Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-12-14

inc pFOuuJS OF our farms, shops. ana man
ufactories. 1t is to make Slavery insupor
table in Cuba and Porto Rico at once, anC
ultimately so in Brazil. Il iu to settle the
unhappy condition OF Cuba, and end an ex-
terminating conflict. 1t is TO provide hon
est means of paying our honest debts with
sout over taxing the people 1t is to furnish
our citizens with the necessaries of every
day life at cheaper rates than ever before.
And it Is, in fine, u rapid stride toward that
greatness which the intelligence, industry,
and enterprise, OF the citizens of the United
States, enUitlc this country to assume among
nations.
In view of the Importance of this ques-
ton, L earnestly urge upon Congress early
action expressive Of its views as 10 the best
means of acquiring San Domingo. Ny sug
gestion is, that. by joint resolution Of the
two Houses of Congress the Executive be
authorized TO appoint Commission to ne
gotiate q treaty with the authorizes OF San
Domingo for the acquisition of that island,
and that an appropriation be made TO defray
the expenses of such commission. Tie
question may then be determined, by the
action Of the two Houses of Congress upon
4 resolution of annexation, as in the case of
the acquisition OF Texas. So convinced an
| OF the advantages TO flow from the acqui-
sltlOn of San Domingo, and OF the great
diSadvaniagcS-l might almost say calami-
tics-to dow from It's non acquisition, that
[ believe the subject has only to be inYesti-
gated TO be approved.
ICO-EXTRADITI0N-T ITEM TSIN
MASSACRE.
1t is to be regretted that our representa-
tIon IN regard to the injurious effects, es-
pccIally upon the revenue of the United
States, OF the policy OF the Mexican Gov
ernment, in cxempting from import duties
a large tract OF It's territory on our borders.
have not only been iru tlesS, but that 1t Is
even proposed in that country to extend the
limits within which the privilege adver;ed
to has hitherto been enjoyed. The eXpedi.
ency OF taking into your serious cOnsIdera
ton proper measures for countervaiiIug the
policy referred to will, it is presumed, engage
your earnest attention.
/, is the obvious interest. especially of
ne ghbOring nations, to provide against ime
munity to those who may have committed
high crimes within their borders, and who
may have sought refuge abroad. For this
purpose. extraditi1n treaties have been con
ciuded with several of the Centra! American
Republcs, and Others are IN progress. TIL
sense OF Congress is desire as early as MAJ
be convenient upon the proceedings of tire
Commission on claims against Venezuela, As
Communicated IN my MESA geS OF March 1,
1859, March |, 1870, and March 81, 1870.
lt has not beeu deemed advisable to diStrlb-
ute any Of the money which has been re
ceIved from that Government unhfCongreSs
snail have acted upon the .ubjett
The massacre of French and Russian
residents at Tien-Tsn, under circumstances
OF great barbarity, was supposed by some
10 have been prcmeditated, and to indicate
a purpose among the pOpulace 10 extermin-
ate foreigners in the Chinese Empire. The
evidence fails to establish such n supposItIon
but shows 4 completely ON the part OF the
local authorities with the men. The Gov
ernment OF Pekin, however, seems to have
been disposed TO fulfil It's treaty obligations
so far as it was able 10 do So Unfortunately,
the news Of the war between the German
States and France reached China soon after
the massacre. 1t would appear that the
popular mind became possessed with the
idea that this contest. extending to Chinese
waters. would ueutraiize the Christian intlu-
cnce and power and that the time was
coming when the superstitious masses might
eXpel ali foreigners, and restore Mandarin
Influences. Anticipating trouble from this
cause, [ invited France and North Germany
to make an authorized suspension OF hos
tihties IN the East, where they we're tempo
rar,ly suspended by act of the commanders,
and 10 act together for the future protection
in China of the lives and properties OF
Americans and Europeans.
GREAT BRITIAN-THE ALABAMA CLAIMS
TREATIES.
Since the adjournment of Congress, the
ratiications oil the treaty with Great Britain
for aboishing the mixed courts for the sup
preston of the slave trade have been cx-
changed. Ii is believed that the slave trade
is now confined TO the eastern coast of All
rica, whence the slaves are taken to Arabia n
markets.
The ratifications OF the Naturalization
Convention between Great Britain aGd the
United States have been exchanged during
the recess, and thus a long-standing dispute
between the two Governments has been
settled in accordance with the principles
always contendeG tor by the United States.
In April last, while engaged in locating
military reservation near Pembina, corps
OF Engineers discovered that the commonly
received boundary line between the United
States anc the British Possessions at that
place is about +, 700 feet south of the true
position of the 49th parallel and that the
line when run on what Is now supposed to
be the true position of that parallel, would
nv at Pembina within the territory Of the
United States.
This Information being communicated 10
the British Government. | was requested to
consent, and did consent, that British occu-
patton of the Hudson's Bay Company
should continue for the present. ] deem it
Important, however, that this part Of the
boundary should besdefnitely fixed by a
joint commission of the two Governments );
and [ submit herewith estimates of the ex
pense of such commission on the part Of
the United States. and recommend an APP
preparation for that purpose. The land
boundary has been already fixed and marked
from the summit of the Rocky Mountains
to the Georgian Bay 1t should now be in
like manner marked from the Lake of the
Woods to the summit of the Rocky Noun
tains
[ regret to say that 10 conclusion has been
reached for the adjustment of the claims
against Great Britain growing ont OF the
course adopted by that Government during
the bebe!lion. The Cabinet of London, so
far as its views have been expressed, does
not appear 20 be willing to concede that Her
Maiesty's Government was guilty of negii-
gence. or did. o. permitted. any act during
the war for which the United States has
Just cause of complaint. | therefore rec
ommenI to Congress to authorize the ap-
Yointment Of n commission to take proof