Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-12-07
MESSAGE
9-~ OF THE
President of the United States.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 1871.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 1871.
The following is the Presidents
message, just transmitted to Con-
gress:
ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS.
To the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatiUes::
In addressing my third annual
message to the law-making branch
of the Government it is gratifying
to be able to state that during the
past year success has generally at
tended the effort to execute all laws
found upon the statute-books. The
policy has been not to inquire into
the wisdom of the laws already en-
acted, but to learn their spirit and
intent and to enforce them accord
ingly.
DISASTERS BY STORM AND FIRE.
The past year has, under 8 wise
Providence, been one of general
prosperity to the nation. 1t has,
however, been attended with more
than usual chastisements, in the loss
of life and property by storm and
fire. These disasters have served
to call forth the best elements of
human nature in our country, and
develop friendship for us on the
part of foreign nations which goes
far toward alleyiating the distresses
occasioned by these calamities. The
benevolent who has so generously
shared their means with the victims
of these misfortunes, will reap their
reward in the consciousness of hav-
ing performed a noble act, and in
receiving the greatful thanks of men,
women and children whose suffer
ings they have relieved.
OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN pow
The relations of the United States
with foreign powers continue to be
friendly. The year has been a
eventful in witnessing two great
nations, speaking one language and
having one lineage, settling by peace
full arbitration dispute of long stand
ing, and liable at any time to bring
those nations into bloody and cost
ly conflict. An example has thus
been set which, if successful in its
final issue, may be followed by Other
civilized nations, and finally be the
means of returnln to productive
industry millions Of men now
maintained to settle the disputes ol
nations by the bayonet and the
broadside.
TREATY OF wASHINGTNN.
transmit herewith a copy of the
treaty alluded to, which has been con
cluded since the adjournment oi
Congress with Her Britannia Ma
jesty, and copy of the Protocols Of
the conferences of the Commission
ers by whom it was negotiated
This treaty provides methods fol
adjusting the questions pending be-
tween the two nations. Various
questions are to be adjusted by ar
bitration. recommend Congress
at an early day to make the neces-
sary provision for the tribunal at
Geneva,and for several commissions
on the part of the United States
called for by the treaty. His Ma
jesty, the king of Italy, the Presi
dent of Swiss Confederation and
His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil,
have each consented, on the joint
request of the two powers, to name
an arbitrator for the tribunal at Gen
eva. l have caused my thanks to
be suitably expressed for the readi-
ness with which the joint request
has been complied with by the ap-
pointment ofgentlemen of eminence
and learning to these important po-
sitions. His Majesty, the Emper
or of Germany, has beef pleased to
comply with the two governments
and has consented to act as the ar.
bitrator ofthe disputed water boun,
dairy between the United States and
Great Britain. The contracting
parties in the treaty have underta
ken to regard as between themselves
certain principles of public law fol
which the United States have con
tended from the commencement oi
their history. They have also
agreed to bring these principles to
the knowledge of the other mari
time powers, and to invite them te
accede to them. Negotiations are
going on as to the form of the mode
by which the invitation is to be ex
tended to the powers. 1 recommend
the legislation necessary on the par
of the United States to bring into
operation the articles of the treaty
relating to the fisheries and to the
matters touching the relations of the
United States toward the British
North American provinces, to be
come operatlveas soon as the prop
er legislation shall be had on the
part of Great Britain and it's pos
sessions, as it is much to be desired
that this legislation may become op
erative before the fishermen of the
United States begin to make theil
arrangements for the coming season
1have addressed a communication
of which copy is transmitted here
with, to the Governors of New York
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michi
gan, Illinois, and Wisconsin, urging
upon the Governments of those
States respectively the necessary ac-
ton on their part to carry into eff
feet the object of the article
of the treaty which contem
plates the use ofthe canals on either
side connected with the navigation
of the lakes and rivers forming the
boundary, on terms of equality by
the inhabitants Of both countries.
1t is hoped that the Importance OF
the object and the benefits to flow
therefrom will secure the speedy ap-
proval and Legislative sanction OF
the States concerned.
| THE FORTY NINTH PARALLEL.
l renew the recommendation for
an appropriation to determine the
true position Of the forty ninth par
allel of latitude, where it forms the