Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-12-06
THBPREsIDENT's MESSAGE
Abstract Of the Message Of President Grant
70 Congress

; Cungteaa Tuesday Is quite a lengthy
document. IL opens with a historical
statement Of the Observation-Disclosures OF
the United States with other nations dur
Ing the past year. Our relations with
most OF them are entirely peaceful.
Arrangements have been made for the
settlement Of our differences with Mex.
leo, still In process Of arbitration be
fore the Joint commission, and the
British Minister at Washington has con-
scented to act as umpire In all differences
the Commission cannot settle. Some
difficulty still exists with Venezuela In
regard TO the awards Of the Joint com
mission to settle our difficulties with that
government, but further forbearance IL
recommended.
The President transmits for the con.
sideration and determination of Congress
an application by the republic Of Santo
Domingo to this Government TO exercise
q protectorate over that republic.
The President sets forth at some length
the difficulties arising under the present
lack Of legal provision as TO acts of OK
patrlaiion by American citizens and urges
egSlatlon to mark OUt and define when
and hos expiration eau be accomplished,
to regulate by law the condition Of Amerl
can women marrying Foreigners, to fix
the status Of children born In a foreign
country Of American parents residing
more or less permanently abroad, and to
make rules Tor determining such other
kindred points as may seem best TO Con.
gress
OUR SPANISH RELATIONS.
! He opens his alluslon to our relations
with Spain by brief statement of the
liberal steps taken In the organlzatlo Of
the spanish republic In the abolition Of
slavery in Porto Rico and for the sur
render Of the sequestered estates of Amerl-
/ can citizens, and sayf
! All these liberal steps were taken In
| the face of a violent opposition directed
| by the reacti0nary Shareholders Of
Havana, who are vainly trying to stay
the march Of ideas which has terminated
slavery in Christeudom, Cuba only ex.
ptcted. Unhsppily, however, this bane-
full influence has thus far succeeded In
! defeating the efforts of all liberal. minded
men In spain 10 abolish slavery in Cuba
anG in preventing the promised reform
/ In that Island. The struggle for political
supremacy continues there, The pro-
/ slavery and aristocratlc party in Cuba Is
gradually arraiguiug Itself In more and
more open hostility and defiance Of the
/ home Government, while Il still main
( tains political connection with the
/ Republic in the peninsula aud.although
usurpng and defylng the authority OF the
home government whenever such usurp-
alton aud defiance tends in the direction
OF oppression, or Of the maintenance of
abuses, it Is still power In Madrid. and
/ Is recognized hy the Government.
Thus an element more dangerous to
continued colonial . relations between
Cuba and Spain than that which inspired
/ the insurrection in Yara, an element
opposed to granting any relief from mis-
rule and abuse, with no aspirations after
| freedom, commanding no symuathies In
generous breasts, aiming TO rivet still
stronger the shackles of slavery and
/ oppression, has siezsd many OF the
+ emblems OF pOSer in Cuba, and, urder
1 professions OF loyalty TO the mother
] country, is exhausting the resources Of the
island, and Ia dong acts which are at
| variance with those principles OF Justice,
Of lberality and Of right, which give
nobility Of character 10 q republic. In
the interests or humanity, Of civil cation
and Of progress, it is to be hoped iha, this
evil influence may be soon averted.
After giving brief history of the Itr-
/ giaiu outrage, from which It appears
that she was duly registered as an Amer
lean vessel, the President says
Il lisa well-estahlishod principle asserted
BY the United States from the beginning
Of their national independence, recognized
by Great Britain and other maritime
powere, and slated by the Senate In
resolution passed unanimously on the
10TH of june, SOS, that American vessels
on the high seas IN time 1f peace, bearing
NHaa HH.. IL a..
jurisdiction OF The country TO which they
belong, and therefore any visitation, mo
ltstatlon or detention Of such vessel bv
force cr by the exhibition Of force On the
par. Of a foreign power, is IN derogation
OF the sovereignty OF the Uuiied States.
In accordance with this principle, the
restoration Of the Yirgbt,as and the sur
reuder OF the survivors Of her passengers
and crew, and due reparatlOn TO the flag
and the punishment of the authorities
who had been guilty Of the Illegal acls
Of violence were demanded.
The spanish Government has recognized
the justice oi the demand, aud has ar
ranged ios the immediate delivery Of the
vessel aud for the surrender of the sur.
viyors Of tue Passengers and crew. aud
for salute 10 he lag, and for proceed
/ iugs looking 10 the punishment Of those
r who may b. proved to have been guilty
2 Of Illegal acts of violence towards citizens
Of the lullfd States, aud also toward.
g indemuiiying those who may be shown
D to he eit.tict tC indemnity.
r \ cory Vt d pfu.nco, OF conference
betwren lhe Secretary OF State and The
o spanish Minister, in which The terms o
r this arrangement were agreed to, il
transmitted herewith.
Inc correspondence on this subjec
with the Legation OF tue United States il
ID Madrid vas conducted in cipher and b,
cable, and needs the yerifcation of th
?, actual text OF the correspondence. II ha
seemed TO me to be due 10 the import
n ance Of the case not to submit this cor
respOudeucu unit. the accurate text ca
l. he received BY mail. IL is expecte
shortly, and will be submitted when rt
e celyed. Ia taking leave Of this subiec
Tor the present, | wish TO renew the ca
IT preston OF my conviction that the exit
II teuce Of African slavery Ia Cuba is
principal cause of the lamentable cond
y ton Oi thc Island. do not doubt tha
D. Congress shares with roe the hope that
will soon be made 10 disappear, aud tha
H. peace and prosperity may follow Il
lie abolition.
The ciubargoing VI American eslRt,
NJ In Cuba; cruelty to American eilizei
ne detected in no act Of hostility TO II
spanish Government the numbering
ld prisoners taken with arms IN their hand
or and finally the capture upon the HE
seas of vessel sailing under the init,
cn states flag, Qpd bearing a United Stat
IN registry. haf eliminated in an outbur
Ne Of Indignation that seemed for time
d : threaten war. Pending negotiations b
tween the Cnited States and the Cover
ment OF Spain on the subject OF III
mt capture have authorized tue Secreta
re- Of the Navy to put our Navy on a W
A footing to the extent, at least, Of &
bic entire annuu' appropriation for tn
up branch OF the service, trusting to Co
ue Eress and lac public opinion Of the AIae
for can pcOp1 to justify my action.
lc- Assuming that Congress proposes
he submit a constitutional amendment
be- relation to the manner Of eiectiug {
En- President and Vice President, he suggel
to two additional amendments, one 70 a
ay. thorize the Executive TO approve or
d's approve a part Of bill without vetoii
see the whole Of II and providing that thu
re- shall be no legislation during the last
lie hours Of the session OF Congress exc,
ma upon yetoes, and the other TO proYi
we'd that when TN extra session Of Cougri
IL. is called Its legislation shall be conhr
"a 10 the subjects brought before II by I
W Executive.
the PINAECIAL.
ely, The receipts OF the Government n
Of all sources for the last fiscal year, "
We 1858, 73S, 2C4, and expenditures OF
itor accounts, S290, 3l5, 9i5, thus showing
,rk. excess Of receipts over expenditures
~ aII uuQ 0HQ But IL is mot urahabia