Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-12-16
The Presidents Message.

The fo,losiug is that portion Of the
the Presidents Message which refers to
our relations with Great Britain:
The past year has, under wise Provi.
dence, hecu one Of general prosperity 70
the oation. 1t has, however, been attend.
ed with more than usual chastisemen,s in
loss Of life aud property by storm and Gre.
The disasters have served to call forth the
best elements Of human nature in our
country, aud to develop . friendship for
US on the part Of foreign na,ious which goes
far towards alternating the distress occa.
stoned by calamities. The benevolent who
have SO generally shared their means with
the victims Of these misfortunes will reap
their reward 10 the Consciousness of having
performed noble act, and in receiving the
grateful thanks Of men, woman and child
rem whose sufferings they have relieved.
The relations OF the United States with
foreign powers continues to be friendly.
The year has been an eventful one, 10 see-
ing two great nations speaking one Ian.
guage aud having one lineage, settling by
peaceful arbitrations disputes of long
standing, aud liable at any time 10 bring
these nations into hostile conflict. An ex-
ample has thus been set, which, If success.
full 10 its final issue, may b. followed by
other civilized nations, and lie the fiual
means Of returning to productive industry
millions Of men maintained 10 settle the
disputes Of nations by the bayonet aud
sword.
l transmit herewith = copy Of the treaty
alluded to, which has been concluded since
the adjournment of Congress, with her
Brtanic Majesty, and :. copy Of the pro.
tocols of the conferences Of Commissioners
by whom i. was negotiated. This treaty
provides methods for adjusting the ques
tons pending between the two nations
The various questions are to be adjusted by
arbitrations. | recommend Congress at
an elrly day to make provision for the tribu.
nal Of Geneva, aud also for the several
Commissioners on the part Of the United
States called for by the treaty. His Ma.
jcsty the King Of Italy, the President of
the Swiss Confederation, aud his Majesty
the Emperor Of Brazil, have each CONSENT
ed, on the joint request Of the two Pow.
.ers, to name an arbitrator for the tribunal
at Geneva. l have caused my thanks to
be suitably expressed for the readiness
with which the joint request has been
complied with, by the appointment Of gen.
high positions. His Majesty tho Empc
ror Of Germany, has been pleased to com.
ply with the joint wish of the two Govern.
ments and has consented to act as arbitra-
tor Of the disputed water boundary
between the United States and Great Bri.
tain. The contracting parties in the
treaty have undertaken to regard as
between themselves, certain principles Of
public law for which the United States
have commended from the commencement Of
their history. They have also agreed to
bring these principles to the knowledge Of
other maritime powers and to invite them
to accede to them. Negotiations are going
on as to the form of the note by which
the invitation is to be extended to the
Powers.
recommend the legislation necessary
on the part of the United States te bring
into operation articles of the treaty relat-
ing to fisheries aud other matters touching
the relations Of the United States towards
the British North American possessions to
become operative as soon as proper legis-
lation shall lie had on the part of Great
Britain and its possessions. 1t is much to
be desired that this legislation may become
operative before the fishermen Of the Uni
ted States begin TO make arrangements for
the coming season l have addressed a
communication, of which copy is trans
mitted herewith, to the Governors of New
York, Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana, Mich.
igan. Illinois and Wisconsin. urging upon
the Governors of these States respectively
the necessary action on their part to carry
into effect the articles Of the treaty which
contemplate the use Of canals on either
side connected with the navigation Of the
lakes and rivers forming the boundery in
terms Of equity BY the inhabitants Of both
countries. 1t is hoped the importance of
the object and benefits to Cow therefrom
will secure speedily approval and legisla-
tive sanction of the States concerned.