, 1868-12-18

bensiye national policy would seem to sanction
the ACQUISITION and incorporation into our Fed
eral Union of the several adjacent continental and
insular communities as speedily as it can be
done peacefully, lawfully and without any vio-
lation of national justice, faith or honor. For,
eign possession or control of these communities
has hitherto hindered their growth and impaired
the influence of the United States. Chronic
revolution aud anarchy there would be equally
injurious. Each of them, when firmly establish
ed as an Independent Republic, or when incor-
porated in tne United States, would be new
source of strength and power. Shaping my.
Administration to these principles, have on no
occasion lent support to the plea of republican
propagandism or national extension or aggrand-
izement The necessity, however, of suppress
ing such unlawful movements, clearly indicates
duty which rests upon US OF adapting our
legislative action to the new circumstances OF
the decline of European monarchcal power or
influence and the increase of American ideas
and interests and sympathies. 1t cannot Re long
before it will become necessary for this Govern
ment to lend some effective aid to the solution
of the political and social problems which are
continually kept before the world By the repub;
licans of the island of St. Domingo, and which
are now disclosing themselves more distinctly
than heretofore in the island of Cuba. The
subject is commended TO your consideration with
all the more earnestness because am satisfied
the time has arrived when even SO great pro-
ceedng as a proposition for annexation OF the
two Republics of the island of st. Domingo
would not only receive the consent OF the peo-
pie interested, but would also give satisfaction
TO all foreign nations. l am aware that upon
the question of extending our possessions, it is
argued by some that our political system cannot
successfully be applied to an area more extended
than our continent, but the conviction is rapidly
gaining graund in the American mind that with
increased facilities for communication between
all portions OF the earth the principles of free
government, embraced in our Constitution, if
| faithfully maintained aud carried out, would
prove of sufficient strength and breadth to COM
| prehend within their sphere and influence the
| civilized nations Of the world
The attention of the Seuate and Congress is
again respectfully called TO the treaty for the
establishment of commercial reciprocity with
the Hawaiian Kingdom, entered into last year
aud already ratified by that government. The
attitude OF the United States toward these
Islands is not very different from that in which
it stands towards the West Indies. 1t is known
and felt by the Hawaiian Government and peo>
pie that their government and institutions are
feeble and precarious, and that the United
States being so neighbOr, would be un>
willing to see the Islands pass under foreign
control, Their prosperity is continually dis
turbed by expectations and alarms of unfriendly
political proceedings, as well from the United
States as from other foreign powers. reciproc
! ty treaty, while it would OF materially diminish
the revenues of the United States would be a
guaranty of good will and foroearance of all
nations until the people of the Islands shall of
themselves, at no distant day, voluntarily apply
for admission into the Union.
The Emperor Of Russia has acceded to the
treaty negotiated here in January last for secu-
of tradpma rks and in the of m M,
facturers and commerce have invited his atten-
tion 10 the importance of establishing now, while
it seems easy and profitable, u fair and equal
regulation Of the Islands belonging to the Ma,
lions il the waters OF the Pacific ocean.
The two treaties between the United States
aud Italy, for the regulation of Consul powers
and the extradition of criminals, negotiated and
ratified here during the last session of Congress,
have been accepted aud confirmed by the Italian
government. A liberal Consular treaty, " hich
has been negotiated with Belgium, will be subs
mited to the Senate.
The very important treaties which were nego-
tiated between the United States and North Ger
many and Bavaria, for guarding the rights of
naturaized citizens here, have been duly rati.
fed and confirmed. Similar treaties have been
entered into with the Kingdoms of Belgium
Wurtemburg and the Grand Duchy of Baden and
of Hesse, and hope soou to be able to submit
equally satisfactory conventions of the same
character, now in course of negotiation with the
governments of SpaIu, Italy and the Ottoman
Empire.
The examination of claims against the United
States by the Hudson Bay Company and the
Puget Sound Agricultural Company, on account
of certain possessory rights in the State of Ore
goG, and the Territory of Washington, alleged
by these companies iu virtue of the provision of
the treaty between the United States and Great
Retain ofI lima has haa
prosecuted under the direction OF a joint inter.
national commission, to which they were sub
mit;ed for adjudication by the treaty between
the governments of July Ist, 1868, and will, it
is expected, be concluded at an early day.
No practical adjustment of the controversy re-
latiye to the Colonial trade and fisheries can be
accomplished by treaty between the United
States and Great Britain until Congress shall
have expressed its judgement concerning the
principles involved.
Three other questions, however, between the
United States aud Great Britain remain open for
adjudication. These are the mutual rights of
naturaized citizens the boundary question. in.
volying the title to the island of San Juan on
the Pacific coast, and the mutual claims arising
since the yea! 1854 of the citizens aud subjects
of the two counties for injuries and depredaIions
committed under the authority of the respective
governments. Negotiatiatons upon these sub.
Jects are penang, ana am not without hope of
being able to lay before the Senate for its con-
sideraIion, during the present session, a proto-
col calculated 10 bring TO an end these Justly
exciting and long controversies.
We are advised of the action Of the Chinese
government upon the liberal and auspicious
treaty which was recently negotiated with lis
plenipotentiaries at this Capital.
Japan remains theatre of civil war, marked
by various incidents and political seventies
peculiar TO that long Isolated place. The Execu-
tive has hitherto maintained strict neutrality
among the belhgerents, and acknowledge with
pleasure that it has been frankly and fully sus,
tanned in that course by the enlightened con-
currence aud cooper alton of the other treaty
powers, namely; Great Britain, France, The
Netherlands, North Germany and Italy.
Spain having recently undergone revolution
marked by extraordinary unamimity and pre-
servation of order, the provisional government
established at Madrid has been recognized. The
friendly intercourse which has so long and haps
PLY existed between the two countries, remains
unchanged.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
renew the accommodation contained in my
communication to Congress, dated July last, u
copy of which accompanies this message that
the judgement Of the people should be taken on
the propriety of so amending the Federal Consti-
tuition that il should provide for an election of