The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-01-11
Presidents Message.

tons with other States. The Republic OF Mexico,
having been relieved from foreign Intervention, is
earnestly engaged in efforts to re-establish her
constitutional system of government. \ good
understanding continues TO exist between our
Government and the Republics of Hayti and San
Domingo; and our cordial relations with the Cen
tTai and South american States remain unchanged
The tender made in conformity with the rcsOlu-
ton of Congress of the good Offices of the Gov
ernment, with n view to an amicable adjustment
of peace between Brazil and her allies on one side
and Paraguay on the other, and between Chile
and her allies on one side and Spain ON the other,
though kindly received, has in neither case been
fully accepted by the belligerents. The war in
the Valley Of the Parana Is still vigorously main
tanned. On the other hand, actual h~ostilities be-
tween the Pacific States and Spain have been
more than a year suspended. | shall, on any
proper occasion that NAV occur, renew the concil-
iatOrv recommendations which have already been
made.
Brazil, with enlightened sagacity and compre-
hensivc craftsmanship, has opened the great chan
ne,s of the Amazon and It's tributaries to univer-
sal commerce. Nothing more seems needful TO
secure rapid and cheering progress in South
America. / refer 10 those peaceful habits with
out which States cannot, in this age, well ex-
icct material prosperity or social Advancement.
The Exposition of Universal Industry ut Paris
has rasscd, and il seems To have fully realized the
high expectations of the French Government. If
due allowance be made for recent political de
ransemcnt of its industry. the part which the
United States has borne in the exhibition of in
ycntiOn and art may be regarded with very high
satisfaction. During the Exposition n conference
WIS held Of delegates from several nItiOns-the
United States beng onc-in which tine inconven-
fences of commercial and social intercourse, re-
sulting from the different standards of money val
uc, were fully discussed, and plans were devel-
Opcd for establishing, by universal consent, n com
mon principle for coinage OF gold. The confer
cncc j. expected to bc renewed, witt, the attend
ancc of many foreign States not hitherto repre-
sentcd. \ report of these interesting proceed
ings will be submitted To Congrcss-which will
no doubt justly appreciate the great object, and
lac ready 10 adopt any measure which may tend to
facilitate its ultimate accomplishment.
On the 25th of February, 1852, Congress de-
claFed by law the treasury notes without interest
authorized by that Act should he legal tender in
payment Of all debts, public and private, within
the United States. An annual remittance of
S3O, 900. less stipulated expenses, accrucs To
claimants under tue convention with Spain, in
1884. These remittances, since the passage of
that Act, have been paid in such notes. The
claimants insist that the Government ought to re-
quire payments in coin. The subject may be
deemed worthy of your attention.
No arrangement has vet been reached for the
settlement Of our claims for British depredations
upon the commerce of the United States. | have
felt in my duty To decline the proposition of arbi-
tration made by Her Maiesty's Government, be-
cause II has either been accompanied by reserva-
lions or Limitations lncOHlillDt WIFI the rights,
interests and honor of the country. 1t is not to
he apprehended that Great Britain will persist
in her refusal to satisfy these just and reasonable
claims, which involve the sacred principal of nom
interyentlon-a principal henceiOrth not more i'm
pOrtant to the United States than 10 other COM
mcrcial nations.
STEPS have been taken toward the acquisition of
foreign territory in Alaska, and the Danish West
Indies. The West India Islands were settled and
colonized by European States simultaneously with
the settlement and colonization of the American
continent. Most of the colonies planted here
became independent nations az the close OF the last
and beginning of the present century. Our own
country embraces communities which mt one
period were colonies of Great Britain, France,
Spain, Holland, Sweden, and Russia. The peo-
pie in the West Indies, with the exception OF the
island Of Hayti. have neither obtained nor aspired
To independence, nor have they become prepared
for self-dc!cnsc. Although possessing considerable
commercial value, they have been held by the
several European States which colOnized or at
some time conquered them, chiefly for purposes
of military and naval strategy in carrying out
European policy and designs in regard 10 this
continent. In our Revolutionary War, ports and
harbOIs in the West India Islands were used by
our enemy tn the great injury and embarrassment
oftie United States. We had the same experience
i'm our second war with Great Britain. The same
European policy for n long time excluded us even
from the trade with the West Indies, while we
were at peace with all nations. In our recent
civil war the rebels and their misunderstanding
allies found facilities in the same ports for the
work, which they too successfully accomplished,
of iniuring and devastating the commerce which we
arc now engaged in rebuilding. We labored
especially under this advantage, that European
steam vessels employed by our enemies found
friendly shelter, protection and supplies in West
Indian ports, while our own naval operations
were necessarily carried on from our own distant
shores. There was then M universal feeling of
rt. rant a IN aIEnnaaI un rnl tfrl-fU-f nefN .fYp
the Atlantic coast and Europe. The duty of OBJ
tanning such an OUTPOST peacefully and lawfully,
while neither doing nor mcnacing INJURY To other
states, earnestly engaged the attention of the
Executive Department before the close OF the war;
and il has not been lost sight of since that time.
\ not entirely dissimilar naval want revealed
itself during tie same period ON the Pacific coast.
The required fOOthOld there WIS Fortunately secured
by our late treaty with the Emperor OF Russia
and it now seems Imperative that the more obvi-
Gus necessities of the Atlantic coast should be rs
carefully provided for. \ good and convenient
harbOr capable of easy defense will supply that
want. With the possession of such a sG1tiun 10y
the United States. neither we nor any other Amer
lean nation need longer apprehcnd injury or
Ofen$e from any rans-Atlauuc enemy. | agree
with our early statesmen that the West Indies
grIvitatc to, and may he expected ultimately to be
absorbed by the continental States, including our
own. / agree with them, also that it is wise to
leave the question of such ABSORPTION To this pro-
ceSs of national political gravitatiOn. The Islands
of IT. Thomas and IT. Johns, which constitute a
art of the group called the Virgin Islands. seemed
II offer US advantages Immediately desirable,
while their acquisition could be secured in harmo-
ny with the principles TO which | have alluded.
i treaty has therefore been concluded with the
King of Denmark for the cession of these islands
and will be submitted to the Senate for cOnsidera-
ton.
1t will hardly be necessary to cal. the attention
of Congress to the subject of providing for the
payment To Russia of the sum stipulated in the
treaty for the ocssion Of Alaska, possession having
been formally delivered IL our Commissioner
The territory remains for the present in care of a