X 111
iP ' 1 H yj . ' If E? P
BY S. J. ROW.
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1870.
VOL. I7.-N0. 1 6,
PEESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
To the Senate and Home of Representatives:
A year of reaee and general prosperity to
this nation Lai passed since the last assem
bling of Congress. We have, through a
kind Providence, been blessed with abund
ant crops, and have been spared from com
plications and war with foreign nations. In
our midst, comparative harmony has been
restored. It is to be regretted, however,
that a free exercise of the electivefranchi.se
ha?, by violence and intimidation, been de
nied to citizens in exceptional cases in seve
ral of the States lately in rebellion, and that
the verdict ot the people rrs thereby been
reversed. The States of Virginia, Missis
sippi and Texas, have been restored to rep
resentation in our national councils. Geor
gia, the only State now without a represen
ttior., may confidently be expected to take
her place there, also, at the beginning of
the new year ajd then, let us hope, will be
completed the work of reconstruction, with
aa acquiescence on the part of the whole
people in the national obligation to pay the
public debt created as the price of our U:i
kn, the pensions to our disabled soldiers
aai sailors and their widows and orphan,
and in the Constitutional changes which
have been made necessary by a great rebel
lion, there is no reason who we should not
dvar.ee iu material prosperity and happi
ness as no other na'oti has alter so protrac
ted and devastating a war.
THE FRANCO UF.3.YIAN WAR.
Soon after the existing war broke out in
Kurupe, the protection of the United States
Minister in Paris was invoke,! in favor of
the North Germans domiciled in Fiench
territory. Instruction were issued tosrant
the protection. This has been followed by
an extension of Am;ri::ii pro.ee. ion to cit,-iz-n
of Saxony, Hesse and Saxe Coburg
UotiiH. Colombia, Portugal. Uruguay, the
Dominican Republic, Eouad-ir, Chili, Para
gjay, an 1 Venezuela, in Pari-. The charge
was an onerous one. requiring eoastuut and
severe labor, as well as the exorcise of pa
tience, prudence, and go id ji igment. It
bag been performed to the entire satisfa
tioD ot the Government, and, as I am oil;
daily informed, equally to the satisfaction
vi the Government of North Germany.
As soon as I learned that a Republic had
btn proclaimed at Paris, and that the peo
ple o! Fiance had acquiesced in the charge,
the Minister of the United States was di
rected by telegraph to revnguizj it and ten
djr tny congratulations and those of the
people of the United States. The re es
tablishment in F:anee of a system of go
ernmeut disconnected with the dynastic
traditions of Europe appeared to be a prop
er subject fur tho felicitations of Ameri
ca ns.
Should ihc present struggle result in at
taching ihe hearts of the French to .'.u
simpler forms of representative gnvc-rur
went, it will be a subject of still further sat
isfaction to our people. While we make no
effort to impose our institutions upon the
inhabitants of our countries, and while we
adhere to our tra liiiona! neutra'.i'y in civil
contests, we cannot be iiidi'TeP M to the
spread of American rnlitieal ileus in a
great avid hijbiy civi.iz.d country lue
Kanec.
We were a iked ry the new Government
to use our good oth .ms jointly v:th those ot
European Powers in the interest of pea:.;.
Answer was made that tint established poli
ty and tho '.rue interests of the United
btatcs Iprluds tht-in ii) interfere m Europe
ail questions jointly with European Powers.
1 ascertained, iuform lily rind iiuoilijially,
that the Government of North Germany
wis not then disposed to listen to such rep-r-e-itations
ft ma a.iy Powers; and, thjujh
earnestly wishing to so the blessings of
l-csee rest ore J to the le!Iig-?renfs. with a'l
of whom the United States are on terms ol
friendship, I declined, on llie part of this
G jver'iuient, to take a htep which would
oii'.v result :c irj-jry to oar true inii rests
without advancing the ojest for which our
intervention was invoked. Should the
t'nie ci n.e when the action of the United
States t-jii ha -o-ii the return of pea-e by a
mi.'! hour, thui uctiua will be heartily ta
I deemed it (irud 'nt, in viow pi tl;e num
ber ot persons of German and Frencil birth
iiriug in the United States, to issue, soon
alter official notice of a state of war had
been received from both th.2 belligerent, a
LTocl.imation, defining the duties of the
L nited Sutes as a neutral and the obliirv
ti'jns of persons re.-.idinx withtn their terri
tory to observe their laws and th laws of
Lationa. Tiiis proclamation wai followed
br others, as circumstances seemed to call
for thcai. The people, thus inloi mod in
Jvance as to their duties and obligations.
Lave a-gisted in preventing violations of the
neutrality of the United States.
THE CUBAN INSURRECTION.
It is Got understood that the condition of
the insurrection in Cuoa hns materially
changed since the close of the last session
ct Cuiigress. In an eariy stage cf the con
test, the authorities of Spain inaugurated a
y-ttui of arbitrary arrests, of -;loe conane
nivnt. and of military trial and execution of
Jersons suspected of complicity with the
i'iurents, and of summary embargo of
t! e:r properties and sftiuesiration ft. their
revenues by executive warrant. Such pro'
ceediiiRs, so far as they affected the persons
or property of citizens of the United States,
re in violation of the provisions of the
treaty of IT'Jo. between the Uoi'ed States
n l Saiu. Hepreseutationsof injuries, by
reason oi such violations, resitiiin; to scve
pi pers ins claiming to be citizens of the
I nited States, were male to the Spanish
''jvuimneiit. From April, 1S59V to June
st. the Spanish Minister at Washington
ta l oe;i clothed with a limited power to
1 in relressin such wrongs. That power
td'jri l to be withdrawn, "m view," as it
" 1. "ot the favorable situation in:
ait-h tho Island of Cuba then was which,
h i,;v,t, did not loai to a revocation or
as;iensi n of the extraordinary and urbi
,rary functions exreisod by the executive
pjff.'rs in Cuba, and were obliged to
nri'.e our complaints at Madrid.
I 'i the negotiatiors thus opened, and still
I'tvhn there, the United States only
t a;m,-j tht, for the future, the rights se
C'Jre l t) thsir citizens by treaty should be
rs:)ctel in Cuba; and that, as to the past.
'join' triVina! should be established in the
' tiiie l States with full jurisdiction over all
s'u-h claims. Before such an impartial tri
bunal, each claimant would be required to
prove his case. On the other baud. Spain
,i!)ld be at liberty to traverse every mate
rial fact ; and thus coinplstf equity wouid
be secured. A ease which at one lime
jareatened seriously to affect the relations
''tween the United States and Spain has
"ready been disposed of in this war. The
f aim of the Col. Lloyd Apinwall, for the
1'ieiral seizure and detention of that vessel,
was referred to arbitration, by mutual eon
- nt, and has resulted in an award to the
1 i td States, for tho owners of tha same.
$! 9,702 SO in fold.
Another and long-pending claim of like
nature, that of the whaieship Canada, has
been disposed of by friendly arbitration du
ring the present year. It was referred, by
the joint consent of Urazil and the United
State, to the decision ot Sir ET.vard Thorn
ton, fler liritauic Majesty's Minister at
Washington, who kindly undertook the la
borious task of examining the voluminous
mass of correspondence and testimony sub
mitted by tho two jrovernments ; atid award
ed to the United States the sum of $100.-
740.00, in gold, which has since been pwAfxut over taxing the pajplc. It is to furnish
oy tne lmpenai uovernment. Ihese re
cent examples show that the mode which
-ITT..,..
tne united states have proposed to Spain
for adjii-jtintr the pending claims is just and
feasible, and that it may be aieed to by
either nation without dishonor. It s to be
hoped that this moderate demand may be
acceded to by Spain without further delay.
Should the pending negotiations unfortu
tiately and unexpectedly be without result,
it will then become my duty to communi
cate that fact to Congress, and invite its
action on the subject.
SPAIN AST Til 2 SOUTH AMERICAN REPUB
LICS. The Ion.? deferred Peace Conference be
tween Spain and the Allied South Ameri
can Republics has been inaugurated in
Washington under the ausces of the Uni
ted States. Pursuant to the recommenda
tion contained in the resolution of the House
of Representatives of the 17th of Decem
ber, 135(3, the Executive Department ot the
Goveri.ment offered its friendly oilL'es for
the promotion ot peai'o and harmony be
tween Spain and the Allied Hi-publics.
Hesitations and obstacles occurred to tho
ac'cptaiiCQ of the oiler. Ultimately, ho v
ever. u conference was arranged, and was
opened iu this city on th i L"j;h of October
last, at which I authorized the Secretary of
Stata to preside. It was attended by the
Ministers of Spain, Peru, Chiii and Ecua
dor. In consequence of the absence of a
representative from Bjlivia. the C -inference
was adjourned until the attendance ot a
Plenipotentiary from the Republic could be
secured, or other measures could be adopted
toward compassing its oH'i'.'fs.
The Allied and other ll.'iuii!ies of Span
ish origin on this continent may see in this
fact a near proof of our sincere interest in
their welfare ; of our desire to see them
blessed with good (jovenrnerits, capable of
maintaining order and of iiescrviiijr their
respective territorial integrity ; an i of our
sincere wish to extend our own commercial
and soc'ul reluti ins with them. The time
is not probably far distant when, in th" n:it
urai cjurse ot events, lviropean political.:
connection with this continent will cease.
Our policy should be shaped in view of this
probability, so as to a:! the comur.-reul in
terests of the Spanish American Spates
i:i re close to o-.'.r o. vn. and thus ave the
United States all the pre-eminence and all
ti c advantages which Mr. Monroe, Mr.
Adams, and Mr. Clay, c ontemid itod when
they proposed to j jin in llu Congress of
Panama.
SAN DOMINGO.
Dining the j.st session of Congress, a
treaty for the anno&ai ion of the Republic
ot Jsan Domiii.ro, to the U:i:ed Statei fail
ed to receive Hie requisite two thirds vote
of the Scnat?. I was then thoroughly con
vinced that tha best interests ot the country
commercially and materially, demanded its
nuihV-uion. Time has only continued me
iu this vie.v. 1 now tirmly believe that, the
uiOmctil it is know:) that the Unwed States
have entirely abandoned the project of ac
cepting as a part of its territory the Island
of San Domingo, a tree port will be negoti
ated for by Kuropn.m nations.
In the Biy of Samana. a largo c immcr
cial city wid spring up; to whtea we shall
be tributary, without receiving cone-podin
benefits; and then will be stu liis foiiy of
reject ins; so ;eat a prize.
The Government of San Domir.?o l:a
voluntarily sought this auexation. It is a
ueak power, numbering probably lcs than
1 lfi.l!u- souls, and yet possessing one ot the
richest localities u'idcr the sun, capable ol
supporting a population ot KMKj'.I.OOO pen
pic in luxury. The peopi j of San Dmnin
go are not capable of maintaining them
selves in their present condition, and must
look for outside support. The' yearn
for the protection of our fiee institutions
and laws, uur progress and civilization.
Shall we refuse tt.em ? The acquisition of
San Domingo is desirable because of its
geographical position. It commands the
entrance of the Caribbean Sea and toe isth
mus transit of commerce. It possesses the
i ichest soil, the best and most capacious
L'trbors. most salubrious climate, and the
mot valuable products of the torest, mine,
and soil, of any of the West It'dia Islands.
Its possession by the United States will in
a few years build up a coast wise commerce
of immense magnitude, wnich will go far
toward restoring to us our lost merchant
marine. It will give to us those articles
which we greatly consume and do uot pro
duce, thus equalizing our exports and im
ports. In case of foreign war, it will give
us command of all the islands referred to,
and thus prevent an enemy from again pos
sessing hersulf of a rendezvous upon our
coast. It will protect our const-trade be
tween the States botdcriug on the Atiantic
and those bordering on the Gulf of Mexico,
and to the Bahamas ami Antilles. Twice
we must, n it were, pass thiough the for
eigu countries to pass from Georgia to the
west coast of Georgia. San Domingo, With
a stable government, under which her im
mense resources can be developed, will give
remunerative wages to 100.000 laborers not
now upon the islan I. The labor wid take
advantage of every available means of
transportation ro r.t,mion the adjacent is
lands and seek the blessings of freedom and
its sequence, each inhabitant receiving the
reward of his own labor. In Potto Rico
and Cuba, the way will be paved to a'w lish
slavery, as a measure of self preservation
to retain those islands. S in Domingo will
become a larger consumer of the products
of our northern farms and manufactories.
The cheap rate at which her citizens ran be
furnished with food, tools, and machinery,
wW make it necessary that contiguous is
laiKis should have the same advantages, in
order to compete in the production of suear
coffee, toacco, tropical fruits. &c. This
wid open to us a wider market for our pro
ducts. The pro 1 net ion of our supplies of
these articles will cut off more than one
hundred millions of our annual imports,
beside largely increasing our exports. With
such a picture, it is eay to see how our
large debt abroad is ultimately to be extin
guished. With a b ilanee of trade against
us, including interest of bonds held by for
eigners, and money shipments by our eiti
rens traveling in foreign lands, equal to the
entire yield of precious metals in this coun
try, it is not so easy to see how this result is
to be otherwise accomplished. The acqui
sition of San Domingo is an adherence to
the iWonros uootrine-is a measure ol na
tional protection. It ia asserting our jast'
claim to a controlling influence over the
great commercial traffic soon to flow from
the West to the East by wy of the Isthmus
of DarieBuo.' It is to build up our merchant
marine. It is to furnish cew markets for
the produts of our farms, shops, and man
ufactories. It is to make Slavery insupor
table in Cuba and Porto R ico at once, and
ultimately so in Brazil. It in to settle the
unhappy condition ot Cuba, and cud an ex
terminating conflict. It is to provide hon
est means of paying our honest debts with-
our citizens witti tile necessaries ot every
day life at cheaper rates than ever before.
And it is, iu fine, a rapid stride toward that
greatness which the intelligence, industry,
and enterprise, of the citizensof the United
States, entitle this country to assume among
nations.
In view of the importance of this ques
tion. I earnestly urge upon Congress early
action expressive of its views as to the best
means of ae juiring San Domingo. 'My sug
gestion is, that, by joint resolt'tion of the
two Mouses of Congress the Executive be
authorized to appoint a Commission to ne-
i gotiate a treaty with the authorities of San
Domingo lor the acquisition of that island,
and that a 1 appropriation be made to defray
the expenses of such commission. The
question may then hi determined, by the
action of the two Houses of Congress upon
a resolution of annxation, as in the case of
the acquisition ot. Texas. So convinced am
I ot the advantages to flow from the acqui
sition of San Domingo, and ot the great
disadvantages I might almost say calami
ties to llow from its non acquisition, that
I believe the subject has only to be investi
gated to be approved.
MEXICO EXTRA tHTION THE TIEN TSIN
M-vss.vcrtE.
It is to be regretted that our repreenfa
tion in regard to the injurious eilects, es
pecially upon the revenue of the United
States, ot the policy ot the -Mexican Gov
ernment, in exempting from import duties
a large tract of its territory on our borders,
have not ouly been fruitless, but that it is
even proposed in that country to extend the
limits within which the privilege adverted
to has hitherto been enjoyed. The expedi
ency of taking into your serious considera
tion proper measures tor countervailing the
policy referred to will, it is presumed, engage
your earnest attention.
It is the obvious interest, especially of
neighboring nations, to provide against ime
munity to those w bo may h ive committed
high crimes within their borders, and who
may have sought refuce abroad. For this
purpose, extradition treaties have been con
eluded with several of the Central American
RepfTblies. and others arc in progress. Tli
seiise ot Congress is dj-.iroias earlv as m i,- .
be convenient upon the proceedings of tire
Commission on claims against V ciieztpdu.as i
communicated in my niessaces of March 4,
ls!)"J, .March 1, 1870, and Much 21, 1870. !
It has not been deemed advisable todisiiib-
ute a."y of t he m mey which has been re !
ceive l from that Government uutirCongress i
shall have acted upon tho su'J.; -t. I
The massacre of French and Russian
residents at Tien-Tsin, tinier circumstances I
of great burbariry, was supposed by s r;ic j
to have been premeditated, and to indictte !
a purpose among Hie popuiac" in extermin
ate foreigners in tha Chinese Empire. The
evidence fails to establish such a supposition
but sho-.vs a complicity on the part of the
local authorities with the men. The Gov
ernment of Pekin, however, seems to have
been disposed to fulfil its treaty obligations
so far as it was able to do so. Unfortunately,
the tiews of the war between the German
States and France reached Cbit:a soon af:-r
the massacre. It would appear th&t the
popular mini became possessed wiih the
i lea that this contest, extending to Chinese
water, would neutralize t he Christian indu
ence and power, and that the time was
coisiin when the r uperstitious masses inichi
expel all foreigner-, and restore Mandarin
influences. Anticipating trouble from this
cause, I invited France and North Germany
to make an authorized suspension of bos
'iiities iu the East, where they were tcmpo
rardy mspended by net of the commanders,
and o act together for the future protection
in China of tho lives :ind properties of
Americans and Europeans.
OilEAT BlUTIAN THE ALABAMA CLAIMS
TilEATIKs).
Since the adjournment of Congress, tho
ratifications of the treaty witli Great Mritaiu
for aboiisbiug the mixed courts lor the sup
pression of ttie slave trade have been ex
changed. It is believed that the slave trade
is now confined to tiie eastern coast of Af
rica, whence the slaves are taken to Arabian
markets.
The ratifications of the Naturalization
Convention between Great Britain and the
United States have been exchanged during
the recess, and thus a long-standing dispute
between the two Governments has been
settled in accordance with the principles
always contended for by the United States.
In April last, while engaged in locating a
military reservation near Pembina, a corps
ot Engineers discovered i hue the commonly
received boundary line between the United
States am the British Possessions at that
place is about 4,700 feet south of the true
position of the 4'Jth parallel ; and that the
lim when run on what is now supposed to
be the true po.-ition of that parallel, would
le.tve the fort of the Hudson's Bay Compa
ny at Pembina within the territory of the
United State.?.
This i-d'. rmation being communicated to
the British Government, I was requested to
consent, and did consent, that British occu
pation ot the Hudson's Ray Company
should continue for the present. I deem it
Important, however, that this part of the
boundary should Indefinitely fixed by a
joint commission of the two Governments ;
and I submit herewith estimates of the ex
pense ot such a commission on the part of
the United States, and recommend an ap
propriation for that purpose. The land
boundary has been already fixed and marked
from the summit of the Rocky Mountains
to the Georgian Bay. It should now be in
like manner marked from the Lake of the
Woods to the summit of the Rocky Moun
tains. i
I regret to say-that no conclusion has been
reached for the adjustment of the claims
against Great Britain growing out of the
course adopted by that Government during
the liebelliou. The Cabinet of london. so
far as its views have been expressed, does
not appear to be willing to concede that Her
Majesty's Government was guiity of negli
gence, or did. or permitted, any act during
the war for which the United States has
just oaue of complaint. I therefore rec
ommen J to Congress to authorize tho ap
pointment of a commission to take proof
ot the amounts and the ownership of the j
claims on notice to the lepresentativo tf
Her Majesty at Washington, and that au
ihoi ity be given for the settlement of these
claims bv the United States, so that the
Gvcrtiaent shall have the ownorsbip of
the private claims as well as the responsible
control of alt the demands against Great
Britain. It cannot be necessary to add that
whenever Her Majesty's Government shail
entertain a desire fur a full and friendly ad
justment of these claims. the UnitedStates
will enter upon their consideration with an
earnest desire for a conclusion consistent
with the honor and dignity ol both nations.
CANADIAN VISIIEUIES.
The course pursued by tbu Canadian au
thorities toward the fishermen of the United
States during the, past season ins not been
marked by a friendly feeling. Ry the ti.-st
article of the Convention of 1813 between
Great Britain and the United States, it was
agreed that the inhabitants of the Unitjd
States should have forever, incommon with
British subjects, the riL'ht of takimr fish in
certain waters therein deflned. In the wa
ters not included in the limits named in
the Convention within three miles of
parts of the British coast), has been tho
custom for twenty years to give to intruding
fishermen of the United States a reasonable
warning of their violation of the technical
rights of Great Britain. The Imperial Gov
ernment is understood, to have delegated the
whole or a share ot its jurisdiction or con
trol of these in-shore fishery grounds to the
colonial authority known as the Dominion of
Canada, and this sciui iiidcpciidcnt but irre
sponsible agent has exercised its delegated
powers in an unfriendly way. Vessels have
been seized without notice or warning, in vi
olation ot the custom previous!,' prevailing,
ami have been taken into the colonial ports,
their voyn.fpj.s broken up, and the vessels
condemned.
There is reason to believe that this un
friendly and vexatious treatment was do
signed to bear liarshlv upon the hardy fish
ermen of tlw United Slater, with a view to
political effect upo;: this Government. The
statutes of the Dominion of Canada assume
a still broader, njoie untenable jurisriict ion
ovf r the vessels of the United States. They
authorize pincers or persons to bring vessels
hovering within iluco mating miles of any
of. the coasts, bays, creeks, or harbors, of
Canada, into port ; to search the caiyo ; to
examine the ma.-tcr on oaih touching the
cargo and voyage, and to inflict upou him a
heavy pecuniary penalty if true answers are
not given. And if such a vessel is found
'"preparing to lish" within three marine
miles ot any such coasts, bays, creeks, or
harbors, without a license, or alter the ex
piration ot the period named in the last li
cen so granted to it, they provide that the
vessel, with her taokle. shall be forfeit
ed. It is not. known that any condeimia
tions have been made under this statute.
Should the authorities of Canada tttiempl
to rp force it, it will t-ecome my uu:y to lake
such steps as may be necusMiry to protec;
the rights of the citizens of the Utjlted
States.
It has been claimed by her majesty's ofli
rials that the fishing ves.-cli of the United
States have no riedit to niter the open ports
of the lrif:sh Possessions of North Ameri
ca. except tor the purpose of shelter and
repairing dauiiiites, fur purchasing wood and
obtaining water; that, they have no right to
enter at the British Custom Houses, or to
trade there except for the purchase of wood
and water; and that J hey must depart with
in -4 hours alter notice to lcav. It is not
known that any seizure of a fishing vessel
carrying the Hag of tho United States has
been made und-T this claim. Sa far as the
claim is founded on an alleged construction
of the Convention of lslS, it cannot be ac
quicsced in by the United States. It is
hoped that it will not be insisted on by Her
Majesty's Government.
During the conference which prec"d"d the
negotiation of the Convention of 1818, the
British Commissioners proposed to express
ly exclude tho fishermen of the United
States from the privilege of carrying on
trade with any of His Bnttannic Majesty's
subjects residing within the limits assigued
for iheir use ; and also, that it should not
be "lawful for the vessels of the United
States engaged in such fishery, to have on
board any goods, iv.ncs, or merchandise
whatever, except such as may be necessary
for the prosecution of their voyages to and
from saiil fishing grounds ; and any vessel
of the United States which shall contravene
this regulation may be seized, corflemnd,
and confiscated, with her cargo." .This
proposition, which is identical with the con
struction now put upon the language of the
Convention, was emphatically rejected by
the American Commission, and, thereupon,
ivas abandoned by the Biitish Plcnipotcn
tiaries; and the Article I, as it stands in
the Convention, was substituted. It, how
ever, it be faid that this claim is founded on
Provincial or Colonial statutes, and not. up
on the Convention, this Government cannot
but regard them as unfriendly, and in con
travcntioii of the spirit.it not of the letter,
of ihe treaty, for the faithful execution of
wnich the Imperial Government is alone re
sponsible. Anticipating that an attempt may possibly
be made by the Canadian authorities, in the
coming season, to repeat their uniieigbbor
ly acts toward our fishermen, I recommend
you to confer upon the Executive the power
to suspend, by proclamation, the operation
of the laws aut hoi izing tho transit of goods,
wares, and merchandise, iu bond across the
territory ot the United States to Canada;
and further, siiould such an extreme mea
sure become necessary, to suspend the op
eration of any laws whereby the vessels of
the Dominion ot Catiada are permitted to
enter the waters of the United States.
NAVIGATION OF THE ST. LAWRENCE KIVKR.
A like unfriendly disposition has been
manifested on the part of Canada in the
maintenance of a claim of a right to exclude
the citizens of the United States from the
navigation of the St. Lawrence. This river
constitutes a natural outlet to throeein for
eight states, with an aggregate population
ot about 17,G0.U(.0 inhabitants, and with
an aggrcgatu tunnag'3 of (jol,;;ti7 tuns upon
the wateis which discharge into it. The
foreign commerce of our orts on tlic-e wh
ters is open to British competition, and the
major part of it is done in British bottoms.
If the American seameu be excluded fiom
natural avenue to the ocean, the monopoly
of the direct commerce of the lake ports
with the Atlantic would be in foreign hands;
tiieir vessels on trans-Atlantic voyages hav
ing an access to our lake ports which, would
be denied to American vessels on similar
voyages. To state such a proposition is to
refute its justice. During the Administra
tion ot Mr. John Quniticy Adams.Mr. Clay
unquestionably demonstrated the national
right ot the citizens of the United States to
the navigation of this river; claiming that
the action of "the Congress of Vienna, in o
pening the Rhine and other rivers to all na
tions, showed the judgment of European
jurists and statesmen, that the inhabitants
of a country through which a navigable riv
er passes, have the right to enjoy the navi
gation of that river, to and into the sea,
even though parsing through the territories
of another power. This right does tiot ex
clude the co-equal right of the sovereign
possessing the territory through which the
river debouches into the sea to make such
regulations relative to the police of the nav
igation as may be reasonably necessary ; but
those regulations should be framed iu a lib
era! spirit of comity, and should not impose
needless burdens upon the commerce which
has the light of transit. It has been found
in practice more advantageous to arrange
these regulations by mutual agreement.
The United States are ready to make any
reasonable arrangement as to the police of
the St. Lawrence which may be suggested
bv Great Britain. If the claim made by
Mr. Clay was just when the population of
the States bordering on the bhores of the
lakes was only 3,400.000, it now derives
greater force, and equity- from the increased
population, wealth, production and tunnnge
of the States on the Canadian frontier.
Sirce Mr. Clay advanced his argument in
behalf of our right, the principle for which
he contended has been frequently and by va
rious nations recognized by law or by treaty,
and has been extended to several other great
rivers. Bv the treaty concluded at Mayenco
in 1831, the Rhine was declared free from
the mint where it is first navigable into the
sea. By the Convention between Spain and
Portugal, concluded in J 835, the navigation
of the Douto. throughout its whole extent,
was made free for the subjects of both crowns.
In 185'i. the Argentine Confederation, ly
treaty, threw open the free navigation of
the Parana and Uruguay to the merchant
vessels of all natbms. In 1805, ths Crime
an war was closed by a treaty which provi
ded lor the free navigaiiou of the Danube.
In 1S58, Bolivia, by treaty, declared that it
rcgaided the rivers Amazon and La PUta.
in accordsr.ee with fixed pii iciplts of na
tional law, as highways, or channels opened
by nature for the commerce of alt rations.
In 185, the Paraguay was made free by
treaty ; and in December, 1SG6, the Eoipe
ror ot Brazil, by imperial decree, declared
the Amazon to be open to the frontier of
Lrazil to the merchant .-bips ot all nations.
The greatest living British authority on
this subject, while asserting the abstract
right of the British claim, tiys : "It seems
difficult to deny that Grrat Britain may
ground her refusal upon strict law, but it
is equally difficult to deny first, that in so
doing she exercises harshly u:i extreuio and
hard law: and, secondly, that hor conduct
with respect to the navicarian of the St.
L-iwrfti:ce is in glaring and discreditable in
coip ister.cy with re-pect lo the navigation of
the Mississippi. On the ground that she
possessed a small domain in which the Mis
sissippi took its lis'?, she insisted on the right
to navigate the entire volume of its waters.
On t he ground that she possesses both banks
r t tho S;. Lawrence where it disemhosnas
itself into the sea, she denies to the Uni.od
States the right of navigation. though about
one hah" of the waters ol Lakes Ontario,
Eiio, Huron, and Superior, and the whole
of Like Michigan, through which the river
flows.are the property of the United Statea."
The whole nation is iutcrc.-ted in secur ng
cheap transportation from tho agricultural
states o!' the West to the Atlantic seaboard.
To the citizens of those States, it .secures a
greater return for their labor; to the inhab
itants of the seaboard, it allords cheaper
food ; to the nation, an increase in the an
nual surplus of wpaltf. It is hoped that
the government of Great Rritaiu will see
the justice of aban Joning the narrow and in
consistent claim to which her Canadian prov
inces have urged her adherence.
COMMERCE Ol' TIIC L'NITLU STATES.
Our depressed commerce is a subject to
which I called your special attention at the
last session, and suggested that we will in
the future have to look more to the conn
iries south of us and to China, and Japan
tor its renewal. O'Jr own representatives
to all those Governments have exerted their I
influence to encourage trade between the u
nitcd States :md the countries to which they
aio accredited. Rut the fact exists that the
carrying is almot entirely done in foreign
bottoms and while this siate of affairs exists
we cannot control our due share of the com
merce of the world. That between the Pa
citic States and Ciiina arid J:pan is about all
the carrying trade now conducted in Ameri
can vessels. I wouid recommend a liberal
policy toward that line of American steam
ers otie that will insure its success, and even
an increased usefulness. The cost of build
ing iron vessels the only ones that can com
pete with foreign ships in the carrying trade
is so much greater in the United States
than in foreign countries, that, without some
assistance from the Government, they can
not be successfully built here. Herewith
will be several propositions laid before Con
gress in th5cour.se of the present session,
looking to a remedy for this evil, even if it
should be at some cost to the national treas
ury. I hope such encouragement will be
given as will insure American shipping on
the high seas and American ship building
at home.
T!IE GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT
OF TIIE INTEllIOR.
The condition of the archives of the De
partment of tstate calls for the early action
of Congress, The building now rented by
that Department is a frail structure, at an
inconvenient distance from the Executive
mansion and from the other departments. It
is ill -adapted to the purpose for which it is
used, has not capacity to accommodate the
archives, and is not fire proof. Its remote
situation, its slender construction, and tho
absence of a supply of water in the neigh
borhood, leave but little hope of safety for
either the building or its contents in cyse of
the accident of a tire. Its destruction would
involve the loss of the roils containing the
original acts and resolutions ot Congress, of
the historic records of the Revolution and
ot the Confederation, of the whole series of
diplomatic and consular archives since the
adoption of the Constitution, and of the
many other valuable records and papers left
with that Lepartment when it was the prin
cipsd depository of the Governmental arch
ives. I recommend an appropriation for
the construction of a building for the De
partment of State.
I recommend to vonr reconsideration the
propriety of referring to the Department of
the Interior, to which they seem more ap
propriately to belong, all powers and duties
in relation to the Territories with which the
Department of State is now charged by law
or Usage, and irom the Interior Department
t,o the War Department the Pension Bureau,
so far as it regulates the payment ofsoldier-'
pensions. I wouid further recommend that
the payment of naval pensions be transfer
red to one of the Bureaus of the .Nuvj; De
partment. FINANCES.
The estimates of the expenses of the
Government for the next fiscal year are $1 8,
244.340 00 less than for the current one.but
exceeding the appropriations for the present
year for the same items $C-,972.127 SR.. In
this estimate, however. is included $22,338,
27S 37 far public wotks heretofore begun
under Congressional providing, and of which
only so much is asked as Congress wy
choose to give. The appropriation for the
same works for the present fiscal year was
$11,984,518 00.
The average value of gold, as compared
with national currency, for the whole of the
year 1SC9 was about 134, and for seven
mot.tlis of 1870 the same relative value was
about 115. The approaeli io a specie basis
is very gratifying ; but the fact cannot lie
denied that the instability of tho value of
our currency is prejudicial to our prosperity
and tends to keep up prices to the detriment
of trade. The evils of a depreciated and
fluctuating currency are so groat that now.
when the premium on gold has fallen so
much, it would seem that the time has ar
rived when, by wise and prudent legislation.
Congress should look to a policy which would
place our currency fet par with gold nt no
distant day.
KEVENUE RIF0RM.
The taxes collected from the people has
been reduced more than SsO.OOO.UOO per
B'umai. Ry steadiness in our present course
there is no reason why, iu a few short years,
the nationsl tax-gatherer may not di.sp
pear from the door of the citizen almost en
tirely. With the revenue stamp dispensed
by postmasters in every community, a ta.x
upon liquors of all sorts and tobacco in ail
its forms, and by a wise adjustment of the
larhr, which will put a duty only upon those
articles which we could dispense with, known
as luxuries, and on those which we u-e more
of than re produce, reTeiiue enough may be
laisud, after a few years of peace and cons
quent reduction of in.iebtedue.is to f'u-fil all
our obligations. A further induction of ex
penses, in addition to a reduction of inter
est account, may be reiied on to make this
practicable. "Revenue reform," if il mean
this, 1ms my hearty Mippori, If it implies i
a collection ol all the revenue for tho sup
port of the Govcrirtuent, for the p:'ymn:
of the principle and interest of the p'.iblL
debt, pensions, eta., by diiectly taxing the
people, then I am against revenue iciorut.
and confidently beiiexe the people are wiih
me. If it means failure to provide the
necessary means to defray all expenses of
the Govern. nent. and thereby repudTation
of the public debt and pensions, then I am
still more opposed to sucli kind of revenue
relorm. !
Revenue reform has not been defined by J
any of its advocates, to my knowledge, but j
seems to be accepted as something which j
will supply every man s wants, without any
co-t or effort on his part. A true revr nun i
reform cannot be made in a day, but must j
be the ttork of national legislation and of
time. As soon as the raven -.ie can be dis
pensed with, all duty shad be removed from
coffee, tea, sugar and other articles of uni
versal use not produced by ourselves. The
necessities of the country compel us to col i
lect revenue from our i.uporis. An at my j
of assessors sod coilseto.-s )- not a pleasant 1
sight to t'iieviiizeu ; but that, or a tariff I'oi
revenue, is necessary. Such a tariff, ?o far
a it acts as an encouragement for hou.e
products, atforls employment to labor at
living w igcs. in contrast to the pauper Iv' or
of the O d World, and also in the develop
incut of home resources.
THE ARMY AND SAW.
Under the ar t ot Coiigiess ot the 1 5th dsy
of July. Ls7, the army has gradually been
reduced, so that on the 1st of January. 1S71.
the number of commissioned officers and
men will not exceed the number contempla
ted by that law.
The War Department building is an old
structure, not lire-proof, and entirel,- inade
quate in dimensions to our picent wants.
Many thousands of dollars are now paid
annually for rent of privaie buddings to
accommodate the various bureaus of the
Department. I recommend an appropria
tion to,- a new War Department building,
suited to the present and growing wants of
the nation.
The report of the Secretary of War ohows
a very satisfactory reduction in the expenses
of the army for the last fiscal year. For
details, you are referred to his accompany
iu report.
The expenses of the navy for tho whole
ol the last year. i. e., from December 1,
1SC9, the date of the la.-t report, are less
than $PJ.OO,J,000. or about $l,OU0,C0O less
than they were the previous year. The
expenses since the coiiniieiitfiiietjt of th s
fiscal year, i. e.. since July 1. show for the
five months a decrease of over $2,400,000
from those ot the corresponding months ol
last year. The estimates for the current
year were 52S, 205. C71 :;7. Those for the
next year are 20.03,317, with S'Jjo.IOO
additional for neees.-ary perinament im
provements. These estimates are made
closely for the mere maintenance ot the
naval esiabluhmcnt as it now is, without
much in the nature ot pernnunent improve
ment. The appropriations made for the
last and current years were evidently in
tended by Congress, and are suilicient only,
to keep the navy ou its present footing ly
the repairing and rcQttiug of our old ships.
This policy must, ot course, eradusliy but
surely destroy the 2savy ; and it is in ltseif
far from economic: ! ; as each year th-it it is
pursued thft necessity for moie retails in
ships and navy yard, becomes more imper
ative and more costly, and our current ex
penses are annually increased for th.; met 4
repair of ships, many of which must sooii
b come unsafe and useless.
I hope during the present session of Con
gress to be able to submit, to it a plan by
which naval ves-elscan be built and repairs
made with great saving upon the present
cost. It can hardly be wise statesmanship
iu a Government which represents a coun
try wi'h more than 5.000 miles of const-line
on both oce:ms. exclusive of Alaska, and
containing 40,000.000 of progressive people,
with relations ot every nature with almost
every foreign country, to rest with such in
adequate means of enforcing any foieicn
policy, either ol protection or redress. Sepa
rated by the ocean from the natieus of the
Eastern Continent, our r.avy is our only
means of direct protection to our citizens
abroad, or for the enforcement of any foreign
policy.
TOST-OFFICES, ETC.
The accompany report of the Postmaster
General shows a most satisfactory vrorking
of that department. With the adoption of
the recommendations contained therein,
particularly those relating lo a reform in the
franking privilege, :ind the adoption of cor
respondence caids, a self sustaining postal
system may speedily be lonketl for, and at
no distant day a further reduction of the
' rate of postage may be attained.
1 recommend authorization by Congress
to the Postmaster-General and Attorney
General to issue ail commissions to officials
appointed through their respective depart
ments. At Present. Ihe-e commissions.
where appointments are I 'redden m
are
issued tiv the Mate Ilepartmciu.
Tho law
in all the departments of Government; ex
cept those of the l'ost Uttice auu -i
authonies each to laaue u- v
s ions.
CO in in is-
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Always favoring practical reforms, I re
spectfully call your attention to one abase of
long standing which I would like to seo
remedied by this Congress. It isreform in
the civil service of the country.""" 1 would
have it go beyond the mere tiring of the
tenure of office ot clerks and employees, who
do not require "the advice and consent of
the Senate" to make their appointment
complete. I would have it govern, not the
tenure, but the manner of making all ap
pointments. There is no duty which fo
much embarrasses the Executive and Heads
of Departments as ti.at of appointments;
nor is iherc any such arduous and thankless
labor imposed upon Senators and Repre
sentatives as tht of finding places for con
stituents. The present system does not
secure tho best men. and often not even fit
men for public places. The elevation and
purification of the civil service of the Gov
ernment will be hilled with approval by the
whole people of the United States. '
INDIAN AFFAIRS.
Reform in the management of Indian
afiairs has received the special attention of
the aJministraiioii from its inauguration to
the present diy. The experiment of making
it a missionary woik was tried with a few
iicet cics, sive.i to the denomination of
1'iicr.ds, and has been found to work most
advantageously. All agencies pvi snperin
tendei cies not so disposed of were given to
olFreers ot the army, i he aet of Congress
reducing tlio army render army officers
ineligible for civil po .jtions. Indian agencies
1-einff civil cilices. I determined to give all
the agencies lo such religious denomination
as bad heretofore established missionaries
among the Indians, sr.d perhaps to some
other denominations ys would undertake the
work on tho tame tonus, i". e., as a mis
sionary work. 'Ihe societies selected are
ut-'oWed to name iheir own agents, subiett
to the approval of ibe Executive, and sro
expected to watch oer them and aid tbeut
as missionaries, and to Christianize and
civilize the ludian, aud to train him in the
arts ol peace. The Government watches
over the official acts id these agents, and
requires of them as strict an accountability
as if they were appointed iu any other
maimer. 1 entertain the confident hope that
the policy now pursued will, iu a few years,
bring all luuiuns upou reservations, where
they will live in houses, have school bouses
and churches, and will be pursuing peaceful
and selt-sustaining avocations ; ind where
they may be visited by the law abiding wbita
man with the same impunity that he now
visits the white seltiemeuts. I call your
special attention to the report of the Com
miiiMoner of Indians Affaiis for loll inform
ation cu this subject.
ririiLir; lands.-
During the last fiscal year 809,541,300
acres ol public buds AOie dispossid of. Of
tins ii'tautity 309, S'J l.ifOO aeips were tnken
up under the llomesiet lw, and
acres more sold lor casn. The remain-'
iter was located with Military Warrant, Col
lege or Indian Scrip, or eppiic i in salisfac
tioj ot giants to niilioacs, or for other pub
lic uses. The entries under the Homestead
law during the last ye.ir covered l!6 1,545
acres moie than tkese during the preceding
ye;.r. Surveys iiai'ti teen vigorously piose
cuted lo the lull extent of the means appli
cable to the purpose. The quantity of laud
iu the market wid amply satisfy the present
demands.
The claim of the settler under the Home
stead or 1're cmptiou laws is not, however,
limited to lands subject to eat? at private ra
try. Auy unappropriated surveyed public
land may, ti a limited extent, be acquired
under the former laws, if the party entitled
to enter under thota will comply with tho
requirements they prescribe in regard to
residence and cultivation. The actual set
tler's prcferentM right of purchase is even
broader.and extendi to lands which were un
survtiyed at ths time of his ret t lenient. Ilia
right was fuiuierly coutined within much
narrower limits, an 1 at one period of our
history was conferred only bj special statutes.
They were enacted from time to time to le
galize what was then regarded as an unau
thorized intrusion upon the rational domain.
The opinion tli.it the public lauds should
be regarded chiefly as a source ol revenue is
no longer maintained. Tne rapid settlement
and successful cultiraiion of them are now
justly considered of more importance to our
well being than is the fund which the sale
of them would produce. The remarkable
growth and prosperity of our new States and
Territories attest the wisdom of the legisla
tion which invites the tiller of the foil to
secure a permanent home on terms withiu
the reach of all. The pioneer who incurs
the dangem and privations of a frontier life,
and thus aids in laying ti.e foundation, tf
uew commonwealths, renders a signal service
to his country, and is entitled to its special
favor and protection. 'The laws that isccure
that object largely promote the general wel
fare. They should, therefore, becheiished
as a pern ar.ent fcatu'eof our land system.
Good fai.h requires us to give full effect to
existing grants.
The time honored and betiificent rolicy of
petting apart ctttaiu sections ot public land
for educational purposes in the new States
should be continued. When ample provision
shall have been made tor these objects,
submit as a question woi thy of scrieus con
sideration whether the residue of our nation
al domain should not he wholly disposed of
under the provisions of the Homestead and
Preemption laws. In addition to the swamp
and overflowed lands gi anted to States in
which they are situated. the lands taken un
der the Agricultural College acts and for
interna! improvement purposes under tho
act of September, I41.aud the acts supple
mentary thereto, there hail beeu conveyed
to the close of the last fiscal year, by patent
or other equivalent evidence of title to states
and corporations, 2,7s.'!. Gi,703 and 1-100
acres for railways, canal, and wagon roads.
It is estimated that there is an additional
quantity of 174,730,53 acres still due under
grants for like uses.
The policy of thus aiding the States ia
building works of internal improvement was
inaugurated more than 40 years, fince in tha
grants to Indiana ami Illinois, to aid thoso
Statesin opening canals to connect the waters
of the Wabash wiMi those of Lake Erie,
and the waters of ihe Illinois with those of
Lake Michigan. It was followed, with some
modifications, in the grant Jo Illinois, of al
ternate sections of public land within certain
limits to ths Illinois Central Railway. Four
teen States and sundry i orporatioris have
"received similar subsidies,!!i connection with
railwayscompleted or in process of construc
tion. As th.? several sections are rated at
the doubie minimum, the rale of them at
the enhanced price hasthus.in many instan
ces.indemnificJ the Treasury for the granted
land.
'1 he construction of some of thee thor
oughfares had undoubtedly given a vigor
ous impetus to the development of our ro
sonrccs an 1 the settlement of the noire di-
CunctuUid on Fouiin Tj.