The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-11

our commercial marine; III the prolOnga-
ton of the war, and in the increased cost,
both in treasure and in lives, if its suppress
sion could not be adjusted and satisfied as
ordinary commercial claims which continu-
ally arise between commercial nations; and
yet the convention treated these simply as
such ordinary claims, from which they diff
fer more widely i'll the gravity of their
character than in the magnitude of their
amount. Great even as is that difference,
not word was found in the treaty, and
not an inference could be drawn from it,
to remove the sense of the unfriendliness
of the course of Great Britain in our strug-
gle for existence, which had so deeply and
universally impressed itself upon the people
of this country. Believing that 4 conven-
ton thus misconceived in its scope and in
adequate in it's provisions would not have
produced the hearty, cordial settlement of
pending questions which alone is consis-
tent with the relations which l desire to
have established between the United States
and Great Britain, | regarded the action of
the Senate in rejecting the treaty to have
been wisely taken, in the interest of peace,
and as necessary step in the direction of
a perfect and cordial friendship between
scious of their power, are more at ease
under great wrong wholly unatoned than
under the restraint of settlement which
satisfies neither their ideas of justice nor
their graves sense of tho grievance they
have sustained. The rejection of tho trea-
ty was followed by state of public feeling
on both sides which l thought not favora-
BILE to all immediate attempt at renewed
negotiations. l accordingly SO instructed
the minister of the United States to Great
Britain, and found that views in this regard
were shared by her Majesty's minister. l
hope that the time may soon arrive when
the two governments can approach the
solution of this momenteus question with
an appreciation of what is due to the rights,
dignity, and honor of each, and with the
determination not only to remove the caus-
es of complaint in the past, but to lay the
foundation of a broad principle of public
law which will prevent future difficulties
and tend to a firm and continued peace and
friendship. This is now the only grave
question which the United States have
with any foreign nation.
A rnewal of the Reciprocity Treaty be-
tween the United States and Canada, is
opposed on the ground that Canada is
alone benefited by such treaty.
1t having come to my knowledge that
corporate company organized under the
British law proposed to land upon the
shores of the United States and to operate
there a submarine cable under a concession
from his Majesty the Emperor of the
French, of an exclusive right, for twenty
years of communication between the shores
of France and the United States, with the
very Objectionable feature of subjecting
all messages conveyed thereby to the scru-
tiny and control Of the French government,
l caused the French and British legations
Ia 10
with the probable policy of Congress on
the subject, as foreshadowed by the bill
which passed the Senate in March last
This drew from the representatives of the
company an agreement to accept as the
basis of their operations the provisions of
that bill, or of such other enactment on
the subject as might be passed during the
approaching session of Congress; also, to
use their influence to secure from the French
government modification of their conces-
sion SO as to permit the landing upon
French soil of any cable belonging to any
company incorporated by the authorities of
the United States, or of any State in the
Union, and on their part not to oppose the
establishment of any such cable. In con-
sideration of this agreement, directed the
withdrawal of all opposition by the United
States authorities to the landing of the
meeting of Congress. l regret to say that
there has been no modification made in the
company's concession, nor, SO far as l can
learn, have they attempted to secure one
Their concession excludes the capital and
the citizens Of the United States from COM
petition upon the shores of France. | rec
commended legislation to protect the rights
of citizens of the United States, as well as
the dignity and sovereignty of the nation
against such an assumption.
Our manufactures are increasing with
wonderful rapidity under the encourage
ment which they now receive. With the
improvement in machinery already effected
and still increasing, causing machinery to
take the place of skilled labor to largo
extent, our imports of many articles must
fall off largely within very few years.
On my assuming the responsible duties
Of Chief Magistrate of the United States,
it was with the conviction that three things
were essential to its peace, perpetuity, and
fullest developments.
First among these is strict integrity in
fulfilling all our obligations.
Second. To secure protection to the per-
son and property of the citizen of the
United States in each and every portion of
our common country, wherever he may
choose to move, without reference to origi-
nal nationality, religion, color, or politics,
demanding of him only obedience to the
laws and proper respect for the rights of
others.
Third. Union of all the States, with
equal rights, indestructible by any consti-
tutional means.
The repeal of the Tenure of Office Law is
asked by the President. The management
Of the Indian tribes by agents selected by
the Society of Friends has proven thus far
most satisfactory.
The report of the Secretary of War
shows the expenditures of the War Depart
ment for the year ending the 30th of June,
1862, to be $50, GA, 042, of which 1913, So, $40
was dishurscd in the payment of debts con-
tracted during the war, and is not charge
able to current army expenses. His esti-
mate OF S34, 531 OBJ for the expenses of the
army for the next fiscal year is as low as it
is believed can be relied on.
The report of the Secretary of the Inte-
rior shows that the quantity of the public
lands disposed Of during the year ending
3Gth of June, 1869, was 1866, GOO, exceed
ing that of the preceding year by 1,01O, 400
acres. Of this amount 9, 800, 544 acres were
sold for cash, and 2, 1871, 365 acres entered
under the homestead law.
During the year ending the 30th of Sep
TENDER, 1869, the Patent Office issued 49,
76s patents, and its receipts were 1886, 389
being $a13, 1926 more than the expendi-
lures.
The report of the Postmaster General
furnishes clear and comprehensive exhibit
of the operations of the Postal service and
of the financial condition of the Postoffice
Department.. The ordinary postal revenues
for the year ending June 30th, 1869, amoun-
ted to 1884, so, and the expenditures
S23, Cos, 131 showing an excess of expen-
diturcs over receipts of s., 1913, $50. The
excess Of expenditures over receipts for the
previous year amounted to SC, 437, 992.-
The increase of revenues for 1868 over
those of 1868 was So, 900. and tho in
crease of expenditures was 1887, $50. The
increased revenue in 1869 exceeded the in
creased revenue of 1868 by 99G, 3GG, and
the increased expenditure in 1869 was
$2,527, $40 less than the increased expendi-
ture in 1868, showing by comparison this
gratifying feature of improvement, that
while the increase of receipts in 1868 was
50, 43s. $50, the increase of expenditures