The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-12-10

the United States by the Hudso'
Bay Company and the Puget SounC
Agricultural Company, on account o
certain possessory rights Ia the State
of Oregon and Territory of Wash
ington, alleged by those Companie
In virtue of the provisions of tn
treaty between the United States an.
Great Britain of June 10Th 1916, have
been diligently prosecuted under the
direction of the Joint International
Convention, to which they were sub
mitted for adjudication by the treaty
between the two governments, o.
July 1st, 1868. aud it is expected &c
be concluded at an early day. Nc
practical relation concerning the col
onial trade and the fisheries can BIZ
accomplished by the treaty between
The United States and Great Britain
until Congress shall express their
judgement concerning the principles
involved Three other questions
however. between the United States
and Greet Britain remain for adjust
ment. These are, the mutual rig hi
of naturalized citizens; the boundary
question, involving the title to the
Island of San Juan, on the Pacific
coast; and the mutual claims, arising
stree the year 1853, of the citizens
and subjects of the countries, for in
juries and depredatfons committed
under authority of their respective
Governments. gn
Negotiations upon these subjects
are pending. and / am not without
hopes of being able to lay before the
Senate for its consideration, during
the present session, protocols calcu-
lated to bring to an end these justly
exciting and long existing controver-
sizes.
We are not advised of the action
of the Chinese Government upon
the liberal and auspicious treaty
which was recently celebrated
with its Plenipotentiary at this
Clpitol. Japan still remains a
theatre of civil war, marked By reli-
giou5 incidents and political severi-
ties peculiar to that long isolated
Empire. The Executive has hitherto
maintained strict neutrality among
the belligerents, and acknowledges
with pleasure that he has been frank
ly and fully sustained IN that course
By the enlightened concurrence and
cooperation of the other treaty pow
ers, mainly by Great Britain, France,
the Netherland, North Germany, and
Italy.
Spain having recently undergone a
revolution, marked by extraordinary
unanimity and order, the Provisional
Government established at Madrid
has been recognized, and the friendly
intercourse, which has so long and
happily existed between the two
countries, remain unchanged.
| renew the recommendation con-
tanned in my communication to Con-
gress, dated the 18th of July last.
a copy OF which accompanies this
message - that the judgment of
the people should be taken on the
proprlety Of SO amending the Federal
Constitution that it shall provide,
first, for az election of President and
Vice President by direct vote of the
people instead of through the agency
Of electors, and making them ineligi-
bic for election to . second term; Sec
Ond, for distinct designation of the
person who shall discharge the duties
of President in the event of a vaean-
cy IN that office by the death. resigna-
ton or removal of both TIE President
and Vice President; third, for the
election of Senators of the United
States directly by the people
Of the several States, instead
Of by the Legislatures; and fourth.
for the Limitation to a period of years
of the terms of Federal judges.
Profoundly impressed with the pro-
priety of making these important
4 4L II
respectfully submit them for the
Congress. We should, as far as
possible, remove all pretext for vio-
lati0ns of the organic law by
Temedilg such imperfections as time
and experience may deyelope, ever
remembering that the constitution,
which 1t any time exists unchanged
by an explicit and authentic act of the
whole people, is sacredly obligatory
upon all In the performance of the
duty imposed upon me by the eonsti-
tuition. @as zv
[ have thus communicated to Con
gress iufor nation of the state of the
Union. and recommended for their
consideration such measures as have
seemed to me necessary and expe-
dent.
Il carried intoeaect they will hasten
the accomplishment of the great and
bene6cient purposes for which the
Constitution was ordained, and which
it cornprehensively states were TO
form a more perfect Union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, and
promote the general welfare and Sc
cure the blessings of liberty to our
selves and our posterity. In Con-
gress are vested all legislative powers,
and upon them devolves the re-
sponsibiliiy as well for framing
unwise aud executive laws, as for
aeglecting to devise and adopt meas
ures absolutely demanded by the
wants Of the country. Let sus earn
estly hope that before the expiration
Of our respective terms of service,
now rapidly drawing to a close, that
an All-wise Providence will guide our
counsels so as to strengthen and pre-
serve the Federal Union, inspire rev.
erence for the Constitution, restore
prosperity and happiness to our whole
people. and promote on earth peace,
good will towards men.
TSigned ANDREW JoHNRoN.
~ ESuINf7,nN n n Dooarbar Oh