Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-12-15


time to maintain this disinterestedness and
just policy with China as well rs japan. The
correspondence transmitted herewith shows
that there IA no disposition nthc part Of this
Government to swerye from its established
| course.
Prompted by desire to put an end TO the
barbarous treatment Of our shipwrecked sail
| Ors on the COrean coast / instructed our
Minister ut Pckin to endeavor to conclude q
convention with Corea for securing the
safety and humane treatment Of such mari
ners. Admiral Rogers was instructed
to accompany him with sufficient force
to protect him in case Of need. A small
! surveying party sent out, on reaching the
coast, was trcacherously attacked mt q disad-
vantage. Ample opportunity was given for
! explanation and apology for the insult
Neither came. A force was then landed
After Gn arduous march over q rugged and
difficult country, the forts from which
| the outrages had been committed were gal
lantly assaulted, and we're destroyed. Having
| thus punished the criminals, and having vim
dicated the honor of the flag the expedition
returned, finding il impracticabe under the
! circumstances, to conclude the desired con-
vention. respectfully refer to the CORE
| spondence relating thereto, herewith sub
mitted, and leave the subject for such action
| as Congress may see At to take.
The Republic Of Mexico has not vet repealed
the very Objectionable laws establishing
| what is known as the free zone on the from
tier of the United States. 1t is hoped that
this may yet be done, and also more stringent
measures may be taken by that republic re-
strainng lawlcss persons on its frontier. /
hope that Mexico, by its own action, will
soon relieve this government of the difficult
ties experienced from these causes.
Our relations with the various republics of
Central and South America continue, with
one exception, to be cordial and friendly I
recommend some action by Congress regard
ing the overdue installmonts under the award
OF the venezuela Claims Commission of 1866
| The internal dissensions of that government
present no Justification for the absence of an
effort to meet their solemn treaty obliga-
tions
The ratifications of an extradition treaty
with Nicaragua have been exchanged
1t Is subject for congratulation that the
great Empire of Brazil has taken the initiatory
steps toward the abolition of slavery Our
relations with that empire, always cordial,
viii naturally be made more so by this act
1t is not too much to hope that the Govern
ment of Brazil may hereafter find it for its in
terest as well as intrinsically right to ad-
vance toward entire emancipation more rapid
ly than the present act contemplated The
true prosperity and greatness of a nation is 10
be found in the elevation and education of its
laborcrs.
1t is a subject for regret that the reforms
in this direction, which were voluntarily
promised by the statesmen of Spain, have not
been carried out in its West Indian colonies.
The laws and regulations for the apparent
abolition of slavery in Cuba and Porto Rico
leave most of the laborcrs in bondage with
no hope OF release until their lives become n
burden to their employers.
desire to direct your attention to the fact
that citizens of the United States are large
holders, in foreign lands, of this species of
property, forbidden by the fundamental law
OF their own country. | recommend to Con-
gress to provide, by stringent legislation, "A
suitable remedy against the holding, owning,
or dealing in slaves, or being interested in
slave property in foreign lands, either as
owners, hirers, or mortgagers, by citizens Of
the United States.
1t is to be regretted that the disturbed
condition of the Island of Cuba continues
to be source of annoyance and of anxiety
The existence of protracted struggle in
such close proximity TO our own territory,
without apparent prospect of an early ter
mination, cannot be other than an object of
concern to people who, while abstaining
from interference in the affairs of other pow
ers, naturally desires to see every country in
the undisturbed enjoyment Of peace, liberty
and the blessings of free institutions. Our
naval commanders in Cuban waters have
been instructed, in case it should become
necessary, to spare no effort to protect the
lives and property of bona fde American
citizens and maintain the dignity of the
flag. II is hoped that all pending questions
with Spain growing out of the affairs in
Cuba may be adjusted in the spirit of peace
and conciliation which has hitherto guided
the two powers in their treatment of such
questions.
To give importance to, and to add to the
efficiency of, our diplomatic relations with
Japan and China, and to further i'm retaining
the good opinion Of those people. and to Sc
cure to the United States its share of the
commerce destined to flow between those ma
tions and the balance of the commercial
world, | earnestly recommend that an appro-
priatiOn be made to support Mt least four
American youths in each of those countries,
to serve as part of the official families of
our Ministers there. Our representatives
would not even then be placed upon an
equality with the representatives of Great
Britain and some other powers. As now sit
uated, our representatives in Japan and
China have to depend for Interpreters and
translators upon natives of those countries,
who know our language imperfectly, or pro-
cure for the occasion the services of employees
in foreign business houses, or the interpreters
TO other foreign ministers.
would also recommend liberal measures
for the purpose of supporting the American
lines OF steamers now plying between San
Francisco and Japan and China, and the Aus
tralian line, almost our only remaining line
of ocean steamers, and of increasing their
service.
PosT-oFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The enlarged receipts of the Post Office
Department, as shown by the accompanying
Report of the Postmaster General, exhibits
a gratifying increase in that branch of the
public service. tits 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 territory like ours, much of it sparscly
populated, but all requiring the services of
the mail, il Is not at present to be expected
that this Department can be made selfsus-
IA "A n
from year to year, is confidently relied upon,
and the day is not far distant when the
Post-Oihce Department of the Government
will prove a much greater blessing to the
whole people than il is now.
The suggestions of the POstmaster-Gen-
eral for improvements in the department
presided over by him, are earnestly recon-
mended to your special attention; especial
ly to the documents favorable to the con-
sideration of the plan for uniting the tele-
graph system Of the United States with the
postal system. 1t is believed that by such
course the cost of telegraphing could be
much reduced and the service as well, If not
better, rendered. II would secure the fur
ther advantage of extending the telegraph
through portions of the country where pri-
vate enterprise win not construct it. Com
merce, trade, and, above all, the efforts to
bring people widely separated into a com
munity of interests, are always benefited by
rapid intercOmmunication Education, the
groundwork of republican institutions, is
encouraged by increasing the facilities for
gathering speedy news from all parts of the
country. The desire To- reap the benefit of
such improvements will stimulate education.
| refer you to the report of the Postmaster
General for full details of the operations of
last year, and for comparative statements of
the results with former years.
THE KU-KLUX LAW.
There has been imposed upon the
Executive branch of the Government
the execution of the act of Con
gress, approved April 20, 1871 and com
monty known as the "Ku-Klux law" in n
portion of the State of South Carolina The
necessity of the course pursued will be
demonstrated by the report of the
committee appointed to investigate the
Southern outragcs. Under the provisions of
the above act, issued proclamation, call
ing the attention of the people OF the United
States to the same, and declaring my re-
luctance to exercise any of the extraordina-
ry powers thereby conferred upon me, ex-
cept in the case of an imperative necessity,
but making known my purpose to exercise
such powers whenever II should become
necessary n 1o gO for tho t,,tr,,nga % gno,,.