Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-12-09

United States, especially with
neighboring nations, to provide
against injury by those who may
have committed high crimes within
their borders, and who may have
sought refuge abroad. For this |
purpose extraordinary treaties have
been concluded with several Of the
Central American republics, and
others are in progress.
CLAIMS AGAINST VENEZUELA.
The sense of Congress is desired
as early as convenient, upon the
proceedings of the Commission on
Claims against Venezuela, as com
municated in the message of March
4th, 1859, March lst, 1870, and
March 3lst, 1870. 1t has not been
deemed advisable to distribute
any of the money which has been
received from that government I'M
til Congress shall have acted upon
the subject.
| RELATIONS WITH THE CHINEsE-THE
TEN TsIN MASSACRE.
The massacres of the French and
Russian residents at Tein Tsin UNI
der circumstances of great barbara
ty were supposed by some to have
been premeditated, and to incite a
purpose among the populace to ex-
terminate foreigners in the Chinese
Empire. The evidence fails to es-
tablish such a supposition, but
shows a completely of the local au-
thorities with the mob. The gov
eminent at Pekin seems to have
been disposed to fulfil it's treaty OBJ
| legations so far as it was able to do
so. Unfortunately the news of the
war between the German States and
France reached China soon after
the massacre, it would appear that
the popular mind became possessed
with the idea that this contest, eX-
tending to Chinese waters, would
neutralize the christian influence
and power, and that the time was
coming when the superstitious mas
ses might expel all foreigners and
restore the mandarin influence.
Anticipating trouble from this cause,
invited France and North Gcrma-
nv to make an authorized suspension
Of hostilities in the East, and they
were temporarily suspended by act
of commanders, to act together for
the future protection in China of
the lives and property of Americans
and Europeans.
! SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE.
Since the adjournment of Congress
the ratification of the treaty with
| Great Britain for abolishing the
mixed courts for the suppression OF
the slave trade has 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. ...
RIGHTS OF NATURALIZED CITIZENS.
The ratification of the NaturaliZa-
ton Convention between Great
Britain and the United States has
also been exchanged during the re-
cess, and thus a long standing dis
| pute between the two governments
has been settled in accordance with
the principles always contended for
by the United States.
UNITED STATES AND BRITISH BOUND
~. AIRY LINE.
In April last, while engaged in To-
eating a military reservation near
Pembina, a corps of engineers dis
covered that the commonly received
boundary line between the United
States and the British possessions,
in that place, is about tifty-seven
hundred feet south of the true posi-
ton of the Zenith parallel, and that
the line, when run on what is now
supposed to be the true position of
the parallel, would leave the fort of
the Hudson Bay Company at Penn
bina within the boundaries Of the
United States. This information
being communicated to the British
Government was requested to con
sent, and l did consent, that British
occupation ofthe fort OF the hudson
Bay Company be continued for the
present. / deem it important, how
ever, that this part of the boundary
line be definitely fixed by joint
commission of the two governments,
and submit herewith estimates of
the expense of such commission
on the part Of the United States,
and recommend that an appropria-
ton be made for the purpose. The
land boundary is already fixed and
marked from the summit of the
Rocky Mountains to the Georgian
Bay. 1t should now be in like man
ner marked from the Lake of the
Woods to the summit of the Rocky
Mountains.
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
I regret to say that no conclusion
has been reached for the ad iustment
of the claims against Great Britain,
growing out of the course adopted
by that government during the re-
bellion. The cabinet Of London, so
far as its views have been expressed,
does not appear to be willing to
concede that her Majesty's govern
mcnt was guilty of negligence, or
did or permitted any act during the
war of which the United States had
any cause of complaint. Our firm
and unaltcrablc convictions are di-
rectly the reverse. | therefore rec
ommend to Congress to authorize
the appointment of a commission to
take proof of the amounts, the own
ership, and their claims, on notice
to the representative of her Majesty
ut Washington, and that authority
be given for the settlement of these
claims by the United States, SO that
the government shall have the own
crship of the private claims, rs well
as the responsible control of all the
demands against Great Britain. 1t
cannot be necessary to add that
whenever her Majesty's government
shall entertain a desire for a full and
f,;ou,II,, 4. I;uut,,,o,,+ oc tLaso claims