American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-12-14

: though humanity could not be unmove'
E by many of its incidents, wherever the,
, might occur it is, however, at our door
1 cannot doubt that the continued
/ maintenance of slavery in Cuba is amons
} | the strongest inducements to the cOniin
f uance of this strife.
II A terrible wrong is the natural cause o
terrible evil. The abolition of slavery
and the introduction of other reforms IL
the administration OF the government o
: Cuba could not fail to advance the restOr
alton of peace and order. 1t il especially
to be hoped that the present liberal gov
, ernment of Spain will voluntarily adop
this view. The law of emancipation
which was passed more than two year;
since, has remained uneX cuted, in the
absence of regulations for its enforcement
. 1t was but a feeble step toward emancipa
ton, but it was the recognition of righ
t and was hailed as such, and exhibited
Spain in harmony with SCI tifmentS OF hui
mainly an Justice, and in sympathy with
the other powers of the Christian ard
civilized world. Within the past few
week the regulations for carr wing Out
the laws of emancipation have been an
nounce giving evidence of the sincerity
of the intention OF the present govern
ment to carry into effect the law of 1870
| have not failed to urge the cOnsidera
ton of the wisdom. the policy. and ths
Justice of Il more effective system for til,
abolition OF the great evil which oD
presses n race and continues u bloody :iit
destructive contest close to orr border
as well as the expectancy and the justice
1 of concadinC reform of which the Bropr
| ety il not questioned Deeply i.npreS-eG
with the conviction that the cont nuanct
/ of slavery is one If the act. ccrss. a
the continua~. ~ the unhappy ,pnditior
81 Cuha, ] regret TO believe that citizen,
OF the United States, or those ,tairtring Il
be such, are large holders In Cuba of VIVA
is there ciai,.:ed as property, but which i:
forbidden and denounced by tne laws O
the United States. They ar. thus in def
ance OF the spirit of our own laws con
tributing to the continuance Of this .'is
tressins and sickening contest. In my
| last annual message | referred to this sub-
Ject, and L again recommend such legiS
lation as may be proper to de ounce. aasi
IN not prevent, as least 70 diScOura q
American citizens from holding or dead
ing in slaves.
1t Is gratifying 10 announce that the
ratification OF the Convention. eottcitde,i
under the auspices of this Government. be
tween Spain on the one part. and the A.
lied Republics of the Pacific, on the other
providing for an armistice, has been
exchanged. A copy of the instrument is
herewith submitted. 1t is hoped that tI,i
tween the same parties.
The differences which at one time
| threatened the maintenance of peace be-
tween Brazil and the Argentine Republic.
it is hoped, are in the way of satisfactory
adjustment. With these States, as with
the Republics of Central and South Amer
lea, we continue to maintain the most
friendly relations.
It is with regret, however, | announce
that the government of teiiezuela has
| made no fbrthS. payments on account of
I tie awards under the Convention of the
18th of April, 1866. That Republic is I'M
derstood to be now almost, If not quite.
tran9uilized. 1t is hoped, therefore, that
it will lose no time in. providing for the
unpaid balances OF its debt to the United
! States, which having originated in iniur-
1 les to its citizens by the Venezuelan au-
I thorities, and having been acknowledged
pursuant to treaty, in the most solemn
| form known among nations, would seem
| to deserve preference over debts OF IA
| ferent manner. This subject is again
recommended to the attention of Congress
| for such action as may be deemed proper.
Our treaty relations with Japan remain
| unchanged. An imposing embassy from
that interesting and progressive nation
visited this country dui ing the year that
is passing, but being unprovided with
powers for the signing Of convention
in this country. no conclusion in that di-
rection was reached. 1t is hoped, howev-
er, that the interchange of opinions which
took place during their stay in this coun-
try has led to mutual appreciation of the
interests which may be promoted when
the revision of the existing treaty shall be
undertaken. In this connection l renew
my recommendation of one year ago, that
to give importance and to add to the eff
cheney OfOur diplomatic relations with ia
pan and Oh ma, and to further aid in re-
tanning the good opinion Of these people
and to sectire to the United states its
share of the commerce destined to flow
between these nations and the balance OF
the commercial world, an appropriation
be made to support ut least four American
youths in each of these countries to serve
as part of the official family of our MIN
listers.
Our representatives would not even
then be placed upon an equality with the
representatives of Great Britain or of
some other powers a. now situated. Our
representatives in Japan and China have
to depend for Interpreters and translatOrs
upon the natives of those countries who
know our language imperfectly, or pro-
cure for the Occ" sion the services of eIn-
plOyees in foreign business houses, or the
Interpreters of other foreign ministers.
l renew the recOmme adation. made on
a previous occasion, of the tranaf er to the
Department of the Interior. to which
they seem more appropriately to belong.
OF all the powers and duties in relation to
the Territories with which the Depart
ment OF State is now charged by law or
by custom.
Congress, from the beginning of the
Government, has wisely made pr vision
for the relief OF distressed seaman ia for
eien countries. No similar provision.
however. has heretofore been made or
the relief OF citizens in distress abroaL
other than seamen. 1t is understood to
be customary with other governments 10
authorize consuls to extend such relief to
their citizens or subjects in GER
tain cases. a similar authority,
and an appropriation to carry it into efl, ct,
United States.
1t is well known that such citizens re-
sort to foreign countries iii great NUM-
bers. Though some Of them are able to
bear the expenses incident to lOcOmOtion.
there are some who, through accident or
otherwise, becOpe penniiess, and have 10
friends at home able TO succor them. Per-
sons in this situation must either perish.
cast themselves upon the charityOf foreign
ers, or be relieved at the private cost OF our
own officers. who usually. even with the
most benevolent dispositions. have moth
ing to spare Tor such a purpose. Siio Id
the authority ano. appropriation asked for
be given, care will tie taken TO cirry the
beHeficence of Congress into effect that il
shall not be unnecessarily or unworthiiy
bestowed.
The money received and carried into
the Treasury during the fiscal year ending
June 30th, 1872, were from customs S2l6,-
sol