The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

To NE Senate and House Of Representatives.
In transmitting TO you my fourth annual
message it is with thankfulness to the Glver
of all good, that as a nation we have besn
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 fires which swept
from earth with BREATH as 1t were. millions
of accumulated wealth in the city Of Boston,
there has been no overshado wing calamities
within the year to record. IL Is gratifying
TO note how like their fellow citizens OF
the city of Chicago, under similar crcum-
stances year earlier, the citizens OF Boston
are rallyiDg under their msfortunes, and the
prospect Is that their energy and persever-
ance will overcome all obstacles, and show
the same prosperity soon that they would
have have had had no disaster befallen them.
Otherwise. we have been free from pesti-
!ence, war, and the calamities which often
overtake nations. And, as far as human judg
ment 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 time
ricusly imperied the settlement by friendly
arbitration of the differences existing be-
tween this Government and that of her
Britannia Majesty, which, by the Treaty of
Washington, had been referred To the tri-
bunal of arbitration which had met at Geneva
in Switzerland. The arbirators, however
disposed of the question which had leopard
lied the whole of the treaty, and threatened
to involve the two nations in most unhappy
relations toward each other. in a manner en-
tirely satisfactory To this Government and in
accordance with the views and the policy
which il had maintained. The tribunal which
had convened in Geneva, in December. con-
.cluded its laborious session on the 14th day
of September last. on which day, having
la1 IF ha inn o,xy
to it by the treaty to award a sum in gross, it
made its decision whereby 1T awarded the
sum of S15 5000, 900 in gold, as the indemnity
to be paid, by Great Britain to the United
States for the satisfa of all the claims
referred to its consideration. This decision,
happily, disposes of long standing difference
between two Governments, and in connection
with another award made by the German En-
peror under reference to him by the same
treaty, leaves the two Governments without
a shadow upon the friendly relations which it
is my sincere hope may forever remain
remain equally unclouded.
The report of the agent of the United
States, appointed TO attend the Geneva tri-
.bunal, accompanied by the protocols of the
proceedings of the arbltrators. the arguments
of the counsel Of both Governments. the
award of the tribunal. and the opinions given
by the several arbtrators, Is transmitted here
with
/ have caused 10 be transmitted TO the
heads of the three friendly powers who COM
piled with the joint request made to them
under the treaty the thanks of this Govern
ment for tie appointment Of arbitrators made
by them respectively, and also my thanks to
the eminent pcrsonages named by them. and
my appreciation OF the dignity. patience. i'm
partiality, and great ability with which they
discharged their arduous and high functions.
Her Majestys Government has commune
Gated TO me the appreciation by her Majesty
IF lac ind u
played by Mr.. Adams, the arbitrator named
on the part of this Government. during the
protracted inquiries aid discussions of the
tribunal. | 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
CT the marked ability, unwearied patience,
and the prudence and discretion with which
ne has conducted the very responsible aud
delicate duties committed to him. And
il is also due to the learned and eminent
counsel who attended the tribunal on the part
Of this Government, 10 express my sense of
the talent and wisdom which they brought TO
bear in the argument of the result so happily
reached. II will be the province of Congress
to provide for the distribution, among those
who are entitled 10 it, of their respective
shares of the money To be paid.
Although the sum awarded Is not PAYABLE
until the year from the date of the award, il
is deemed advisable that no time be lost in
making proper examination of the several
cases IN which decentralization may he due. |
consequently recommend the creation of a
Board of Commissioners for the purpose Bv
the thirty-fourth article of the Treaty of
Washington the respective claims of the
United States ana OF Great Britain IN their
construction of the treaty of the 18th June,
1916, defining the boundary line between their
respective territories. were submitted to the
arbitration and award of his Majesty the EN-
of 70 a.rI,f rs Il.
claims is most in accordance with the true in
depreciation Of the treaty of 1876. His Ma
jesty the Emperor of Germany having been
pleased to undertake the arbitration has the
earnest thanks of this Government and 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 expression OF my thanks to be commune
Gated to his Majesty Mr. Bancroft, the
representative Of this Government at Berlin
conducted the case and prepared the state
ment on the part Of the United States with
the ability that his past service justified the
public in expecting at his hands. As men,
Der of Cabinet at the date of treaty which has
given riso to the discussion between the Gov
ernments as the Minister to Great Britain
when the construction now pronounced I'M
founded was first advanced and az the agent
and representative of the Government to
present the case and receive the award. he
has been assoc.at cd with the question in all of
its phases, and in every stage has manifested
a patriotic zeal and earnestness in mainten-
ance of the claim of the United States. He
Is entitled to much credit for the SUCCESS
which has attended the submission. After
patient investigation of the case and of the
statements of each party, his Majesty the
Emperor of Germany, on the Dist dav of Octo-
Der last, signed his award in writing, decree
ing that the clam of the Government of 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 Interpretation of the treaty concluded
on the 18th of June, 1916. between the agents
of her Britannia Majesty and of the United
Safes. Copies of the case presented on be-
half of each Government and of the state
ment in reply to. each and translation of
the award, are transmitted herewith. This
award confirms the United States i'm their
claim to the important archipelago of islands
lying between the continent and Vancouyer's
sland, which for twenty-six years, ever since
the ratification of the treaty, Great Britain
has contested, and leaves us, for the first
time in the history of the United States as a
nation, without question of disputed bound
airy between our territory and the possessions
of Great Britain On the continent.
1t il my grateful duty to acknowledge the
prompt spontaneous action Of her Majesty's
Government in giving effect to the award. In