Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Third Annual Message of President
Grant to Congress.
Delivered December 4th, 1871.

To the Senate and Hsuse of Representatives:
In addressing my third annual mes
sage to the law-making branch of the
Government, it is gratifying to be able
to state that during the past year sue
cess has generally attended the effort
to execute all the laws found upon the
statute books. The policy has been not
to inquire into the wisdom of laws al
ready enacted, but to learn their spe-
cial intent, and to enforce them accord
ingly.
The past year has, under the wisdom
of wise Providence, been one of gen
eral prosperity to the nation. 1t has,
however, been attended with more than
the usual chastisements in 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 to develop friendship for
us on the part of foreign nations, which
goes far toward alleviating the distress
occasioned by the calamities. The be-
nevolent, who have generously shared
their means, with these misfortunes,
will reap their reward in the conscious
ness of having performed noble act,
receiving the grateful thanks of the
men, women and children, whose suf-
ferings they have reliveed.
The relation of the United States
with foreign powers continue to be
friendly. The year has been an event
full one in witnessing two great nations,
speaking one language, and having one
lineage, settling, by peaceful arbitration,
disputes of long standing and liable at
any time to bring those nations into
bloody and hostile conflict. An exam
pie has thus been set, which, if success
full in its final issue, may be followed by
other civilized nations, and be the final
means of returning to productive in
dustry millions of men maintained to
settle the disputes of nations by the
bayonet and sword. I transmit here
with a copy of the treaty alluded to,
which has been concluded since the ad-
journment of Congress with Her Brit
anic Majesty, and a copy of the pro
tocols of the conferences of the Com
missioners by whom it was negotiated.
This treaty provides methods for ad-
justing the questions pending between
the two nations. Various questions are
to be adjusted by arbitration. 1 recon-
mend Congress at an early day to make
the necessary provision for the tribunal
at Geneva, and for the several Commits
sions 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 each con-
sented, on the joint request of the two
Powers to name an arbitratory for the
tribunal at Geneva. I have caused my
thanks to be suitably expressed for the
readiness with which the joint request
has been complied with by the appoint
ment of gentlemen of eminence and
learning to these important positions.
His Majesty, the Emperor of Germany,
has been pleased to comply with the
Joint action OF the two Governments,
and has consented to act as the arbi-
traitor of the disputed water boundary
between the United States and Great
Britain. The contracting parties
in the treaty have undertaken to regard
as between themselves certain princi-
pies of public law for which the United
States have contended from the COM
mencement of their history. They
have also agreed to bring these princi,
Piles to the knowledge of the other
maritime powers, and to invite others
to accede to them. Negotiations are
going on as to the form of the note by
which the invitatian is to be extended
to the Powers. recommend the legis-
lation necessary on the part of the
United States to bring into operation
the articles of the treaty relating to the
touching the relations of the United
States toward the British North Ameri-
can possessions, to become operative as
soon as the proper legislation shall be
had on the part of Great Britain and
its possessions. 1t is much to be desired
that this legislation may become opera
tive before the fishermen of the United
States begin to make their arrange
ments for the coming season.
Without exceeding the number ofmen
or of expenditures authorized by law,
during the past year, the navy has, in
addition to Its regular service, supplied
the men and officers for the vessels of
the Coast Survey, and has completed
the surveys authorized by Congress of
the Isthmus of Darien and Tehaunte-
pee, and, under like authority, has sent
out an expedition, completely furnished
and equipped, to explore the unknown
ocean of the North. The suggestions
of the report as to the necessity for in
creasing and improving the material of
the navy, and the plan recommended
for reducing the personnel of the service
to a peace standard, by the gradual
abolition of certain grades of officers,
the reduction of others, and the en-
ployment of some in the service of the
commercial marine, are well considered
and deserve the InOuSnGIul attention
of Congress. 1 also recommend that all
Hromotions in the navy above the rank
OF .saptain be by selection instead of by
priority This course will secure in the
hlgher Grades greater efficiency, and
nolo an incentive to young officers to
improve themselves in the knowledge
Of their profession. The present cost
of maintaining the navy ;fs cost COM
pared with that of the preeedina Uoor
and the estimates for the ensni,sr year' yean
are contained in the accompanuiS = yeaa'
port of the Secretary of the Nav re-
The enlarged receipts of the Post OF
tice Department, as shown by the &C.
compan1ying report of the Postmaster
General, exhibits q gratifying increase
IN the index of the growth of education
and OF the prosperity of the people
two elements highly conducive to the
Vigor and stability of republics. With a
vast ter itory like ours much of it
sparsely populated, but all requiring the
services of the mail, it is not at present
to be expected that this Department
can be made selfsustaining but a grad
ual approach to this end, from wear to
year, is confidently relied upon, and the