Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-12-05
Til ?FlsIIIIllE's Nllsagl.
WASHINGTON, Dec.2, 1872.
To the Senate and House Of representa-
THANKSGIVING.

tires:
THANKSGIVING.
In transmitting to you this, my
fourth annual message, it is with
thankfulness to the Giver of all good
that, as nation, we have been blessed
for the past year with peace at home,
peace abroad, and general prosperity
Vouehsafed to but few peoples.
- BOSTON FIRE.
With the exception of the recent de
vastating fire which swept from the
earth with a breath, as it were, mil
lions of accumulated wealth in the city
of Boston, there has been no overshad.
owing calamity within the year to re-
cord. 1t is gratifying to note how, like
theif fellow citizens of the city of Chi
cage under similar circumstaneesa yeal
earlier, the citizens Of Boston are rally
ing under their inisfortunes, and the
prospect is that their energy and per.
severance viii overcome all obstacles
and show the same prosperity, and
they would have had, had no disaster
befallen them. Otherwise we have
been free from pestilence, war and ca.
lamities which often overtake nations
and as far as human judgment can pen
citrate the future, no cause seems to ex.
ist to threaten our present Peace.
THE GENEVA ARBITRATION.
When Congress adjourned in Juns
last a question had been raised by Great
Britain and|was then pending, which
for time, seriousln imperilied the set.
tlement by friendly arbitration of the
grave differences between this Govern
meDt and that of her Brittanic Majesty
which by the treaty of Washington
had been referred to the Arbitration
which met at Geneva, in Switzerland
The Arhitrators however, disposed o.
the question which had jeopardized the
whole of the treaty and threatened t.
involve the two nations in most unhap-
py relations toward each other, in i
manner entirely satisfactory to this
Government and in accordance with
the viewsand the policy which it had
maintained. The tribunal which had
convened at Geneva in December. con,
cludad It's laborious session on the 18th
day Of September last, on which day
having availed itself of the discretion.
airy power given to it by the treaty tC
award sum in gross, it made its deci5-
iors, whereby it awarded the sum o.
SD, 500, 900 in gold as the indemnity t.
be paid by Great Britain to the United
States for the satisfaction Of all the
claims referred to its consideration
This decision happily diSpoSes of a long
standing difference between the two
governments; and in connection with
another award made by the German
- I.
the same treaty leaves these two gov
ernments without shadow upon the
friendly relations, which it is nay sin
cere hope may forever remain equally
unaltered. The report of the agent OF
the Uuited States appointed to attend
the Geneva Tribunal accompanied by
the reports of the proceedings of the
ArbitratOrS, the arguments ofthe coun-
sci Of both governments before the fri
bunal opinions given by theseveral Ar
bitrators, is transmitted herewith.
have caused to be communicated to the
heads of the three friendly powers who
complied with the joint request made
to them under the Treaty the thanks
of this government for the appointment
of the Arbitrators made by them, re-
speetiyely, and also my thanks to the
eminent I,efsonages named by them,
and my appreciation of the dignity,
patience, impartiaiity and great ability
with which they discharged their ardu-
GUS and high functions. Her Maiesty's
government has communicated TO me
its appreciation by Her Majesty of the
ability and indefatigable industry dis
played by Mr.. Adams, the Arbitrator
named on the part of this government
during the pr9tracted inquiries and dis
cussions of the Tribunal. / cordially
unite with Her Majesty in this appre-
citation. / t is due to, the agent Of The
United States before the Tribunal to
record my high appreciation of the
marked ability, unwearied patience,-
and the prudence and discretion with
which he has conducted the very re-
sp0nsihle and Intricate duties commit
ted 10 him. AS it is also due to the
learned and eminent counsel who at
tended the Tribunal on the part of this
government, 10 express my sense ofthe
talents and wisdom which they brought
to bear in the attainment of the result
50 happily reached. it will be the
province of Congress to provide for the
among those who NAV he
entitled to it of their respective shares
of the money to be paid. Although
the SUM awarded is not payable until
year from the date of the award, it is
deemed advisable that no time be lost
in making proper examination of the
several cases in which indemuitication
may be due. | consequently recon-
mend the Creation of a board of com
missioners for the purpose.
rHE SAN JUAN BOUNDARY QUESTION.
In the article CT the treaty of Wash
ngton the respective claims of the
United States and of Great Britain, in
heir construction of the treaty of the