Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-05
Presidents Message.
To the Senate and House of Representatives.

it is gratifying to be able to state that during
the past year success has generally attended
the effort to execute all laws found upon the
statute books. The policy has been not to
enquire into the wisdom of the laws already
enacted, but to learn their spirit and intent,
and to enforce them accordingly. The past
| year, under a wise Providence, has been one
OF general prosperity to the nation. 1t has.
however, been attended with more than usual
chastisement in the loss of life and property
by storm and fire. These disasters have
! served to call forth the best elements of hu-
man nature in our country, and to develop a
friendship for US on the part of foreign ma
tlons which goes far toward alleviating the
distresses occasioned by the elements. The
benevolent who have SO generously shared
their means with the victims of these mis-
fortunes will have their reward in the con-
sciousness of having performed noble act,
and in receiving the grateful thanks of men
women and children, whose sufferings they
have relieved.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The relations of the United States
with foreign powers continue to be
| friendly. The year has been an eventful
one, in which two great nations, speaking one
language, and having one lineage, have set
tied by peaceful arbitration disputes of long
standing, liable at any time to bring those
nations into bloody and hostile conflict. An
example has thus been set, which if success
ful in the final issue, may be followed by
other civilized nations, and be the means f.
nally of returning to productive industry mil
lions of men now maintained to settle the
disputes of nations by bayonet and sword
transmit herewith copy of the treaty al
luded to, which has been concluded since the
adjournment of Congress, with her Brittanic
l Ma1a md ,o{t thn &c hn
| conference of the commissioners by whom it
was negotiated. The treaty provides methods
for adjusting questions pending between the
two nations. The various questions are to be
adjusted by arbitration. / recommend Con.
gress at an early day to make the necessary
provision for the tribunal at Geneva and for
the several commissions on the part of the
| United States. called for by the treaty. His
Majesty, the King of Italy, the President of
the Swiss Confederation, and His Majesty
the Emperor of Brazil have consented
on the joint request of the two powers to
name an arbitrator for the tribunal at Gene
va. have caused my thanks to be suitably
expressed for the readiness with which the
joint request has been complied with by ap-
polntment of gentlemen OF eminence and
learning to this important position. His
Majesty, the Emperor of Germany, has been
pleased to comply with the joint commission
of the two governments and has consented to
act as the arbitrator of the disputed water
boundary between the United States and
Great Britain. The contracting parties in
| the treaty have undertaken to regard as be-
tween themselves certain principles of public
law for which they have contended from the
commencement of their history. They have
also agreed to bring these principles to the
| know ledge OF the other maritime powers, and
| to invite them to accede to them. Negoti-
| atlons are going on as to the form of the note
| by which the invitation is to be extended to
| the other powers. l recommend the legisla-
ton necessary on the part of the United
States to bring into operation the articles of
the treaty relating to the fisheries, and to
other matters touching the relations of the
| United States toward the British North Amer
| lean Possessions, to become operative as soon
as the proper legislation should be had on the
part of Great Britain and her possessions.
| 1t is much TO be desired that this legislation
may become cooperative before the fisher
men of the United States begin to make their
| arrangements for the coming season.
| have addressed communication, of which
| copy is transmitted herewith to the govern
ments of New York, Pennsy ylvania, Ohio, In
diana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin,
| urging upon the governments of those States
| respectively the necessary action on their
part to carry into effect the object of the ar
ticle of the treaty which contemplates use of
| the canals on either side connected with the
navigation of the lakes and rivers forming
the boundary, on terms of equity, by the in
habitants of both countries. 1t is hoped that
the importance of the object and the benefits
to flow thereirom will secure the speedy ap-
proyal and legislative sanction of the States
concerned. | renew the recommendation
for an appropriation for determining the true
position of the 49th parallel of latitude where
it forms the boundary between the United
States and the British North American Pos
sessions, between the Lake of the Woods and
the summit of the Rocky Mountains
The early action of Congress on this recon-
mendation named, would put it in the power
of the War Department to place force in
the field during the next summer.
The resumption of diplomatic relations be-
tween France and Germany have enabled me
to give directions for the withdrawal of the
protection extended to Germans in France
by the diplomatic and consular representa-
tves of the United States in that country. Ii
is just to add that the delicate duty of this
protection has been performed by the Minis
ter and Consular General at Paris and the
various Consuls in France under the super
vision of the latter with great kindness as
well as with prudence and tact This course
|
man Government and has wounded no sus-
ceptibilty of the French. The government
of the Emperor of Germany continues to
manifest friendly feeling towards the United
States and desire to harmonic with the
moderate and just policy which this govern
ment maintains in its relations with Asiatic
Powers as well as with the South American
Republic.
have given assurances that the friendly
feelings OF that government are fully shared
by the United States. The ratifcations OF
the consular and naturalization conventions
with the Austro- Hungarian Empire have been
exchanged. l have been officially informed
of the annexation of the States of the Church
and the Kingdom of Italy, and the removal
Of the capital of that Kingdom to Rome. In
conformity with the established policy of the
United States have recognized this change
The ratihcatons of the new treaty of COM
merce between the United States and Italy
have Deen exchanged
The two powers have agreed in this treaty
that private property at sea shall be exemp