Carlisle herald. (Carlisle, Pa.) 1845-1881, December 01, 1870, Image 5
I=lll3 .4✓V✓V U L f SW GE arm PRESIDENT! - - RAVA.IRES OF' THE FIR E DEMON ! Disastrous Fire—Large Quanti ties of ITay, Corn and Oats Destroyed—Ptirtial insurance on the Property. A FIREMAN AND S()I,DIER TN .TUBED DURING THE- CON FLAGRATION. TlIni:1: It ' , ONE. DITTEI.II" FEIROCHIT'S A nimilv Roa, , ted to De:1111 iu Perri• Count\ York ComAy Alms-lions° Tarn La iil ii ME PRESIDENT'S_MESSAE, To the &nate and House of Represothi_ lices:—A year of peace and general pros perity to this natioilhas passed since the last assembling of Congress. We have, through a kind Providence, been blessed with abundant crops and have been spared from complications and war with foreign nations. Id our midst comparative har mony has been restored. It is to be re gretted, however, that a free exercise of the elective fianchise has, by violence awl intimidation, been denied to citizens in exceptional eascsni;t several of the States lately in rebellion, and the verdict of the people has thereby been reversed. The States of.-Virginia,-Mississippi and Teas hitve been restored to our national councils. Georgia, the only State now without representation, may confidently be expected to take her place there also at the beginning of the new year, and then, let us hope, will be completed the work, reconstruction. With an ac qule'scenCe im thiclsirriAllie wlfisls pect plc in the national obligation to pay the public debt created as the price of our Union, the pensions to our diobled sol diers and sailors and their widows and orphans, and in the changes to the Con stitution which have been made necessary by a great rebellion, there is no reason why we Mundt' not advance in material - 016veri brippiTlCSS- ati no other na h ion ever did after so protracted and de- vastating a war.- • Soon sifter the existing war broke out in Europe and protection of the Piked States Minister in Paris was invoked in taco• of the North Germans domiciled in. French ten:Rory, instructions were issued to grant the protection. This has been followed by an extension of Ameri can protection. to citizens of Saxony, Hesse and Saxe C'oburg, Columbia, Portugal, Uruguay, the Dominican Re public, Ecuador, Chili, Paraguay, and Venezuela in Paris. The charge was an onerrins one, and requiring constant se vere labor as well as the, exercises of patience, prudence and good judgment, "It has been performed to the entire salts- . faction of this government; and, as I alp officially informed, equally so to the satis faction of the government:or NOrth Ger many. As soon as I learned that a re _phblic had been proclaimed at Paris, and that the people or France had acquiesced in the elian,ge, the minister of the United States was directed by telegraph ,to recognize it and to °ilia' my congratu lations and those of the, pecide of the United States. The re-establishment in. Fiance of a system of government, dis connected with the dynasty traditions of Europe, appeared to be a proper subject for the felicitation of American?. Should the present struggle result in attaching . the hearts of the French to our simpler forms of representative government, it will be a subject of still furpier satisfac tion to our people.• While we make no effort to impose our institutions upon the inhabitants of other countries, and...while wo adhere to our traditional neutrality in civil contests elsewhere, we cannot: be Indifferent to the spread of American ^political ideas in a great and highly civic; ized country like France. We were asked by the »ew-governintrnt to use our good offices jointly with those of European pourers qn the interests of peace. An swer was made that the established policy and the true interests of the Unite( States forbade them to interfere in . European questions jointly with Euro pean I-ascertained inform:illy and unoTh eially that the govermnent of North Ger many was then disposed to listen to such rppresentations -from ,ally, Powers, and though earnestly wishing to see the blessings of peace restored to the bellig erents, with all of whom the United States are on terms of friendship; de-; eliped, on the part of the government, to take a step which could only result in injury to our true interests, without ad vancing the object for which our inter vention was invoked. Should the time come when the action of the United States Can hasten the return of peace by a single hour, that action will be heartily taken. . I deemtd it prudent hi view of the number of persOns of, German' aril French bit:th living in th 4 United States to issue, 'seen afteV oflhial - notice of,a state of war had been received from both :bolligerents; /De:lunation dofinin, duties of the 'United .States as a neutial .poWer and the obligations of persons residing within the - smile to observe their laws and the laws of other nations. This proclamation. was followed by , others as circumstances called for therm The , people thus acquainted in advance of their .duties and obligations have, as sisted-:in . preventing viol:4l6mi of the ,neutrality of the United States. . It is"not Understood that the condition. of • the - insurrection in Cuba has ma tonally - changed'aim° the close Of the last session of Congress. In' an_ early stage of tho contest tii -- "Ndhorities of Spain inaugurated a system of arbitrary arrests, of -eloso codlnment and military trial . and execution of, persona ',suspected of complicity with the insurgents, and of summary embargo - them and' their properties,- and ,the sequestration. of their• resources by Oucittivo warrait. Such proceedings,• sib far, as they . .affected the person or property of 'a'citi*nn . of the United 'States, were 'violations , of the Airomises of the treaty of 1705, , ' between the NalleallE°3llLlM MIME 3113121M0 1 31Ea wilem€llo C H United States and Spain. Representa tions of injuries resulting to several per sons claiming to be citizens of the United States, by reason of sttch violations, were made to -the Spanish government from April 18, 1809 to Julie last. The Spanish minister, 'at Washington; .had been clothed with a limited power. ,to aid in redressing such wrongs. That power was found to be: withdrawn in view, as it was said, of the favorable situation in which Cuba then wa4;`Which, however, did not lead to a revocation or suspension of the extraordinary and •arbitrary fundtions exercised by'the ex ecutive power in CUba, and we were obliged to make our complaints at Mad rid. In the negotiations thug opened and still pending, the United Slates only claimed that for the future the rights se cured to.their citizens by treaty should be respected by Cuba, and that as to the past a joint tribUnal should be estab lished in the United States with full jurisdiction over all snob &dins, Before such an impartial tribunal each claimant would• lie required, to prove his -case. On the other hand; Spain would be at liberty to traverse every national fact, anii - trns comifibte equity \Mild be done:- A case which at one time threatened seriously to affect the relations between the United States and Spain has already been disposed of in this way. The claims of the owners of the Aspin wall fur the illegal seizure and detention of the vessel was referred to arbitration by nuqual consent, and has resulted in an award to the United States for the owners of the sum of $19,102.1 - ? o-in Another and long pending claim of a Bice nature—that of the whale ship Canada, —has been disposed of by friendly ar bitratiim durirg the present year. It was referred by the joint consent of Bra zil and the 'United States to the decision of Mr. Edward Thornton, Iler Britanie Majesty's Minister at Washington, who kindly undertook the laborious task of examining the -volluninous mass of correspondence and evidence submitted" by the two governments, and awarded to the United States the mu of, s lolr 710.09 in gold, which has since beck paid by the imperialgovernment. These recent examples show that the terms which the United States has proposed to Spain for adjusting the pending claims are just and feasible, and that they may be agreed to by either without dishonor. It is to be hoped that this moderate de mand may be acceded to by Spain with out further dehiy. Should the pending negotiations unfortimatdiy and unex pectedly pass by without result, it will then become my duty to coMmunicate r that fact to Congress, and invite its tention ou the subject. __, The long deferred peace -conference between Spain and the allied South American republics has been inaugu rated in 11'ashin,gton tinder the auspices of the United' States.., Pursuant to the recommendation contained in the reso lution of the House of Representatives of the seventeenth of Decener, 1806, the ; executive department of the- govern ment offered its friendly offices for the promotion of peace and harniony be -t-ween Spaiti and the 'allied republics, but hesitations and obstacles occured to the acceptance of the offer. Ultimately, however, a conference was arranged, and was opened in this city on the twenty-ninth of October last, at which I authorized the Secretary of State to pre side. It was, : attndcd by the Ministers of Spain, Peru, Chili and Ecuador. In consequence of the absence of a repre sentative 'from Bolivia the conference adjourned until the attendance of pleni potentiaries from that republic could be adopted towards compassing itychrects. The allied and other republics Of Spanish origin on this continent may see in this fact a new proof of our sincere interest in their welfare and of our desire to see them blessed with 'good govermnents, capable of maintaining order and pre= serving their territorial integrity, and of our sincere wish to extend our own com mercial and social relations with them. The time is probably - not far distant when in the natural course of events, the European political connection with this continent will cease.. Our policy should be shaped in view of this proba bility so as to ally the commercial inter ests of the Spanish American States more closely to our own. and thus give the United States - all the prominence amt_all -the advantageS which Mr. Mon roe, Mr. Adams and Mr. Clay contem plated when they proposed to join in the Congress of Panama. During the last session of Congress a treaty for the annexation of the republic of San Domingo to the United States failed to receive the requisite two-thirds vote of the &unto. I was thoroughly convinced then that Dm best interests of this country, commercially and mater 411y, demanded its ralificatiop, Tinto blis only_ confirmed me in this :view. I trafiffibilfbelieve that the moment it is known that the United States has 61 1 tirely abandonod.the project of aceept ing as a part of its territory the island of San Domingo a free port will be negoti ated' for by European nations, au I.; on the Bay of Santana a large commercial city will spring up, to which we will be tributary without recelVing correspond ing benefits. Then will be sten the folly of neglecting to great a prize. The gov ernment of San Domingo has voluntarily - .'sbught this annexation. It is a weak .V__rwey z numbering.probal.,Ay Ices ;than 120,000 souls, and yet possessing one of the richest territories under tho sun, capable of supporting a - population of ten millions of people in luxury. The people of San Domingo are not capable . of maintaining themsolveS in their pits mit (icinda - ion, and must look for outside support. They yearn for the protection of our free' Institutions . and. laws,' our prO • gress and civilization. Shall wq re fuse them?' .. • Tho acquisition of San Domingo is de- . &rabic because of its geographidal posi tion. lecommandA the entrance - to thp Carribean sea, and the isthmus transit of ememcree. • It possesses the richest soil, best and capacious harbors, most. salubrious climate, and the. most valu able products of the forest, mine and soil of any , rain. suolt ' India Islands., Its possession by us will, in a few years, build up a coastwise commerce of itn , mouse magnitude; Which will go far to ward restoring to us orir lost Merchant marine. It will give to; us the . 1 articles Which we consumo so largely and do not •Produee,Stlius equalizing our Of... Ports and imports. In.tase of -foreign war it will iMIL7 give us command of all the islands re ferred to, and thus pievent an enemy from'ever again possessing, himself of a rendgzvons upon our very coast At Present, our coast trade. between the States bordering on the Atlantic and those bordering on the Gulf of Mexico is cut in two by the Bahama's and Allies twice. We must, as it were, pass throith foreign countries to get by sea from Georgia to the west coast of Florida. Ban Domingo, with a stable government Under which ,her immense resources can be developed, will give remunerative wages to tens of thousands of laborers,. not now upon the island. This labor will take advantage of every available means of transportation to abandon the adjacent islands and seek the blessings of freedom and its seqUence, each inhabi tant receiving the reward of his own' labor. - ,Porto Rico and Cuba will -have to abolish slavery as a measure of self preservation to retain their laborers. San Domingo Will -become a large. con sumer of the products of northern farms and manufactories. The cheap rate - at which her citizens can be furnished with food, tools and machinery, will make it -necesSary—thateentiguausislands should have the same advantages in order to compete in the production of sugar, cof-' fee and tobaceb, tropical fruits, etc,. This will open to us a still wider market for our products. The production of our own supply of the articles will cut off more than one hundred millions of • oar annual imports, besides largely increas-• ing our exports. With such a picture it is easy_ to see how our large, debt abroad is ultimately to be extinguished: - With a balance of trade against us, including interest on bonds held by foreigners and money spent by our citizens traveling iu foreign hinds, equal to the entire yield' of the'precions metals in this country, it is not so easy to see how this result is to be otherwise accomplished: The acquisi tion of San Domingo is an adherence to the Monroe doctrine. It is a measure of national protection. It is asserting our just claim - top controlling influence over the great commercial traffic soon to flew front west foeftst by way of the Istinnus of Darien. It is to build up our mer chant marine. It is to furnish new markets for the products of our farms , shops and manufactories. It is to make slavery insupportable in 'Cuba and-Porto Rico at once and ultimately so in Brazil. It is to settle the unhappy condition-of Cuba and end an exterminating conflict Is to provide - honest means of-- paying - our honest debts without overtaxing the people. It is to furnish our citizens with the necessaries of every day life at cheaper rates than ever before, and it is to find a rapid. 'stride toward that great ness which, he intelligence, industry and enterprise of the citizens of the United States entitle this country to hold among nations. In view of the importance of this question I earnestly urge upon Con gress early action expressive of its views as - to the best means of acquiring San Domingo. My suggestion is that by joint resolu tion of the two houses of Congress the Executive be authorized to appoint a commission to negotiate a treaty with the authorities of San. Domingo for the auquisition of that island, and that an appropriation be made to defray the ex penses of such commission. The ques tion may then be determined either by action of the two houses of Congress upon a resolution of annexation, as in the case of the acquisition of Texas. So Convinced am I of the advantages to flow 'from the acquisition of San Domingo, and of the great disadvantages, I might also say calamities, to flow front non acquisition, that I believe the subject has only to be investigated to be approved. It is to be regretted that our represen tations, in regard to The injurious effects, especially upon the revenue of the United States, of the policy of the Mexican gov ernment in exempting from import duties a large tract of its territory .on our borders, have not only been fruitless ; but that it is even proposed in that country to extend the limits within which the privilege adverted to has been enj'oyed.. The expedieuerof taking into your seri ous consideration proper measures fee .counterrailing, the policy referred to will, it is presumed, engage your earnest at tention. It is the obvious interest, es pecially of neighboring nations, to ~prov ide against impunity to those who may lraVe committed highway crimes within these borders and who may have sought refuge abroad. For this purpose extra= claim treaties have been concluded with several of the Central American republics and others are in progress. The sense of Congress is desired as early as may be convenient upon the pro ceedings of the commission of claims against Venezuela, as communicated in my messages of March 10, 1869, March 1, 1870,,,and March .31,-1870. It..has .hot„ been deemed advisable to distribute any of the money which hates 'reeehled from that government until Congress shall have acted upon the subject. The massacre of French and Russian residents at. Tien-Tshi, under circum stances of great kith:tray, were supposed' by some to have been premediated and to indicate a purpose among the populace to exterminate all foreigners in the Chinese empire. The evidence fails tq establish such a supposition, but shows a complicity between the local huthorities and the mob. The government at Pekin, however, seems to have_been_ilispoSed to, fulfill-its treaty obligations so far: as it was - .able to do' so. Unfortunately the nos of, the war hetWeen the German state's and 'France reached China soon, after' the massacre. It would' appear 1 that the popular mind bedame possessed with the idea that if this contest ex- I tended to ChineSe waters it- would neu tralize the Christian influence and powers, and that the time was coming when the superstitious-masses might expel all for eigners and-I:estop:1 mandarin influence. Anticipating trouble from this 'cause," I invited France and, Northern Germany to • make an authorized mispenSion of hOstilitiesj in the,_East'when they were tempOrarifr suspended by act of the com manders, end they agreed to tint together for the future protection'in China of the lives and properties of Americans am! Europeans. . Since the adjournment. of Congress the ratification of tiff treaty nrith,,. Great Britain for "abolishing i n() !nixed courts arid Tor the suplwession of theslavetrede haa been exchanged. It is believed that the•slave trade is now confined to the eastern coast of Africa, whence the slaves are taken to Arabian markets. The ratification or the naturalization convention between Great Britain and the United States has alsobeen exchanged during the recess, and thus a long stand ing dispute between the two govern ments has been settled in accordance with the principles always contended for by the United States. In April "last, while engaged in locit- - leg a military reservation near Pembina, a corps of engineers discovered that the commonly received boundary line be tween the United States and the British - possessions at that place, is about forty seven hundred feet south of the true position of the forty-ninth parallel. That the line when run on what is now sup pOsed to be the true position.pf that parallel, would leave part of the Hudson Bay company at Pembina, within the territory of the United States. This in formation being .communicated to the British government, was requested to consent and did consent that the British occupation of the fort of the Hudson Bay company should continue for the present. I deem it important, however, that this part of the boundary line should be definitely fixed 133; - 1 - 1 FRU`fiarniiriission of the two governments, and I submit herewith estimates of expense of such a commission on the part of the United States and recommend that an appropri-. `alien be made for that purpose. The land boundary has already been fixed and marked from the summit of the Rocky Mountains to the Georgian base. It should now be in like manner marked from the lakeoftlie Woods to the-sum— mit of the Rocky Mountains. I regret to say that no contusion has -been reached for the adjustment' of the claims against Great Britian growing ont.of the course adopted by that gee eminent during the rebellion. Tile cabi net at London, as its views have -been expressed, does not ,appear to be Willing to concede that her majesty's govern• meut was guilty of any negligence, or did or permitted:my act during the war ' by which the United States has just corn- O&M.. Our and ttnalterable ermine= tions.are directly the reverse. I there- I fore recommend to Congress to authorize I the. appointment of a commission to take proof of the amounts and the ownership of these several claims on notice to the representative of her majesty at Wash ington, and that authority be given for the settlement of these claims by the United:States -so-that -the•-governMent I shall have the ownership of the private, claims as well as the reocufsito :control of all-the demands against Great Britain. It cannot be necessary to add that when ever her majesty's government shall en! tertaia a desire for a full and friendly 'adjustment of these claims the United States will enter upon . their considera tion with an earnest desire for a conclu skin consistent with the honor and dignity of both nations. The course pursued by the Canadian authorities' toward the fishermen of the United States during the past season has not been marked by a friendly feeling. By the first article of the convention of 1818, between. Great Britain and the United States, it was agreed that the in habitants of • the United States should have forever, in common with their subjects, the right of taking fish in cer tain waters therein defined. In the Waters not included in the limits named in the convention, within threcrmiles of parts of the British coast, it has been the custom for many years to give to intruding fishermen of the United States a reasonable warning of their violation or the technical rights of Great Britain. The imperial govern ment is understood to have delegated the whole, or a share of its jurisdiction or control of these inshore fishing grounds to the colonial - authority known as the Dominion of Canada, add this same independent but irresponsible agent has exercised its delegated powers in an unfriendly way. Vessels have been seized,' without 'notice or warning, in violation of the custom previously prevailing and have been taken into the' colonial ports, their voyages broken up and the vessel's condemned. There is reason to believe that this unfriendly and vexatious treatment was designed to bear harshly upon the hardy fishermen of lbe United States with a view to political effect upon this government. The statutes of the Dominion of Canada assume a still broader and more unten able jurisdiction over the vessels of the United States. They * authorize officers or persons to bring vessels voyaging within three nunine milesoof any of the coasts, bays, creeks or harbors of Canada into port, to search the cargo, to examine the master on oath touching the cargo' and voyage . , and to inflict upon him a heavy pecuniary penalty if true answers arc Inotugiven ;_and if such. , a -vessel is found preparing to fish within - three marine miles of any such coasts, bays, creeks Or , harbors' without-a-license, or after the expiration of the period named in tile last license granted to it, they provide that the vessel with her tackle, etc., shall be forfeited. Lt is not known that, any condemnations have been made under this statute. Should the authorities of Caneda attempt to enforce 'if;, it will , then become my duty to take such steps as may be necessary to protect: the rights of the citizens of the 'ended States. It has -,beeli claimed by her majesty's officers that tlie'iishing vessels of the United - States have no right to enter the open. ports of'. the British possessions in North "America,,,exceit for the purposes of shelter and repairing damages, of purchasing food and obtain ing water; that, they ]rave no right to enter at the British custom houses, or to trails there except in the' puirchase of wood. and water, and that they must departv - iiithin twenty-four hours, after notice to leave. It is not known that any 'seizure of a Ailing vessel carrying the flag of the TJUited States, has been made under thislclaim... So .far as'the claim is, fon:ided en.an alleged construte. tiou of the convention of 1818, ittanuet be acquiesced in by the 'United States. It is hoped .that it will not he insisted, I upon by her' majesty's ,government. .During the conferences - Which ',preceded the negotiations Of tlici convention of 1;318, the British com Missioners proposed to expressty . , exclude* the :fishermen of the United States from the privllege of carrying trade with; any Of his Brittunic 114OstY's Subjects 3 residing within Olo'limits . asSigneil for their vise, • and also, that it should not be lawful for the vessels of the United States engaged in said fishing, to have - on board any goods; wares or metchaudise whatever, except suchns may be necessary for tho• prosecution of their voyages to and from said fishing grounds,-and that any vessel of the United States which' shall con travene. this regulation may be seized, condemned and confiscated with her cargo. This proposition; which is identi cal with the construction now put upon the langudgo of theAonvention, • was emphatically rejected by the Ameriean commissioners, and thereupon was aban doned by the British plenipotentiaries, and officio one as it stands in the conven tion was substituted. ,If, however, it be said-thatthis claim is founded on provin cial-or' colonial statutes, and not upon the convention, this government cannot bilt - iegard them as unfriendly and in contravention of the spirit, if not of the letter of the treaty for the faithful execu tion'of which the imperial government is alone - responsible. Anticipating that an attempt May possibly be 'made . by the Canadian authorities in the coming season to repeat 'theft• unneighborly acts toward our -- fishermenr-I-reaornmend—you_te confer upon the executive, the power to suspend by proclamation the operation of the laws authorizing the transit of goods, wares and merchandise in bond across the territory of the United States to Can.. Lada, and, further, should such an ex- I treme measure become necessary, to suspend the operation of any laws whereby the vessels of the dominion of Canada are - permitted-to enter-tire-waters of the United States. A like unfriendly I disposition has been manifested on the I part of Canada in the maintenance of a I I claim of right to exclude the citizens of the United States from the. St. Lawrence. This river constituntes a natural outlet to the ocean for eight States, with an aggregate population of 17,600,000 in habitants, and with an aggNdato ton nage of 661,367 tons upon the waters which: discharge it. The foreign can= coerce of our ports on these waters is open to British coimictition, and the ma jor part of it is done in British bottoms: If the American, seamen be excluded from this national avenue to the ocean, the monopoly of the direct' commerce of the lake ports with the Atlantic would be in foreign hands, trans-atlantic voy lacroWbaring an access to our lake ports would be denied-to American vessels on similar voyages. To state such a propo sition is to refute itsjustice. Ddringthe administration of Johns Quincy Adams, Mr. Clay - unanswerably demcinstrated -, the natural right of the citizens of the United- States to the navigation of this -river, claiming that the act of the Con gress of Vienna in Opening the Rhine and other rivers showed the judgment of European jurists and' statesmen,' and that the inhabitants of a country through which a navigable - river passes have a natural right to enjoy the navigation of that ricer to and into the sea, even though passing through the 'territories of another Power. This right does not exclude • the co-equal right of the, sovereign possessing the territory through which the river debouches into he sea to make such regulations relatiVe to the police of the navigation, as may be reasonably necessary ; but these regula tions should-be framed in a liberal spirit of comity, and should not impbse need less burdens upon the commerce has the right of transit. It has bear 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 policy of the St. Lawrence which may be suggested by Great Britain. If the claim made by Mr. Clay was just, when the population of the States bor dering on the lakes was only 3,400,000, it now derives greater force and •equity from the increased population, wealth, production and tonnage of the States on the Canadian frontier. Since Mr. Clay advanced his argument in be half of our right, the principle for which he contended, has been fre quently and by various nations , recog nized by law or by treaty and has been extended to several other great rivers. By the treaty concluded at Mayouce, ^ in 1831 the river was declared free from the point where it is first navigable into the sea. By the convention between Spain and Portugal, concluded 1835, the navigation of the Douro throughout its whole extent was made free for the sub jects of both crowns. In 1853 the Argen tine Confederation by - treaty throw open the free navigation of the Parana and Uruguay to merchant vessels of all na tions. In 1850 the Crimean war was closcd by a treaty, which provided , Ibr the free navigation of -the Danube:' ;hi 1858 Bolivia, by treaty, declared that it regarded the rivers Amazon and La Platte, in accord:nice - - with - the - fixed principles of the national law, as high ways or channels open by nature for the commerce 'of all nations, In 1850 the Paraguay was made free by treaty, and, in December, 18011,- the Emperor of Bra zil, by imperial decree, declared the Amazon to be open to the frontier of Brazil to the merchant ships of all nations. The greatest living British au thority on this subject while, asserting the abstract right of the British claim, says it seems difficult to deny that Great Britain may ground her 'refusal upon strict law, but it is equally "difficult.to -deny,—first, that So .doing she exer cises haleddy an, extreme and hard law secondly, that her conduct with respect to the navigation C;Fthe St. Lawrence is in ;glaring and discreditable., inconsis tency with her conduct with respect to the navigation of the, Mississippi. On the ground that she lc).4"sessed a small domain in Which the Mississippi' took its rise, she insisted. on the right'to navi gate the entire volume of its waters On the ground that she possessed both banks of the St. Lawrence where itdisembogues into the sea, sho doilies to the. 'United States the , right of navigation„ , though about one-half of 'the waters oil ;Ltilcoa Ontario, Erie, • Huron, ;and Superior, and the whole of Lake Michigan, through WWI the river, flews, are the prop'erty of the . Unlted States. The nation is inL 'Wrested in securing eheantransportatien from the agricultural States of the west to the Atlantic seaboard. To tire cat zens of those Stated it seems a greater -return for 'their labor. To. the inbabi , tants of ,the.sealmard, it afforde eheapet ''food, and tb , the Ibstion an increase in the annual surplus of wealth, It is to be hoped that the government of Great Britain Will see the justice of abandon ing the narrow and inconsistent claim to Whichler Canadian provinces have urged her adherents. Our : depressed commerce is a' subject --- to which I called your special. attention at the last session and suggested that wo will in the future have to look more to the countries south of us and to China and Japan for its revival. Our repre sentatives to alLthoso governments have exerted their influences to encourage trade between the United States and the countries to which they 'are accredited ; but the fact exists that. the 'carrying is done almost entirely in foreign bot6oms, and while this state of affairs exist, we cannot control our due shard of the com merce of the world. That' between the Pacific States and China and Japan is about all the carrying trade now con ducted in American vessels. I would recommend a liberal policy towards that line of American steamers, one that will insure its success, and even increased usefulness. 'The cost of building iron vessels, the only ones"that, can compete with foreign ships to the carrying of trade, is so much greater in the United States than—iiii---eountries,--that— without some assistance from the govern. ment, they cannot be successfully built here. There will be several propositions laid before Congress in the Course of the present session looking to it remedy for this evil, even if it should be at some cost to the national treasury. I hope such encouragement will be given as will secure American shipping on the high seas and .AmeriCan ship building — at home. The condition of the archives at the Department of State call for the early action of Congress. The building now rented by that department is a frail structure, at an ititonvenient diStance from the executive mansion and from the other departments. It is ill adapted to the purposes for which it is used, and has not capacity to accommodate the archbies, and is 'not, fire-proof. Its remote situation, its slender construction, and absence of a supply of water in the neighborhood,' leaves but -little hope of safety for either the building or its con tents in case, of the accident of a tire. Its destruction would involve the loss of the rolls containing the original acts and resolutions of Congress, of the historic record's of the 'Revolution, and of 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 'department when it was thp principal depcisitory of the governmental archives. I recommend an appropriation for the construction of a building for the Department of State. I recommend to - your consideratiomthe propriety of transferring to the Depart merit of the Interior, to which they seem nitre appropriately 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 from the Interior Department to the War Department the Pension Bureau, so far as it regulates the 'payment of soldiers' Pensions. I would, further recommend that the payment of naval pensions be transferred to one of the bureaus of the Navy Department, • The estimates of the expenses of the government for the - next fiscal year are $18,244,346.01 less than for the current one ; but exceeds the appropriations for the, present, year for the saute items $B,- 072,127.50. Iu this estimate, however, is included $22,338,278.37 for public works heretofore bogus nailer Congres sional provisions, and of which only so much is asked as Congress May choose to give. The appropriation for the same, works for the present fiscal year was $11,084,518.08. The average value of gold, as com pared with national currency for the whole year of 1869, was about $1.34, and fot 'eleven months of 1870 the same rela tive value has been $1.15.. The approach to a specie basis is very gratifying, but the fact cannot be denied that the insta bility of the value of our currency is prejudicial to our •prosperffy and tends to keep up prices, to the detliment of trade. The evils of a depreciated and fluctuating currency are so great, that now, when the premium on gold -has fallen so mach, it Would seem that the timeluts arrived when by wise and pru dent legislation Congress should look to a policy which must place our currency at par With , gold at no. distant day. The tax colleßted from the people has boon redueec ‘ lne than $80,000,000 per an num. BY steadiness our• presqnt course, there is no reason why, in a few short years, the national tax-gatherer may not disappear from the 'door of the citizen almost entirely. Will the revenue stamps - -by postmasters every community, a tax upon liquors of all sorts, and tobacco in all forms, and by a wise adjustment of the tariff which will put ;minty only upon those articles. Which we could dispense with, known as luxuries, and on those which we use' more 'of, thaMpioduce, a further reduc tion of expense, in addition to a reduc tion of interest account, may be relied on to make this practicable. If revenue re form means this, it, has my hearty sup port. -Itit implies a collection of all the income for the support of the government, for the payment of the principal and in terest of the public debt, 'pensions,. etc., by . directlytaxing the people; then Imm - against revenue reform, and confidently belituhr the people aro with Me: If it malts a failure to provide tho'necessary means to. dofrarall time expenses of the governMent and thereby, repudiation of_ the public debt and pensions, then I am ,still more opposed to such kind of rove:- nuo reform. .IloVefino reform : has not been defined 'by any of Its advocates; te my knowledge, butlieems to be accepted as , liomething which s elpply 'every males Wants without any cost or effort on. his part. A true revenue reform can= not' bo mado in a day, but must be tli6 work Of-national legislation and.of time: As'soon as the revenue Can . bo.disponsed :With, all ,duty should be removed' front coffmoeayed 'othor nAlelT3 -of tinivel4 satuso not produced by ourselves. Tlio ,nocbssities'Of the country, compel us to ,collect revenue from out 'imports., .44 army of assessors and eolle r otote 'not' 4 pleasant sight to Alm citizen, I, llt a tariff for revenue is necessary. Such tariff 134' far as it acts ,as ( ati.thcoriragernout .te home production, affords employment to labor at living wages in contrast to the pauper labor of the old world; and also in - the development of home resources under theact of_Cmigress of the fifteenth, day of July, 1870. , . .• The army has gradually been reduced to that on the first day of January, 1871. The number of commissioned officers and men will not exceed the number contemplated by that law. The Law Department builting is an old structure, not' fire-proof, and en tirely inadequate in dimensions to our Present wants. Many thousands of dol lars are now paid annually for rent of private buildings to accommodate vari ous bureaus of the department: I rec ommend an appropriation for new War :Mopartmentioindin f nuitod to the present growing wants of the nation. 'The report' of the 'Secretary of War shows a very satisfactory reamtion in the expenses of the army for the, last fiscal year. For details you are referred to his accompanying report. The expenses of the navy for the whole of last year, from 'December 1, 1869, the date of the last report, are, less than $19,000,000; or about $1,000,000 less than they were the previous year. The expenses since the-commencement of the fiscal year since July I—show for the five mouths a decrease of over $2,- 400,000 from those of the corresponding months of last year. The. estimates for the' current year were $28,201,075.37. Those for next year are $20,681,317, with $955,100 additional fur necessary and permanent iMprovements. TheSe es timates are made closely for the mere maintenance the - naval—estab lishment, as it now is without Much in the nature of permanent improvement. The appropriations made for the last and current years were evidently in tendedby Congress and are sufficient only to keep the navy on its present footing by the repairing and-refitting of bur old ships. This policy must of course gradually but surely destroy the ravy, and it is in itself far from coo- - nomical as each year that it is, pursued the necessity for new repairs in ships and navy yards becomes more impera tive and more costly, and our current expenses are annually increased for the mere repair •of ships, many of which must soon become unsafe and useless. I hope during the -present session of Congress to be able to submit to it a plan by which naval vessels can be built and repairs made with great saving upon the I ^ ,preseilt cos!, I.e_,can hardly be wise statesmanship in a government WhiCh represents a country with over live i thousand miles of coast lines on both oceans, . exclusive of Alaska, and con taining forty millions of progressive people, : with relations of -every nature with almost every' foreign country, to ' rest_iitlt suchipaPprate means_ j of forcing any foreign policy; either of pro tection or redress. Separated by the ocean from the' nations of the Eastern Continent, our navy is our only means of j direct protection to our citizens abroad, or for the enforcement of any foreign The accompanying report of the Post master General shows a most. satisfae •tory working of that department. With the adoption pf - the recommendations contained therein, particularly those re-1 lating to a reform in the franking privi lege and , the adoption of the correspond' once Cards, a self-sustaining postal sys tem may speedily be looked for, and at no distant day a further reduction of the rates of postage be attained. I recom mend the • authorization , by Congress , ' to the Postmaster General and the Attorney General to issite all the com missions to officialii appointedqhrongh , their respective department. At pros,- ent these commissions, were appoint ments are presidential, are issued by the State Department. The law in all the departments of the government, except those of the 'post aide and of justice, authorizes eilch to issue its own cousin issions, always favoring practical forms. I respectfully call your attelt tion to one abuse of long, standing, which I would like to see remedied by this- Congress. IL is a reform in the civil service of the country, I would have it beyond the mere fixing of the tenure of office of clerks and - employees, who do not require the advice and con sent of the Senate. To make their appointments complete, I would have it govern not the tenure but the manner of malting appointments. There is no duty which so embarasses the executive and heads oftlepartments, nor is there any such arduous and thank less laborlinposed on Senators and rep resontatives as that oftintling,. places -for constituents. The, prcgent system does not secure the best men, mid often not even fit men fur public places. The ele vation nod purification of the civil ser vice of the government will - 'ho hailed -I With approval by the whole beoplel of the United States. fieform in I the management of • Indian affairs I has received the special attention of the administration from its inauguration to the present day. The -experiment of making it a missionary work. was -tried with a few agencies, given to the denom ination of Friends, and has , been found 1 to work most advantageously. '„ All ' -agencies and superintendents not so die- posed of were given to officers of the ninny; The act of Congress reducing the army renders army officers ineligible for I civil service. Some of the Indian agolu-'' hieing civil offipers ,I deemed it •my duty to give ult.the ngencics 'to such re ligions denominations 'as had heretofore established missionaries among the In dians, and perhaps . to some other denominations -'Who would_ undertake the work on saline terms, ' i. e., as a missionary work. The skieties selected are allowed to, name their own agents, , subject ,to the, ap proval 'of the 'executive, -and :are „Mc, pected to watch over, .and aid them ns missionaries to Christianize.and civilize the Indians and to tract them in the arts' of peace. Tho goviirnment watches over the official ants: of these' agents and re pukes of them as strict an liceountability as if 'they were appointed in any other. manner. 'ltintertaid , the-confident hope that the policy now pursued hum few years. bring' all the Indians upon reservations, whore they will HY() in fiotises; and; haviu , schoOl-houses,' mhurebeS,ifind,Will be pursuing peacefuf mud solf-instaining avocations tund,wheo ;they , may•ho visited by the law-abiding white man with the same, impunity that he now visits the civili2ed white settle ments, I call your special attention to the report of the Commissioner of la dian affairs for full information on this ,subject. During the last fiscal year 8,093,413 acres of public land were dis posed of. Of thisfpnibtity 3,698,910.03 acres were taken under the homestead law, and 2,199,515.81 acres sold for cash. The remainder was located with mili tary warrants, college or Indian Scrip, 'or applied in satisfaction of grants to rail roads, or for other purposes. The ' entries under, the homestead law during, I the last year covered 981,545 acres more than those during the preceding year. Surveys have been vigorously prosecuted to the full extent of, the means applica ble to the pturtiose. The quantity of land in market will 'amply supply, °the present demand. The claim of the 'settler under the homestead or the Pre-emption law is not, however, limited to lands subject to sale at private entry. Any unappropriated surveyed public land may to a limited' amount be ac:- quired under the former laws, if the party entitled to enter under them will comply with the requirements they present in regard to residence and cultivation. The actual allot's' preference right of laTiTel-sirihrb-rziarlerlmd-exteirds-to lands which were misurveyed at the time of his satlement. His right was formerly confined irvithin much narrower limits, and at one period of our history, was conferred only by special statute, there fore enabling him, from time to time, to legalize what was then regarded as an unauthorized intrusion uponthe national domain. Thc...opinion that the public lands should be regarded chiefly as a source of revenue is no longer maintain ed. The rapid Settlement and successful cultivation of them are now justly con sidered-of-more importance to our well being than is the fund which 'the sale of thorn would produce. The remarkable -growth and prosperity of our new States and Territories at the West—the wisdom of the legislation which invites the tiller of-the'soil ; to secure a permanent home On terms within the reach of all, the pioneer who incurs the dangers and pri vations of a frontier life, and thus aids in laying the foundation of a new pm-, monivealtit. renders ,a signal service to his country and is entitled to its special favor and protection.' These laws secure that object and largely promote the gen eral welfare. They should, therefore, be cherished a.s a permanent feature of our and system. Good faith requires -us_to.give_full_ effect, ,to ,e;sisting,,gyants, The time honored and beneficent policy of setting apartPrtain_sections of public lands for educational pbrposes in the new States should be continued: When ample -provisions shall have, been made for these -objects- I submit as-a--question. worthy of serious consideration whether -the:residue-of ounnatjonal domain should: not be wholly disposed of under the pro visions of-the homestead and pre-emption laws. In addition to the swamp and over flowed lands granted to the States in which the - y arq situated, the lands taken. under the -agriculturalc college acts foi internal improvement purposes, finder the act of September, 1811, and the acts supplemental thereto, there had been conveyed, up to the close of the last fiscal year, by patent or other equivalent evi dence of title, to States and corporations 27,836,257.03 acres foz: railways, canals and wagon roads. It is estimated that an additional quantity of 174,735,523, acres is still duo under grants for like 1.1905. Tho poliey.of thus aiding the States in building works of internal improvenient was inaugurated more than forty years iiitiee lit the grants to Indiana and Illi nois, to aid these States in opening canals to connect the waters of the Wabash with those of Lake Erie, and-the waters of the Illinois with those of Lake Miel;i: gan. It was followed with some modifica tions in the grant to Illinois of alternate sections of public land within certain limits of the Illinois Central railway. 'Fourteen States and so dry corporations have secured similar subsidies in con nection with railways completed or in process of construction, as the reserved sections are raised at the double mini mum:- The sales of then[ at the enhanced price has thus in many instances indem nified the Tretvittry for the granted bonds. • The construction of sonic 'of these thoroughfares has undoubtedly given a vigorous impulse to the development of our resources and the settlement of the more distant portions of the country. It may however, be wet insisted that much of our legislation in this regard has been characterized by indiscriminate and pro , fuse liberality. The United States should not loan' their credit in aid of any enter prise undertaken by States en: corporal ien Tler grant lands in any instance, unless the .projected work is tit acknowledged national importance. " I am strongly inclined to the opinion that it is inexpedient and unnecessary to bestow subsidies of either description, but shOuld Congress determine other wise I . earnestly recommend that - the rights of 'settlers and of the public be more, effectually secured and protected by appropriate legislation. During the year ending September 30; 1870, there -were filed in the Patent Oflico 10,411 applications far patents,' 3,374 caveats and 160 applications for thd ex tension of Patents.: 13,6epakents, in cluding; - roissues 7 and designS, weto issued, 110 extended and 1;089 allowed, but' issued by reason Of the nonpayment of the, final fees; The receipts of the office during the fiscal year - were. $136,- 401.29 in excess of itgexnenditures. • The w6rks of the Census Bureau has, been energetically Mosecuted, The'pre liminary Keport containing muckinfor illation and,. speciA value-'-and interest will be • ready , for. delivery during the present session. The' remaining volumes will be convicted with all the despatch consistent with -perfect accuracy in ar ranging and classifying. the returns. We shall thus, at no distant 'day, be fur nished with an authentic , record of our condition andresources— It will, L doubt not, attest the, growing prosperityof tho country,' • Although during tho decade which lias just closed, it wai: - .Sovercly tried by the great war waged to maintain its integ rity, mid to secure: and perpetuate our free institutions, during the laiikilseal lEI year, the sum paid to pensioners, inelmit ing the cost of disbursement, was 780,811 11, and 1,753 homily 'land war rants were issocd at its cliff-C. Ithz. names were on the pension roll. The labor:z of the Pe ion (Mayo hay. b:-en directed to the severe rc•rn`irt the evikl.ent , t. ,ulytilitt,d iu favor claims and to the diseoxery of list I' ious claims, which have been heretofore lov..ed. The appropriation fur the rut, ployment of special agents for the inve,! gallon of frauds hasbeen judieiraisly w.rd and the results obtained been nf IlllqUePtionible benefit to the service. The subjlpts of education and agrlind tor, are of great interest to the sneee , s; of our republic...air institutions, liappines; and grandeur as a nation. In the int, r. est of one a bureau has been estahti. le .1 halite Interior Department—the Bureau of Education. In the interest of the othei• is a separate department—that of agriculture. I' believe great neural good is to flow from the operations of both these bureaus if properly fostn.r.l. 'I cannot commend to your careful consideration too highly the re 01)11 - Of the connufssioners Of edueation and agl tore, nor urge too strongly such li! :al legislation as to secure their efficiency. In conelnsion I would sum tip tire pol i-i-of_thearlministration to be a thor ongh enforcement of every law, a 'fa ith tlil collection of every tax provided f.ir. economy • in the disbursemetit or t iv same, prompt payment of d ,, ht ~ f the nation, a reductiOn of tas,., , idly as the requirements r,f ills will, admit, reductions of taxation a .01 tariff to lie so arranged as 1,, aff t•ii,•l to the greatest munher, himest 4 •and_ dealings with all ofher people, to I ln• that war, with all its plighting gnomes may be avoided, hut v. ithont surrendering any right or nbligal m line to us. A reform in our treatment of the Indians, and in the whole el; II ser';ic , l the country, and, finally, in seem ;ine,. rt purr, untrammeled ballot, that o•\,•1 . ) , man entitled to vote may do jo.l. on , •.• at each election, witlYnit rear of ni tation or proscriptien- on account of Li political faith, .color or nativity. (m..\ Exceicti; - e LOCAs 771 (RSDA DEC E WE at,' preparcLl, at :ill litact t, t o i t t inn b,yzitiw , s, and ,1'10n . . , -;titatilm , for il~ gaillz at loll:' S.W.SAGEainI bUe - l:7treaf :etrice:i—are new in order. But these luxuries not be indulged in by the poor printer. THE iaItALD is the best local the county. Terms $•!.00 per yen rin advance ; or!:?.slTif pan il tirthcr - mtpiit 7 . tion of the year. Ilnarovm..—ll6nry Kennelly, has moved his Shaving Saloon foon.thelst, merit of D. Sipe's bnildilig to Zit z. , C corner, No. 10 North Hanover street. 'Fur: Ile-Union or the P26th P. V.. \i El be Kehl in Chambersburg, teenth instant. Persons tlesirtms ~r - tendin g can procure ticket:, at t•.,•nni ,11 rates, by making application M. tilt principal stations on the C. V. " CARLISLE haTa 111iii•!1 larger and better than the .dd one." -- Bloomfield Time? This is news to as, and no dontd. ako, to tie citizens of Carlhdc. You woro slitifhtly misinformed that limo . Mt. Editor. L. T. GILEENPIEI , II, the entelmi-,,:•, , merchant; at Main has just rettirned from the eas'el.n - ies with a large invoice or ace beautiful (resi g n:, or the t,t Winter gootls. lie is imw propme , l welcome all who may fay.r him visit. (luring the :vumoaching. EXTENsIVE Fi1:1 , ..--The new trim a , tached to the York Comity Alm, 110:1 Was burned to the grid last. All the farming imhleiO nt &c.; together v,ith lot bushels of potatoes, grain, hay, straw fodder were cOnsUrned; 13 head or and four nudes eini,hed. 'the not known, but there is au immune: , or $lO,OOO on the building,. and 2,001) ni the contents. It was said to have hem! one of the most handsome halos in 11 State. DISASTIZOCS TlrO ‘ Lisu rano; on Ike Pooper11;. --.A.botit is minntei.)4rnwe 12 o' vlovl: Tuesday night find, fire was di.e.;vm,•,l in the large ft': in 6 stable attaklmd Cumberland Valley lintel. Tim r mtl alariM, were promptly given, but ow im; to The great ditlimilty in aroming the firemen, and eitrzens generally, comid ernble time elapsed before the engine.; 'reached the npot, the dames in the mean time had made such great headway; I hat all of to save the burning imild proved Mr.-Faber lost '2O orllo barrels or corn a, quantity of oats,. hay and at raw, to gether with a lot of chickens , ; I nd t ur k e y s ; Th e horses, wilgon, harn9ss and hogs were. removed' in :tartly. losses will reach 4;200, on which 'llure is no insurance.. Mr. Garver, the owner of the properly, VC understand, has an insuranee on the -, stable' of igiqc), Ills loss, will lro front $l,OOO to $1,;;00. The ice house, close by, was considera bly damaged by the heat from the born. * ing building,-'Through the ell•oi•Ia of the firemen' fluff snrnviuuling. properties were saved from destinction. A frame stable belonging'toMr. Neidich, almost , a square distant, was discovered to be . names, ignited by the flying / sparks, and . speedily extinguislied. Peter Morris, piposnmu of the t'ilion 'Fire..p6unrcoy, while busily engaged,. was struck by a falling girdee .and pretty severely injured: A soldiee 'mined Adams, mounted on ir,farldcr, endeavor ing to make an aperture in Llto , wall of •tho ice house .with like, was struck with the stream from Llto Good Will En: gine and knocked elrtheladder,truising . hiM • The tiro, was, no doubt, (lie wi:rk of the incondiari, as there' . hail been no Oc •casion to have any lire near the building during the owning: ' • . Ili =III •