The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-12-07
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE!

sage it is " til thankfulne,s TO the Glver Of All
good, that a. a nation Se have been blessed TOR
the las; year With
PEACE At HOME AND ABROAD.
and general prosperity vOuchssfed TO but lew
people With the exception of the recent dev"s'
tsting fire, which swept from earth with
breath, as 1t were millions OF accumulated wealth
in the city of Boston, there has been no over
shaiO wing calamities within the year TO record.
1t is graf flying to note how like their Fellow
citizens of the city OF Chicago, under similar
circumstances year earlier, the citizens OF bos-
ton are
KALLYING UNDER THEIR NIsFORTUNES,
AMI the prospect is that their energy and perse.
yerarce will overcome all obsuees and show the
same prosperity that they would have had,
had no dis lster befallen them. Otherwise, We
have been tree from pestiience war and the
calamitie- which often overtake nations. And,
as far as human judgment can penetrate the fu
ture, 10 cause seems to exist to threaten Que
present peace.
THE WASHINGTON TREATY.
When Congress adjourned in June last, q
Guesti IN had been raised by Great Britain, and
was then pending, which, for a time, seriously
imperilled the settlement by friendly arbitration
of the differences existing between this Govern
ment and that of Her Britaunlc Majesty; the
treaty of Washington had been referred to the
tribun.l of arbitration which had met at Geneva,
posed Of the question which had jeopardzed the
whole Of the treaty, AID threatened to involve
the two nations in the most unhappy relations
towards each other, III manner entirely salts
factory to thi- Government. and in accordance
with the view, aud the policy which 1t had
maintained The tribunal which had convened
in Geneva IN December. concluded It's laborous
session si.e An day of September last, or
which day. ,a.lu. ,called itself OF the discre
tianary power gwen 70 it by thu treaty to award
SUM in .ru,> II N lie its decision, whereby it
awarded the -um Of SlJ 800 600 in gold, IL the
indemnity to he paid by Great Britain to the
United Sttte- H., the satisfaction of all the
claims referred tor its consider ton.
This decision ppily dispose Of long stand.
ing difference between the two Governments;
and in connection with another award made by
the Germ IL Emperor, under reference To HIM
by the same treaty. leaves the two Governments
without -nidow unon the friendly rel .uons
which it l. my sincere hope may forever remain
equally nnciouded.
Tn report of the agent OF the United States,
appuiue al " attend the Geneva tribunal. ACCOM-
panied by the protocols of the proceedings OF the
counsel Of 10th Governments the award OF the
tribunal, and the opinions given by the several
arbitrAtors is transmitted herewith
have caused to be commup c nted 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 appoint
ment of the arbitrators, made by them, respeC-
lively, and also my thanks to the eminent per-
sonages named by them, and my appreciation of
the dignity, patience impartiality. and great
ability with which they discharged their ardu.
Gus and high functions.
Her Majestys Government has communicated
to me its appreciation by Her Majesty of the
ability and ndefatigable industry displayed by
Mr.. Adams, the arbitrator named on the part Of
this Govern ment during the protraCted inquiries
and discussions of the tribunal. / cordially
unite with Her Majesty in this appreciation. II
Is due to the agent Of the United States before
the tribunal, to record my appreciation of the
marked ability, unwearied patience, and the pru.
demo aud discretion with which he has conduct.
cd the very responsible and very delicate
duties committed to him as it is also due to the
learned aud eminent counsel who attended the
tribunal on the part Of this Government, to ex.
press my sense of the talents and wisdom which
they brought to bear in the argument of the
result SO happily reached
DISTRIBUTION OF THE AWARD.
1t will be the province of Congress to provide
for the distribution among those who may be
entitled to 1t, of their respective shares of the
money to be paid Although tho 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 sew.
eral cases in which naturalization may be due.
/ consequently recommend the creation OF
Board OF Commissioners.
THE SAN JUAN SETTLEMENT.
by the thirty.fourth article of the Treaty OF
Washington, the respective claims of the United
States and Great Britain, in their construction
of the treaty of the 10Th of June, 1876, defining
the boundary line between their respective ter
ritores, were submitted to the arbitration and
award of his Majesty the Emperor of Germanv
which of these claims is most in accordance with
the true Interpretation Of the treaty Of 1916
His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, having
been pleased to undertake the arbitration, has
the earnest thanks Of this Government and Of
the people of the United States, for the labor
pains and which he has devoted to the con
siderstion OF this long.peudiug difference.
have caused an expression of my thanks TO b.
communicated TO His Majesty. Mr. Bancroft
the representative of this Government at Der
lin, Conducted the case aud prepared the state
ment on the part of the United States with thu
ability that his past service justified the public
in expecting at his hands. >z..a;.21
As y member of the Cabinet at the date O.
the treaty which has given rise to the discussion
between the two Governments; as the Minister
to Great Britain when the construction, now
pronounced untounded, was first advanced, an,
Ms The agent aud representative of the Govern
ment TO present the case and to receive tn,
award, be has been associated with tho uuestio,
IL al of its phases, and in every stage has ,nani
Tested patriotic zeal aud earDesthess in the IN in
tenNnce Of the claim u. the United States, he i
entitled to much credit for ihe success whir
has attended the submission.
AFTER u patient OK miuttiun Gf the case al
OF 'hr statements OF each party, His Ma est
the Emperor VI Germany, on the DIST Az q
oc'ooer last, sisned ni- award in writing, d,