The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate

and House Of Representatives.:
In addressing my third annual mes
sage TO the law making branch of the
Government. il 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 the
laws already enacted, but to learn their
spirit and intent, and to enforce them
accordingly.
THE cALAMITIEs OF THE PAST YEAR.
The past year has, under a wise
been one of general pros
perity. 1t has, however, been attend
ed 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
to develop friendship for as on the
part of foreign nations, which goes
far towards alleviating the distresses
by these calamities.' The
who have so far shared
their means with the victims of these
will reap their reward in
the consciousness of having performed
a noble act, and in receiving the CRATE
full thanks of men, women and chill
dren, whose suffcrings they have re-
lieved.
OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS.
The relations 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 arbitra-
ton, disputes of long standing, and
liable at any time to bring those ma
tions into bloody and hostile conflicts.
An example has thus been set which,
if successful in its final issue, may be
followed by other civilized nations,
and be the final means of returning to
productive industry millions of men
now maintained TO settle the disputes
of nations by the bayonet and the
broadsword
THE TREATY WITH ENGLAND.
/ transmit herewith a copy Of the
treaty alluded to, which has been con-
cluded since the adjournment of Con-
gress with her Britanic Majesty, and a
COPY of the Protocols of the confer
ences of the Commissioners by whom
it was negotiated. This treaty pro-
vides methods for adjusting the ques-
tions pending between the two ma
tions. Various questions are to be
adjusted by arbitration. l recommend
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
Swiss Confederation, and his Majesty,
the Emperor of Brazil, have each con-
sented, on the joint request of the two
powers, to name an arbitrator for the
tribunal at Geneva, and have caused
nv thanks to be suitably expressed for
the readiness with which the joint re-
quest has been complied by the ap-
pointmento of gentlemen of experience
and learning to these important posi-
tions. His Majesty, the Emperor OF
Germany, has been pleased to comply
with the joint wish of the two Gov
ernments, 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 between themselves cer-
tain principles of public law for which
the United States have contended from
the commencement of their history.
They have also agreed to bring these
principles to the knowledge of the
other maratime 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 ex-
tended to the powers. l recommend
the legislation necessary on the part
of the United States to bring into op-
Grafton the articles of the treaty rela-
ting to the Fisheries and to the other
matters touching the relations of the
United States towards the British
North American possessions, to be-
come operative so soon as the proper
legislation shall be had on the part OF
Great Britain and its possessions. II
is much TO be desired that this legisla-
ton may become co Operative before
the fishermen of the United States
begin to make their arrangements fer
the coming season.
THE NAVIGATION OF THE CANALS.
have addressed communication,
of which a copy is transmitted here
with, to the Governors of New ork'
Pennsvlvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michi-
gan, Illinois, and Wisconsin, urging
upon the governments of those States
respectively the necessary action ON
their part to carry into effect the OBJ
ject of the article of the treaty which
contemplates the use of the canals on
either side, connected with the navi-
CATION of the lakes and rivers, forming
the boundary, in terms of equity by
the Inhabitants of both countries. Ii
is hoped that the importance of the
object, and the benefits to flow there
from, will secure the speedy approval
and legislative sanction of the States
concerned.
THE FORTY-NINTH PARALLEL.
I renew the recommendation for an
appropriation for determining the true
position of the forty-ninth parallel OF
latitude, where it forms the boundary
between the United States and the
British North American possessions
between the Lake of the Woods and
the summit of the Rocky Mountains
The early action of Congress on this
recommendation named, would put il
in power of the War Department to
place a force in the field during the
next summer.
FRANCE AND GERMANY.
The resumption of diplomatic rela.
tions between France and Germany
has enabled me to give directions fol-
the withdrawal of the protection ex-
tended to Germans in France by the
diplomatic and consular representa-.
tives of the United States in that
country. 1t is just to add that the
delicate duty of this protection has
been performed by the Minister and
the Consul General at Paris and the
various Consuls in France, under the
supervision of the latter, with great
kindness, as well as with prudence and
tact. Their course has received the
commendation of the German Gov
ernment, and has wounded no suscep-
tibility of the French. The Govern
ment of the Emperor OF Germany con-
tinues TO manifest friendly feeling
towards the United States, and de-
sire TO harmonize with the moderate
and just policy which this Govern
rnent maintains in its relations with
the Asiatic powers, as well as with
South American Republics. [ have