Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To the Senate and House of Representatives:
In transmitting to you my fourth annua
message il with thankfulness to the Give
OF all good that, as a nation, we have beer
blessed for the last year with peace at home
and abroad, and general prosperity, vouch
safed to but few people. With the exception
of the recent devastating fire which swept
from earth, with breath, as it were, mil
lions of accumulated wealth in the city oil
Boston, there have been no overshadoWine
calamities within the year to record. 1t is
gratifying to note how, like their fellow citi
Zens of the city of Chicago under similar cir
cumstances year earlier, the citizens of Bos
ton are rallying under their misfortunes, and
the prospect is that their energy and persever
ance will overcome all obstacles, and show
the same prosperity soon that they would
have had, had no diaster befallen them
Otherwise we have been free from pestilence
war, and the calamities which often overtake
nations, and, as far as human judgment can
penetrate the future, ne cause seems to ex
ist to threaten our present peace. When
Congress adjourned, in June last, question
had been raised by great Britain, and was
then pending, which for time seriously i'm
periled the settlement by friendly arbitra-
ton of the differences existing between this
Government and that of Her Britanic Ma
jestY; but the treaty of Washington had
been referred to the Tribunal of Arbitration
which had met at Geneva, in Switzerland
The arbitrators, however, disposed of the
question which had jeopardized the whole
of the treaty and threatened to involve
the two nations in most unhappy relations
toward each other, in manner entirely sat-
isfactOry to this Government, and in accord
ance with the views of the policy which t
had maintained. The Tribunal, which had
convened at Geneva in December, concluded
its laborious session on the 14th day of Sep
TENDER last, on which day, having availed
itself of the discretionary powers given to
1t by the treaty to award a sum in gross, it
made its decision whereby it awarded the
SUM of SIS, 100000 in gold as the indemnity
to be paid by Great Britain to the United
States for the satisfaction of all the claims
referred to in its consideration. This decis-
ion happily disposes of lOng-standing diff
ference between the two Governments, and,
in connection with another award made by
the German Emperor, under o reference to
him by the same treaty, leaves the two Gov
ernments without shadow upon the friend
ly relations which it is my sincere hope may
forever remain equally unclouded. The re-
port of the agent of the United States, APP
pointed to attend The Geneva Tribunal, &C
companied by the protocols 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 Arbitrators, is
transmitted herewith. have caused to be
communicated to the heads of the three
friendly powers who complied with the
ty, the thanks of this Government for the
appointment of Arbitrators made by them
respectively, and also my thanks to the en-
inent personages 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
Majesty's Government has communicated to
me its appreciation by Her Majesty of the
ability and interchangeable industry displayed
by Mr.. Adams, the arbitrator named on the
part of this Government, during the pro-
tracted inquiries and discussions of the Tri-
bunal l cordially unite with Her Majesty
in this appreciation. 1t is due to the agent
of the United States before the Tribunal to
record my appreciation of the marked
ability, linwearied patience, and the pru-
dence and discretion with which he has con-
Quoted the very responsible and delicate du-
ties committed to him, as it is also due to
the learned and eminent counsel who at
tended the Tribunal on the part of this Gov
eminent, to express my sense of the talent
and wisdom which they brought to bear in
the argument of the result so happily
reached 1t will be the province of Con-
gress to provide for the distribution among
those who are entitled to it of their re-
spective shares of the money to be paid. Al
though the sum awarded is not payable I'M
til year from the date of the award, it is
deemed advisable that no time be lost in
making proper examination of the several
cases in which naturalization may be DUE
/ consequently recommend the creation of a
Board of Commissioners for that purpose.
By the SAITH article of the Treaty of Wash
ington, the respective claims of the United
States and of Great Britain, in their con-
struction of the Treaty of the 18th of June,
1916, defining the boundary line between
their respective territories, were submitted
to the arbitration and award of His Majesty,
the Emperor of Germany, to decide which
of these claims is most in accordance with
the true Interpretation OF the Treaty OF 1910.
His Majesty, the Emperor of Germany, hay
ing been pleased to undertake the arbitra-
ton, has the earnest thanks of this Govern
ment and of the people of the United States
for the labor, pains and care which he has de-
voted to the consideration of this long pend
ing difference. 1have caused an expression of
my thanks to be communicated to His Maj
esty. Mr.. Bancroft, the representative of
this Government at Berlin, conducted the
case and prepared the statement on the part
of the United States with the ability that his
past services justified the public in expect
ing at his hands. AS member of the Cabi
net at the date of the treaty which has given
rise to the discussion between til q two Gov
ernments, as the Minister to Great Britain
when the construction now pronounced I'M
founded was first advanced, and as the agent
and representative of the Government to
present the case and to receive the award, he
has been associated with the question in all
of its phases, and in every stage has mani
tested a patriotic zeal and earnestness in the
maintenance of the claims of the United
States. He is entitled to much credit for
the success which has attended the submits
sion. After patient investigation of the
case and of the statements of each party,
His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, on
the 2lst day of October last, signed his award
in writing, decreeing that the claim of the
Governmental the United States that the
boundary line between the territories OF Her
Britannia Majesty and the United States
should be drawn through the Haro channel
is most in accordance with the true interpre-
tation of the treaty concluded on the 18th of
June, 1916, between theagents of Her Britain
mic Majesty and saof &the United States.
Copies of the case presented on behalf of
each Government and of the statement in
reply of each, and transition OF the award,
are transmitted herewith. This award con-
firms the United Stot 5 in their claim to the
important archipelago of islands lying be-
tween the continent and Vaneouver's Island,
which for twenty-six years, ever since the
ratification of the treaty, Great Britain mas
contested, and leaves us for the hrst time III
the history of the United States as nation
without question of disputed boundary
between our territory and the possessions OF
great Sritaln on this continent. 1t is my
gfaJe1ul duty to acknowledge the prompt
and spontaneous action of Her MajestY's
Government in giving effect to the award.
In anticipation of any request from this
Government, and before the reception in the
United States of the award signed by the
Emperor, Her Majesty had given orders for
the removal 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 conclusive pos.
session of the lately disputed territory.
am grateful to be able to announce that the