Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-14

on TUrTl
vessels so as to meet contracts for machinery
made with private establishments. The total
expenditures Of the Navy department for the
Il seal year ending June 20, 1867, were s5ll-
ga OIL. No appropriations have been made or
required since the close Of the war Tor the CON
aud repair Of vessels, for steam ma
chineFy ordnance, provisions aud clothing,
fuel hemp sc the balance under these several
heads having been more than sufficient Tor cur
rent expsnditufes It should also be stated 20
his credit that besides asking no appropriations
fos the above objects for the last two yea. the
Secretary Of the Navy, on the Svth OF oegtem-
her lass. in sec. dance with the act OF May !,
1891 rsuuestsd the Secretary Of the Treasury
T. carry 20 the surplus fund the sum Of sos
600 zoe being the amount received from the
sales Of vessels aud other war property
and remnants OF former appropriations
POSTAL AFFAIRS.
The report OF the Postmaster Gen sral SHOVE
the bu zlness Of the POstOiliee department sud
The condition OF the postal service IN very
favorable light. aud the attention of congress
Is called to us practical recommendations
The receipts of the department for the Year
ending Jaue 80, 1867, including al special APP
prOpriatiOus for sea and land service, and Tor
nee mail matter were fl9 97S, 693. The ez-
nenditures for all purposes were Sl9, 235, 4S3,
leaving an unexpeDded balance ia favor Of
the department Of sTI3.2l0, whien can be ap
DlIsd toward the EXPENSES OF the dep rtmtBt
Tor the current wear. The increase Of postal
revenue, independent OF specific appTupria-
tons tor the year 1867, over that OF 1866, " IS
$3.50 O40. The increase OF revenue from the
sale of stamps and stamped enveiops was&7s3-
404 The increase OF expenditures IN 1867
over those of the previous year was owing
chiefly to the extension OF land aud ocean
mail service. Du ing the past year. new
postal cOnventiOne have been ratified ana ex-
en- Dged with the United Kingdom OF q eat
Britain ANA ireland. Belgium, the Neither
lands, SSH zsrland, he North German Union,
italy, ami tne Colonial Gov TUmen5 OF Hong
Kong. reducing very largely the rates OF
ocean and land postage to ami from and with
ia those cOuntTies.
TIE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU.
The report of the acting commissioners Of ag-
ricultute como sely psessnts the condition wants.
and progress Of an interest eninently worthy Of
the fostering care OF clHgress. and exhibits
large measure OF useful results achieved during
the year TO which it refe's. The Te-establish
meut Of Ieace at home, and the resumption o.
extended trade, travel and eOmInercs abroad
has served to increase the number end VAN y OF
questions in the department % fore gD aeai -
None Of these que tons however, have Serious
IL disturbed our lstiOns with other sts5es.
ne Republic of Mexico, having Ua,n reliev5 ID
from foreign Intervention, IS canes ~ engaged
in efforts to re- establish her clHsttutlen8. sys
TEN OF government good undersi aiding en-
tinues 10 exist between our government and tie
Republics of Hsy Ii aud San Domingo, al Gus
cordial relations with the Celtral and
South American states remain IN
changed. The tender made in conful mitywith
a resolution of congress Of the good offices OF the
government with a view to amic3bls a1lrst-
menr Of peace between Brazil and her aiiIfs on
ole side and Paraguay on the Othef and be
tween Chili and heI allies on one side. and Slaln
On tie other. though kindly received, hiss IN
neisher case been fully accepted by ths beh-eE-
81 . 81 Do a.
still vigorously maintained On the ether band
actual hostiities between jhe Pacific states and
Spain have been mITe tn a year suspended
| s. all on proper occasion that may occur
renew toe cOLciliatOTy recommendations which
have already been made Brazil with enlight-
snsd slgacity and comprehensive craftsmanship,
has opened the great channels CT tie Amsz ana
its tributaries 10 universal commerce
Que thing more seems needful 10 assure a
rapid and cheerful prog eSs 10 south Ametlca
| refer To those peaceful habits without which
states aud nations cannot. ia this age, we'll eX-
pect material prosperity OF social adsaC cement
The eXI Ositiun a unIye'sal industry at Palis
has passed and seems 70 have fully r, aized the
Cd eXUectstiuns Of the French Government.
If due allowance be made fuT the recent political
arrangement Of industry mere, the part which
the United States Lss borne IN this exhibition
ct Invention and act, may be Tegai ded with very
high satisfaction. Uudug The Exposition
Conference was held by delegates from several
nations, the L nited Stat beng one IA which
the COuv- HIonce, commerce, and social inter-
uTss 5ssuiting from divers standards OF mon
ey fully discussed and plans were des eloped
too establishing, with the universal consent a
common principle Tor the coinage OF gid.
These Conferences are expected to be renewed.
with the attendance OF many foreign states. not
hitherto representa- report OF these ln,er
esting proceedings will be submitted 10 Con
gress. which will no doubt, Justly appreciate
- - III nil h. de- rr ~ ami
measure which may tend 10 facilitate its ulti-
mate accomplishment.
Ca the 5th OF February, 1862. congress de
claTsd by Law that treasury notes without inter
est authorized BY that act. shall be as legal
tender in payment OF all debts, public and pri-
vste. within the United states An annual
remittance of $40 0B0 less stipulated penses
accrues to claimants under the convention made
With Spaia Ia 1884 These Inittances, sinee
tbs passage Of the act, have been paid in such
notes Claimants insist that government ought
to require payment IN coin.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
No arrangement has as vet been reached for
the III ement Of cur claims for British depre-
dations against the commerce of the United
states. / have felt it my duty to decline the
propos' ZION of arbitration made by her Majesty =
government becau-e it has hitherto been ac-
companied by reservations snd limitations
incompatible with the rights, interests aud hon
or Of our country. It is not to be sppre-
hepded that Great Britain will per-
sist in her r-tus-l 70 satisfy these
lust and reasonable claims. which involve
the sacred principle OF non. Intervention,
principle nenceforth not more important to
the United States than any other commercial
nation The West India Islands were settled
and color led by European states slmultSne-
Ously with the settlement snd cOlOnlZa tion OF
the American continent. Most of the colo
80 49, hos annannnnamr f.
lions in the close Of the last and beginning OF
the prsre nt century. Our own country en-
braces communities which at one period were
colonies OF Great Britain, France, spain, hoi-
land, sweden and Russis. Tue people IN the
West Indies with the exception OF those OF
the Island Of Hayti have neither attained
nor aspired to independence. Nor nave they
become prepared tor self-deience. Although
possessing considerable commercial value
thew have been hsld by several European
States which colouizsd aud conquer
ed them chiefly for purposes OF military and
naval strategy IN carrying out european po-
icy AMI designs in regard 70 this conti-
nent in our reyolutlOnary war the ports ana
harboTs or the West India Islands were used
by our enemy to the great injury and embar-
rassment Of the United States. We had the
same experience 10 our second war with Great
Britain. The same European policy for
long time excluded the UBsred States even
from trade with the y est Indies. While we
were at peace with all nations, in onr recent
civil war the rebels and their piratical aud
blockade breaking allies found facilities 10
the same ports for the work which they too
successfulls accomplished Of iaiuIing and de-
vastatiDg the commerce which We are now
ENGAGED in rebuilding. We isbOred especial
Is under the disadvantage, that European
steam vessels employed By our enemies
found friendly shelter, protection snd sup
plies in West Indien ports, while cur own na-
val operations were necessarily carried on
from our own distant chores. There Wss
then universal feeling OF regret at = want
OF advanced naval outpost between the Allan
tie coast znd Europe. The duty OF obtain
Jag sueh an outpost peacefully and lawfully,
us,1Ie neither doing nor menacing injury TO