Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-12-12
ggirit af getterso!1.
Oharlegtovn, west va., Deoember u.
The Presidents Message.

III uuultsblHb my bUllN hlHAAA HSH"NSu W
the law-making branch Of the Government, it
is gratifying to 10 able to state that during tho
past year success hns generally attended tho
effort to execute all laws fonnd upon the statute
books. The policy has been net to inquire in
to the wisdom Of the lawSalrCady enacted, but
to learn their spirit aud intent, and to enforce
them accordingly.
The past year has, under wiSe Providence,
been one Of general prosperity to the Nation.
1t has however, been attended with more than
usual chastiscmcuts in the loss Of life and pro-
perty hy storm aud fire. These disasters have
served TO call forth the hest elCmentsof human
nature in "ur country, and odevrlopa friend
ship for us on the part 0f foreign naIiOrs which
gocs fur towards Nilcvating ihcdi>trcsscs occa-
sinnrd by these caIamilies Tie benevolent
hohayrSo generously shared their means with
the victims If these msfurtuncS will rraptheir
reward in the consciousness Of having per!orm-
ci II noble act, aud in receiving the grateful
thanks Of men, women mud children, whose
suileringS they have relieved.
Tlr rclaripnS Of tie U0itcl States with for-
eign Powers continue to he friendly The
year has Iecu an cvrntiul ono, in witnessing
two great nations, speaking Que language and
hovins one Lineage, settling hy peaceful arb-
trntrn, disputes Of long standing aud liable Mt
apv time Ia bring those nations into bloody
and costly conflict. Anexample has thus been
set, which, il successful in its fnn issue, may
hc followed hy other civilized nations, and f.
mNly hr Tie utaus nf returning to productive
indrIstrv millions 0f men now mqinAiurl to
settle the disputes Of naiiVns by the bayonet
md the Nr ad'idr'
transmit herewith copy Of the treaty al
lulcI IN, which has been concladcd since tho
adjournment Of Congress, with Her britannia
Majesty, alda c"Iy of tie wniocolSof lllecon-
lrnuccS d tie Commissioners lywhom it was
negotiated. This Treaty provides methods for
adjusting the questions pending between the
iwn nations Various questions are TO he all
jHsted lyarli'r'i"n. recommend Congress
nj MI calIy dny tn make the Necessary ptovl-
Siln tor llctiilmal at Geneva and for llc Sc
vrral C'unissi'rs "n tie lalt Of the United
States called far by the treaty. Ills Majesty
the kim ol Italy, the President Of The Swiss
Confederation, aud his Majesty the Eml eror Of
lmzll, lave rarl consented, On the joint re-
quest "l tie tw" P,wcrS. io name M RrliiIa-
Tor Ior tie tribunal ut Geneva. have caused
INV thanks lu hr suitably expressed for tlrrcn-
dIcSS with which the Joint request has hCrn
complied with hy the appointment Of gentle
rApu or cniurncc aud learning to these impor-
taut pnsitiruS. His Majesty the Emperor Of
Germany, In, hrru pleased II comply with the
iiut request If the Two Governments, and las
consented tn act as tie arbitrator "f the dislu-
ted water boundary between tile United States
aud Grra, Iirituin.
contracting parties in tic treaty have
undertaken Ia regard Ms between themselves
certain principles Of public law. fnr Which the
United States have rpnicmlrd from the COM
ucncrncit uf,!ri history 1ey have also
agreed io bring these principles 10 tie knowl-
rdsruf ilirplhrr maritime Powers, aud to in-
vite item tn acccdc To them.
Nr.n,tturE Me going IN uS 10 The form Of
the note ly which tie invitation is 10 he ex-
tended mtlr otlrr Powers.
ImcomnamItlr legislation necessary on tho
lart If tie lilittd States to lriuP into opera
non tie articles rl Tie treaty. relating 10 tie
fisheries, anl the "tlcr understanding the
relations Of llr United States towards the liri-
ti,h Nmlth American Possessions, to become
o,crntivras snon rs thcproprr legislation shall
lr Ind on the part Of Great Britain and its
possessions. It is much to hc desired that this
legislation may become operative before the
fishermen Of the United States make their AZ
Engagements fur tlr coming season.
have addressed communication. 0I which
copy is tra,tnitnd "cwiih, I" Tie Cover
uorS "l New Imk, lenn'ylynnld, One" Indi-
ana. Michigan. Illinois and Wisconsin. urging
upon the Governments "t thnSe States respect
ivly, rlirn,prs>ary action on their part to car
~ into effect tie "hict Of the article Of tho
treaty which c"mt'mpNtCS the use Of the canals
an ti,Ihr sid connected with the Navigation
Of tie lakes aud rivrrs forming the h"'indnry,
on icrmSul equality, ,hy il'"iohnll'a"tS OF both
countries. Il il lomd tint The importance Of
the "ltrl aud tie lFn't'S I" iIow thrrcirnm
will secure speedy approval aud legislative
anrr,iunof tie States concerned.
rnrw the trr'nlnr'dnli"n tor mn apprH.,
Tiaiiou i"r determining tue I'M" position "i
tie 4NtIr mmIlrl "l Iat'uHr' where u Terms
tie boundary lr'wccn tie ltlird Stn'rs ahd
British Moth American possessions, tNwtcn
tie lakc"tilc N"'ns VI" lN' Sun mn o. 'ho
Rocky Mrnut"irs. Tie emily NciIGn Of Con
prrs. il this mn"m,otion would pun it in
rhcp'wrr If tie War Department 'o place "
"rrG in tie field during the nc&' summer
TIL" resumption ol diplomatic relations oe-
tween France and Germany haye enabled INC
I" rive directions I"r thc withdrawal "l ,he
projection extended to urrlnn'!S IN France "y
the Diplomatic and C'l>tar tepteSen''tIV!s
of the Unitrd Stt'cS N 'nat country; ts
just i"adi, that the dtIlrals '"ly " ImS pro- M
trrli"n lm" hr'n lrtl,'nM ~ 'ne M,a'S,,! ,,a M
and the Con'l General mt La,ls, H., """ .nSEnr,
i"s CsnlS III france, 4",Gr ] ,,c S"lssa'N'" ,.a,"s
Of tie latter WIN etea' SnG,eS"' S,, "s %e.Ta,S
with prudence M" 's% or |y , C%Sg "IS w.
",tr" " ,'V a,I r'I' Io. wo"nIrd no @ susrn,iliiy
"t"I'"E, t ,1 T,,"ch 3 '| IT." G"ycmmcr, Of tGc En-
~ ao% r%m, r,",ma,,v cn,,in,s t' a"ifs, a friend.
FE" G,,;,' ""'" award. Ibr United states md do.
'yltr''IE '''""'"" i,, ,HV Nv "nJ 49,