Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-12-22

cannot be long before it will become wecessary for the Government to lerd some effective aid to. the solution of the political and sociaI prsblenFs which gre continually kept before the world hy the Republics cf the Island of St. Domingo. and whicl are now dissolv-- ins thrsilscbves mofe distinctly than before in the 1slan,i bg Cuba. = The sub feet Is commended to your considera. iiou with all ear,fstncss, because l am satisfied that thd time has arrived when even SO dirict a proceeding for annexaiion'of the Hpnb.irs of the, ls- land of St. Domingo would not only receive the consent bf the people Of the | Islands, but would also give satistac- ton to all "fhcr'foreign nations. ! am aware that upon the question of fur thcr extending our possessions. u IS ap- prehcndcd by some; that our political. system cannot fully be applied to an | area more extended than our continent but the conviction is rapidly gaining ground in America thai with the in- |. creased facilities for intercomntinica- | tions between all pdrtions of the earth | the principles of free government are | embraced im our constitution. and 1T faithfully maintained and carried out would prove of sufficient strength aud breadth to comprehend within their sphere and influence the civilized na- l tions of the world.
 | The attention of the Senate and Of Congress is again respectfully invited to the treaty for the establishment of commercial reciprocity with the Ila- waiian Kingdom, entered into last year, and which has already been ratified by that government. The attention of the l United States towards these Islands is not different from that in which they stand towards the West Indies. It is known and felt by the Hawaiian government and people that their | government and institutions arc feeble and prccarious. and that United States, being so near a ncighbor, would be unwilling to see the Island pass under ] foreign control. Their prosperity is continually disturbed by expectations and alarms of nni'ricndiy and political proceedings, as well fr0a-the United States as from foreign powers. A reciprocity treaty. while it could not materially diminish the attitude of the United States, would be Il gurantcc of rood will and forbeafance of all ma lions until the people of the Islands of them selves. at no distant day, volun- tarily apply for admission into the 1 Union.
 The Emperor of Russia has accedcd to the treaty negotiated here in January last for the security of trades marks im | the interest O. manufactures and com merce. l have invited his attention to the importance Q: establishing. now while it seems easy and practicable, n fair and equal regulation of the vast | tisneries belonging to the-iwo nations in tho waters of the North Pacific Ocean.
 | The two treaties between the United ! States and Italy fol the regulation ot 1 Consular powers, and tho cxtradition of criminals, negotiated and ratified here during the last session of Con- gress, have been accepted aud confirm cd by tie Italian Government.
 X liberal Consular convention, which has been negotiated with Belgium, will be submitted to the Senate.
 The very important treaties which were negotiated between the United States and North Germany and Bavaria for the regulation ot the rights ot natu- l ralized citizens, have been duly ratified and exchanged, and similar treaties have been entered into with the King doms of Belgium and Wurtemburg, and the Grand Duchess of Baden and 1 Hessc Darmstadt. 1 hope soon to be able to submit equally satisfactory con- \ ventons of the same character now in l course of negotiation with the respect | i've governments or Spain, Italy and the Ottoman Empire.
 Examination of claims against the
 United States by the liudson's Bay Company and Puget's Sonnd Agricul- 1 tural Company on account of certain ! rights in the State of Oregon and Ter itory of Washington alleged by those Companies in virtue of provisions of { the treaty between the United States and Great Britain Of June 18th, lSl6.
 has been diligently prosecuted under the direction of the joint International l Commission to which they were sub
 mitted for adjudication hy treaty be-
 tween the two Governments of July l lst. 1863, and it is expected to be con
 cmded at an early day. No practical
 relations concerning colonial trade and
 fisheries can be accomplished by treaty
 between the Cnited States and Great
 Britain until Congress shall express
 their judgment concerning ihe princi- l ples involved. There are other Qucs-
 tions, however. between Great Britain and the United States, remain for ad- l justment. These are the mutual rights of hatura'ized citizens; the boundary question, involving the title to the is-
 laid of San Juan, on the Pacific coast.
 and the mutual fishing claim since the
 year 1853; ot the ci,izens and subjects
 of the countries for injuries and depre-
 dations under the authority of their re- \ spective governments. Negotiations
 upon these subjects are pending, and am not without hope of being able to
 lay before the Senate for its considera-
 ton during the present session, proto-
 co.'s calculated to bring to an end these
 justly and long exciting controversies.
 We arc not advised of the action of
 the Chinese Government upon the Iib- q ertl and suspicious treaty which was recently celebrated with its plenipoiem-
 tiary at this Capital. Japan remains
 q tl,cater of civil war, marked by re- ligioms incidents and political severi-
 ties peculiar to that long isolated Elm pire. The Executive has hitherto main
 taincd a-s';'ict neutrality between the
 belliyerents. and acknowledge with pleasure that it has been frankly and fully sustained in that course by the
 enlightened concurrence and co-Opcra- ton of the other treaty powers, viz {: Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, 1 North Germany and Italy.
 Spain having recently undergone a
 revolution marked by extraordinary
 unanimity and preservation of order. the provisional government established at Madrid has been recognized, and
 the friendly intercourse which has so
 long happily existed between the two countries remains unchanged.