The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


dents Message in full, but its length is so
great that we will only publish few ex-
tracts, and refer to it in another place.
To the Senate and House of Representatives
The year that has passed since the sub
mission of my last message to Congress
has, especially the latter part of it. been
an eventful one to the country. In the
midst of great national prosperity, f.
nancial crisis has occurred that has
brought low the fortunes of a great pro-
portion. Political partisanship has al
most ceased to exist, especially in the
agricultural region, and finally. the cap
ture upon the high seas of a vessel bear
ing our flag, has for time threatened
the most serious consequences, and has
agitated the public mind from one end
of the country to the other But this,
happily, now is in the course of satisfac-
tory adjustment, honorable to both ma
tions concerned.
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
The relations of the United States,
however, with most of the other nations
continue to be friendly and cordial.
With France, Germany, Russia, Italy,
and the minor European powers, with
Brazil and most of the South American
republics. and-with japan, nothing has
occurred during the year to demand
special notice. The correspondence be-
tween the Department of State and the
various diplomatic representatives in or
from those countries is transmitted here
with. -
JAPANESE AND CHINESE AFFAIRS.
1t is my pleasant duty to announce to
Congress that the Emperor of China, on
attaining his majority, received the di-
plomatic representatives of the Western
powers In person. An account of these
ceremonies, and of the interesting dis
cussions which preceded them, will be
found in the documents transmitted
herewith. The accompanying papers
show that some advance although slight,
has been made during the past year to-
ward the suppression of the infamous
Chinese coolie trade. l recommend Con-
gress to inquire whether additional legis-
lation be not needed on this subject
BRITISH CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
The commission organized under the
provisions of the treaty of Washington
for the settlement and determining the
claims of citizens of either power against
the other, arising out of acts committed
against their persons or property during
the period between April l3, 1861, and
April 8, 1865, made its final award on the
25th day of September last. 1t was
awarded that the government of the
United States should pay to the govern
ment of her Britanic Majesty within
twelve months from the date of the
award, the sum of 81 ,929,819 in gold
The commission disallowed or dismissed
all other claims of British subjects against
the United States. The amount of the
claims presented by the British govern
ment but disallowed or dismissed, is
Il Il - l. I
it also disallows all the claims of the
United States against Great Britain which
were referred to it, 1 recommend the
early passing of an act appropriating the
amount necessary to pay this award
against the United States. l have caused
to be communicated to the government
of the King of Italy the thanks of this
government for the eminent services rem
dered by Count Cont as the third Com
missioner on this commission. With
dignity, learning, and impartiality he
discharged duties requiring great labor
and constant patience to the satisfaction
of both governments. l recommend leg
islation to create a special court to CON
sist of three Judges, who shall be en-
powered to hear and determine all claims
made upon the United States arising out
of acts committed against their persons
or property during the insurrection
The recent conference under the treaty
of Washington was confn ed to the claims
of British subjects arising during the
period named in the treaty bill 1t is
understood there are other British claims
of a similar nature arising after the 9th
of April, 1863, and it is known that other
claims of like nature are advanced by
citizens or subjects of other powers. It
is also desirable to have these claims also
a. nd 6icnocn1 af
sANTo DOMINGO
l transmit here, for the consideration
and determination of Congress, the ap-
plication of the republic of Santo Domin-
go to this government to exercise pro-
tectoral power over that republic.
THE CONGRATULATIONS TO SPAIN.
In compliance with the request of Con-
gress, 1 transmitted to the American
Minister at Madrid, with instructions to
present it to the Spanish government,
the joint resolution approved on the Sd
of March last, rendering to the people of
Spain, in the name and on behalf of the
American people, the congratulations of
Congress upon the efforts to consolidate
in Spain the principles of universal lib
erty in republican form of government
The existence of this new republic was
inaugurated by striking the fetters from
slaves in Porto Rico This benefcent
measure was followed by the release of
several thousand persons illegally sold as
slaves in Cuba. Next the Captain-Gen-
eral of that colony was deprived of the
power to set aside the orders of his su-
periors at Madrid, which had pertained
to the Office since 1925. The sequestered
estates of American citizens, which had
been the cause of long and frequent cor
dependence, were ordered to be restored
to their owners. All these liberal steps
were taken in the face of violent opposi-
ton, directed by the reactionary slave
holders of Havana, who are vainly striv-
ing to stay the march of ideas which
have terminated slavery in Christendom,
Cuba only excepted. Unhappily, how
ever, this baneful influence has thus far
succeeded in defeating the efforts of all
liberal minded men in Spain to abolish
slavery in Cuba, and in preventing the
promised reform in that island The
struggle for political supremacy still con-
tinues.
The proslavery aristocracy in Cuba is
gradually arraigning itself in more and
more open hostility and defiance of the
home government, while it still main
tains political connection with the re-
public in the peninsula, and although
usurping and defying the authority of
the home government, whenever such
usurpation or defiance tends in the direc-
tion of oppression, or of the maintainance
of proslavery abuses, it is still power in
Madrid and recognized by the govern
ment.
Thus, an element more dangerous to
continued colonial relations between
Cuba and Spain than that which inspired
| the insurrection at Yara an element op-