Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-12-15

otherwise accomplished. The acqufsiion
of San Domingo Is an adhesion to the
Monroe doctrine: it is measure Of ma
tional. protection; it is asserting our lst
claim to controlling influence over 'he
great commercial traffic soon TO dow from
west to east by way Of the ISthDus
of Darien: it Is to build up our
merchant marine; it is to furnish rev
markets for the products of our fans,
shops and manufactures; II Is 70 make
slavery unsupportable in Cuba and Porto
Rico at once, and ultimately in BrAxQ II Is
TO settle the unhappy condition OF CUBA
and end an exterminating confiict; II Is 70
provide honest means of paying our hon
est debts, without ovcrtaxing the people
it is to furnish our citizens with the nee
essaries of every day life at cheaper rates
than ever before and it is, in fine, rapid
stride toward that greatness which the In.
telligencc, industry and enterprise OF the
citizens of the United States entitle tins
country TO assume among natiOos. In
view Of the importance of this question,
earnestly urge upon Congress early action
expressive Of its views as TO the
best means Of acquiring San Domingo.
My suggestion is that by a JOINT
resolution of the two houses oil Con
gress the Executive be authorized TO
appoint o Commission to negotiate
for treaty with the authorities OF San
Domingo for the acquisition OF that Island,
and that an appropriation be made TO de-
fray the expenses of such commission.
The question may then be determined by
the action OF the two houses OF Congress
upon resolution of annexation, as in the
case of the acquisition of Texas 30 con-
WINGED am Of all the advantages 10 no"
from the acquisition OF San D0mngo,
and of the great disadvantages nIgnt
almost say calamities-to how from us
non-acquisition, that believe the SUBJECT
has only TO be investigated to DE approved
THE MEXICAN FREE PORTS.
It is to be regretted that our representa-
tons in regard to the injurious effects, es.
pecially upon the revenue of the United
States, Of the policy of the Mexican Gov
eminent in excmpting from import duties
large tract of its territory on our borders,
have not only been fruitless, but that it IS
even proposed i'm that country to- extend
the limits within which the privilege
adveIted to has hitherto been enjoyed
The expediency Of taking into your seri-
Gus consideration the proper means iOr
countervailing the policy referred to, VIII
it Is presumed, engage your earnest at'eh-
ton.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
It Is the obvious interest, especially OF
nations, to provide against IN.
jury to those who may have committed
high crimes within their borders, and VINO
may have sought refuge abroad. For TINS
purpose extradition treaties have been con-
cluded with several of the Central Ameri-
can republics, and others are in progress.
VENEZUELA.
The sense of Congress is desired, as
early as may be convenient, upon the pro-
ceedings of the Commission on Claims
against Venezuela, as communicated In the
messages Of March 4th, 1869, March LIST,
1870, and March 31st, 1870. 1t has not
been deemed advisable to distribute any
of the money which has been received
from that government until Congress shall
have acted upon the subject.
THE CHINESE MAssACREs.
The massacres of French and Russian
residents at Tien-Tsin under circumstances
of great barbarity were supposed by some
to have been premeditated, and to indi-
cate purpose among the populace to ex-
terminate foreigners in the Chinese EN-
pire. The evidence fails to establish such
q o.rroeit;~-, i-t .h~.,e n completely by
the local authorities and the NOV The
government at Pekin, however, seems to
have been disposed to fulfill its treaty obli-
cations, so far as it was able to do 50. I'm
fortunately the news Of the war between
the German States and France reached
China soon after the massacre. 1t would
appear that the popular mind be-
came possessed with the Idea that
this contest, extending to Chinese waters,
would ncutralize the Christian iniiu-
ence and power, and that the time was
coming when the superstitious mass might
cxpel all foreigners and restore the man.
DARN influence. Anticipating trouble from
this cause. | invited France and North
Germany to make an authorized suspen-
sion Of hostilities in the East wAere they
were temporarily suspended by act OF the
commanders, to act together for the future
protection in China of the lives and prop
erty OF Americans and Europeans.
TREATY WITH ENGLAND.
OluCS viz VI SJbS5ASooI viz
ratitications of the treaty with Great Bri-
tain for abolshing the mixed courts for
the suppression of the slave trade, have
been exchanged. 1t Is believed that the
slave trade is now confined to the eastern
coast of Africa, whence the slaves are
taken to Arabian markets.
The ratification of the naturalization
convention between Great Britain and the
United States have also been exchanged
during the recess, and thus a long stand
ING dispute between the two governments
has been settled in accordance with the
principles always commended for by tho
United States.
TIE british HOUND U1ssS5ff33tfeT L LINE.
In April last, while engaged in locating
military reservation near Pembina, q
corps Of engineers discovered that tho
commonly received boundary line between
the United States and the British posses
sions at that place, is about fifty seven
hundred feet south Of the true position OF
the zenith parallel, and that the line when
run on what is now supposed to be the
true position of that parallel, would leave
the fort of the Hudson's Bay Company, at
Pembina, within the territory of the United
States. This information being commune
Gated to the British government, was re.
quested to consent and did consent, that
the British occupation Of the fort Of the
Hudson's Bay Company should continue
for the present. deem 1t important