The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-12-04

/ Fed
at the port Of New York as part of the com.
merciai marine of the United States on the
4th OF October, 1870, having received a GER
uhcate OF her register in the usual legal
form. She sailed from the port of New York
and has not since been within the territorial
jurisdiction of the United States. On the
| 3lst day Of October last, while sailing under
I the flag of the United States on the hio h
seas, she was forcibly seized by Spanish
gun0oat, the Tornado, and was carried into
| the port OF Santiago de Cuba, where many OF
her passengers and crew were inhumanlty
and so far, ut least. as relates to those
who were citizens of the United States
| were without due process of law, put to
death. 1t is a well established principle
asserted by the United States from the be-
ginning of their independence, recognized
by u. eat Britain and other maritime DOW
ers, and stated by the Senate in a reSolu-
| ton passed unanimously on the 9th of
| June, 1853 that, American vessels on the
nigh seas, IN time of peace, bearing the
american nag, remain under the jurisdic
tlon OF the country to W hich thew belong
and therefore any visitation, molestation or
detention, by such vessel by force, or by
| the exhibition of force, upon the part oc a
| foreign power, is in derogation If the SOW
| erelgnty of the United States In accord
auce with this principle the restoration of
| the Elrglnlus, and the surrender of the
| SURVIVORS of her passengers and crew
and due PREPARATION to the flag
the punishment of authorities who had been
guilty OF the illegal acts Of violence, were de-
manded. The Spanish Government has rec
| ognized the justice OF the demand and has ar
| ra1gned for immediate delivery of vessel and
| surrender of survivors of passengers and
| crew, and for q salute to the flag, and for
| proceedings looking 10 the punishment of
| those who may be proved to have been guilty
OF illegal acts of violence towards citizens OF
| the United States and toward indemnifying
| those no may be shown and be entitled to
| Indemnity. Copy of protocol of conference
| between the Secretary of State and the Span
ish Minister. in which the terms of arrange
| ment were agreed to, is transmitted herewith,
| The correspondence upon this subj .ct with
the legation of the United States, in Madrid,
was conducted in cypher by cable, and needs
| the Verlhcatlon of the actual text of the cor
| respOndence. 1t has seemed to me to be due
/ to the Importance of the case, not to submit
| this correspondence until the accurate text is
received by mail. 1t is expected shortly, and
will be submitted when received. In taking
| leave of the subject for the present, wish to
| renew the expression of my conviction that
| the existence of African slavery in Cuba, is a
| principal cause of the lamentahle condiliOn
| of the Island. do not doubt that Congress
| shares with me the hope that it will soon
be made to disappear and that peace and
| prosperity may follow its abolition,
| the embracing of American estates inCuba
cruelty to American citizens detected in no
act OF hostility to the Government. the muir
dering of prisoners taken with arms in their
hands, and finally the capture upon the high
seas of vessel sailing under the United
States flag, and bearing United States reg
lstry, has eliminated in outbursts of indigna-
ton that has seemed for time to threaten
war. Pending negotiations between the
United States and Spain on the subject of this
capture, have authorized the Secretary of
the Navy put our navy on a war footing, to
the extent at least of an entire annual ap-
preparation for that branch of service trust
ing to Congress and public opinion of the
American people to justify my action. AS
Stunning from the action of last Congress in
appointing COEmIttee con privileges and
election" to prepare and report to
this Congress constitutional amendment to
provide better method of electing PreSi-
dent and Vice President of the United States,
and also from the necessity of such amend
ment that there will be submitted to the
State Legislatures for ratification, such an
Improvement in our Constitution. l suggest
two others for your consideration. First
To authorize the Executive to approve of so
much of any measure passing the two houses
of Congress as his judgment may dictate,
without approving the whole. The disap-
proved portion or portions to be subjected to
the same rule as now, to-Wit: to be referred
back to the House in which the measure
originated, and if passed by two-third vote
of the two houses. then to become law with
out the approval Of the President. L
would add, to this, provision that
there should be no legislation by Con-
gTess during the last twenty-four hours of
its sitting, except upon VetOes, in order to
give the executive opportunity to approve or
disarproVe bills uuderstandingly.
Second-To provide by amendment that
when an extra session of Congress is convened
by executive proclamation, legislation during
the oOntiHuauUe Of sucn extra session snail
be confined to such subjects as the executive
may bring before il from time to time In
writing, advantages to be gained BY these
two amendments, are obvious; one session in
each year is provided for by the constitution,
in which there is no restriction to
subjects of legislation; If more are required,
it is also in the power of Congress, during
their term Of office, to provide
for sessions at any time. The first of these
amendments would protect the pit bile against
the many abuses and waste of public money
that creep into appropriation bills and
other important measures, passed during the
expiring hours of Congress, an TO which due
consideration cannot be gwen. The Treasury
department receipts Of the government from
all sources for the fiscal year were 1888, 1884,
204; and the expenditures, on all accounts,
Were $3.50 3d. 4', thus showing an excess of
receipts over expenditures of $43, 1872 ,959; but
it is not probable that this favorable exhibit
will be sho for the present ii cal year. In
deed it is very doubtful whether, kept with
great economy on the part of Congress in
making appropriations, and the same ecOno-
my in administering the government, the
eVenue will not fall short Of meeting the
actual expenses, including interest on the
public debt. L commend to Congress such
economy and point out q source where it
seems to me it might commence, to-wit.: |
In appropriations for public buildings, in |
many cities where they have not yet been |
and harbOr improvements, in those localities |
where improvements are of but limited bene-
fit to general commerce, and for fortications. |
There is still a more fruitful source of ex- |
penditure which will point out later in this |
message. | refer to the method OF manufac- |
turing claims for losses incurred in sup
pressing the late rebellion. l would |
not be understood here opposing the |
erection of substantial, and even ornamental
buildings by the Government wherever |
such buildings are needed. In fact, l APP
prove of the government owning its own |
buildings in all sections of the country, |
and hope the day is not far distant when it |
will not only possess them, but will erect |
in the capital suitable residences for all |
persons who now receive commute
ton for quarters at the government ex-
pense and for cabinet, thus setting an ex-
ample to the States which may be induced
to erect buildings for their senator's. But L
would have this work conducted at q time
when the revenues of the country would
Justify it. Revenues has materially fallen
off for he first five months of the present
year from what they were expected, owing
% the general panic now prevailing, which
about the middle of Septem-
Der last
Full effect of this disaster if it should not
prove a blessing in disguise is yet to be
In either event, it is your
iuty to heed the lesson and provide by wise
zloNu1 e. IN