The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1872-12-03
FOURTH ANNUAL MESSAGE
ULYSSES S. GRANT.
40 the Congress Of the United States.

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To the Congress Of the United States
The following is the full text of the fourth
annual message of president Grant, as for
warded to 10th houses of Congress Mon.
day
10 The Senate and House Of Representatives !:
In transmitting to you this my fourth an
nual message, it is with thankfulness to the
Giver of all good that as nation we have
been blessed for the past year with peace
at home, peace abroad, and general pros.
perity vouchsafed to but few people. With
the exception of the recent devastating fire
which swept from the earth with breath
as it were millions of accumulated wealth
in the city of Boston, there has been no
ovsrshadowing calamity within the year TO
record. 1T is gratifying to note how like
their fellow citizens of the city of Chicago,
under similar circumstances, a year earlier,
the citizens of Boston are rally under their
misfortunes, and the prospect that their
energy and perseverance will overcome all
obstacles, and show the same prosperity
soon that they would had no disaster be-
fallen them. Otherwise we have been free
from pestilence, war, and calamities which
often overtake nations, and, as far as hu-
man judgment can penetrate the future,
no cause seems to exist to threaten our
present peace.
When Congress adjourned in June last a
question had been raised by Great Britain
and was then pending which for a time
seriously imperilled the settlement by
friendly arbitration of the grave differences
: between this Government and that of her
Brittanic Majesty, which by the treaty of
Washington had been referred to the Trib.
unal of Arbitration, which had met at Gene.
va, in Switzerland.
The Arbitrators, however. disposed ofthe
question which had jeopar1ized the whole
of the treaty and threatened to involve
the two nations in most unhappy relations
towards each other, in manner entirely
satisfactory to the Government and in ac
cordance with the views and the policy
which it had maintained.
The tribunal which had convened at
Geneva in December concluded its labor
ious session on the fourteenth day of Sep.
TENDER on which day, having awaited itself
of the discretionary power given to it by
the treaty to award a sum in gross. II made
its decision, whereby il awarded the sum
Of fifteen million five hundred thousand
dollars in gold as the indemnity, to be paid
by Great Britain to the United States for
the satisfaction of all the claims referred to
its consideration. This decision happily
disposes of long standing difference be
tween the two Governments and in conneo
ton with another award made by the Ger.
man Emperor under reference to him by
the same treaty leaves these two govern
ments without a shadow upon the friendly
relations which il is my sincere hope may
forever remain equally uncouded. The
report of the agent of the United States
appointed to attend the Geneva Tribunal,
accompanied by the protocols of the pro
oeedings of the arbitrator, the arguments
of the counsel of both Governments,
the awar 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 re
quests made to them under the treaty the
thanks of this Government tor the APP.
poiutment of arbitrators made by them re-
spsctively, and also my thanks to the emf
nent personages named by them, and my
appreciation OF the dignity, patriotic impair
TALLY, and great ability with which they
discharged their arduous and high func-
tions. Her Majesty's Government has
communicated to me its appreciation by
Her Majesty Of the ability and indefatiga
BILE industry displayed by Mr.. Adams, the
arbitrator named on the part of this Gov.
eminent, during the protracted inquiries
and discussions Of the Tribunal. CORDIALLY
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 appreciation of the mar ked ability,
unwearied patience and the prudence and
discretion with which he has conducted
the very responsible and delicate duties
committed to him, as it is also due to the
al q nd INF cal, h. Ill
the tribunal on the part of this Govern.
ment, to express my sense of the talents
and wisdom which they brought to bear on
the attainment of the result so happily
reached. 1t will be the province of Con
gress 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 awarded is not payable
until a'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 Board of Commissioners for
the purpose. By the 34th article of the
Treaty of Washington the respective
claims of the United States and of Great
Britain, in their construction of the treaty
of the 18th of June, 1896 defining the
uOuHuAry lHe between tneir respective
territories, were submitted to the arbitra.
ton 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 1916, His
Majesty the Emperor Of Germany having
been pleased to undertake the arbitration,
has the earnest thanks of this Government
and of the people of the United States for
the labor, pains, and care which he has
devoted to the consideration Of this long
pending difference. have caused an ex-
preston of my thanks to be communicated
to His Majesty. Mr.. Bancroft, the repre-
sentative 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 ser
vices justified the public in expecting at
his hands, as member Of the Cabinet at
the date of the treaty which has given rise
to the discussion between the two Govern