Democratic banner., 1847-12-27
VOLS

~ Ab "biS k'ty
have been placed, and the desire on the
part of my predecessors, as well as myself
to grant them the utmost indulgence, has
hitherto prevented these claims from being
urged il the manner strict justice demand
ed. The time has arrived when they ought
to be fully adjusted, ~liquidated and enforc-
ed, and efsrts tse now making for that pur-
pose.
1t il proper to inform you that the gov
eminent of Peru, has, in good faith, paid
the first instalment of the indemnity of
thirty thousand dollars each, the greater
portion of the interest due thereon, in exc
%cution of the convention between that
Government and the United States, the
notifications of which were exchanged at
Lima, OH the 3lst October, 1916. The At
itorney General of the United States, early
in August last, completed the adjudication
of the claims under this convention, and
made his report thereon, in pursuance Of
the act Of the Sth of August: 1876. The
sums to Which the claimants are respec-
lively entitled will be paid on demand at
the Treasury.
Invite the early attention of Congress
to the present condition Of our citizens in
China. Under our treaty with that power,
American citizens are Withdrawn from the
jurisdiction, whether civil or criminal, of
the Chinese government, and placed under
that of our public fu%nctionaries in that
country; for by those alone can our citizens
be tried and punished for the commission Of
any crime;-by these alone can questions
be decided between them involving the
rights of person and property, and by these
alone can contracts be enforced into which
they may have entered with the citizens OF
subjects of foreign powers. The merchant
vessels of Tus, lying in the waters Of the
five ports of China open TO foreign COM
meIce, are under the exclusive jurisdiction
of officers of their own government. In
til Congress shall establish competent tri-
bunals to try and punish crimes, TO exer-
else jurisdiction in China, American citi-
zens there are subject to no law whatever.
Grimes may be committed with IMMUNITY
to enforce 9GetF14lisd without any means
have already resulted from the omission OF
Congress to Iegislate upon the subject, and
still greater are unprecedented. The British
authorities in China have already complain
ed. that this Government has not provided
for the punishment Of crimes, or the en-
forcement Of contracts against American
citizens in that country, whilst their gov
ernment has established tribunals by which
American citizens can recover debts due
from British subjects.
Accustomed. as the Chinese are, to sum-
mary Justice they could not be made to
comprehend why criminals, who are cItt
zens of the United States should escape
with IMMUNITY, in violation Of treaty obi
cations, whilst the punishment of Chinese
who have committed any against American
citizens, would be vigorously exactedi in
deed, the consequences might be fatal t
American citizens in China, should a fla
grant crime be committed BY any one o
!, these upon a Chinese and punishment nc
follow according to the requisition OF til
treaty. This might disturb, if not destroy
our friendly relations with that EmPIre' an
cause an interruption of our valuable com
p merce. -.
Our treaties with the sublime Porte, TT
, poli, Tunis, Morocco and Muscat' also re
laurie the legislation of Congress to carr
;. them into execution, though the necessl'
n for immediate action may not be SO urge'
e as in regard to China.
The Secretary Of State has submitted
| estimate 10 defray the expense oil openlr
diplomatic relations with the PaPai State
l. The interesting political relations liz pr
nj oress in these States, as well as our cor
n nercial interests, have rendered s"ch
lie measure highly expedient and estlmat
I'd have also been submitted of outfits
de Affairs to the Republics OF III