Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-12-10
Presidents Message

sentatices Of the United States:
In transmitting to you nv fourth
annual message, 1t is with thankful
ness to the giver of all good that as a
nation We have been blessed for the
last year with peace at home and
abroad, and with general prosperity
vouchsafed to but few people.
THE BOSTON FIRE.
With the exception of the recent
devastating fire which swept from
earth, with a breath, as it were, mil
lions of accumulated wealth in the
city of Boston, there have been no
overshadowing calamities within the
year to record. 1t is gratifying to
note how like their fellow citizens of
the city Of Chicago under similar cir
cumstances a year earlier, the citi-
zens of Boston are rallying under
their mistortunes and the prospect
is that their energy and perseverance
will overcome all obstacles, and show
the same prosperity soon that they
would had 10 disaster bcfallen them.
We have been
FREE FROM PEsTILENCE AND WAR.
and the calamities which often over
take nations and so far as human
Judgment can penetrate the future, no
cause seems to exists to threaten our
present peace.
THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON.
When Congress adjourned, in July
last, question had been raised by
Great Britain, and was then pending,
which for time seriously imperiled
the settlement by friendly arbitration
of the differences existing between
this government and that of her Brit
annie Majesty. The Treaty of Wash
ington had been referred TO the Tri-
bunal of Arbitration, which had met
in Geneva, in Switzerland. The ar
bitrators, however, disposed of the
questions which had ieOpardlzed the
whole of the Treaty and threatened
to involve the two nations in most
unhappy relation toward each other,
in manner entirely satisfactory to
this government and in accordance
with the views and the policy which
ii had maintained.
This tribunal, which had convened
at Geneva in December concluded its
laborous session on the l4th day OF
September last, on which day, having
availed itself of the discretionary
power given to it by the treaty to
award a sum in gross, made its de-
cision, whereby it awarded the sum
of 100000 in gold as the indem-
nifty to be paid by Great Britain to
the United States for the satisfaction
of all the claims referred 10 il. This
decision happily disposes of 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 the two gov
ernments without shadow upon the
friendly relations which IL is my sin.
cere hopes may forever remain equal
ly unclouded. The report of the
agent of the United States appointed
TO attend the Geneva tribunal, accom-
panied by the protocol of the proceed
ings Of the arbitrators, the arguments
of the counsel of both governments,
the award of the tribunal, and the
opinions given by the several arbitra'
tors, are transmitted herewith
THANKS AND COMPLIMENTS.
| have caused to be communicated
to the heads Of the three friendly
powers who complied with the joint
request madeto them under the treaty
the thanks of the government for the
appointment of arbitrator made by
them respectively, and also my thanks
to the eminent personages named by
them, and my appreciation Of the i'm
partiality and great unanimity with
which they discharged their high and
arduous functions. Her Majesty's
government has communicated to me
its appreciation of the ability and in
defatigable industry displayed by MIR.
Adams, the arbitrator named on the
part of this government, during the
protracted inquiries and discussions
of the Tr bunal. | cordially unite
with Her Majesty in this appreciation.
| Ii is duo to the agent of the United
States before the Tribunal to record
my appreciation of tile marked abili-
| ~, unwearied patience, and the pru-
! dence and discretion with which he
has conducted the very responsible
| and delic3te duties committed 10 him;
as il is also due to the learned and
eminent counsel who attended the
Tribunal on the part of the govern
ment TO express my sense of the tall
ents and wisdom which they brought
70 bear in the argument
It will be the province Of Congress
to provide for the distribution among
those who may be entitled to it OF
their respective shares of the money
to be paid. Although the sum award
ed is not payable until year from
the date of the award, it is deemed
advisable that no time be lost in max
ing a proper examination of the sew
eraI cases in which indemnitic alton
may be due. consequently recon-
mend the creation of a board of com
misSioners for the purpose
THE SAN JUAN BOUNDARY LINE.
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 18th of June, 1876, de-
fining the boundary line between
their respective territories, were sub
mitted to the arbitration and award
Of his majesty, the Emperor of Ger.
many, TO decide which ofthese claims
is most in accordance with the true
Interpretation of the treaty of 1910
His majesty, the Emperor of Germa
ny, having been pleased to undertake
the arbitration, has the earnest thank:
OF this government, and of the peo-
| ple Of the limited States. for the lab