Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-12-13
LANCASTER WISCONSIN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 49, 1870

| executive power In Cuba; and we
were obliged TO make our complaint
at Madrid. In the negotiations thus
opened and still pending there, the
United States only claimed that for
the future the rights secured to their
citizens by treaty should be respected
in Cuba; that as to the past a Joint
tribunal should be established in the
United States with full jurisdiction
over all such claims Before such
an impartial tribunal, each claimant
would be required to prove his case.
On the other hand, Spain would be
at liberty TO traverse every material
fact, and thus complete equity would
| be done. A case which at one time
threatened seriously to effect the re
lations between the United States
and Spain has already been disposed
Of, in this way. The claim Of the
Col. Lloyd-Aspinwall for the illegal
seizure and detention Of that vessel
was referred to arbitration by mutual
consent, and has resulted in an award
to the United States for the owners Of
the same of nineteen thousand seven
hundred and two dollars and fifty
cents in gold. Another and long
pending claim of like nature, of the
whale ship Canada, has been disposed
Of by friendly arbitration during the
present year. 1t was referred by the
Joint consent Of Brazil and the United
States, to the decision of Sir Edward
Thornton, Her Britanic Majesty's
Minister at Washington, who kindly
undertakes the laborious task of eX-
aiming the voluminous mass Of cor
respondcnce and testimony submitted
by the two governments, and award
ed to the United States, the sum of
500, 10000 in gold, which has since
been paid by the Imperial Govern
ment. These recent examples show
that the mode which the United States
have proposed to Spain for adjusting
the pending claims, is Just and FEAST
bic, and that it may be agreed to by
either nation without dishonor. 1t
is to be hoped that this moderate de,
mand may be acceded to by Spain
without further delay. Shonld the
pending negotiations unfortunately
and unexpectedly be without result,
it Will then become my duty 20 com
municate that fact to Congress, and
invite its action on the subject.
THE PUBLIC ARCHIVES.
The condition oftho archives at the
Department of State calls for the ear
" action Of Congress. The building
now rented by the department is
frail structure, at M inconl euient dis
lance from the Executive mansion and
from the other departments. 1t is i'll
adapted to the purpose Cor which it is
used, has not capacity to aecommo-
date the archives, and is not fire proof
It's remote situation, its slender con
structiou, and the absence Of supply
Of water in the nciguborhood, leaves
but little hope Of safety for either the
building or contents in case Of the ac-
cident Of fire. It's destruction would
involve the loss Of the rolls contain
ING the original acts and resolutions
OF Congress, Of the historic records
of the Revolution and Of the coufed-
Grafton of the whole series of diplo.
matte and consular achiycs since the
adoption Of the Constitution, and Of
the many other valuable records and
papers left with that department when
it was the principal repository of the
Government archives. recommend
an appropriation for the construction
Of building for tie Department Of
State. ] recommend TO your recon
sileration the propricty Of transfer
ring to Department of Interior, to
which they seem more appropriately
to belong, all powers and duties in
relation to the territories with which
the Department Of State is now
charged, by law or usage, and from
the Interior Department to the War
Department the Pension Bureau, so
far as it regulates the payment Of
soldiers pensions. / would also re-
commend that the payment of naval
pensions be transferred to one of the
bureaus of the Navy Department.
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Under the act of Congress of the
18th day Of July, 1870, the army has
gradually been reduced, so that on
the lst Of January, 1871, the number
Of commissioned officers and men
viii not exceed the number contem.
plated by the laws. The Department
building is an old structure, not fire
proof, and entirely inadequate in di-
mansions to orr present wants. Many
thousands Of dollars arc now spent
annually for the rent of private build
ings to accommodate the various bu.
reaus Of the Department. ] recon-
mend an appropriation for 4 new
War Department building suitable to
the growing wants of the nation
The report Of the Secretary Of War
shows very satisfactory reduction in
the expenses Of the army for the last
fiscal year. For details YEN are re.
ferred to his accompanying report.
THE REVIVAL or OUR COMMERCE..
Our repressed commerce is a srb-
jeet to which called your especial
attention at the last session. | sug-
| gested that we will, in the future,
/ have TO look more to the countries
south OF the United States and to
China and Japan tor its revival Our
representatives to MI these govern
ments have eXerted their influence to
encourage trade between the United
States and the countries to which
they are accredited, but the fact
exists that the carrying is done almost
4 entirely in foreign bottoms, and while
this state Of affairs exists we cannot
control our due share of the commerce
of the world That between the Paci-
fic states and China and Japan is
about all the carrying trade now con-
Quoted in American vessels.
| would recommend a liberal policy
toward that line OF American steam
ers-ore that will insure its success.
and even increase its usefulness. The
cost of building IRON vessels, (the on
! IL ones that can compete with foreign