Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-12-12

| grateful to be able to announce that the or
ders for the removal of the troops have beer
executed, and the military joint occupation
of San Juan has ceased. The islands are
now in the exclusive possession of the United
States. 1t now becomes necessary to com.
| plete the survey and determination of tn al
| portion of the boundary line through the Hare
channel, upon which the Commission which
determined the remaining part of the line
| were unable to agree.
I recommend the appointment of Com
mission to act jointly with one which may
be named by her Majesty for that purpose
Experience of the difficulties attending the
determination of our admitted line of boun-
dary, after the occupation of the territory
and its settlement by by those owing allegi-
ance to tee respective Governments, points
to the imnortance of establishing, by natural
objects or other monuments, the actual line
between the territory quired by purchase
from Russia, and the adjoining possessions of
her Britannia Majesty. The region is now
SO sparsely occupied that no conflicting in
terests of individuals, or of Jurisdiction, are
likely to interfere to the delay or embarrass-
ment of the actual location of the line. If
deferred until population shall enter and
occupy the territory, some trivial contest of
neighbors may again array the two Govern
mend the appointment of a Commission to
act Jointly with one that may be appointed
on the part of Great Britain, to determine
the line between our territory of Alaska and
the cOtermlnOuS possessions OF GREAT Britain.
In my last annual message recommended
the legislation necessary on the part of the
United States to bring into operation the ar
ticles of the treaty of Washington of May,
1871, relating to the fisheries and to other
matters touching the relations of the United
States toward the British North American
possessions, to become operative so soon as
the proper legislation should be had on the
part of Great Britain and the possessions.
That legislation on the part of Great Britain
and its possessions had not then been had,
and during the session of Congress a ques-
ton was raised, which for the time raised a
doubt whether any action by Congress in
the direction indicated wSuld become i'm
portant-a question which has since been
disposed of, and have received notice that
the Imperial Parliament and the Legislature
of the Provincial Government have passed
laws to carry the provisions of the treaty on
the matters referred to into operation,
tht retore recommend your early adoption of
the legislation in the same direction neces-
sary on the part of this Government
The joint Commission for determining the
boundary line between the United Stat 8
and the British possessions, between the
Lake of the Woods and the Rocky Noun
tains, has organized and entered upon its
work. 1t is desirable that the force be in
creased, in order that the completion of the
survey and the determination of the bound
ary line may be sooner attended to. To this
end recommend that sufficient appropria-
ton be made.
With Franco, our earliest ally; Russia,
the constant and steady friend of the United
States; Germany, with whose Government
and people we have 30 masy causes OF
friendship. and so many common sympath es,
and the other powers OF Europe, our rela-
tions are maintained on the most friendly
terms. Since my last annual message the
exchange has been made of the ratification
of treaty with the Austro-H Hungary EN-
pire, relating to naturalization also ct
treaty with the German Empire, respecting
Consuls and trademarks; also of treaty
with Sweden and Norway, relating to nat
uraI,zation; all of which treaties have been
duly proclaimed.
Congress- at its last session, having made
an appropriation to defray the expenses OF
commissioners on the part of the United
States to the International and Statistical
Congress at st. Petersburg, the persons ap-
pointed in that character proceeded to their
destin alton and attended the sessions of the
Cos seress. Reports shall in due season be
laid before you. This Congress meets at in
tervals of about three years and has held its
sessions in several of the countries of Europe.
submit to your consideration the propriety
of extending an invitation to the Congress to
hold its next meeting in the United States.
The centennial celebration, to be held in
1876, would afford appropriate occasion
for such meeting.
Preparations are making for the Interna-
ton al Exposition, to be held during the
next year in Vienna, on a scale Of very
great magnitude. The tendency of these
expositions is in the direction of advanced
civilization and the elevation of industry, of
labor, aad the increase of human happiness,
as we'll as of greater intercourse and good
will between nations. AS this exposition is
to be the first which will have been held in
Eastern Europe, it is believed that American
inventors and manufacturers will be ready
to avail themselves of the opportunity for
the presentation of their productions, II en-
couraged by proper aid and protection. AT
the last session of Congress authority was
given for the appointment of one or more
agents to represent this Government at the
Exposition. The authority thus given has
been exercised, but in the absence OF any
appropriation there is danger that the i'm
portant benefits which the Exposition off~rs
will, in large degree, be lost to citizens CT
the United States. I commend the subject
strongly to your consideration, and recon-
mend that an adequate appropriation be
made for the purpose. To further aid the
American exhibitors at the Vienna EXPOSE
tien, would recommen nd, in addition to an
appropriation of money, that the Secretary
of the Navy be authorized to hs up two
naval vessels to transport between our At
lantic cities and Trieste, or the nest conve-
nient port to Vienna, and back, their articles
for exhibition.
Since your last session, the President of
the Mexican Republic, distinguished by his
high character and by his services to his
country, has dleQ. Ills temporary 5uccessoF
has now been elected with grest unauimity
by the people, proof of confidence on
their part in this patriotism and wisdom
which, it is believed, will be confirmed by
the results of his administration.
It is particularly desirable that nothing
should be left undone by the Government ct
either Republic to strengthen their relations
as neighb 9rs and friends. It is much to be
regretted that many lawless acts continue
to disturb the quiet of the settlements on the
border between our territory and that OF
Mexico, and that Complaints of wrong to
American citizens in parts of the country
are made. The revolutionary condition in
which the neighboring Republic has so long
been involved has, in some degree, con-
tributed to this disturbance. 1t IS to be
hoped that with a more settled rule OF order
through the Republic, which may be ex-
pected from the present Government, the
acts of which just complaint is made will
cease.
The proceedings of the Commission under
the convention with Mexico of the 4th OF
July, 1868, on the subject of claims, have un-
fortun ately been checked by an obstacle, for
the removal of which measures have been
taken by the two Governments which, it is
believed, will prove successful. The Com
missioners appointed pursuant to the joint
resolutions of Congress of TIE 9TH of May
last, to inquire into the depredations on the
Texas frontier, have diligently made investi-
pations in that Quarter. Their report UPON