isolated case.. a -i•in.z at rare in
tervabs. but of common 'wetter...re. and
which are reported front ail quarters of
the globe. Such occurrenee4 cannot aro!
do not fait to reflect up o n the zoverunsent
and injure all honest citizens. Snell a
fraud being discovered. however, theta is
no practicable way within the control of tbe
government by which the reeorl of nat
uralization c - .4n be vacated, and should the
certificate be taken up. a; it usually is by
the diplomatic amid consular represents
tires of the zovernment to whom it may
have been presented. There i. nothiur
to prevent the person elasseinz to have
been naturalized from obtaininz a sew
certificate Iron the court in place of that
which has been taken (rim him The
evil has become so vast and of ,sek, fra
gment occurrence that I cannot too ear-
nestly recommend that *nee ed•ctic .~'n••s.s
urea be adopted to provide a proper min e .
fly and mean 4 f'or the •amain : of any
curd thras frandulenly side. and of pea
ishinz the rnilty parties to the trillion...if
in thi. connecti.;n. I refer slain to the
queati.n of expatriation and the election
of nationality. The United States was
f.remost in upholding the right of *spa.
triation, and was principally instrumenhei
in overthrowing the 44..etriee of perpetael
alle•:ianee. Con•:rre• has drrlarr•i the
right of expatriation to be a 111C101111111 and
inherent right of all people. bet while
many other nation. have enaeted pm
Tiding what formalities shall be wevw-nnery
to work a ehinze of alleziAnee the ranted
States haa enacted no pr•vi•ines of law.
and has in no respect marked oat how and
when expatriation may be accomplished by
its citizena In4t ince,: are brought to the
attention of the government where eitiavar
of the United States. either nateralised gir
native born, have formerly become encases
or snhjecte of foreign powers . hot who,
nevertheleo. in the abeenge of any provis
ions of legislation nu this question, whew
involved in diietilties nv who* it •eeare
to be their interest, claim to be ciliates of
the United States aad domed the Wee
vention of a government which they knee
long since abandoned sad to which for
years they have rendered as swam me
held themselve. in any way assamble.—
In other macs n-itaraliaeil eittatwe iter•e.
diately after naturalisation, have retuningl
to th..ir native country, have beaolow ma
gnet] in liminess, have accepted dela are
wit!' Aftericul eiti.
je - rseito il
aenehip. ind evidence no ingest In ...tong
to the United States until ealled spot la
discharge rouse duty to the ornerttry where
they are residing. when at *sea they assert
th e i r ettize t t.hip and ere the rim,-
sentatives of the government to aid them
in their unjust pretensions. It is het
jiroice to all bona hie ciente'', that no
doubt should exist on web lmestione. sad
that Con:rress r host l &lemma by enact
ment of law how elpetriatine nay be se
eompliAe,l and eltan t rc of eitiscoship b.
established.
I also invite your attention to the
ar
eessity of regulating by law the macaw of
American women who may awry Sweigw
ers. and of e.efisier more fully that of
children born in a foreigneviteetryeLbeier
, lean parents who may raids abroad. and
also of some farther prlvisinn resinintion
or giving legal effects to meenwre! of
American eitizens cwitrolled its Cretan
countries. The correersolleweeewhusiterel
herewith shows a few ef the sesteasetly
occurring rrestions on these rings pre
sented to the eoiteitieratioe of the govers•
ment. There art rail swhjipets to semtwe
the attention of coerces nu which more
delicate relation* sr more latportaat in
terests are dependant.
In the month of July last the bedding
erected for the department a stag e ova
taken reeession of and oeempied by that
department. I am happy to aitaniellow
that the archive's and valizallole papers of i
the ;.roverritnent in the 011otody of that ti
partmnent are now safely deposited and
properly cared for.
The report of the secretary of the irwa.
ivy shows the receipts trots enstonew liw
the fiscal year endiaz Joss 30. !II I. hr i
h 3v ,, b een 1163.103.1411.69. sad foe the
fiscal year civility.; Jane 3.0. to have
been $151.167.7:!" 35 a decrease f: e. the
last &seal year of .9"34.111 14. The
receipts from internal revenue Le she yeer
ending .19th of Jane. 1471. were Ile.-
408.784 90. and for the year t.ndine: :111th
of inn.. 1177). were 11111.*K. yr.; SA, 2w
increase of $7.707.710 tIA. The retort
also shows a eoespkte history of the wort-
ings of the department to' the lair year. I
and contains reeommendat intro for reltveassil
and for legislation. whi.:h I C i
het cannot comment on so folly s f shoull
like to it space would permit. hist willow-
Sae myself to a few sisagestions whieh I
!,,k upon as vital to the hest interests we I
have.
Were it not that ea-ootete mod be paid
in coin. and be.canne of the photo to p,y
nterest on the poblie debt iw cola. the
yield of precious metals wonl4 Sow mit
for the purehase of tossien pmainstions
and leave the United Agates hewers of
wood and iirawers of water 4 netnews of
wiser legislatiow on the subject of imam
by the nations with which we have dm&
togs. I at. not prepared to my that lOM
sorzeat the best levsiatiois to serum the
end most heartily commended. Is will ha
a source or meat gratillion to Imo is be
abk to approve any 1 / 1 1 , 211115T0 of veal MD
looking effeetively toward ssourisor ow
aumption • l'alionited inastista woad
probably bring' about specie mum,
more speedily than any leginiatins Waft
to the retieniptiou of the legal 611111411“ in
coin. but it would be at the moms et
honor. The legal tenders would hove me
value beyond settling pram* William,
or, properly speaking, repediating them.
ifp.l alley ...44 Inv emei sini-r •
z;I .-et .L Tb.. fr. mno.
ere 4....ne a. be seeynetirse me Thee
..m.1110•1110. 384 WIWI* I Bata _a 1111 row
i ~Moe malsowapratina. .% -p 4a.
merle 4 tit. Irrei 'awl,: see sr tame
Ph... weer. 1.4.-sv-tislis. Gar 440/vositureel
ft pr • .I‘t r • . L.. G-1,4 as fir spa AWN,
•.t von , t boa Ow. Iris .4pe 'aviary
I • Areabi tbre Ihvo ..rer Cotaile
'lt I , rsi ie.! •;,44
vft.ell wo loam be rifteeee. het , -ov
',Rey at a .brovoriat h.-Ashy i.ervoie
ort :a at ..we. awl with is s hisitar
amehe the enrreory sine 4 pot ,
pert. he The arsereivaere mispefair
totters sod ireiresore *Tory
boriniese a. s fair eporrir
posit. the apie.-y ftw be tearieol borrow us
aisearyiez v Lehoritra tad
who work Cr py elbwr
woebil r. vivo for their isoieme
ir
r rain fr b irembil tare iffier be
rharroi Ivy the •wpshaiiet emeipainear
t;ir tne rloit .4 a ....strireri itamintiaie
1i vatote -4 tie* renege?.
: 4 ,r00.1. That the arrretary 4 -6.-
tr.-Amery b. aetheriarmil tw risiiioei. err fi.l
rn eseveol tern etowthty 4
temodrr seam by antatt. la tboir
a home % isavvviet at the rase 4
31t. 4slty heiterwitho r ri.at.
per itnealit. 4 •11• w. amememmio 'AP.=
fifty .WW etymons.' 4 , 113 r. nl4
twroil4 sts tamp twiner tit* hpvti soar•
t.. 3 r.vitme. that tarobi hr hole, Aist with
.llll , irtnast.iirt romietopti..te fflp - woos
sty 14rolit
That altiitantril pear to be ;Ives t.
the .-creasy the trearary be billeinnialir
j. 4.1 6.r bawl wv learytawa. either by is
eremettre reliever. eartairMar ellrourr.
!with It Me prefershir r 016 beak awl I
reenumairati that wiliasseta ofespadistmate
be stahe attererer It emit be ismar assitwas
Wespeirirr; the zetereastaas eltittratiwas
ertpigiat the itert oseestimayharent.
stemware ter newremseeic the , arywatsw, mew 4
the Ashy .ats I throb 4 t do atabotatwat
at th• ;key era tea sad evOlfee nom le
omill add p..beitiy WAN* oso
the present sereeret meets Sem sepeeee
se-1 irmehi in se way inertias. the
pnell thew retirire by , Ite ..essessee - -
These solider we the prtokres 4 mew
trite orileesiee rreseme fines ripsaw end
at we. the howls esesomorte. meow the
dvetiee they regastireassii torreser
With this saltine or the oresesee meet
theies ore tellossoll sod *bleb Ow lost
se Outliveewes More for the wet 4 rei
lsoirte. oilebe b otoritsol. aid or as tik
rets atifraesort 1 oseeseotts as hem f
weal mossirse door artiebe soled maw
iota nesiteCorturee 4 ell ONOR Al Amy
peal ere me* snide* vs •Steetgy es the
east of thesrtiehr "thee amsolhossruti burr..
sod woe br pad fir by the ommeorro
Thous &bee owe sely sem Irmo doe em
sowers at boars but sets a pressroom 1.,
froorigo attesefemosmo 4 the owe owe
plow' sore.* Os oar etre sad hisser sev
-46.i will eserrese ee mentins stielber
tetbjeet benritrz epee the position 4 low
is ~NW the teeentery 4 time tvessory top
1.0111111tiat , ! te w to bo re gnaw
bow seethed 4 werifyiwit rimier opine
the geerernmetet thee at prourant eying
threset the teen 4 dime opefoity
throw grimier oreerismi oes 4 the boo sole
io son reettie the thee a eery
Lorre pereeloree 4 the 11111•111 Min /used
sea pool are either Moly forethebet .wr
are far is COMM •rtb. POI be a / 1 411MIOMPaii
The bow sewmete offseso reeve ore woo,
otasiworty. stserdivor at goirtimer hook be
saissior 4 Setisieer se swerepaimr re
simmo. tee hoe bore toirsieseloe
zed philloger. IV, so only for broi
the roil& yiefill 4 OEM Or Air ory
sae par. but or gooey we bane* oba oar
hod etyprisets• is gillsr dr oil aid she
bee riveted the saves of obenrepriressieise
art its owl imams. wee it dbe or.
el,iiseente were weir atm& nee.*
lint their permed sod reel mom
Tb. report 4the arm ensoll *biota
be sebeetstoi at soystor as as ever
it. will esessist &aid Wog
seeder war sea 4 shier redissi 4 4
r:ose Torre teferreti at
The fern tba , 211 ,
onapproryisir omerqp. SWOP • 4160,104
ammo* mf army vervain.. foe dm pi.
je.e opineemil innponnor far crow _ . ye.
tm!11110111101=1141116101111 'V inilsolot mei
r...pretfelly Swift, prorisissirli OD air
4 drew Tiro I arise "sad Sielilltime
to the arrrotty 4 maim 931000111, 4
the rimplerrerrei.... for to. wwiworwro 4.-
pwriwrirt. wadable Whew ter bidurrior
4 ..is yaw. Widow dam probiner
ramelle lionet bow sagpt,
doors ass Odour sr *dim 454. er
.sinews fore moo he cirrhosed Is sr ore
wry/114 with !n tior wromory. See
.l. ITS rewwwwwwwitsirs tor i 41111Ilt
ewes 4 • .}.wow 4 sormiihre stir
imam sr dsoword Ahem W wise m,
.leAssitinese %or the roweibly pssy 4 AL
11.11. Thiry spit, . ors shower. .mob
borslew spew db. etworsry. owl omit ire
the fotwor. rifromi sorb 411.swour, wribleh
entry eld - ediser low siewarroliw obi
pose. 4 411sers dynes robiraly how:
hidol. Iroise dies widows rows lbw
worme 4 tuweliars their Bionic if 'Lem,
ewe ereeerrb ow bow fries." ear mid drew
'Poirot The sped 4 lbw bur
assierge. ma • wows ar tfl..N sus erar
"North. Tim writ vier torpirto min
the ammo 4 assiserre rod wposepourdoll
fee :he eon.. Arial Oar 4rewr weer
topes the riited fittste• rod orw worriorre
row rerpoiree br met rI mss 4r.•
am* ritiostarry are glimpse sousiiiiery
Oho 44matia at brol ors. sad ire
Wire ripersiresw rho o• raw lip.
it is iilsrisoily tw hues by merinos ter r
!tees erwarerrosise wed soldirsior sr Nie
re rem: ,if A rirsismoot wows.
ties lir do alsed orris sopa /U.
errrie . hew soy browor s orrowee, .4 P.
re well wo war swear lbw sarromporms
node Vy the passe sills fit.
!Kirsh. A re4pirai of dr sipporshoseep
fir etiospiimor 411181111 3111111110
she ow. Este. ?be sousiseims 4 eisr wary
at tile Ono So 3 33111133 140311.31.3111
It &Am ma meanie 311 1331, MI, 4
dew roserfisi cranium ipso eh& shoe.*
=she in woe* ef die morssioss fallealh
110111111 .ricer 08133110. bus inakee our -•
ttswetai ormitiose spur oar Mow Ohs"
sospiree the ow ewe! boot s Imp ens
brr 'Mr ,of tbs. Astreseirr OW► dye•
swestio• IS sly surestr of ay p.c. 41113.
low be aw.bs sire .4 giber ant•33o bet.
lissesporess 1, Os maw soy eirrenummps
Iler eery Imo cress. hoemer. •
amairlarake ismilre of Woe Aide et Os.
seekers dec.. whisk ihmegh perperty
ereisere. see pourres si eaterlive s.
herbee illefeme aai f•ir eiposuiemse wee our
skew IN diem the Oaf* seermed deem
(Mew is weieher j base Woe selineweielly
rebeik. Ostia mom eemilue how
.ish mew &lir he& 1•41
their woven, mai seellieerr,
reimivedl; or dee *ivy se ow is der
Sun ellonest eeskieree sea tai) tie we
'As miewi •reneul per
NO 49.