Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-16

year ending j une 90 1869 to be ssh, 9s3747, and
the expenditures. including interest, etc. to be
seal 45O5y7 The estimatcstor the ensuing year
arc more favorable to the government, and Will no
Doubt show large decrease OF the public debt
The receipts in the Treasury beyond expenditures
have exceeded the amount necessary 70 place TO
the credit OF the sinking fund, as provided by law
To lock up surplus In the Treasury, and with.
hold 1t from culatioD would lead to such a con.
traction Of the currency a. to cripple trade and
rously affect the prosperity OF the country Under
these circumstances the Secretary of the Treasury
and myself heartily concured In the propriety of
using all surplus currency In the Treasury in the
purchase OF government bonds, thus reducing the
intercst-bcaring debt OF the country, and Of sub
hitting to Congress the question OF the disposition
TO be made OF the bonds 80 purchased The bonds
now held by the Treasury amount to about S75 400.
600, including those belonging to the sinking fund
recommend that the whole be placed to the credit
OF the sinking fund.
Your attention Is respectfully invited to the rec
concentrations Of the Secretary Of the Treasury for
the creating Of the Office of Commissioner OF Gus
toms Revenue for the increase Of salary to certain
classes of Ohcials; and the substitution of in.
creased national bond circulation to replace the
outstanding per cent. certificates. and more espe-
cially to his recommendation for the repeal of laws
allowing shares Of fines penalties forfetures, ETC.,
to officers of the government, or to inlormers
The Office Of Commits sIoncr Of Internal Revenue
il one of the most arduous and responsible under
the government, II falls but little, If any short of
Cabinet position In its importance and RESPONSE
1
ton as, in your Judgment, will place the Office on
footing of dignity commensurate with Its impor-
lance and with character and qualifications of the
class Of men required to I'll it properly.
As the United States Is the ireest OF all nations
SO, too, It's people sympathise with vii people
struggling forlberty and self government; but
while so sympathisng, 1t Is due to our honor
that we should abstain from enforcing our views
upon unwi ling nations, and from taking an In
terested part, without invitation. In the quarrels
between different nations or between govern
ments and their subjects Our course should al
ways be in conformity with strict justice and law,
international and local. Such has been the policy
of the administration in dealing with these ques-
tions. For more than year val uable province
Of Spain ana anear neighbor OF ours, In whom
all our people cannot but feel deep interest, has
been struggling for independence and freed ON.
The people and government OF the United
States entertain the same warm eelings and SYM
pathies for the people of Cuba in their pending
struggle that they manifested throughout the pre-
vious struggles between Spain and former colo.
MES In behalf Of the latter; but the contest at
no time assumed the conditions which amount to
war in the sense of international law, or which
would show the existence OF de flct0 political
organization OF the Insurgents, sufficient to justify
a recognition oil l''hgerency. The principle is
maintained howe vor, that this nation is its own
Judge when to accord the rights of begerency
either TO people struggling to free themselves from
government that they believe to be oppressive or
to independent nations at war with each other
The United States have no disposition to interfere
with the existing relations of Spain to her colonial
possessions on this continent. They believe that
in due time Spain and other European Powers will
find their interest in terminating those relations
and establishing their present dependencies as in
dependent Powcrs-members OF the family of ma
tons These dependencies are no longer regarded
as subject to transfer from one European power to
another When the present relation of colonies
cease. they are to become independent powers
exercising the right of choice and of selfcontrol In
the determination OF their future condition and
relations with other powers. The United States in
order to pnt stop to bloodshed in Cuba and in the
interest Of neighboring people, proficred their
good offices to bring the existing contest to ter
minati0n, The offer not being accepted by Spain
on a basis which we believed conld be received by
Cuba, it was withdrawn. II IL hoped that the good
offices of the United States may yet prove advanta
geous for the settlement Of this unhappy strife
Meanwhile number of Illegal expeditions against
Cuba have been broken TIP. II has been the en-
deavor OF the Adm Illustration to execute the neu-
traity laws In good fath, no matter how unpleas
ant the task, made so by the suffering we have en-
dured from lack of like good faith toward Us by
other nations The United States schooner Lizzie
NJ ajof was arrested on the high seas by Spanish
trigate, and passengers taken from ii and carried
"a prisoners to Cuba Representation of these facts
were made to the Spanish Government a.
a. official information of them reached Wash
ington. The two passengers were set at liberty.
and the Spanish Government assured the United
States that the Captain OF the rgate, in making the
capture, had acted without law-that he had been
rcprimanded for the rregularity OF his conduct and
that the Spanish authorities in Cuba would not
sanction any act that would violate the right or
treat with dsrcspec the sovereignty of this nation.
The question of the seizure of the brig Mary
Lowell at one OF the Bahama Islands, by the Span
ish authorities. is now the subject of correspond
ence between this Government and those of Spain
and Great Britain. The Captain General of Cuba,
about May last, issued proclamation authorizing
search To be made OF vessels Oh the high seas I'M
mediate rcmonstranCe was made araiGst this,
tyh bp a o ms rad "A
lamation, limiting tho right OF search of vessels
belonging to the United States far M authorized
under the treaty of 1898 This proclamation, how
ever was Immediately withdrawn,
| have always felt that the most intimate rela.
tions shonld be cultivated between the Republic
of the United States and all Independent nations
on this continent. 1t may DO well worth consider
ng whether the treaties between the United
States and them may not be probably entered
into, TO secure more intimate relations fren 'ly
commercial intercourse, and otherwise. y-
The gu ject OF An inter-oceanlc canal to connect
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the 18th.
mus OF Darien Is one in which commerce is
greatly interested. Instructions have been given
10 our Minister to the Republic of the United
States of Columbia 10 endeavor to obtain author.
ity for survey by this Government in order 10
doterml ne the practcahility of such an undertak-
ing, and charter Tor the right OF way to buiId
by private enterprise such work, If the survey
proves 1t to be practicable.
In order 10 comply with the agreement Of the
United States as to a mixed commission at Lima,
for the adjustment OF the claims, il became
necessary to send Commissioner to Lima In
August last. No appropriation having been
madr for this purpose tits now asked that one be
made covering the past and future expenses Of
the Commission.
The good offices of the United States to bring
about a peace between Spain and the Soutn
American Republics, with which she ia at war,
having been accepted by Spain, Peru and Chill, n
Congress has been invited TO be held in Wash
ington during the present winter
A grant has been given the Europeans of an ex-
elusive right of transit over the territory of Nicar
aqua, to which Costa Rca has given Its assent
which II is alleged conflicts with vested rights Of
citizens of the United States. The Department of
State has now this subject under consideration.
The Minister OF Peru having made representa-
tious that there was state of war between Peru
and Spain, and that Spain was constructing in and
near New York thirty gunhOas. which might be
used by Spain in such way as to relieve the naval
force NJ Cuba SO as to operate against Peru orders
were given to prevent their departure. No further
steps having been taken by the representatives of
he Peruvian Government to prevent the departure
VI these vessels, ana not feeling authorized TO de.
Tain the property OF nation with which we are at
peaCp n a more ENprufiyp Drdpr tha attpr ~.