The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1871-12-30
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, Recember 4. 1871

WASHINGTON, December 4. 1871.
To IL Senate and House of Representatives
InI addressing my third annual mes
sage$o the law-making branch of the
government, it is gratifying to be able
to stste that, during the past year,
SUCCESS has generally attended the
effort to execute all laws found upon
the ftatute books. The policy has
beens not to inquire into the wisdom
of the laws already enacted, but to
lear. their special interest and enforce
them accordingly. The past year has,
undd a wise providence, been one of
GENERAL PROSPERITY.
I'd the nation it has, however, been
attelsded with more than usual chas-
tisepsents in the loss of life and prop
erty S,y storm and fire. These disas-
tiers kaye served to call forth the best
elenX nts of human nature in our coun-
try ind to develop friendship for us
on me part of foreign nations which
gOesa far toward alleviating the dis
tresss Occasioned by the calamities.
The benevolent who have so gener-
Ouslf shared their means with the VIC
timsf of these misfortunes will reap
thehl reward in the consciousness of
havilg performed a noble act, and in
recek kTing the grateful thanks of men,
WON In and children whose sufferings
theyshave relieved.
TlAs relations OF the United States
WitlS
FOREIGN POWERS
cont flue to be friendly. The year
has been an eventful one in witness
ing xwo great nations speaking one
language and having one lineage,
settlFhg, by peaceful arbitration, dis
putes of long standing and liable at
at aIfY time to bring those nations in
to koody and hostile conflicts. An
exanR Rple has thus been set which, if
succs sssful in its final issue, may be
follosred by other civilized nations,
and be the final means of returning to
productive industry millions of men
whos slre now maintained to settle the
disph ties of nations by the bayonet
and sToadsword.
iuuSiihe hCICHltn d. COpJ VI tIfC
tread allued to, which has been con-
cludSd since the adjournment of Con-
gresf with her Brittanic Majesty, and
ccky of the protocol of the confer
encef of the commissioners by whom
it wsls negotiated. This treaty pro-
vide. methods for adjusting the ques-
tionfpending between the two nations.
Vart BUS questions are to be adjusted
by ;4bitratipn. | recommend Congress
at a. early day to make the necessa-
ry Ekovisinn for the tribunal ut Gene
va, fnd for the several commissions
on II he part of the United States called
for Ey the treaty. His majesty, the
Kinx of Italy, the president of the
Swits 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
tribsnal of Geneva. | have caused
my thanks to be suitably expressed
for be readiness with which the joint
reql Iest has been complied with by the
appointment of gentlemen of emf
men ke and learning to these important
posi- Eions. His majesty, the Emperor
of { Armany, has been pleased to COM
ply swith the joint request of the two
gov vkrnments, and has consented to
act IS arbitrator of the disputed water
bou Sdary between the United States
and HGreat Britain. The contracting
part les in the treaty have undertaken
to rfgard as between themselves GER
taiE principles of public law for which
the United States has contended from
theE commencement of her history.
They have also agreed to bring these
prIkciples to the knowledge of the
Othkr maritime powers, and invite
thef II to accede to them. Negotia-
tiOrE are going on as to the form of
the slote by which the invitation is to
be extended to the powers. l recon-
mead the legislation necessary on the
parS of the Uuited States to bring in
to Ck,eration the articles of the treaty
relsting to the fisheries and to the
Othtr matters touching the relations
of tie United States toward the
BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN POSSES
sIoNs,
to tecome operative as soon as the
pro- ser legislation shall be held on the
pars of Great Britain and it's posses
sioiss. 1t is much to be desired that
this legislation may become operative
befsr the fishermen of the United
Sta ies begin to make their arrange
mefts for the coming season.
Isiave directed communication,
of svhich copy is transmitted here
witt, to the Governors of New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michi
gaLy Illinois and Wisconsin, urging
updsl the governments of these States
respectively the necessary action on
thesr part to carry into effect the
obi ct of the article of the treaty
viii Eh contemplates the use of the
cab bis on either side, connected with
thet navigation of the lakes and rivers
orSsing the boundary, in terms of
equity by the inhabitants of both
cOTItries. 1t is hoped that the i'm
por ance of the object and the benefits
to G1ou fharafpaYD will Sncrrpn tho