The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

L IaEOIUEN , MEOOAUE.
I0itte Senate and House of Representatives:
In transmitting 10 YOU this my fourth annual
message. it is with thankulness to the Oliver of
| all good, that as Il nation we have been blessed
for the last year with peace at home and abroad,
and general prosperity vouchsafeG to but few
people,
with the exception of the recent devastating
fire which swept from the earth, with a breath
as 1t were, millions of accumulated wealth in
the city of Boston, there has been no over
shadowlng calamity within the year TO record.
1t is gratifying to note how, like their fellow
citizens of the city Of Chicago under similar
circumstances year earlier. the citizens of
Boston are rallying under their misfortunes,
and the prospect that their energy and perse-
Nerance will overcome all obstacles, and show
| the same prosperity soon that tfiey would had
no disaster befaen them. Otherwise, we have
| been Tree from pestilence, war and calamities
Whlch often OVertake nations. and aS far as
human Judgment comprehendS the future, no
cause seems to exist to threaten our present
| peace.
THE GENEVA ARBITRATION.
| When Congress adjourned in June last,
| quest on had been raised by Great Britain, and
was then pending, which for time seriously
| lmperilled the settlement by friendly arbitra-
| ton OF the grave differences between this gov
| eminent and that of Her Britannia Majesty,
| which, by Treaty of Washington, had been
| 1erred to the Tribunal of Arbitration which had
met at Geneva, in Switzerland. The arbitra-
| tors, however, disposed of the question, which
| had leopardiZed the whole Treaty and threaten
| ell to involve the two nations in most unhappy
| relations toward each other. in manner entire
| ~ satisfactory to this Government and in ac-
cordance with the views and the policy which
| 1t had maintained. The Tribunal which had
| convened at Geneva, in Dec. 1871, concluded
| its laborious session on the 18th day of Sept.
| last, on which day, having ayailed itself of the
discretionary power given to it by the Treaty
| TO award SUI in gross, it made its first dec-
| sion, whereby it awarded the sum of fifteen
millions of dollars in gold as the indemnity to
| be paid by Great Britain to the United States,
for the liquidation of all the claims referred to
| its consideration. This decision happily dis
| poses of IA long-standing difference between the
| two Governments; and in connection with
| another award, made by the German Emperor,
under reference to him by the same Treaty,
| leaves these two Governments without Il shad-
ow upon the friendly relations, which it is my
| sincere hope NAV forever remain equally I'M
| clOuded.
| The report of the Agent of the United States
| appointed to attend the Geneva Tribunal, ac-
companied by the protocols OF the proceedings
of the arbitrators, the arguments of the counsel
| OF both governments, the award of the Trlbun-
| al. and the opinions given by the several arb
| traitors, is transmitted herewith | have cans
| ed tc be communicated to the heads of tha three
| friendly powers who complied with the Joint
| request made to them under the Treaty. the
| thanks Of this Government for the appointment
| OF Arbitrators made by them respectively, and
| also my thanks to the eminent perSonageS nam
| ed by them, and my appreciation OF the dignity,
| patience and great ability with which they dis
| charged their arduous and high functions. Her
| MaestY's Government has communicated to
me the appreciation hv Her Majesty of the
ability and interchangeable industry displayed by
| Mr.. Adams. the Arbitrator named on the part
| OF this Government, during the protracted in
| quiries and discussions of the Tribunal. l cor
| daily unite with Her Majesty IN this apprecia
ton. 1t is due to the Agent of the United States
| before the Tribunal, to record my high appre
citation Of the marked ability, unwearied pa
| tlPnce, and the prudence and discretion with
| which he has conducted the very responsible
| and delicate duties committed to him, and it is
| also due to the learned and eminent counsel
! who attended the Tribunal on tire part of this
| Government, to express my sense Of the talent
| and wisdom which they brought to bear in the
| attainment of the result Sc happily reached.
| DISTRIBUTING THE AWARD.
| 1t will be the province of Congress to provide
| for the distribution among those who may be
entitled to it of the respective shares of money
| to he paid. Although the sum awarded is not
| payable until year from the date OF award, it
| Is deemed advisable that no time be lost in
making a proper examination Of the several
| cases IN which Naturalization may be due.
| consequently recommend the creation of a
VI
TIE SAN JUAN BOUNDARY.
| BY the thrty-fourth article Of the Treaty of
| W ashlngton the respective claims OF the United
| States and of Great Britain in their construc-
ton of the Treaty of the 18th of June, 1916, de-
timing the boundary line between their reSpec-
| tive territories, were submitted to the albitra-
| ton and award of His Majesty, the Emperor of
Germany, to decide which of those CLAIMS is
most in accordance with The true interpreted ion
of the Treaty of 1876. His majesty, the En-
peror of Germany, having been pleased to I'M
dertake the arbitration, has the earnest thanks
| Of the Government and of the people of the
United States for the labor, care and pains
which he has devoted to the consideration of
this long pending difference, and have caused
IN expression of my thanks to he communicate
ed to His Majesty
Mr.. Bancroft the Representative of this Gov
eminent at Berlin. conducted the ease and pre-
pared the statement on the part of the United
States, with the ability that his past services
justified the public in expecting at his hands
As Il member Of the Cabinet at the date of the
II eaty which has given rise 10 the discussion
between the two Governments, as the Minister
TO Great Britain, when the construction now
pronounced untOundel WAS first advanced. and
as the Agent and Representative of the Govern
ment to present the case and receive the award
he has been associated with the question i'll all
its phases, and in every stage has manifested
patient zeal and earnesness in the maintenance
of the claim of the United States and is entitled
to much credit for the success which has attend
ed The submission. After Il patient investiga-
ton of the case and OF statements OF each party
His Majesty, the Emperor, on the 21st day of
October last, signed his award in writing. de-
creeine that the claim of the Government
OF the United States, that the boundary line
between the Territories of Her Britannia Ma
esty and the United States should be drawn
through the Haro channel AS most in accord
ance with the trne Interpretation of the treaty
concluded on the 10th day of June. 1916, be-
tween the Agents of Her Britannia Majesty and
OF the United States.
Copies Of the case presented on behalf of
each government and of the statement in reply
of each, and translation of the award, are
transmitted herewith. This award confirms the
United States in their claim to the important
archipelago of islands lying between the Cont
nent and NancouVer's island which for more
than twenty-siX years, ever since the ratitica-
ton Of the treaty, Great Britain has contested
and leaves us, for the first time in the history
of the United States 4 nation, without Il
question of disputed boundary between our
territory and the possess ions of Great Britain
on this continent.
EVACUATION OF THE ISLAND.
1t is my grateful duty to acknowledge the
prompt. spontaneous action OF Her Malesty's
government in giving effect to the award. In
anticipation of any request from this govern
ment, and before the reception in the United
States of the award signed by the Emperor, Her
hHutSty udu gwen II1SlIucIonS lUI lle ltlHDfdl
of her troops which had been stationed there,
and for the cessation Of all exercise or claim of
jurisdiction. so as to leave the United States in
exclusive possession of the lately disputed ter
ritory. | am gratified to be able to announce
that the orders for the removal of the troops
have been executed and the military joint occu-
patton of San Juan has ceased. The Islands
are now in the exclusive possession of the
States.
Action for fixing the boundary lines, and
carrying out the provisions of the treaty with
respect to fisheries &c, is recommended.
RELATIONS WITH EUROPE.
With France, our earliest ally. Prussia the
constant and steady friend of the United States,
Germany, with whose government and people
we have so many causes of friendship, and the
other powers of Europe, our relations are MAIN
tanned on the most friendly terms Since my
last annual message the exchange has been
made of the ratification of a treaty with the
Austro- Hungarian Empire relating to natural
lzation; also of treaty with the German
Empire respecting consuls and trade marks
also of treaty with Sweden and Norway relat-
ing to naturalization all of which treaties have
been duly proclaimed.
The statistical Congress and Vienna eXposi-