SECOND 

IN SENATE. 

MoNDAY, December 7, 1874. 

The first Monday of December being the day prescribed by the Constitution of the United States for the annual meeting of Congress, 

the second sessiop. of the Forty-third Congress commenced this day. 

The Senators 3B88mbled in the Senate Chamber at the Capitol, in the 

city of Washington. 

SENATORS PRESENT. 

The following Senators were present : from the State ofMaine-Ron. Hannibal Hamlin and Hon. Lot M. Morrill. 

New Bantpshire-Hon. Aaron H. Cragin and Ron. Bainbridge Wadleigh. 

Vernwnt--Hon. George F. Edmunds and Hon. Justin S. Morrill. 

Massachusetts-Ron. George S. Boutwell and Ron. William B. 

Washburn. 

Rhodeisland-Hon. Henry B. Anthony. 

Connecticut--Ron. Orris S. Ferry. 

New York-Ron. Roscoe Conkling. 

New Jorsey-Hon. Frederick T. Frelingbuysen. Pennsylvani~-Ron. Simon Cameron and Ron. John Scott. 

Delaware-Ron. Eli Saulsbury. 

Maryland-Ron. George R. Dennis and Ron. William T. Hamilton. 

Virginia-Ron. John F. Lewis. 

South Carolina-Hon.JohnJ. Patterson and Ron. '.MlOmasJ.Robert- son. 

Florida--Ron. Simon B. Conover and Ron. Abijah Gilbert. 

.Alabama-Ron. George E. Spencer. 

Mississippi-Ron. James L. Alcorn and Ron. Henry R. Pease. 

Louisiana-Ron. J. R. West. T~as-Hon. J. W. Flanagan. - .Arkansas-Ron. Powell Clayton and Ron. Stephen W. Dorsey. M"~sou,ri-Hon. Lewis V. Bogy and Ron. Carl Schurz. 

Tennessee-Ron. Henry Cooper. · Kent1reky-Hon. Thomas C. McCreery and Ron. John W. Stevenson. 

West Virginia-Ron. Arthur I. Boreman and Ron. Henry G. Davis. 

Ohio-Ron. John Sherman and Ron. Allen G. Thurman. 

Indiana-Ron. Daniel D. Pratt. 

fllinois-Hon. John A. Logan and Ron. Richard J. Oglesby. 

Michigan-Ron. Zachariah Chandler and Ron. Thomas W. Ferry. Wisconsin-Ron. Matthew H. Carpenter and Hon. Timothy 0. 

Howe.· 

Iowa-Ron. William B. Allison and Ron. George G. Wright. 

Minnesota-Ron. Alexander Ramsey and Ron. William Windom. 

Kansas-Ron. James M. Harvey and Ron. John J. Ingalls. 

Nebraska-Ron. Phineas W. Hitchcock. 

California-Ron. JohnS. Hager and Ron. Aaron A. Sargent. 

Oregon-Ron. James K. Kelly and Ron. John H. Mitchell. 

The VICE PRESIDENT (Hon. HENRY WILSoN, of MaMachusetta) 

called the Senate to order at twelve o'clock m., there being a quorum of Senators present. 

PRAYER. 

Rev. BYRON SUNDERLAND, D. D., Chaplain to the Sena-te for the 

Forty-third Congress, offered the following prayer: 

Almighty and everlasting God, we come to worship Thee as the 

Supreme Ruler and Rightful Lawgiver of the world; and as Thou 

.ha t borne us aJl hither in safety, let us not be unmindful of Thee 

this day, nor turn away from the love of our Father and our God. 

We thank Thee for Thy mercies to our nation; we acknowledge Thy 

t}ha.stisement.s, and pray that we may be corrected · throlhgtsi 

SESSION. 

We beseech Thee, bestow that favor upon all this great people without which they are wholly unequal to their mission in .this land. 

Help the Government in its grave responsibilities. Bless this Congress during its present session. May the candle of the Lord light them 

through every maze of difficulty; and may Thy good Spirit rest and 

abide upon them. We ask it for Christ, the Redeemer's sake: Amen. 

NOTIFICATION TO THE HOUSE. 

On motion of Mr. ANTHONY, it was 

Ordered, That the Secreta-ry inform the Houae of Representatives that a. quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that the Senate is ready to proceed to buainess. 

HOUR OF MEETING. 

On motion of Mr. ANTHONY, it was 

Ordered, That the hour of the daily mooting of the Senate be twelve o'clock meridian, until otherwise ordered. · 

NO'-\'IFICATION TO THE PRESIDENT. 

Mr. CONKLING submitted the following resolution; which was con- sidered by unanimous consent, and agreed to : 

Resolved, That a committee, consisting of two members, be n;ppointed, to join such 

committee as may be appointed by- the House of Representatives, to wait upon the 

President of the United States, and inform him that a quorum of each Houae is as- sembled, and that Congress is ready to receive any communication he may be pleased 

to make. 

By unanimous consent, the Vice-President was authorized to appoint the committee on the part of the Senate; and MeSSIS. CONKLING 

and THURMAN were appointed. 

. GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT. 

Mr. MORRILL, of Maine. Mr. President, the joint select com- mittee appointed under the act of Congress of the last session to 

make a frame of government for the District of Columbia have 

attended to that duty, and have instructed me to report a frame of 

government for the District of Columbia, with sundry provisions of 

statute designed to enforce such frame of government, accompanied 

by a written report, to which I respectfully ask the attention of the 

Senate. I move that the report lio on the table and be printed. 

The motion was agreed to; and the accompanying bill (S. No. 963) 

for the better government of the District of Columbia was read and 

passed to the second reading. 

REPORTS REQUIRED BY LAW. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT. I have received and now lay before the 

Senate a report of the Secretary of the Senate, in compliance with 

section·73 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, containing a. full and complete statement of the rec~ipta and expenditures of the 

contingent fund of the Senate from July 1, 1873, t.o Junb 30, 1874. 

The report will lie on the table and be printed, if there be no objection. 

Mr. SHERMAN. I think it would be better. not to print these 

detailed reports until they are referred to t.he Committee on Printing. 

I move, therefore, that t.he question of printing the document lie on the table for the present, as we have no committees as yet. 

The motion was agreed to. 

The VICE~PRESIDENT bid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Senate, in compliance with the seventy-fifth section of 

the Revised Statutes of the United States, containing a fullandcomplete account of all property belonging to the United States in his 

possession on this day; which was ordered to lie on the table. 

He also laid before the Senate a report of the Sergeant-at-Arms of 

the 1::\enate, containing, in compliance with the seventy-fifth section 

of the Revised Statutes of the United States, a full and complete 

account of all property belonging to the United States in his possession sthis day; which was ordered to lie on the table. · ·· ·' · .. .. . . ... -· . .. . . .. 
2 

J 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECEMBER 7, 

He also laid before the Senate :1 report of the clerk of the Court of 

Claims, transmitting, in compliance with sect.ion 9 of the act entitled 

"An act to provide for :tppcals from the Com't of Claims, and for other 

pmpose ," approved June 25, 1868, a statement of :tll judgments ren- dered by that court for the year ending December 7, 187 4, the amounts 

thereof, the p:trties in whose bvor rendered, and a brief synopsis of 

the nature of the claims upon which said judgments ha.ve been ren- dered; which was ordered to lie on the ta.ble. 

CREDENTIALS OF SENATORS ELECT. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT presented the credentia.ls of Ron. GEORGE • F. EDMUNDS, elected by the Legislature of Vermont a Senator from 

that Sta.te for the term commencing on the 4th day of March, 1875; 

which were read and ordered to be filed. 

He also pre en ted the credentials of Ron. \Villia.m W. Eaton, elected 

by the Legislature of Connecticut a Senator from that State for the 

torm commencing on the 4th day of March, 1875; which were read 

and ordered to be filed. 

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS. 

Mr. FERRY, of Michigan. I present the petition of Hiram Bateman, late of Company I, Third Regiment Michigan Volunteers, praying to be granted a pension. I propose that it be referred to the 

Committee on Pensions. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT. The committees have not yet been appointed. The petition will be received, an<l lie on the table for the 

present. 

l\fr. FERRY, of Michigan. Very well; let that course be ta.ken. 

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. I present the memorial of Laban 

Heath, praying remuneration on account of defective work done 

at the Treasury printing department. I move that this memorial lie on the table until the committees sha.ll ha.ve been a.ppointed. 

The m tion was aareed to. 

Mr. SARGENT. I pre ent the petition of Rea.r-Admiral John L. 

Worden, United State Navy, praying that there may be granted to 

him, the officers and crew of the iron-clad steamer 1\fonitor, the 

estimated v::tlue of the Merrimac, destroyed by the Monitor, to be 

distributed among the same as the estimated value of the Alabama was distributed to the officers and crew of the Kearsa.rge. I shall 

ask that this petition be referred to the Committee on Naval Aff::tirs, 

when appointed. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT. The petition will lie on the table for the 

present. 

1\fl:. SARGENT. I also present the petition of Rufus Saxton and 

A. R. Eddy, lieutenant colonels and deputy quartermasters-general 

of the United States Army, praying to be restored to their appropriate 

rank, of which they claim to have been deprived by previous legislation of Congress. I shall ask that it be referred to t.he Committee on Military Affa.irs, when appointed. 

The petition was ordered to lie on the table. 

1\!r. SARGENT. I n.lso present the l'letition of Mrs. Snsan Roberts, 

of Humboldt County, Californi::t, pra.yingcompensation for l::tnds and 

private property taken and ru;ed by the Government of the United 

States for pnblio purpo es. This also is to be referred to the Committee on Military Mi'::tirs, when appointed. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT. The petition will lie on the table for the 

present. 

l\11·. SCHURZ presented the petition of Eliza. beth Reidenbach, widow 

.of F. Reid en baeh, l::tt.e of Company E, Second Artillery, Illinois Volunteers, praying to be :l.l.lowed a pension; which was ordered to lie on the table. 

1\!r. BOUTWELL presented the petition of J. S. Savage, of Newton, 

Massachusetts, inventor of n. sa.fety bn.llot-box, praying to be allowed 

to appe::tr before the proper committee and explBin its advantages; w bich was ordered to lie on the t::tble. 

BILLS INTRODUCED. 

Mr. SHERMAN asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave 

to introduce n. bill (S. No. 964) t.o provide for the revision of the laws 

for the collection of customs-duties; which was read twice by its 

title, and ordered to lie on the table and be printed. 

1\lr. INGALLS asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to 

introduce a bill (S. No. 965) for the reijef of certain settlers upon the 

public lands in the State of Kansas; which was read twice by its 

title, and ordered to lie on the table and be printed. 

Mr. PATTERSON asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, lea.ve 

to intro<luce a bill (S. No. 966) to increase the-efficiency of the Medi-

·pal Department of the Army; which was read twice by its title, and 

prdered to lie on the table and be printed. 

Mr. HIT9~COCK asked, and by unanimous comentobtained,leave 

to introduce a bill (S. No. 967) for the relief of certain settlers on the 

public lnnds in the State pf ~ebr~ka; which was read twice by its 

title, ana ordered to 'lie op. t~e t~bte ~nd be print~d. . He also a~ke~~ and by unanimQus consenp obtamed, leave to mtroduce a bill (!3. ~ o. 96l::!j fol' 'the re11ef of p~rsons suffering from the 

ravages of · grasshoppers; which was re~ twice by its title, and 

ordered to lie ou the table and be printed: · · . lfr. RAMSEY a ked, nttd by unanimous consent obtained, leave to 

1ntroduce a bill (S. No. 969) for the reli~f of Ferdinand ~1onti, a 

"\Y~~on-ma~ter i~ the Me:xica,n war i w~c~fwas F~~<! t'Y!-~e by ~ts ~itle, 

anu orde~ed to lie on tp.e ~~b~~~ · 

Mr. LOGAN asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to 

introduce a bill (S. No. 970) for the relief of Anclrew Hosmer, of 

Peoria, illinois; which was read twice by its title, and ordered to 

lie on the table and be printed. 

Mr. SARGENT asked, a.nd by unanimous consent obtained, le::tve 

to introduce a bill (S. No. 971) to protect persons of foreign biJ:th 

against forcible constraint or involuntary servitude; which was read 

twice by its title, and ordered to lie on the tab]e. 

He also asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, lea.ve to introduce a bill (S. No. 972) to enable Indians in certain cases to enter 

public lands of the United States under the homestead law, and 

for other purposes; which was read twice by its title, ::tnd ordered 

to lie on the t::tble. 

He also asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 973) to con-ect the da.te of commi sion of certain 

officers of the Army; which was read twice by its title, and ordered 

to lie on the table. 

RECESS. 

Mr. ANTHONY, (a.t twelve o'clock and seventeen minutes p.m.) 

Mr. President, there seema to be no busine s before the Senate ; and, 

while we are waiting for the message of the President of the United 

States, I move tha.t the Senate take a recess until one o'clock. 

The motion was agreed to; and at one o'clock p.m. the Sen::tte 

reassembled. 

ARKANSAS JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. 

Mr. WRIGHT. On the 17th of June 1ast I had the honor to report 

from the Committee on the Judicia.ry House bill No. 36~1, to abolish 

the western district of Arkans::ts, and for other purposes; a.nd I give 

notice now that on Thur day morning, if I can obtain the floor, 

immediately on the expira.tion of the morning hour, I sha.ll ask the 

Senate to proceed to the consideration of tha.t bill. 

THE ll\'DIAN TERRITORY. 

Mr. INGALLS. I beg leave to offer the following resolution: 

Resolved, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be directed to inquire into the recent disturbances in the Indian Territory, and to report to the Senatewhat mea ures are necessary for the protection of life, liberty, aml property, and the pres- ervation of law and order, in that region. and whether the best interests of civilization do not demand the immediate establishment of courts of the UnitedSttt~ 

in sn.id Territory, M provided by the treaties of 1866. 

As the comnnttees ha.ve not yet been appointed, 1\!r. President, I 

suppose the proper com-se would be to have the resolution lie on the 

table for the present. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT. The resolution will take that direction. 

RECESS. 

Mr. ANTHONY, (a.t one o'clock and five minutes p.m.) Imovethat 

the Senate take a recess nntil hulf-past one o'clock. 

The motion was agreed to ; ::tnfl the Senate was again called to 

order at one o'clock and thkty minutes p. m. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE. 

A message wa.s received from the House of Representatives, by 

Ron. EDWARD McPHERSON, its Clerk, as follows: 

.Mr. Pre ident, I have been directed to inform the Sena.te that a quorum of the House of Representatives has assembled, and tha.t the 

House is now ready to proceed to business. 

The House has passed a resolution directing the appointment of a committee, on the part of the House, to join such committee as may 

be appointed on the part of the Senate, to w::tH on the President of 

the United States, and inform him tbnt a. quorum of the two Houses 

has assembled, and that Congress is ready to receive any communica.tion he may be pleased to make; and has appointed I\fl:. HENRY L. 

DAWES of 1\!aosachusetts, Mr. ROBERT S. HALE of New York, and ~. JAMES B. BECK of Kentucky the committee on the p::trt of the 

House. .PRESIDEl\'T1

S ANNUAL MESSAGE. 

Mr. CONKLING. 1\!r. President, the committee appointed by the 

Senate to Bpprise the President of the United States of the presenco 

of the two Houses, and their readiness to proceed to bnsine s, having 

discharged that duty, ha.ve been informed by the President that 1.1'3 

will prljsently communicate with the two Houses in writing. 

1\!r. 0. E. BABCOCK, the Private Secretary of the President, then 

appeared below the bar and sa.id: Mr. President, I am directed by the 

President of the United St::ttes to deliver to the Senate a mes age in 

writing. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT. The Chair submits to the Senate tho 

annual message of the President of the United Sta.tes; which will bo 

read. 

The Chief Clerk, Mr. William J. McDonald, thereupon read themessage, as follows: 

To the Senate and HouiJe of .Representatives: 

Since the convening of Congress one year ago the nation has tmdergone a prostration in business and industries such as has not been 

witnessed w).th us for many ears. Speculation as to the causes for 

this prostration might be indulged in without profit, because as many 

theories would be adv::tnced as there would be independent writersthose who expres ed their own views without borrowing-upon the 

subject. Without indulging in theories as to the canse of this prospr~t~on1 t~~~~!or~1 J ~gJ_ ~all yom H-ttention only to the fact, and to 
1874. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 3 

some phin questions as to which it would seem there should be no disagreement. During this prostration two essential elements of prosperity have been most abund:mt: labor and capital Both have been 

largely unemployed. 'Where security ha~ been nndoubted, capitalhn.s 

been attainable at very moderate rates. Where labor has been w:mted, 

it ha:.. been found in abundance at cheap rates, compared with what 

-of necessaries and comforts of life--could be purchased with the 

wages demanded. Two great elements of prosperity, therefore, have 

not been denied ns. A third might be added: our soil and climn.te are unequaled, within the limits of any contiguous territory under one nationality, for its variety of products to feed and clothe a people, 

and in the amount of surplus to spare to feed less favored peoples. 

Therefore, wtth these facts in view, it seems to me that wise statesmanship, at this session of Congress, would dictate legislation, ignoring the past, directing in proper channels these great elements of prosperity to any people. Debt-debt a"!Jroad-is the only element that 

can, with ::tl.ways a sound currency, enter into our affairs to c:1.use any 

continued depression in the industries and prosperity of our people. 

A great conftict for national existence made necessary, for temporary 

purposes, the raising of large sums of money from whatever source attainable. It made it necessa,ry, in the wisdom of Congress-and I do 

not doubt their wisdom in the premises regarding the necessity of the 

times-to devise n. system of national currency which it proved to be 

impossible to keep on n. par with the recognized currency of the civilized world. This begot a spirit of speculation involving an extmvagance and luxury not requiretl for the happiness or prosperity of a people, and involving: both directly and indirectly, foreign intlebtedness. The currency being of fluctuating value, and therefore unsafe 

to hold for legitimate transn.ctions requiring money, became a subject 

of speculation in itself. These two causes, however, have involved us in a foreign indebtedness, contracted in good faith by borrower and 

lender, which should be pn.id in coin, and according to the bond agreetl 

upon when t.he debt was contracted-gold or its oqui valent. The good 

faith of the Government cannot be violated toward creditors without 

national disgrace. 

But our commerce should be encouraged; American ship-building 

and can-ying capacity increased; foreign m:1rkets sought for products 

of the soil and manufactories, to the end that we may be able to pay 

these debts. Where a new market can be created for the sale of our products, either of the soil, the mine, or the manufactory, a new means is discoyered of utilizing our idle capital and labor to the ad vantage of 

the whole people. Hut, in my judgment, the first step toward a.ccom- plishing this object is to secure a currency of fixed, stable value; a currency good wherever civilization reigns; one which, if it becomes 

superabundant with one people, will find a ma.rket with some other; a currency which has as its ba is the labor necessary to produce it, 

which will give to it its value. Gold and silver are now th8 recognized medium of exchn.nge the civilized world over; and to this we should return with the least practicable delay. In view of the pledges 

of the American Congress when our present legal-tender system was adopted, and debt contracted, there should be no delay-certainly no unnecessary delay-in fixing by legishtion a. method by which we will return to specie. To the a.ccomplishment of this end I invite 

your special attention. I believe firmly that there can be no prosperous and permanent revival of business and industries until a policy 

is adopted, with legislation to carry it out, looking to a return to a specie ba-sis. It is ea y to conceive that the debtor and speculative 

classes may think it of value to them to mn.ke so-called money abundant until they can throw a portion of their burdens upon others. But even these, I believe, would be disappointed in the result if a course should be pursued which will keep in doubt the value of the legaltender medium of exchange. A revival of productive industry is 

needed by all classes-by none more than the holders of property, of 

whatever sort, with debts to liquidate from realization upon its sale. 

But admitting that these two classes of citizens are to be benefited by 

expansion, would it be honest to give itt Would not the generallo s be too great to justify such relief! Would it not be just as honest and 

prudent to authorize each debtor to issue his own legal-tenders to the 

extent of his lin.bilities f Than to do this would it not be safer, for fear 

of overissues by unscrupulous creditors, to say that n,ll debt-obligations are obliterated in the United States, and now we commence anew, each possessing all he ha.s at the time free from incumbrance¥ 

'fhe e proportions are too absurd to be entertained for a moment by 

thinking or honest people. Yet every delay in preparation for final 

resumption partakes of this dishonesty, and is only less in degree as the hope is held out that a convenient season will at la.st :1I'five for 

the good work of redeeming our pledges to commence. It will never come, in my opinion, except by positive action by Congress, or by 

national disasters which will destroy, for a time at least, the credit 

of the individual and the State at large. A sound cuiTency might be 

roached by total bankruptcy and discredit of the integrity of the 

nation and of individuals. I believe it is in the power of Congre s, 

at this session, to devise such legisln.tion as will renew confidence, 

revive all the industries, start us on a career of prosperity to last 

for mmy years, and to save the credit of the nation and of the people. 

Steps toward the return to a specie basis are the great requisites to 

this devoutly to be sought for end. There are others which I may fouch npon hereafter. 

A nation dealing in a currency below that of epecie in value labors 

under two great disadvantages: First, having no use for the world's 

acknowledged medium of exchan~e, gold and silver, these are driven 

out of the country, because there IS no need for the:r use; second, the 

medium of exchange in use being of a fluctuating value-for after 

all it is only worth just what it will purchLtse of gold and silver; 

metals having an intrinsic value just in proportion to the honest labor 

it takes to produce them-a larger margin must be allowe(l for profit 

by the manufacturer and producer. It is months from the datre of 

production to the date of realization. Interest upon capital must be 

charged, and risk of fiuctun.tion in the value of thn.t which is to be 

received in payment added. Hence high prices, acting as a protection to the foreign producer, who r~ceives nothing in exchange for the 

products of his skill and labor except a currency good at a stable 

value the world over. It seems to me that nothing is clearer thn.n that the greater part of 

the burden of existing prostration, for the want of a sound financin.l 

system, falls upon the workingman, who must, after all, produce the 

wealth, and the salaried man who superintends and condncts busi- ness. The burden falls upon them in two ways: by the deprivation 

of employment, and by the decreased purchasing power of their salaries. It is the duty of Congress to devise the method of correcting 

the evils which are acknowledged to exist, and not mine. But I will 

venture to suggest two or three things which seem to me as n.bsolutely 

necessary to a return to specie payments, the first great requisite in a return to prosperity. The legal-tenaer clause to the law authorizing the issue of currency by the National Government should be ro- pen.leu, to take effect as to all contracts entered into after a day fixed 

in the repealing act; not to apply, however, to payments of salaries 

by Government or for other expenditures now provided by law to be 

paid in currency in the interval pending between repeal ami final 

resumption. Provision should be made by which the Secretary of the 

Treasury can obtain gold as it may become necessary from time to 

time from the datre when specie redemption commences. To this 

might and should be adcled a revenue sufficiently in excess of expenses 

to insure an accumulation of gold in the Treasury to sustain perma~ 

nent redemption. 

I commend tijis subject to your careful consideration, believing 

that a favorable solution is attainable, and, if reached by this Congress, that the present and future generations will ever grat-efully 

remember it as their deliverer from a thralldom of evil and disgrace. 

With resumption, free banking ma.y be authorized with safety, 

giving the same full protection to bill-holders which they have unde1· 

existing laws. Indeed, I would regard free banking as essential. It. would give proper elasticity to the currency. As more currency 

should !Je required for the transaction of legitimate business new. banks would be started, and in turn banks would wind up their busi- ness whenitwa.s found that there was a superabundance of currency. 

The experience and judgment of the people can best decide just how 

much currency is required for the transaction of the business of the 

country. It is unsafe to lea.ve the settlement of thii!! question to Congress, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Executive. Congress 

should make the regulation under which banks may exist, but should 

not make banking a monopoly by limiting the amount of redeemn.ble 

paper currency that shn.ll be authorized. Such importance do I attach to this subject, and so earnestly do I commend it to your attention, that I give it prominence by introducing it at the beginning of 

this message. 

During the past year nothing has occurred to disturb the general 

friendly and cordial relations of the United States with other powers. 

The correspondence submitted herewith between this Government 

and its diplomatic representatives, as also with the representatives 

of other countries, shows a satisfactory condition of all questions between the United States and the most of those countries, and, with 

few exceptions, to which reference i~ hereafter mn.de, the absence of 

any points of difference to be ailjusted. 

The notice directed by the resolution of Congress of June 17,1874, 

to be given to terminate the convention of July 17, 1858, between 

the United States and Belgium, has been given, and the treaty will 

accordingly terminate on the 1st day of July, 1~5. This convention 

secured to certain Belgian vessels entering the ports of the United 

States exceptional privileges which are not accorded to our own ves- sels. Other features of the convention have proveclsatisfactory, and 

have tended to the cultivation of mutually beneficial commercial in- tercon.rse and friendly relations between the two countries. I hope 

that negotiations which have been invited will result in the celebration of another treaty which may tend to the interests of both conn- tries. 

Our relations with China continue to be friendly. During the pa~t 

year t4e fear of hostilities between China and Japan, growing out of 

the landing of an armed force upon the island of Pormosa. by the 

latter, has occasioned uneasiness. It it! ea,rnestly hoped, however, 

that the difficulties arising from this cause will be adjusted, ancl that 

the advance of civilization in these empires may not be retarded by a state of war. In consequence of the part taken by certain citizens 

of the United States in this expedition, our representatives in those 

countries have been instructed to impress upon the goverll.IIlents of 

China and J a pail the firm intention of this .country to maintain stric~ 

neutrality in the event of hostilities, and to carefully prevent any in ... 

fraction of law on r.he part of our citizens. 

In connection with this subject I call the attention of Congress to 

a generall! cq~ce4e4 ~actt t4~t t"t!e ~eat ~ro-port~o~ o~ t:qe Uhjne&.e 
4 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECEl\1BER 7' 

mmigr:m.ts who come to our shores do not come voluntarily, to make 

their homes with ns and their labor productive of general prosperity, 

bnt come under contracts with head-men, who own them almost absolutely. In a worse form does this apply to Chinese women. Hardly a. perceptible percentage of them perform any honorable labor, but 

they are brought for shameful purposes, to the ilisgrace of the com- munities where settled and to the great demoralization of the youth 

of those localities. If this evil practice can bo legislated against, 

it will be mf pleasure as well as duty to enforce any regulation to secure so desuable an end. 

It is hoped that negotiations between the government of Japan 

and the treaty powers, looking to the further opening of tho empire. and to the removal of various restrictions upon trade ancl travel, may soon produce the results desired, which cannot fail to inure to the 

benefit of all the parties. Having on previol!s occasions submitted 

to the consideration of Congress the propriety of the relea o of the 

Japanese government from the further payment of the indemnity 

under the convention of October 22, 1864, and ns no a.ction had been 

taken thereon, it became my duty to rega.rd the obligations of the 

convention as in force, and as the other powers interested had 

received their portion of the indemnity in full, the minister of the 

United States in Japan hM, in behalf of this Government, received 

the remainder of the amount due to the United States under the con- vention of Simonoseki. I submit the propriety of applying the in- come of a part, if not of the whole, of this fund to the education in 

the Japanese langua.O'e of a number of younf$ men, to be under obligations to serve the ~vernment, for a specitie<l time, as· interpreters 

at the legation and the consulates inJapan. A limited numbcrof Japaneseyonthsmightatthesametimebeeducatedinourownvernacular; 

and mutual benefits would result to both governments. The importance 

of having our own citizens competent and familiar with the language 

of Japan, to act as interpreters and in other capacities connected with 

the legation and the consulates in that country, cannot readily be 

overestimated. 

The amount aw:ll'dcd to the government of Great Britain by the 

mixed commission organized nnder the provisions of the treaty of 

Waahington, in settlement of the claims of British subjects arising 

from acts committed between April 13, 1861, and April 9, 1865, 

became payable, under the terms of the treaty, within the past year, 

and was paid upon the 21st day of September, 1874. In this 

connection I renew my recommendation, made at the opening of 

the last session of Congress, that a special court be created1 to 

hear and determine all claims of aliens against the Uruted 

States arising from act.s committed aga.inst their persons or property during tho insurrection. It appears equitable that opportunity should be offered to citizens of other states to present their 

claims, as wen as to those British subjects whose claims were not admi~iblell.Dder the late commission, to the early decision of some competent tribunal. To this end I recommend the necessary legislation to organize a court to dispose of all claims of aliens of the 

nature referred to in an equitable and satisfactory manner, and to 

relieve Congress and the Departments from the consideration of 

these questions. 

The legislation necessary to extend to tho colony of Newfoundland 

certain articles of the treaty of W aahington of the 8th day of May, ~871, having been had, a protocol to that effect was signed in behalf 

of the United States and of Great Britain on the 28th day of May 

last, and waa duly proclaimed on the following day. A copy of the 

proclamation is submitted herewith. 

A copy of the report of the commissioner appointed under the act 

of March 19, 1872, for surveying and marking the boundary between 

the United States and the British possessions from the Lake of the 

Wooilll to the summit of the Rocky Mountain~, is herewith ti·ansmitted. I am happy to announce that the field-work of the commission has been completed, and the entire line from the northwest cor- ner of the Lake of the Woods to the summit of the Rocky Mountains 

l1as been run and marked upon the surlace of the earth. It is believed that the amount remaining unexpended of the appropriation 

made at the last session of Congress will be ufficient to complete the 

office-work. I recommend that the authority of Congress lJe given 

to the usc of the unexpended babnce of the appropriation to the 

completion of the work of the commission in making its report and 

preparing the necessaJ'y maps. 

The court known as the court of commissioners of Alabama claims, 

created by an act of Congress of the lust session, has organized and 

commenced ita work, and it is to be hoped that the claims admissible 

under the provisions of the act may lJo speedily ascertained and paid. 

It ho.a lJeen deemed advisable to exercise the di cretion conferred 

upon the Executive at the last session, by a~cepting the conditions 

requu·ed by the government of Turkey for the privilege of allowing 

citize~s of the United States to hold real estate in th~ former country 

and by assenting to a cel'tain change in the jurisdiction of court.s in 

the latter. A copy of the proclamation upon these subjects is herewith communicat-ed. 

There has been no material change in our relations with the independent states of this hemisphere which were formerly under the 

dominion of Spain. Marnmling on the frontiers between Mexico :lnd 

Texna still frequently takes place, despite the vigilance of the civil 

and military authorities in tha.t quarter. The difficulty of checking 

suc>h trespasses along tltc course of a river of such length as the Rio 

' 

Grande, and so often fordable, is obvious. It is hoped that the 

efforts of thls Government will be seconded by tho e of Mexico to 

the effectual suppression of these acts of wrong. .From a report upon the condition of the bu ine s before the American a,ncl Mexican joint claims commission, made IJy the agent on the 

part of the United tates, and elated October 28, 1874, it appears tlu1.t 

of the 1,017 claims filed on the part of citizens of the United States 

483 had been finally decided and 75 were in the h: n(ls of the umpire, 

leaving 462 to be dispo ed of; and of the 998 claims filed again t the 

United States 726 had been finally decided, one was before the umpire, 

and 271 remained to be di posed of. Since the date of such report 

CJther claims have bean disposed of, reducing somewhat the number 

still pending, and others have been passed upon by the arbitrators. 

It has become apparent, in view of these figures and of the fact that 

the work devolving on the umpire is particularly laborious, that the 

commission would l>e unable to dispose of the entire number of claims 

pending prior to the 1st day of February, 1875, the date fixed for its 

expiration. Negotiations are pending looking to the securing of the 

results of the decisions which have been reached and to a further ex- tension of the commission for a limited time, which it is confidently 

hoped will suffice to bring all the business now before it to a final 

close. 

The strife in the Argentine Republic is to be deplored, both on account of the parties thereto and from the probable effects on the 

interests of those engaged in the trade to that quarter, of whom the 

United States are among the principal. As yet, so flU' as I am aware, 

there has been no violation of our neutrality rights, which, as well as our duties in that respect, it shall be my endeavor to maintain and 

observe. 

It is with regret I announce that no further payment has been 

received from the government of Venezuela on account of awards in 

favor of citizens of the United States. Hopes have been entertained 

that if that republic could escape both foreign and. civil war for a few 

years, its great natural resources would enable it to honor its oblign.-

tions. Though it is now underst.ood to be at peace with other coun- trie , a serious insurrection is reported to be in progre s in an important region of tha.t republic. This may be taken advantage of as another reason to delay the payment of the dues of our citizens. 

The deplorable strife in Cuba continues without any marke<l change 

in the relative advantages of the contending forces. The insurrection continues, but Spain has gained no superiority. Six years of 

strife give to the insurrection a significance which cannot be denied. 

Its duration and the tenacity of its adherence, tog43ther with the ab- sence of manifested power of suppression on the part of Spain, cannot 

be controvertetl, and may make some positive steps on the part of other 

powers a matter of self-necessity. I had confidently hoped at this 

time to be able to announce the arrangement of somo of the important 

questions between this Government and that of Spain, lJut the negotiations have been protract-ed. The unhappy intestine dissensions of 

Spain command our profound sympathy, and must be accepted as perhaps a cause of some delay. An early settlement, in part at least, 

of the questions between the Governments is hopod. In the mean t.ime, awaiting the resuUs of immediately-pending negotiations, I 

defer a further a.nd fnller commnnic:ttion on the subject of the relations of this country and Spain. 

I have again to call the attention of Congress to the unsatist'tctory 

condition of the existing laws with reference to expatriation and the 

election of nation·ality. Formerly, amid conflicting opinions and decisions, it was difficult to exactly determine how far the doctrine of 

perpetual allegiance was applicable to citizens of the United States. 

Congress, by the act of the ~7th of July, 1868, a erted the ab tract 

right of expatriation as a fundamental principle of this Government. 

Notwithstanding such aasertion, and the necessity of frequent application of the principle, no legislation baa been had defining what acts or formalities shall work expatriation, or when a citizen shall lJe 

deemed to have renounced or to have lost his citizenship. The importance of such definition is obvious. The representatives of the 

Unit.ed States in foreign countries are continually called upon to lend 

their aid and the protection of the Unitod States to persons concerning 

the good faith or the reality of whose citizenship there is at lea t 

great question. In some cases the provisions of the treaties furnish some ~ide ; in others it seems left to the person claiming the benefits 

of citizenship, while living in a foreign country, contributing in no manner to the performance of the duties of a citizen of the United 

States, and without intention at any time to retum and undertake 

those duties, to use the claims to citizenship of the United States 

simply as a shield from the performance of the obligations of a citizen 

elsewhere. 

The status of children born of Americnn parents residing in a foreign 

country, of American women who have married aliens, of American 

citizens residing abroad wheresnch question is not regn1ated by treaty, are all sources of frequent difficulty and discnssion. Legislation on these and similar questions, and particularly defining when and under 

what circumstances expatriation can be accomplished or is to be presumed, is especially needed. In this connection I earnestly call the 

attention of Congress to the difficulties arising from fraudulent natu .. ralization. The United States, wisely, freely, and liberally offers its 

citizenship to all who may come in good faith to reside within its 

limits on their complying with certain prescribed reasonable and 

simple formalities and conditiona. Among the highest duties of the 
1874. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 5 

Government is that t.o afford firm, efficient, and equal protection to all 

its citizens, whether native-born or naturalized. Care should be taken 

that a. right carrying with it such support from the Government 

should not be fraudulently obtained, and should be bestowed only 

upon full proof of a compliance with the law; and yet frequent instances are brought to the attention of the Government of ille~a.l and 

fraudulent naturalization and of the unauthorized use of certificates 

thus improperly obtained. In some cases the fraudulent character of 

the naturalization has appeared upon the face of the certifica-te itself; 

in others, examination discloses that the holder had not .complied with 

the law; and in others, certificates have been obtained where the 

persons holding them not only were not entitled to be naturalized, 

but had not even been within the United States at the time of the 

pretended naturalization. Instance& of each of these classes of fraud are discovered at our legations, where the certificates of naturalization are presented either for the purpose of obtaining passports or in demanding the protection of the legation. When the fraud is 

apparent on the face of such certificates, they are taken np by the 

representatives of the Government and forwarded to the Department 

of State. But even then the record of the court in which the fraudulent naturalization occurred remain,s, and duplicate certificates are readily obtainable. Upon the presentation of these for the issue of 

passports, or in demanding protection of the Government, the fraud 

sometimes escapes notice, and such certificates are not infrequently 

used in transactions of business to the deception and injury of innocent parties. Without placin~ any additional obstacles in the way 

of the obtainment of citizenship by the worthy and well-intentioned 

foreigner who comes in good faith to cast his lot with ours, I earnestly 

recommend further legislation to pllllish fraudulent naturalization, 

and ~ secure the ready cancellation of the record of every naturalization made in fraud. 

Since my last annual message the exchange has been made of the 

ratificati011. of treaties of extradition with Belgium, Ecuador, l'eru, 

and Salvador; also of a treaty of commerce and navigation with 

Peru, and one of commerce and consular privileges with Salvador; 

all of which have been duly proclaimed, as has also a declaration 

with Russia with reference to trade-marks. 

The report of the Secretary of the Treasury, which by law is made 

directly to Congress and forms no part of this message, will show 

the receipts and expenditures of the Government for the last fiscal 

year, the amount received from each source of revenue, and the 

amount paid out for each of the departments of GoYernment. It will 

be observed from this report that the ~mount of receipts over expenditures has been but 2,344,882.30 for the fiscal year ending June 

30, 1874, ruld that for the current fiscal year the estimated receipt.s over expenditures will not much exceed nine millions of do11ars. In 

view of the large national debt existing and the obligation to add 

1 per cent. per annum to the sinking fund-a sum amounting now to over $34,000,000 per annum-! submit whether revenues should 

not be increased or expenditures diminished to reach this amount 

of surplus. Not to provide for the sinking fund is a partial failure 

to comply with the contracts and obligations of the Government. · At the last session of Congress a very considerable reduction was made in rates of taxation and in the number of articles submitted 

to taxation. The question may well be asked whether or not, in some instances, unwisely. In connection with this subject, too, I ven- ture the opinion that the means of collecting the revenue, especially 

from imports, have been so embarrassed by legislation, as to make it 

questionable whether or not large amounts are not lost by failure 

to collect, to the direct loss of the Treasury, and to the prejudice of 

the interests of honest importers and tax-payers. 

The Secretary of the Treasury, in his report, favors legislation 

looking to an early return to specie payments, thm supporting views 

previously expressed in this message. He also recommends economy 

in appropriations; calls attention to the loss of revenue from repealing the tax on tea and coffee, without benefit to the consumer; rec- ommends an increase of ten cents a gallon on whisky; and further, 

that no modification be made in the banking and currency bill passed 

at the last session of Congress, unless modification should become 

necessary by reason of the adoption of measures for returning to 

specie payments. In these recommendations I cordially join. I woul~ suggest to Congress the propriety of readjusting the tariff so a.a to rncrease the revenue and at the same time decrease the number 

of articles upon which duties are levied. Those articles which enter 

into our manufactures, and are not produced at home, it seems to me should be entered free. Those articles of manufacture which we produce a constituent part of, but do not produce the whole, tbat 

part which we do not produce should enter free also. I will instance 

:fine wool, dyes, &c. These articles must be imported to form a part 

of the manufacture of the higher grades of woolen goods. Chemicals used aa dyes, compounded in medicines, and used in various ways 

in manufactures, come under this class. The introduction free of 

duty of such wools as we do not produce would stimulate the man- ufacture of goods requiring the use of those we do produce, and therefore would be a benefit to home production. There are many articles 

entering into "home manufactures" which we do not produce our- selves, the tariff upon which increases the cost of producing the man- ufactured article. All corrections in this regard are in the direction 

of bringing labor and capital in harmony with ea~h other, and of 

supplying one of the elements of prosperity so much needed. 

The report of the Becretary of War, herewith attached, and forming a part of this message, gives all the information concerning the 

operations, wants, and necessities of the .Army, and contains many 

suggestions and recommendations which I commend to yop.r special 

attention. 

There is no class of Government employes-who are harder worked 

than the Army, officers and men-none who perform their ta-sks more cheerfully and efficiently, and under circumstances of greater privations and hardships. Legislation is desirable to render more efficient 

this branch of the public service. .All the recommendations of the 

Secretary of War I re~ard as judicious, and I especially c01nmend to 

your a.ttention the following: The consolidation of Government 

arsenals; the restoration of mileage to officers traveling under or- ders; the exemption of money received from the sale of subsistence 

stores from being covered into the Treasury; tbe use of appropriations for the purchase of subsistence stores without waiting for the 

beginning of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made; for 

additional appropriations for the CQllection of torpedo material; for 

increased appropriations for the manufacture of arms ; for relieving 

the various States from indebtedness for arms charged to them during the rebellion ; for dropping officers from the rolls of the .Army, 

without trial, for the offense of drawing pay more than once for the same period ; for the discouragement of the plan to pay soldiers by 

checks; and for the establishment of a professorship of rhetoric and 

English literat.ure a.t West Point. The reasons for these recommendations are obvious, and are set forth sufficiently in the reports attached. I also recommend that the status of the staff corps of the 

Army be fixed-where this has not already been done~so that promotions may be made and vacancies filled as they occur, in each grade 

when reduced below the number to be fixed by law. The necessity 

for such legislation is specially felt now in the Pay Department. The 

number of officers in that Department is below the number adequate 

to the performance of the duties required of them by law. 

The efficiency of the Navy has been largely increased during the 

last year. Under the impulse of the foreign complications which 

threatened us at the commencement of the last session of Congress, 

most of our efficient wooden ships were put in condition for immediate service, and the repairs of our iron-clad fleet were pushed with 

the utmost vigor. The result is that most of these are now in an effective state, and need only to be manned and put in commission 

to go at once into service. 

Some of the new sloops authorized by Congress are already in 

commission, and most of the remainder are launched and wait only 

the completion of their machinery to enable them t-o take their 

places as part of our effective force. Two iron torpedo-ships have 

been completed during the last year, and four of our large doubleturreted iron-clads are now undergoing repairs. When these are finished everything that is useful of our Navy, as now authorized, 

will be in condition for service; and with the advance in the science 

of torpedo warfare the American Navy, comparatively small as it is, 

will be found at any time powerful for the purposes of a peaceful 

nation. 

Much has also been accomplished during the year in aid of science, 

and to increase the sum of general knQwledge, and further the interests of commerce and civilization. Extensive and much needed 

soundings have been made for hydrographic purposes, and to fix 

the proper routes of ocean telegraphs. Further surveys of the great 

isthmus have been undertaken and completed, and two vessels of the 

Navy are now employed, in conjunction with those of England, France, 

Germany, and Russia, in observations connected with the transit of 

Venus, so useful and interesting to the scientific world. 

The estimates for this branch of the public service do not differ 

materially from those of last year; those for the general support of 

the service being somewhat less, and those for permanent improvements at the various stations rather larger, than the con-esponding 

estimate made a year ago. The regular maintenance and a steady 

increase in the efficiency of this most important arm, in proportion to 

the growth of our maritime intercourse and interests, is recommended 

to the attention of Congress. . The use of the Navy, in time of peace, might be further utilized by a direct authorization of the employment of naval vessels in explorations and surveys· of the supposed navigable wa.ters of other nationalities on this continent; especially the tributaries of the two great 

rivers of South .America, the Oronoco and the Amazon. Nothin~ prevents, under existing laws, such exploration, except that expenditures 

must be made in such expeditions beyond those usually provided for 

in the appropriations. The :field designated is unquestionably one of 

interest, and one capable of lar&'e development of commercial interests advanta~eous to the peoples reached and to those who may 

establish relations with them. 

Education of the people entitled to exercise the right of franchise 

I regard essential to general prosperity everywhere, and especially so in republics, where birth, education, or previou~ condition does not 

enter into account in giving suffrage. Next to the public school the 

post-office is the great agent of education over our vast territory; the 

rapidity with which new sections are being settled, thus increasing 

the carrying of mails in a more rapid ratio than the increase of 

receipts, is not alarming. 

The report of the Postmaster-General, herewith attached, shows 

that there waa an increase of revenue in hiB Department in 1873 over 

\ 
6 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECEMBER 7, 

the previous year of 1,67 4,411, and an increase of cost of carrying the 

mails Mel paying employe~ of 3,041,4od.91. The report of the Postmaster-General gives interesting statistics of his Department, and 

compa,res them with the corresponding statistics of a year ago, showing a growth in every branch of the Department. 

A postal convention has been concluded with New South Wales, an exchange of postal cards established with Switzerland, and the negotiations penuing for several years past with France have terminated 

in a convention with that country, which went into effect la.st August. 

An international postal congress was convened in Berne, Switzerland, 

in September last, at which the United States was represented by an officer of the Post-Office Department of much experience and of qualification for the position. A convention for the establishment of an international postal union was agreed upon and signed by the delegates of the countries represented, subject to the approval of the 

proper a,uthoritics of those countries. 

I respectfully direct your attention to the report of the PostmasterGeneral, and to his suggestions in regard to an equitable adjustment 

of the question of compensation to railroads for canying the mails. 

Your attention will be drawn to the unsettled condition of affairs 

in some of the Southern States. 

On the 14th of September last the governor of Louisiana ca.Ued 

upon me, as provided by the Constitution and laws of the United 

States, to aid in suppressing domestic violence in that State. This 

call was made in view of a proclamation issued on that day by D. B. 

Penn, claiming that he was elected lieutenant-governor in 1872, and 

calling upon the militia of the State to arm, assemble, and drive from 

power the usurpers, as he designated the officers of the State government. On the next day I issued my proclamation, commanding the 

insurgents to disperse within five days from the date thereof, and 

subsequently learned that on that cla.y they had taken forcible possession of the State-house. Steps were taken by me to support the 

existing and recognized State government; but before the expiration 

of the five days the insurrectionary movement was·practically abandoned, and the officers of the State government, with some minor 

exceptions, resumed their powers and duties. Considering that the 

present State administration of Louisiana ha.s been the only government in that State for nearly two years, that it has been tacitly 

acknowledged and acquiesced in as such by Congress, and more than once expressly recognized by me, I regarded it as my clear duty, 

when legally called upon for' that purpose, to prevent its overthrow 

by an armed mob under pretense of fraud and irregularity in the 

election of 1872. 

I have heretofore called the attention of Congress to this subject, 

sta,ting that on account of the frauds and forgeries committed at said election~ and becanse it appears that the returns thereof were never legally cn.uvassed, it was impossible to tell thereby who 'Yere chosen; 

but from the best sources of information at my command I have always believed that the present State officers received a majority of 

the legal votes actually cast at that election. I repeat what I said in 

my special message of February 23, 1873, that in the event of no action by Congress I must continue to recognize the gove1'Dment 

heretofore recognized by me. I regret to say that with preparations for the late election decided indications appearefl in some localities in the Southern States 

of a (leterrnination, by acts of violence and intimidation, to deprive 

citizens of the freedom of the ballot because of their political opinions. Bands of men, masked and armed, made their appearance; 

White Leagues and other societies were formed; large quantities of arms and ammunition were imported and distributed to these organizations; military drills, with menacing demonstrations, were held; 

and, with all these, murders enough were committed to spread terror 

among those whose political action was to be suppressed, if possible, 

by these intolerant and criminal proceedings. In some places colored 

laborers were compelled to vote according to the wishes of their 

employers, under threats of discharge if they acted otherwise; and 

there are too many instances i~ which, when these threats were disregarded, they were remorselessly executed by those who made them. 

I understand that the fifteenth amendment to the Coustitution was made to prevent this and a like state of things, and the act of May 

31, 1870, with amendments, was passed to enforce its provisions ; 

the object of both being to guarantee to all citizens the right to vote.z 

and to pr••tect them in the free enjoyment of that right. Enjoinea 

by the Constitution "to take care that the laws be faithfully exe- cuted," and convinced by undoubted evidence that violations of said 

act had been committed, and that a widespread and flagrant disregard of it was contemplated, the proper officers were instructed to 

prosecute the offenders, and troops were stationed at convenient 

points to aid the officers, if necessary, in the performance of their 

official duties. Complaints are made of this interference by Federal 

authority; but if said amendment and act do not provide for such 

interference under the circumstances as above stated, then they are without meaning, force, or effect, and the whole scheme of colored 

enfranchisement is worse than mockery and little better than a crime. 

Possibly Congress may find it due to truth and justice to ascertain by means of a committee whether the a1leged wrongs to colored citizens 

for political purposes are real or the reports thereof were manufactured for the occasion. 

The whole number of troops in the States of Louisiana, Alabama, 

Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Maryland, and Virginia at the time of 

the election were four thousancl and eighty-two. This embraces the 

garrisons of all the forts from the Delaware to the Gulf of Mexico. 

Another trouble has arisen in Arkau as. Article 13 of the constitution of that State (which was adopted in 1868, and upon the a.pprova1 

of which by Congress the State was restored to representation as one of the States of the Union) provides in effect that before any amendments proposed to this constitution shall become a part thereof, they 

shall be passed by two successive assemblies, and then submitted to 

aml ratified by a majority of the electors of the State voting thereon. 

On the 11th of Ma,y, 1874, the governor convened an extra session of 

the General Assembly of the State, which on the 18th of the same month passed an act providing for a. cont"ention to frame a new con- stitution. Pursuant to this act, and at an election held on the 30th of 

June, 1874, the co.Dvention was approved, and delegates were chosen 

thereto, who assembled on the 14th of last July and framed a u.ew con- stitution, the schedule of which provided for the election of an entire new set of State officers in a manner contrary to the then existing 

election laws of the State. On the 13th of October, 1874, thi constitution, as therein provided, was submitted to the people for their approval or rejection, and according to the elect,ion returns was approved 

by a large majority of those qualified to vote thereon, and at the same election persons were chosen to fill all the State, county, and township 

offices. The governor elected in 1872 for the term of four years turned over his office to the governor chosen under the new constitution; 

whereupon the lieutenant-governor, also elected in 1872 for the term 

of four years, claiming to act as governor and alleging that said proceedings by which tlte new constitution was made and a new set of 

officers elected were unconstitutional, illegal, and void, ca,lled upon 

me, as provideo in section 4, article 4, of the Constitution, to protect the 

State against domestic violence. As Congress is now investigating 

the political affa.irs of Arkansas, I have declined to interfere. 

The whole subject of executive interference with the affairs of a State is repugnant to public opinion, to the feeling of those who 

from their. official capacity must be used in snch interposition, and 

to him or those who must direct. Unless most clearly on the side of 

law, such interference becomes a crime; with the law to support it, 

it is condemned without a hearino-. I desire, therefore, that all 

necessity for executive direction in focru. affairs may become unneces- sary and obsolete. I invite the attention, not of Congress, but of the 

people of the United States, to the causes and effects of these un- happy questions. Is there not a disposition on one side to magnify 

wrongs and outrages, and on the other side to belittle them or justify 

them'!' If public opinion could be directed to a correct survey of 

what is, and to rebuking wrong and aiding the proper authorities in 

punishing it, a better state of feeling would l.Je inculcated, and the sooner we would have that peace which would leave the States free 

indeed to regulate their own domestic affairs. I believe on tl1o part 

of our citizens of the Southern States-the better part of themthere is a disposition to be law-abiding, and to do no violence either 

to individuals or to the laws existinrr. But do they do right in ignoring the existence of violence and b~oodshed in 1·esistance to constituted ·authority f I sympathize with their prostrate condition, and 

would do all in my power to relieve them-acknowledging that in some instances they have had most trying govemments to live under, 

and very oppressive ones in the yvay of taxation for nominal improvements not giving benefits equal to the hardships imposed-but can they proclaim themselves entirely irresponsible for this condition f 

They cannot. Violence has been rampant in some localities, and has 

either been justified or denied by those who could haveprevented it. 

The theory is even raised that there is to be no further int-erference on the part of the General Government to protect citizens within a State 

where the State authorities fail to give protection. This is a great 

mistake. While I remain Executive, ail the law!:! of Congress and 

the provisions of the Constitution, including the recent amendments added thereto, will be enforced with rigor; but with regret 

that they should have added one jot or tittle to executive duties or powers. Let therA be fairness in the discussion of southern questions, 

the advocates of both, or all political parties, giving honest, truthful 

reports of occurrences, condemning the wrong and upholding the 

right, and soon all will be well. Under existing conditions the neo-ro votes the Republican ticket, because he knows his friends are of that 

party. Many a good citizen votes the opposite, not because he agrees 

with the great principles of State which separate parties, but because, 

generally, he is opposed to negro rule. This is a most delusive cry. 

Treat the negro as a citizen and a voter-as he is and must remainand soon parties will be divided, not on the color line, but on principle. Then we shall have no complaint of sectional interference. 

The report of the Attorney-General contains valuable recommenda--

tions relating to the administration of j nstice in the courts of the 

United States, to which I invite your•attention. 

I respectfully suggest to Congress the propriety of increasing the n~mber of judicial districts in the United States to eleven, the present 

number being nine, and the creation of two additional judgeships. 

The territory to be traversed by the circuit judges is so great, and 

the business of the courts so steadily increasing, that it is growing more and more impossible for them to keep up "\\ith the business re- quiring their attention. Whether this would involve the necessity of 

adding two more justices of the Supreme Court to the present num- ber I submit to the judgment of Congress. 
1874. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 7 

; The attention of Congress is invited to the report of the Secretary 

of the Interior and to the legislation asked for by him. The domestic interests of the people are more intimately connect.ed with this 

Department than with either of the other Departments of the Government. Its duties have been added to from time to time, until they have 

become so onerous that without the most perfect system and order it 

will be impossible for the Secretary of the Interior to· keep trace of 

all official transactions having his sanction and done in his name, 

and for which he is held personally responsible. 

The policy adopted for the management of Indian affairs, known as the peace policy, has been adhered to with most beneficial results. 

It is confidently hoped that a few years more will relieve our frontier from danger of Indian depredations. 

I commend the recommendation of the Secretary for the extension 

of the homestead laws to the Indians and for some sort of territorial 

government for the Indian Territory. A great mnjority of the Indians 

occnpying this Territory are believed yet to be incapable of maintaining their rights arO'ainst the more civilized and enlightened white man. - Any territoria form of government given them, therefore, 

should protect them iu their homes and property for a period of at 

least twenty years, and before its final adoption should be.ratified 

by a majoritv of those 'affected . . The report of the Secretary of the Interior, herewith attached, 

gives much interesting statistical information, which I abstain from 

giving an abstract of, but refer yon to the report itself. 

The act of Congress providing the oath which pensioners must 

subscribe to before drawing their pensions cuts off from this bounty a few survivors of the war of 18~ residing in the Southern States. 

I recommend the restoration of this bounty to all such. The number 

of persons whose names would thus be restored to the list of pensioners is not large. They are all old persons, who could have taken no part in the rebellion, and the services for which they were awarded 

pensions were in defense of the whole country. 

The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, herewith, conta-ins 

suggestions of much interest to the general public, and refers to the 

approaching centennial ai;ld the part his Department is ready to 

take in it. I feel that the nation at large is interested in having this 

exposition a success, aml commend to Congress such action as will 

secure a greater general interest in it. Already m::my foreign nations 

have signified their intention to be represented at it, and it may be 

expected that every civilized nation wil1 be represented. 

The rules adopted to improve the civil service of the Government 

have been adhered to as closely as has been practicable with the opposition with which they meet. The effect, I believe, has been bene-

.fic1al on the whole, and has tended to the elevation of the service. 

But it is impracticable to maintain them without direct and positive 

support of Congress. Generally the support which this reform re- ceives is from those who give it their support only to find fault when 

the rules are apparent.ly departed from. Removals from office without preferring charges against parties removed are freque:qtly cited as departures from the rules adopted, and the retention of those 

against whom charges are ma.de by irresponsible persons, and withont good grounds, is also often condemned as a violation of them. 

Under these circumstances, therefore, I announce that if Congress 

adjourns wit.hont po itive legislation on the subject of "civil-service 

reform" I will regard such action as a disapproval of the system, and 

will abandon it except so far as to require examinations for certain 

appointees to determine their fitness. Competitive examinations will 

be abandoned. 

The gentlemen who have given their services, without compensation, as members of the board to devise rules and regulations for the 

government of the civil service of the country, have shown much 

zeal and earnestness in their work, and to them as well as to myself 

it will be a source of mortification if it is to be thrown away. But I 

repeat that it is impossible to carry this system to a successful issue 

without general approvaland assistance, and positive law to support it. 

J have stated that three elements of prosperity to the nation, capital, labor, skilled and unskilled, and products of the soil, still remain 

with us. To direct the employment of these is a problem deserving 

the most serious attention of Congress. If employment can be given 

to all the labor offering itself, prosperity necessarily follows. I have 

expressed the opinion, and repeat it, that t"he first requisite to the 

accomplishment of this end is the substitution of a sound currency 

in place of one of a fluctuating value. This secured, there are many 

interests that might be fostered to the great profit of both labor and 

capital. How to induce capital to employ labor is the question. The 

subject of cheap transportation has occupied the attention of Congress. Much new light on this question will without doubt be given 

by the committee appointed by the last Congress to investigate and report upon this subject. 

A revival of ship-building, and particularly of iron-steamship building, is of vast importance to our national prosperity. The United 

States is now paying over 100,000,000 per annum for freights and 

passage on foreign ships-to be carried abroad and expended in the 

employment and supp,ort of other peoples-beyond a fair percentage of what should go to foreign vessels, estimating on the tonnage and 

travel of each, respectively. It is to be regretted that this disparity 

in the carrying tmde exists, and to correet it I would be willing to see a great departure from the usuaJ course of Government in supp!)rting 

what might usually be termed private enterprise. I woulll not sngge t 

as a remedy direct subsidy to American steamship lines, but I would 

suggest the direct offer of ample compensation for can-ying the mails 

between Atlantic sea-board cities and the Continent on Americanowned and American-built steamers, and would extend this liberality 

to vessels carrying the mails to South American states and to Central 

America and Mexico; and would pursue the same policy from our Pacific 

sea-ports to foreign sea-ports on the Pacific. It might be demanded 

that vessels built for this service should come up to a standard fixed by 

legislation in tonnage, speed, and · all other qualities looking to the 

possibility of Government reC}_uiring them at some time for war purposes. The right also of taking possession of them in such emergency 

should he guarded. 

I offer these suggestions believing them worthy of consideration in 

all seriousness, affecting all sections and all interests alike. If anything better can be done to direct the country into a course of general prosperity, no one will be more ready than I to second the 

plan. 

Forwarded herewith will be found the report of the commissioners 

appointed under an act of Congress approved June 20, 1874, to wind 

up the affairs of the District government. It will be seen from the 

report that the net debt of the District of Columbia, less securities on hand and available, is: 

Bonded debt issued prior to .July 1, 1874 ..••••.. -.....••..••••..•..• $8, 883, 940 43 

3.65 bonds, act of Congress .June 20, 1874 ...... .... .• . ... .• .•........ 2, 088, 168 73 

Certllica.tes of the board of audit ...........•.. ·-···................. 4, 770,558 45 

15,742,667 61 

Le..qs special-improvement assessments (char11eable to 

private property) in excess of any demand aga.inst such assessments. . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • . • . • • • • • . . • . . . . . • . et, 614, 054 37 

Less Chesapeake and Ohio Canal bonds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • 75, 000 00 

And Washington and Alexandria. Railroad bonds..... 59, 000 00 

In the hands of the commissioners of the sinking fund-.. • . • • •• . . • . 1, 748, 054 37 

Leaving a.ctu.al debt, less said aasets ..•..••..••••••••••..•••• ··-· ... 13, 994,613 24 

In addition to this there are claims preferred against the government of the District amounting in the estimated aggregate reported 

by the board of andit to 3,147,787.48, of which the greater part will 

probably be rejected. This sum can with no more propriety be included in the debt account of the District government than cau the 

thousands of claims against the General Government be included as a portion of the national debt. But the aggregate snm thus stated 

includes something more than the funded debt chargeable exclusively 

to the District of Columbia. The act of Congress of June ~0, 1874, 

contemplates an apportionment between the United States Government and the District of Columbia, in respect of the payment of the 

principal and interest of the 3.65 bonds. Therefore, in computing 

with precision the bonded debt of the District, the aggregate sum above stated as respects 3.65 bonds now issued, the outstanding cer- tificates of the board of audit, and the unadjusted claims pending before that board should be reduced to the extent of the amount to be 

apportioned to the United States Government in the manner indicated 

in the act of Con~essof Juue20, 1874. 

I especially inVIte your attention -to the recommendations of the 

commissioners of the sinking fund relative to the ambiguity of the 

act of J nne 20, 187 4, the interest on the District bonds, and the con- solidation of the indebtedness of the District. 

I feel much indebted to the gentlemen who consented to leave 

their private affain; and come from a distance to attend to the busi- ness of this District, and for the able and satisfactory manner in 

which it has been conducted. I am sure their services will be equally 

appreciated by the entire country. · It will be seen from the accompanying full report of the board of 

health that the sanitary condition of the District is very satisfactory. 

In my opinion the District of Columbia should be regarded as the 

grounds of the national capital, in which the entire people are interested. I do not allude to this to urge generous appropriations 

to the District, but to draw the attention of Congress, in framing a law for the government of the District, to the magnificent scale on which the city wa.s planned by the founders of the Government; the manner in which, for ornamental purposes, the reservations, streets, 

and avenues were laitl out, and the proportion of the property actually possessed by the General Government. I think the proportion 

of the expenses of the government and improvements to be borne by 

the General Government, the cities of Washington and Georgetown, 

and the county should be carefully and equitably defined. 

In accordance with section 3, act approved June 23, 1874, I appointed a board to make a survey of the mouth of the .Mississippi 

River, with a view to determine the best method of obtaining and 

maintaining a depth of water sufficient for the purposes of com- merce, &c.; and in accordance with an act entitlecl ".An act to provide for the appointment of a commission of engineers to investigate 

and report a permanent plan for the reclamation of the alluvial ba in 

of the l\Iississippi River subject to inumlation," I appointed a com .. mission of engineers. Neither board has yet completed its labors. 

When their reports are received, they will be forwardeu to Congre~s 

without delay. 

U.S. GRANT. 

EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 7, 1874. 
8 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. DECE~ffiER 7J 

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 

A PROCLAMATION. 

Whereas, pursuant to the second section of the act of Congress approved the 23d of March last, entitled "An act to authorize the 

Pre ident to accept for citizens of the United States the jurisdiction 

of certain tribunals in the Ottoman dominions and Egypt, established or to be established under the authority of the Sublime Porte 

and of the government of Egypt," the President is authorized, for 

the benefit of American citizens residing in the Turkish dominions, 

to accept the recent law of the Ottoman Porte cedi~~ the right of 

foreigners possessing immovable property in said dommions. 

And whereas, pursuant to the authority thus in me vested, I have 

authorized George H. Boker, accredited as minister-resident of the 

United States to the Ottoman Porte, to sign, on behalf of this Government, the protocol accepting the law :rloresaid of the said Otto- man Porte, which protocol and law are, word for word, as follows: 

(Translation.] 

The United States of America. and His Majesty the Sultan being desirous to 

est..'\blish by a special aet the agreement entered upon between them regarding 

the admissiOn of American citizens to the right of holding real estate granted to foreigners by the law promulgated on the 7tli of Sepher, 1284, (January 18th, 18G7,) 

have authorized : The President of the United States of America, Geor!!e H. Bol!;er, minister-resident of the United States of America. near the Sublime Porte, and 

His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, His Excellency A. Aarifi Pasha, his minister 

of foreign affu.irs, to sign the protocol which follows: 

Protocol. 

The law granting foreigners the right of holding real estate does not interfere 

with the immunities specified by the treaties, and which will continue to protect 

the person and the movable property of foreigners who may become owners of real estate. . As the exercise of this right of possessing real property may indnce foreigners 

to establish themselves in larger numbers in the Ottoman empire, theim"{>eriaf gov- ernment thinks it proper to anticipate and to prevent the difficulties tow hlCh the application of this law may gi've riso in certain localities. Such is the object of the 

al'l'3.ngements which follow. 

The domicile of any J?erson residing upon the Ottoman soil bl:'in~ inviolable, 

and as no one can enter 1t without the consent of the owner, except oy virtue of 

ordtlrs emanating from competent authority, and with the assist..'mce of the magis· trate or functionary invested with the necessary powers, the residence of foreign· ers is inviolable on the same principle1 in conformity with the treaties, and the 

agents of the- public force cannot enter 1t without the assist:mce of the consul or of 

the delegate of the consul of the power on which the foreigner depends. 

By 1'681dence we understand the house of inhabitation and its dependencies: that 

is to say, the out-houses, courts, gardens, and neighboQ.ng inclosures, to the exclu· 

sion of eJl other parts of thti property. 1n thelooalities distant by less than a nine hours' journey from the consular residence the agents of a public force cannot enter the residence of a foreigner without 

the assistance of a consul, as wa.~ before said. · On his part the consul is bound to give his immediate assistance to the local 

authority, so as not to let six hours elapse between the moment at which he may 

be informed and the moment of his depa.rtnre, or -the departure of his delegate, so that the action of the authorities may never be suspended more than twenty-four 

hours. 

In the loca.lltied distant by nine hours or more than nine hours of travel from the 

residence of the consular agen~ the agents of the public force may, on the request 

of the local authority, and with the assistance of t.hree members of the council of 

the elders of the commune, enter int-o the residence of a foreigner, without beinoo 

assisted by the consular agen~ but only in case of urgency, and for the search an~ the proof of the crime of murder, of attempt at murder, of incendiarism, of armed 

robbery either with infraction or by night in an inh:Wited house, of armed rebellion, 

and of the fabrication of counterfeit money; aud this entry may be made whether 

the crime waa committed by a foreigner or by an Ottoman subject, and whether 

it took place in the residence of a foreigner or not in his residence, or any other 

place. · These re~ations are not applicable but t-o the parts of the real estate which 

constitute tne residence, a.s it has been heretofore defined. 

Beyond the residence, the action of the police shall be exercised freely and with- out reserve; bnt in case a person charged with crime or offense should be arrested, 

and the accused sh:ill be a foreigner, the immunities attached to his person shall be 

observed in respect to him. 

The functionary or the officer charged with the aooomplisbment of a domiciliary visi~ in the exceptional cil'cumstances determined before, and the memhers of the 

council of elders who shall assist him, will be obliged to make out a proces-verbal of 

the domiciliary visit, and to communicate it immediately to the superior authority 

under whose jurisdiction they are, and the latter shall transmit it to the nearest consular aaent without delay. 

A specia1 regulation will be :promulgated by ~he Sublime Porte to determine the 

mode of action of the local police in tlie seveml cases provided heretofore. 

In localities more distant than nine hours' travel from the residence of the con- sular agent, in which the law of the judicinl ory;anization of the valayet may be in 

force, fOreigners shaJI be tried without the .'\SSlstanw of the consular delegate by 

the council of elders fulfilling the function of justices of the peace and by the tribunal of the canton, a.s well for actions not exceeding one thousand piasters as for 

offenses entailine n. fine of five hundred piasters only at tbe maximum. 

Foreigners shill have, in any cnse, the right of appeal to t.he tribunal of the arron- dissement against the judgments issued as above stated, and t!J.e appeal shall be 

followed and judged with the a.ssistance of the consul, in conforiD.lty with the 

treaties. 

The appeal shall always suspend the execution of a sentence. In all c:J.Ses the forrible execution of the judgments, issued on the conditions determined heretofore, shall not take place without the co-operation of the consul or of his delegate. The imp •rial government will enact a law which shall determine the rules of 

PJ'?Cednre to be observed by the parties in the application of the preceding regu· lations. 

Foreigners, in whatever locality they may b~J ma¥. freely au bmit themselves to the ju.nsdiction of the council of elders or of tne tr1bunal of the c..anton, without 

the assistance of the consul, in cases which do not exceed the compett'ncy of these 

councils or tribunals, reserving always the right of appeal before the tribunal of 

the arrondissement, where the cnse may be brought and tried with the assistance 

of the consul or his delegate. The consent of a foreigner to be tried a.s a.bove stated, without the nssi.<~tance of 

his consul, shall always be given in writing, and in advance of all procedure. It is well understood th'llt all these restncti<lns do not concern ca.~e.~ which have 

for their ohject questions of real est.'lte, which shall be tried and determined under 

the conditions established by the law. . 

The right of defense and the publicity of t.he hearings shall be assured in all ca:~es tQ the foreigners who ma.y appear before the Ottoman tribunals, ao well as to Ottoman subjects. 

The preceding dispositious shall remain in force until the revision of tho.1ncient treaties, a revis1on which the Sublime Porte reserves to itself the ri,.ht to brin,. 

about hereafter by an understanding between it and the friendly powers. "' 

In witness whereof there pootive plenipotentiaries have signed the protocol, and 

hn.ve affixed thereto their seals. • Done at Constantinople the 11th of August, 1874. 

(Signed) 

(Signed) . 

(Translation.] 

A. AA.RIFI. [L. s.l 

GEO. H. BOKER. [L. s. 

Law conceding to foreigners the right of holding real JStatJ in tlw Ottoman empire. 

Imperial rescript.-Let it be done in conformity with the contents. 7 Sepher, 1284, (January 18, 1867.) 

With the object of developing the prosperity of the country, to put an end to the 

difficulties, to the abuses, and to the uncertainties which have ari en on the suhject 

of the right of foreigners to hold property in the Ottoman empire, and to com- plato, in accordance with a precise regulation, the safeguards which are due to financial interests and to administrative action, the followmg legislative enactments have been promulgated by the order of His Imperial ~jesty the ultm : ARTICLE I. Foreigners are admitted, by tho same priYilege 38 Ottoman subjects, and without any other restriction, to enjoy the right of holding real estate, whether in the city or the country, throughout· the empire, .with the exception of the 

province of the Hedjaz, by submitting themselves to the laws and the regul.'lltions 

which govern Ottoman subJec•.s, as is hereaft-er stated. 

This arrangement does not concern subjects of Ottoman birth who have changed their nationality, who shall be governed m this matter by a special law. 

.ART. II. Foreigners, proprietors of real estate in town or in country1 are in couse- qnenceJ?laced upon terms of equality with Ottom:lon subjects in all things that COD· 

cern thell' Ian ned property. The legal effect of this equality is1st. To obli,.e them to confo1m to all the laws and regulatio118 of the police or of themunicipalitywhich govern at presen~ or may govern hereafter, the eDJOyment, 

the transmission, the alienation, and the hypothecation of landed J?I'Operty. 2d. To pay all charges and taxes, under whatever form or denommation they may 

be, that are levied, or may be levied hereafter, upon city or country property. 3d. To render them d.irer.tly amenable to the Ottoman civil tribunals in al1 questions relating to landed property, and in all real actions, whether a.s pln.intiffs or 38 

defendants, even when either party is a foreigner. In short, they are in all things to hold real est.'\to by the S..'\me title, on the same condition, and under the arne forms a.s Ottoman owners, and without being able to avail themselves of their personal nationality, except unuer the reserve of the immunities attached to their per- sons and their movable goods, according to the treaties. 

.ART. ill. In case of the bankruptcy of a. foreig_t?.er possessing real estate1 the 

assignees of the bankrupt ma.v apply to the authonties and to the Ottoman civ1l bi· 

bnnals·requirinoo the sale of the real estate posses ed by the bankrupt, and which 

by its nature an'a according to law is responsible for the (lebts of the owner. The same course shall be followed when a foreigner shall have obtained against 

another foreigner owning real estate a judgment of condemnation before a foruign 

tribunal. 

For the execution of this judgment agsinst the real estate of his debtor he shall 

apply to the competent Ottoman authorities, in order to obtain the sale of that real estate which is responsible for the debts of the owner; and this judgment shall btl 

executed by the Ottoman authorities and tribunals only after they have decided 

that the real estate of which the sale is required really belongs to the category of 

that property which may be sold for tho payment of debt. 

.ART. IV. Foreigners have the J!.'!jvilege to dispose, by donation or by testament, 

of.tlL'lt real estate of which s11ch dispo ition is permitted by law. 

As to that real estate of which they may not have dispoSed, or of which the law 

does not permit them to dispose by gift or testamen~ its succession sh'\11 be gov· 

erned in accordance with Ottoman law . .ART. V. All foreigners shall enjoy the privileges of the present law 38 soon as the powers on which they depend Shill agree to tlie arrangements proposed by tho 

Sublime Porte for the exercise of the right to hold real estate. 

Now therefore, be it known that I, Ulysses S. Grant, President 

of the Unit-ed Stat.es of America, have caused the said protocol and 

law to be made public, for the information and guidance of citizens 

of the United States. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the 

seal of the United States to be affixed. 

Done at the city of Washington this twenty-ninth day of October, 

[ EAL in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 8 ·] seventy-four, and of the Independence of the United States 

of America the ninety-ninth. U. S. GRANT. 

By the President: 

liA.Mn.TON FISH, . 

Secretary of State. 

Mr. Gampbell to .Mr. Fi~h. 

UNITED STATES NoRTHERN BoUNDARY Coumssto:'<f, 

Washington, December2, 1874. 

Sm: I h!Lve the honor to transmit herewith, for the informa.tion of the Department, a. preliminary report and sketch from Major W. J. Twining, United Sto.tes 

Engineers, chief astronomer of the commission, showing the progress of the sur- vey of the boundary durin.,. the past season. From this report it will be seen that the survey of the boumlary·line defined in 

the treaty of 1818 has been completed, and connected (on the summit of the Rocky Mountains) with the eastern terminus t<1 the boundary-line from the Pacific Ocean 

defined in the trea~ of 1846. The whole boundary-line between the United States 

and British po88688Ions has now been established, with the exception of the bound· 

a.rr. between British Columbia and Al.a.ska. The United States commission and the British commission are now engaged in 

working out the results of their field-operations, for the purpose of pr pa.rin~ the 

final jolllt maps necessary t-o a proper representation of the boundary-line anu the 

territories adjacent therero. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servan~ 

ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL, 

Ron. H.um TON F.ldH. 

Gommis:.'ioncr Northern Boundary Survey. 

Secretary of State. 
1874. OONGRE.SSIONAL RECORD. 9 

MajOf' 'Pwining to Mr. Oampbell. 

UNITED STATES NORTHERN BoUNDARY COIDUSSION, 

Washington, D. 0., Decernb~r 1, 1874. 

Sm: In answer to your request, I respectfully submit a brief statement of the 

work ~rformod by th13 commission during the past summer. During the swnmer of 1873 the boundary was surveyed and marked from the 

Red River of the North waHt to longitude 106° 12'. For a distance of ninety miles 

the marks were of a temporary nature, and are to be replaced by permanent monu- ments. This arrangement resulted from a difference of opinion which existed a.t that time in regard to the true definition of the forty ninth parallel of h\titude. 

During the winter of 187~'74 thu surveyo east of the Reu River were completed 

to the Lake of the Woods, including the shore-line of that lake so fur east a.;~ thu 

Rainy River. 

Dru-ing the present cason the work has been executed in the same manner as heret-ofore, lmder tho a~reemcnt made last year between the chief astronomers of 

the United States aml British commis:iions. This agreement was to the effect that 

the officers of the United States were to determine astronomical stations at intervals of forty miles, and to survey a. belt of territory five miles wicle south of the 

parallel, the English to determine a similar erie of astronomical st.1.tions and to 

survey an equal belt of toprtgraphy north of the line. ; The distance remaining to be surveyed during the present year wa.'l three hundred and fift:v-ei.!;ht miles, from longitud6106°.12' to longitude 114o 05'. I organized the parties in Saint Panl, Minnesota, on the 1st of June, anrl proceeded, b.v 

wa.y of the Northern Pa.cific Railroad and the Missouri River, to Fort Buford. 

Thence, traveling by lr.nd, the advanced wo1·king- parties reached the line at the 

initial point of ~his year's operations on tho 1st of July. 

The shortn of the season, and the immense di~ta.nce to be traveled after the 

work should be completed, required that it should be finished urly in Sept-ember. 

With this object in view, the working parties were pushed to the utmost limit of 

their endurance, and by the 1st of september the 6lght astronomical stations as- signoo t-o the United States commission lmd been determined (by one party) and 

tho lin~ had been connected with the L'tst st.:ltiou of the northwestern boundary, 

at the summit of the Rocky Mountains. Fnll details of the survey have been 

given in tho preliminary reports from this office. Without reca.pitnL'ltion, I will 

only say that the res•llts have been in every reap ct satisfactory. 

The commission returned to Saint Panl by wa.y of the Missouri River and the 

Northern Pacific Railroad, making the dist.<tnce from Fort Benton to Bismarck, 

(twelve hundred miles,) in open boats, in eighteen days. The men were discharged on the 5th of Octob~r. 

Thus in fo1rr months this expedition accomplished a. journey of thirty-seven hundred mHcs, nine hundred of which was by land, a.ncl twelve 'hundred by water, in 

open boat , besides surveying and marking three hundred and fifty-eight miles of 

the boundary-line. 

The t.opogmphical parties hn.ve beon continuously in the field, both winter and summer, frOm the 1st of June, 1873, until the present time, with the exception of two months in the spring of 1874. They have demonstrated by experience that 

instrument.'\! work can be done in that high latitude, even in tho most ri~orous part 

of the winter, where tbe country is wooded. On the open plains sucn exposure 

would be, beyond question, uxceedingly dangerous. 

The limits of this report will allow only a very brief statement of the general char- acter of the country passed over. That portion crossed by the part of the line surveyed during the present year was found to be an open plain, entirely destitute of timber, but easily practicable for ~:~Ron-trains, except in the vicinity of Frenchman's Creek, and the crossing of ..1.\l.llK River, where wide detours h:td to be made to avoid the bad lands. 

From longitude 106° to the crossing of Milk River the country cannot be oalled 

attractive. The min-fall is small, ana water consequently scarce during the sum- mer months. The soil is alkaline, and produces mostly sa~e-brn hand cactus. From the Sweet Grass Hills to the Rocky Mountains its character is entirely 

changerl. The r.lin-fall appears to be ample. The belt along the foot of the mount- ains, m addition to scenery of rar·e bea.nty, presents to the eye of the practical man the more t~olid advant.'lge of an unsurpassed fertility. Northwe tern Montana. is 

still the range of immense herds of buffaloe , whose nnmbors, contrary to the com- mon ly-recmved opinion, are con tantly increasing. This re#on is t.he country of the 

Blackfoot and Piegan tribes of Indians. It is also the aebatn.ble ground of the 

North A sinaboines, the Gros Ventres of the prairio, and the r..iver Crows, while an occa ional war-party of Sioux may be found as far nmthwest M the Sweet Grass 

Hills. With the exception of the Sioux, these tribes appear to be peaileably enough 

disposed. 

ABOHTDALD CAMPBELL, Esq., 

Oommissicn.>r, Northern Boundary. 

W. J. TWINING, 

Oaptain Engineers, Ohiej Astronomer. 

Mr. CARPENTER. I move that the message be laid upon the 

table and printed, together with the accompanying documents. 

The motion was agreed to. · 

ANNUAL REPORTS. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the annual report 

of the Secretary of the Treasury on the finances; which, on motion 

of Mr. EDMUNDS, was ordered, to lie on the table and be printed. 

He also laid before the Senate the annual report of the Comptroller 

of the Currency, in compliance with the provisions of section 61 of 

the national-bank act; which was ordered to lie on the table and be 

printed. 

He also laid before the Senate the annual report of the AttorneyGeneral, showing the operations of the Department of Justice for 

t.he fiscal year ending June 30, 1874; which was ordered to lie on the 

table and be printed. 

Mr. EDMUNDS. I move that the Senate do now adjourn. 

The motion was agreed to ; and (at two o'clock and forty-two minutes p.m.) the Senate adjourned. 

• 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

MONDAY, December 1, 1874. 

This being the day designated by the Constitution for the meeting 

of Congress, the members of the House of Representatives of the 

Forty-thin1 Congress assembled in their Hall for their second session. 

At twelve o'clock m. the Speaker, Ron. JAMES G. BLA.ThTE1 a mem- ber .from the State of .Maine, called the llonse to order. 

PRAYER. 

The Chaplain, Rev.J. G. BUTLER, D. D., offered the following prayer: 

We cqme to Thee, 0 God, ·with adoration and thanksgiving. Thou 

art upon the throne; upon Thee the nations depend. In Thee we live. 

We thank Thee for life preserved and for the kind providence that 

again brings us together in the enjoyment of health both of body allll 

of mind. We confess our sins and dmw nigh with confiuence to God 

because Thou art the God of pardons. 0 blot out all our transgi·essions and grant us Thy peace. 

We seek Thy blessing, 0 Lord, as we enter upon these new responsibilities. Lift upon our land, upon our Government, and upon all our people the light of Thy countenance. Guide, we pray Thee, the 

Executive of this great nation, enduing him with heavenly wisdom. 

Give unto the members of his Cabinet Thy divine spirit. Control, we beseech Thee, our Senators, bestowing upon them heavenly wisdom. 

May our judges be clothed with righteousness. And remember in 

mercy these Thy-servants, 0 Lord, blessing them in their persons, in 

their families, in their social relations, and in these great responsibilities which meet them day by day. We pray that Thou wouldst 

give unto them power over their own hearts, that Thou wouldst con- trol them by Thy divine spirit; that Thou wo}lldst preserve them in 

their integrity in the midst of temptation, and give them consciences 

void of offense toward God and toward man. Remember our great land, 0 God, in all its interests, that our garners may be full, yielding all manner of fruit; that our sheep may 

bring forth thousands and tens of thousands; that our oxen may be 

strong to labor; that our commerce and the industries of the nation 

may all be promoted; that education and religion may be advanced; 

that the press may be purified and made an engine of great power 

for good in our land, and that all that pertains to the well-being of this 

natiomnay be under Thy divine guidance; that there may be no com- plaining in our st.reets, and ours may be that righteousness which exalts a nation and the blessedness of that people whose God is the Lord. 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespaBSes, as we forgive 

those who trespass against us. And lead m; not into temptation, but 

deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and 

the glory,forever and ever. Amen. 

CALL OF THE ROLL. 

The SPEAKER. This being the time fixed by the Constitution for 

the opening of the second session of the Forty-third Congress the 

Clerk of the Honse will call tho roll of Members to ascertain whether a quorum is in attendance, and will also call the Delegates from tho 

various Territorie . The roll was called, when the foll.owing-named Members and Delegates answered : · 

John H. Burleigh. 

William P. Frye. 

Austin F. Pike. 

Charles W. Willard. 

James Bnffinton. 

Benjamin W. Harris. 

Henry L. Pierce. 

Samuel Hoo_per. 

Daniel W. Gooch. 

.Toseph R. Hawley. 

Stephen W. Kellogg. 

Henry .r. Scudder. 

Samuel S. Cox. 

.TohnD. Lawson. 

Fernando Wood. 

Clarkson N. Potter. 

David M. De Witt. 

RobPrt S. H.Ye. William A. Wheeler. 

Henry H. Hathorn. 

David Wilber. 

Clinton L. Merriam. 

Ellis H. Roberts. 

.r ohn W. Hazelton. 

Amos Clark, jr. 

William Walter Phelps. 

SamuelJ, Randall. 

Ch:trles O'Neill. 

Leonard Myers. William D. Kelley. 

Alfred C. Harmer. 

James S. Biery. Washin~ton Townsend. 

Hiester 'clymer. 

A. Herr Smith. 

John B. Storm. 

Lazarus D. Shoemaker. 

James D. Strawbridge. 

MAINE. 

James G. Blahte.,. Eugene Ha.le. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Hosea. W. Parker. 

VERMONT. 

Lnke P. Poland. 

George W. Hendee. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Benjamin F. Butler. 

E. Rockwood Hoar. 

John M.S. Williams. 

George F. Hoar. 

Henry L. Dawes. 

RHODE ISLAND. 

Benjamin T. Eames. 

CONNECTICUT. 

Henry H. Starkweather • 

NEW YORK. 

.Tohn G. Schumaker. 

William E. Lansing. R. Holland Duell . Clinton D. MacDougall. 

William H. Lamport. 

H. Boardman Smith. 

Freeman Clarke. 

George G. Hoskins. 

Lyman K. Bass. 

Walter L. Sessions. 

Lyman Tremain. 

NEW JERSEY. 

Marcus L. W a.rd. 

ls:l.ac W. Scudder. 

PENNSYLVANIA . 

John B. Pa.cker. 

J obn A. Magee. 

.Tohn Cessna. 

R. Milton Speer. 

Sobieski Ross. 

Hirnm L. Richmond. 

Alexander W. Taylor. 

{v~~!·f~~~- Lemuel Todd. 

Cha.rleS' Albright. 

Glenni W. Scofield.