The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-03
The Presidents Message.

= The Presidents Message.
The full text Of the fourth annual message
of President G.AsT to the Senate and House
OF Representatives Is laid before our readers
this morning. Itopens with grateful ac-
Acknowledgement Of the blessings voucnsaaied
to us by Divine Providence aud an approprl-
ate reference 10 the recent devastation by IRE
rs the only ovcrshadowing calamity occurring
during the year. Neither war, pesti!ence,
nor famine has visited the United States,
ard no cause seems to exist to threaten our
peace in the future.
4 great deal Of space is properly devoted
to q recital of the circumstances attending
the peaceful settlement Of the questions at
issue between this Government and that OF
her Majesty Of Great Britain. When Con.
eress adjourned the question of consequence
damagcsappeared to jeopardize the Treaty o.
Washington In 80 far as 1t related to the VA
bama claims, but the arbitrators appointed
under that treaty disposed Of this matter.
with others. without difficulty, according to
the law and equity Of the case, and Ito the
entire satisfaction of this Government. The
Geneva tribunal, ut the conclusion o! its
labors, ayailcd itself Of the discretionary
power given it by the treaty, and awarded
to the United States indemnity to the amount
Of sl5.5o0,0 900. The distribution OF the
money recovered from Great Britain " conf
mended to the attention Of Congress, ana II
IS recommended that Board OF Commls-
sioncrs be created for the purpose. '1' ID.
The settlement OF the Northwest Doun-
dsry. or San Juan question, by the decision
OF the Emperor WILLIAM, in which 1t ! De
creed that the line between her Britannia Ma
jesty and The United States should be drawn
through the Haro channel, as claimed by
the American Government, Is noticed, ana
the services of the arbitrator and.the prompt
ness Ct her Majesty in accepting the arbl-
tration and withdrawing her troops from
cur territory are acknowledged. The Presi-
dent recommends the appointment Of joint
commission to complete the survey and de-
termination Of that portion Of the line upon
which the commission which determined the
remainder was unable 10 agree-that Is, upon
The line between or territory of Alaska and
the coterminous possessions OF Great Britain.
legislation to carry into effect the provisions
Of the Treaty Of Washington which relate to
fisheries is urged, aud the increase of the
surveying party now fixing the line between
the United States and the British possessions
between the Lake of the Woods and the
Rocky Mountains is advised.
The President refers briefly to our peace
full relations with France, Russia, and Ger
many; to the ratification by both parties Of
naturalization treaty with the AuStro- Hun
gaiian empire, and also TO treaty on the
sane subject with Norway and Sweden.
The importance of the International Sta
ts,cal Congress at st. Petersburgh and Of
the International Industrial Exposition at
Vienna is alluded to in terms of high appre-
chiffon. and Congress is asked to appropriate
money TO deiray the expenses of commits
sioners TO the latter, and to authorize the
Secretary of the Navy to fit up two navalVe
se!s for transporting between our Atlantic
cites aud Trieste articles to be exhibited
BY Americans. The President suggests that
the next international Exposition should LIE
held in this country in 1876, on the occasion
of tho celebration of the centennial OF Ameri-
caa independence. stg-.a
4 speedy settlement Of the boundary ques-
ton now ut issue between the United States
and Mexico and Il cessation of the outrages
committed upon American citizens on our
Texan frontier are anticipated, and the Pre-
sident compliments the present and late Pre-
sidentS Of the Mexican republic. sf5a1
The continuation of the war in Cuba is
noticed with regret, and the President thinks
thut Spain and the insurgents occupy the
same relative attitude that they did year
ago. He regards slavery In Cuba as "the
natural cause of u terrible evil" It is hoped
that Spain will "voluntarily adopt this
view," and execute the emancipation laws
enacted two years ago. The holding of
slaves by American citizens in Cuba is adj
vcrted to, and Congress is asked to legislate
SO as to discourage if not prevent this.
In CHANGING at the situation in the allied
Republics of the Pacific coast, Brazil, the
Argentine Republic, and the Central Ameri-
can States. the President incidentally raps
Venezuela over the knuckles, and intimates
that she is too slow about paying her debts
to the United States. He did the same thing
las. year. Our treaty relations with japan
and China are reported unchanged.
The remarks relative to the finances Of the
Government are interesting. 1t Is claimed
that the principal of the public debt has been
reduced one hundred millions, and the means
of this reduction are given. The President
thinks it doubtful whether further reduc
ton Of taxation Is practicable for the present
and recommends that there be no further
legislation on the subject except to correct
errors in the present laws, until it can be
proved that 1t can be done and leave sufn
Gent revenue to meet current expenses, pay
interest, and provide for the sinking fund
Next to the preservation Of the nationa
credit the President esteems it important tt
provide national currency Of fixed aud Tin
varying value US compared with gold, ind u
soon as practicable convertible into gold q
par. t ~.
Ono of the most interesting parts of tn
message is that in which reference is mad
TO the various enterprises for the cheape
and more certain transportation Of the SUI
plus Of western and southern products t,
the Atlantic scaboard. But we confess to