The Van Buren press., 1872-12-10
synopsis of the residents Message.

In transmitting to you my fourth an
nual message, it is With thankfulness tc
the giver Of all gool that, as . nation
We have been blessed for the last year a
home and abroad, and general prosper
ity vouchsafcd to but few people, with
the exception Of devastating fires which
swept from earth, as it were, millions 0
accumulated wealth. In the city Of Bos
ton there have been two overshadowini
ealamities within the year 10 record, sne
it is gratifying to note how, like theil
fellow citizens OF the city Of Chicago, un
der similar clreumsts9ces year earlier
the citizens Of Boston are rallying undel
their misfortune, and the prospect IL tha
their energy and perseverance will over
come all obstacles, and show the sam'
prosperity soon that they would had n,
disaster befsllen them We have beer
free from pestilence, war and calamltle'
which often overtake nations, and as fan
as human Judgment can penetrate The I'll
ture, no cause seems to exist to threaten
our present peace A
Tue TREATY AWARD. ~ !
When congress adj1Rrncd inJ une last
a question lad been raised by Great Brit
ain, and was then pending, which for 8
time seriously inperiIkd the settlement
by friendly arbitration of the differences
existing between this government and
that of her Brltanic majesty by the treaty
of Washington, aud it had been referred
to the tribunal of. arbitration which had
met at Geneva. in Switzerland. The ar
bitrators, however, disposed OF the CUES
ton which had jeoparii1ed the whole OF
the treaty and threatened to involve tue
two nations in most unhappy relations
toward each other in a manner entirely
satisfactory to this government, and IN
accordance with the views and the policy
which it dssmaiptaned. The tribunal
which had conycnrd a. Geneva, Switz.r
land in December, concluded its laboIi-
ous session cd tho l4.h day Of Soptsm
Der last, on which day, having availed it
self Of the Discretionary powers given to
ii by the treaty to award sum in gross
The treaty made lis decision, whereby il
awarded the sum of $l5,500,000 in gold
as the indemnity TO be paid By Great
Britain to the United States, for the salts
faction Of all claims referred to its cen
sidcration. This decision. happily, dis.
poses of long standing difference DC
tween the two governments, and, in con
necton with another award, made by the
German emperor, under a reference to
him by the same treaty, leaves the two
without shadow upon the
friendly relations which it is my sincere
hope may forever remain equally un-
cloudcd The report OF tue agent oil the
United States, appointed to attend the
Geneva tribunal, accompanied by tho
protocols Of the proceedings Of the arbi-
traitors, the arguments of the counsel o.
both governments, the award or the trl'
bunal, and the opinions given by the sev
eral arbitrators,tis transmitted herewith
| have caused to be communicated 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 appointment or arbl
traitors made by them respectively, and
also my thanks to the eminent persona
ges named by them, and my appreciation
Of the dignity. patience and impartlality
and great ability with which they dis
charged their arduous and high functions
Her majesty's government has oommuni
Gated to IN the appreciation by her ma
esly of the ability and indefatlguable in
dustry displayed by Mr. Adams, the ar
bitrator named on the part of this gov
ernmont, during the protracted inquiries
and in discussions Of tho tribunal
cordially unite with her majesty IN this
appreciation 1t is due to the agent .
the United States before the tribunal tt
record my hiah appreciation OF the mark
ed ability answering patience and TIT
prudence and d scrction with which ~
has conducted the very responsible ant
delicate duties committed to him, as it il
also due to the learned and eminent coun
sci who attended the tribunal on the par
Of this government, to express my sons
of the talents and wisdom which they
ought to bear in the agreement OF the re
suit 90 happily reached 1t will he th'
province of congress to provide for th
distribution among those who may b.
entitled to it Of their respective shares o
the money to be paid.
Although the sum awarded is not pay
able until a year from the date OF tn
award. it 10 deemed advisable that ~
time be lost in making a proper examin
alton of the several cases in which in
Identification may be due. | conssqusnt
ly recommend the creation Of a board 0
commissioners for the purpose.
THE SAN JUAN BOUNDARY
By the third and fourth articles OF th
treaty Of Washington, the respsctiv
claims Of the United States and OF Grea
Britain. in their construction OF the treat
of the 18th Of June, 1916, defining tn
boundary lines between their respcctlv
territories, were submitted to the arbitra
ton and award Of his majesty the smpsr
or Of Germany, to decide which OF thes
claims is most in accordance with tn
true Interpretation of the treaty Of lS4e
His majesty the emperor Of Germany
having been pleased ts undertake the nj
bitration. has the earnest thanks OF thi
government and OF the people OF tn
United States. for the labor, pains an
care which hs has devoted to the consid
Grafton OF this long pending dffsrenc'
and I have caused an expression of IN
thanks to be communicated to his majs'
tv through Mr Bancroft, the represents
tive of this government at Berlin, wh
conducted the case and prepared th
statement on the part Of the Unite