Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Review of the Affairs
Of the ~ alton.
Our Relations with Foreign
Powers.
Recommendations Concerning Tariff
and Taxation.
P0LYGAMY AND Ku-KLUxlsM
THE WASHINGTON TREATY

THE WASHINGTON TREATY
= WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-The following
!, is the presidents messnge delivered tx
3 Congress to-day, at noon
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
In addressing my third annual message tc
the law making branch of the Government, ii
is gratifying to be able to state that during
I the past year success has generally attended
the efforts to execute all the laws found upon
the statute books. The policy mas been not
to enquire into Ghe wisdom of laws already
enacted, but 10 learn their special intent and
enforce them accordingly
I The past wear has, under wise Providence
been one of general prosperity to the nation
It has however. been attended with more than
the usual chastisemenUs in loss of life and
property by storm and fire. These disasters
4 have served to call forth the best elements of
| human nature IN our country, and to develop a
| friendship for us on the part of foreign ma
| tions, which goes far towards alleviating the
distress occasioned by the calamities The be-
neEolent who have SO generously shared their
means with the victims of these misfortunes
will reap. their reward in the consciousness of
| having performed noble act, and in receiving
| the grateful thanks of the men, women and
children whose sufferings they have relieved.
/ Foreign Relations.
The relations of the United States with for
3 eign powers continue to be friendly. The year
has been an eventful one in witnessing two
y great nations, speaking one language, and
Fof one lineage, settling, by peaceful arbitration,
disputes of long standing, and liable at any
i time to bring these nations into bloodshed E ad
/ state of conflict
/ An example has thus beensset which, if sue
| eessfulin in it's final issue, may be followed by
| other civilized nations and be the final means
| of returning to productive industry millions
/ of men maintained to settle the disputes of
nations by the bayonet and broal-sword.
The Washington Treaty.
I transmit herewith. "a copy of the treaty al
! luded to, which has been concluded since the
! djournment of Congress with Her Britannia
Majesty, and copy of the protocols Of the
| was negotiated.
This treaty provides methods for adjusting
I the questions pending between the two ma
| tions. Various questions are to be adjusted
| by arbitration. RECOMMEND to Congress, at
| an early day, to make the necessary provi-
| sions for the tribunal at Geneva, and for the
| several commissioners 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 nave SdCn consented, on
| the joint request of the two powers, to name
an arbitrator for the tribunal at Geneva.
| I have caused my thanks to be suitably ex-
pressed for the readiness with which the Joint
request has been complied with by the ap-
pointment of gentlemen OF emmence and
| learning to those important positions. His
| Majesty. the Emperor of Germany has been
| pleased to comply with the joint request of
] the two governments. and has consented to
| act as the arbitrator of the disputed Costar
| boundary between the United States and
| Great Britain.
/ The controlling parties in the treaty have
| undertaken to regard as settled, between them
selves certain 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 other maritime powers and
to invite them to accede to them. Negotia-
| tions 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 to bring into
| operation the articles in the treaty relating to
the fisheries, and to the other matters touch
ing the relations of the United States towards
the British American possessions, to become
operative as soon as the proper legislation
| shall be had on the part of Great Britain and
its possessions. It is much to be desired that
| this legislation may become cooperative be-
lOIO Glc VI JllC Cu4Jcu SGdUCS DcS
to make their arrangements for the coming
/ season. ez-- y - - "a - sta
I have addressed communication, of which
a copy is herewith transmitted, to the govern
ors of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana,
! Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, urging upon
/ the governors OF those states, respectively the
necessity of activity on their part to carry into
! effect the object of the article of the treaty,
which contemplates the use of The canals on
either side, connected with the navigation of
the lakes and rivers, forming the, boundary,
In terms of equity, by the inhabitants of both
countries; and it is hoped that the importance
| of the object, and the benefits 20 flow there
from, will secure the speedy approval of the
Legislatures of the states concerned.
/ The Eorthwes term Boundary l--,
[ renew the recommendation for an appro-
prlauon for determining the true position Of
the 48th parallel of latitude, where it forms
the boundary between the United States and
the Brl[lsh North American possessions, be-
tween the Lake of the Woods and the summit
OF the Rocky Mountains. The early action OF
Congress on the recommendation named
would put in the power IF the War Depart
ment to place q force in the field during the
next summer.
/ Protection of Germans in Paris
The resumption of diplomatic relations he.
tween France and Germany have enabled me
to give directions for the withdrawal of the
protection, afforded to Germans in France by
the diplomatic and consular representatives OF
the United States in that country. It Is lust
to add that the delicate duty Of this protection
has been performed by the minister and con
France, under the supervision of the
latter, with great kindness as well
as with prudence and tact. Their course has
received the commentator of the German
government, and has wounded no suscepti-
bility of the French. The government OF The
! EU1 Of tO manifest {
friendly feeling toward the United States, an(
desire to harmonic with the moderate anC
7 just policy which this government maintains
in its relations with the Asiatic powers, as vel
as with the South American Republic. hav
Il given assurance that the friendly feelings O
that government are fully shared by tht
United States
Relations with Austria.
The ratification of the consular and natur
ahzatIon connectionWith the Austro- Hungarian
Empire has been changed
Italian Unity.
[ have been officially informed of the annex
7 alton of the States of the Church TO the King
dom OF Italy, and the removal of the capita
: of that kingdom to Rome. In conformatiol
= with the established policy of the Unite
States have recognized this change
Treaty of Commerce with Italy,
7 The ratifications of the new treaty of com
I merce between the United States and TtaI
have been exchanged. The two powers hav
agreed in their treaty that property at Sc
: shall be exempt from capture in case of wa
/ between the two powers. The United State
: have spared no opportunity of ncorporatin
this rule into the obligations of nations.
f American Claims Against Spain.
y The Forty-frst Congress, at its second ses
9 sion, made an appropriation for the organiza
= ton Of a mixed commission for adiudicatin
Y upon the claims of citizens of the Unite
e States against Spain, growing out of the IL
: surrection in Cuba That commission ha
9 since been organized. l transmit copy {
! the correspondence relating to its formatio