Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-15

Fetto~-citzeas of the Senate and House of Repre-
seatatues
Again the blessings of health and abundant
harvests claim our protoundest gratitude to
Almighty God.
FOREIGN Affairs
The condition Of our foreign affairs is rea-
sonably satisfactory.
Mexico continues to be the theatre Of civil
war. While our political relations with that
country have undergone no change, we have
at the same time strictly maintained neutrah-
ty between the belligerents.
At the request of the States OF costa hicd
and Nicaragua, a competent enquirer naS
been authorized to make survey OF the river
San Juan and the port of San Juan. 1t IS a
source of much satisfaction that the dlthcul-
ties which for a moment excited some poiItl-
cal annrahensions, and caused losing OF the
inter-oceanic transit route, have been AMIGA
bIv adjusted and that there is a good pros
meet that the route will soon be rc opened,
with an increase of capacity and adaptation.
We could not exaggerate either the CONNER
cial Or the political Importance of that great
Improvement
It would be doing injustice to an import
ant South American State, not to acknowl-
edge the directness, frankness and cordaIity
with which the United States Of Columbia
have entered into intimate relations with this
Government. A Claims Convention has been
constituted to complete the unfinished work
Of the one which closed its session in 1861.
The new liberal Constitution OF Venezuela
having gone into effect with the universal &C
quiescence of the people, the Government
under it has been recognized, and diplomatic
intercourse with it has been opened in a cor
dial and friendly spirit. The long deferred
Avis Island claim has been satisfactorily paid
and discharged.
Mutual payments have been made in the
claims awarded by the late joint commission
for the settlement of claims between the
United States and Peru. An earnest and cor
dial friendship continues to exist between the
TWO countries, and such efforts as were i'll
my power have been used to remove misun-
Outstanding and avert threatened war be-
tween Peru and Spain.
Our relations are of the most friendly ma
ture with Chill, the Argentine Republic, Bo-
Hvia, Costa Rlca, Paraguay, San Salvador and
Hayti. During the past year no Herences
Of any kind have arisen with these Republics
ami, on the other hand, their sympathics with
the United States are constantly expressed.
The claim arising from the seizure of the
cargo of the brig Macedonian in 1921 has
been paid in full by the Government of Chill.
Civil war continues in the Spanish part of
San Domingo, apparently without prospect
Of an early close.
Official correspondence has been freely
opened with Liberia, and it gives us a pleas
ing view Of the social and political progress
in that Republic. 1t may be expected to de-
rive new viSor from American influence, i'm
proved by the rapid disappearance of slavery
III the United States. | solicit your authori-
II 70 furnish the Republic a gunboat at a
moderate cost, to be reimbursed to the Unit
ed States by instalments Such vessel is
needed for the safety of that State against
the native African race, and in Liberan hands
it would be more effective in arresting the
African slave trade than squadron in our
own hands. The possession OF the least or
gained naval force would stimulate gene
rous ambition in the Republic, and the conf
deuce which we should manifest by furnish
ing it, would win torbearance and favor to-
wards the colony from all civilized nations
TIE proposed overland telegraph between
America and Europe, by the way Of Behring
Straits and Arctic Russia, which sane
toned by Congress at the last session, has
been undertaken under very favorable cir
cumstances by an association Of American
citizens, with the cordial good will and sup
port as we'll of this Government as of those
of Great Britain and Russia. Assurances
have been received from most of the South
American States Of their high appreciation
OF the enterprise, and their readiness to co
operate in constructing lines to that world
rncirclng communication.
learn with much satisfaction that the no.
bic design of a Geographic communication
between the eastern coast of America and
Great Britain has been renewed, with full eX-
pectation Of its early accomplishment. Thus
it is hoped that, with the return of domestic
peace, the country will be able to resume
with energy and advantage her former high
career of commerce and civilization.
Our very popular and Gstimable represent
ative in Egypt died in April last. An I'M
pleasant alteration which arose between the
temporary incumbent of the Office and the
Government OF the Pacha, resulted in suS-
pension Of intercourse This was promptly
corrected on the arrival of the successor of
the Consulate. Our relations with Egypt as
well as our relations with the Barbary Pow
ers are entirely satisfactory.
The rebellion which has so long been in
progress in China has ut last been suppressed
with the co operating good offices of this
Government and of the other foreign com
mercial States. The judicial consular estab-
ishment has become very difficult and Oner-
Gus, and it will need legislative regulation to
adapt it to the extension Of our commerce
and to the more intimate intercourse which
has been instituted with the Government and
people OF That vast Empire. CHINA seems tC
be accepting with hearty good will the con
ventiOnal laws which regulate commerce anC
social Intercourse among the Western nations
Owing to the peculiar situation of japan
and the anomalous form of its Government
the action Of that Empire in performing treat,
stipuations is inconsistent aud capricious.-
Nevertheless good progress has been effected
by the Western powers moving with enlight
ened concert. Our own pecuniary claim
have been allowed, or put in course of settle
ment, and the inland sea has been reopenet
to commerce. There is reason also to beley
that these proceedings have increased rattle
than diminished the friendship of Japan to
ward the United States.
OPENING REBEL PORTS.
The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina and Pen
sacola have been opened by proclamation. l
Is hoped that foreign merchants will now con
slider whether it is not more safe or profitable
to themselves, as well as just to the Unite'
States, to resort to these and other opel
ports, than 1t is to pursue, through many haz
ards and at vast cost, cOntraband trad
with other ports which are closed.
LEGIsiA ALTON AGAINST SLAVE TRADERS.
For myself, | have no doubt of the powe
and duty of the Executive, under the laws o
nations, to exclude enemies of the human
race from an asylum in the United States.
Congress should think that proceedings i
such cases lack the authority of law. or ough
to be further supplemented by it, | recon
mend that provision be made for effectuall
preventing foreign slave traders from, ,,,c,,,ir