Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-12-14

| matte representative. 1t was Incompatible
| with self-respect, or with just regard TO
the dignity OF the country, to permit ~ Cat
acazy to hold interviews with this Govern
| rnent after his abuse Of Government officials
and during his persistent interference,
| through various means. with the relations be-
tween the United States and other Powers.
In accordance with my wishes, our Govern
ment has been relieved Of further intercourse
with Mr.. Catacazy, and the management OF
the affairs Of the Imperial nation has passed
into the hands.of gentleman entirely unoo-
iectionabie.
With japan we continue to maintain inti-
mate relations The Cabinet OF the nikado
has, since the close Of the last session Of
Congress. selected citizens Of the Uuited
States to serve in offices OF Importance III
several departments Of the Government.
have reason to think that this selection Is due
To an appreciation Of the Observation-Disclosures Of
the policy which the United States have pur-
sued toward Japan. 1t is our desire to con
tinuc to maintain this disinterestedness and
Just policy with China as well as Japan. The
correspondence transmitted herewith shows
that there is no disposition on the part Of this
Government to swerve from it's 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 at Pckin to cndeayor TO conclude a
convention with Corea for securing the
safety and humane treatment Of such mari
ners. Admiral Rogers was instructed
to accompany him with sufficient force
10 protect him in case Of need. small
surveying party sent out on reaching the
coast, was treacherously attacked at disad-
vantage. Ample opportunity was given for
explanation and apology for the insult.
Neither came. A foScc was then landed.
After an arduous march over a rugged and
difficult country the forts from which
the outragcs had been committed were gal
IaDtIy assaulted, and were destroyed Having
thus punished the criminals, and having vim
dicatcd the honor Of the flag the expedition
returned finding it impracticable, 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 fit TO take.
The Republic Of Mexico has not yet repealed
the very Objectionable laws establishing
what IL known as the free zone on the from
tier of the United States. IL Is hoped that
this may yet be done, and also more stringent
measures say be taken by that republic re-
straining lawlcss persons on its frontier.
hope that Mexico, by its own action, will
soon relieve this government Of the Difficult
ties experienced from these c&Iscs.
Our relations with the various republics Of
Central and South America continue, with
one exception to be cordial and friendly
recommend some action by Congress regard
ing the overdue instalmcnts 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 ratifcatiOns OF an cxtraditon treaty
with Nicaragua have been exchanged
IL is Il 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,
will naturally be made more so by this act.
IL Is not too much to hope that the Govern
ment Of Brazil may hereafter find IL for its in
tcrcst, rs well as intrinsicaly right, to ad-
vance toward entire emancipation more rapid
ly than the present act contcmplates. The
true prosperity and greatness Of nationis to
be found in the elevation and education Of it's
laborcrs.
II is u 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 aHd 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
grcss 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, hircrs, or mortgagcrs, by citizens OF
the United States.
IL is to be regretted that the disturbed
condition OF the Island Of Cuba continues
to be n source OF annoyance and of anxiety.
The existence OF u pr0tracted 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 II people who, while abstaining
from interference in the affairs of other pow
crs, naturally desires to see every country in
the undisturbcd 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 bOad .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 i'm the spirit of peace
and Cancellation which has hitherto guided
the two powers in their treatment of such
questions.
To give Importance to, and to add to the
Japan and China, and TO further in 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-
priati0n be made to support ut least four
American youths in each of those countries,
to serve rs 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
uatcd, our representatives In Japan and
China have to depend for interpreters and
translators upon natives of those countries,
who know our language imperfcctly, 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
gratifying increase In that branch Of the
public service. 1t is the index of the growth
of education and of the prosperity of the
pcople-twO elements highly conducive to