Litchfield enquirer., 1833-12-12
abresfaert's 1aessa0t.
FeliO'O CitizeRs Of the Senate,
and House Of Representatives.,


and House Of Representatives.,
On your assembling to perform the high
trusts which the people of the United States |
have c"ntidcd to you, of legislating fur their !
common welfare, il gives me pleasure TO con
graduate you uponthc happy condition Of our
beloved country. By the favor of Divine
Providence, health is again restored to as
peace Feigns within our borders: abundance
crowns the labors Of our fields commerce
and domestic industry flourish and increase:
and individual happiness rewards the private
virtue and enterprise of Our citizens.
Our condition abroad is M less honorable
than 1t is prosperous at home. Seeking moth
ing that is not right, and deiermined TO sub.
NIT to nothing that is wrong, hut desiring
honest friendships and liberal inaerc0ursH with
all nations, the United States have gained
Throughout the world the confidence and re.
'xrrct which are due To- policy so Just and SO
congrnial TO the character 0f the American
people and to the spirit Of their institutions.
In bringing To your notice the particular
state Of oar Foreign Affairs, it affords ne high
qualification to inform you, that they are ia
condition which Promises the continuance Of
friendship with all nations. 4 i
With Great Britain the interesting question
OF our Northeastern Boundary remains still
undecided. A negotiation, however, upon
that subject, has been renewed since, the close
OF the last Congress; and proposition has
been Submitted to the British Government
with the view Of establishing, in conformity
with the resolution Of the Senate, lhe line de-
signated by the treaty Of 1858. Though no
defnitive answer has heen received, It may be
daily locked for. and entertain. a hope that
the overture may ultimately lead to satisfac.
fGNhv 0AS 81 q
have the satisfaction to infWrm you that a
negotiation. which, by the desire ofthe House
Of Representatives, was opened some years
ago with the British Government, for the
erection Of light. houses on the Bahamas, has
been successful. Those works, when con-
pleted, together with those which the Uni.
ted States have constructed on the western
side Of the Cult of Florida, will contribute es-
senslally to the safety Of navigation in that sea.
This joint participation in establishments IN
teresting to humanity and beneficial 10 COM
merce. is worthy Of two enlightened nations !;
and indicates feelings which cannot fail tn have
n happy influence upon their political reia-
tions It is gratifying to the friends Of both
to perceive that the intercourse between the
AwO people is becoming daily more extensive,
and that sentiments Of mutual good will have
grown up, betting their common origin, and
jusiifying the hope that by wise counsels on
each side, not only unsettled questions may be
satisfactorily terminated, hut new causes Of
misunderstanding prevented.
Notwithstanding that continue 70 receive
the most amicable assurances from the Gov
eminent Of France, and that in NIL other re-
sPects The most friendly relations exist be-
tween the United States and that Government,
It 10 10 be regretted that the stpulations Of the
Convention concluded ON the 4th July, 1881.
remain, in some important parts, unfnliied.
By the second article Of that Convention j.
was stipulated that the sum payable TO the o.
nitcd STATES should be paid At Paris in six an.
nual instruments into the hands of such person
or persons, as should be authorized by the
Government Of the United States to receive
It, and by the same article the first instalment
was payable on the second day of February,
1883. BY the act Of Congress. Of the 18th Ju-
iy, 1880, il was made the duty Of the Secreta-
ry of the Treasury TO cause the several install
ments, with interest thereon, TO be received
from the French Government, and transfer
red to the United States in such manner as he
may deem best and by the Same act Of Com
gress, the stipulations on the part ofthe Uni.
ted States, in the Convention were, in all re.
speets. fulfilled. Not doubling that a treaty
thus made and ratified by the two Govern
ments, and faithfully executed by the United
States, would be promptly complied with by
the other party, and desiring to avoid the fisk
and expense of intermediate agencies, the
Secretary tire Treasury deemed it adyisa-
bic 10 receive and transfer the first iDstalnent
by means Of a draft upon the French Minister
Of Finance. A draft for this purpose was ac-
cordingly drawn in favor Ofthe Cashier of the
Bank Of the United States, for the amount
accruing to the United States out Of the first
instalment, and the interest payable with it.
This bill was not drawn at Washington un-
iii five days after the iDstalrnrnt was payable
at Paris, and was accompanied by n special
authority from the President anthorising
the Cashier or his assigns 10 receive the "a
mount. The mode Thus adopted Of receiving
the instalment was officially made known 10
the French Government, by the American
Charge dAfais at Paris pursuant 10 insiruc-
iions from the Department of State. The
bill however, though not presented for pay
ment until the twenty-third day of March.
was not paid. and for the reason assigned by
the French Minister Of Finance, that no APP
preparation had been made by the French
Chambers. 1t 10 not knowp to me that up
to that period any appropriation had been
required Of the Chambers, and although
communication was subsequently, made to the
Chambers by direction Of the King, recon-
mending that the necessary provisions should
be made for airying the convention into ef-