The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-12-12
Presidents Message.
WASHINGTON. Dec

! tives:
The year that has passed since the
submission of my last message to Con-
gress, has, especially, during the latter
part OF it, been an eventfu1 one to the
country. In the midst of great national
prosperity financial crisis has occurred
that has brought low fortunes of gigantic
proportions, political partisanship has al
most ceased to exist, especially in the
agricultural regions, and finally the
capture on the high seas of vessel
bearing our flag has, for a time, threat
ened the most serious consequences,
and has agitated the public mind from
one end OF the country to the other.
FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH OTHER
POWERS.
| But this, happily, now is in the course
OF satisfactory adjustment, honorable
| to both nations concerned. The rela-
%lons of the United States, however.
with most of the other powers continue
| to be friendly and cordial-With France,
Germany, Russia, Italy, and the minor
European powers, with Brazil, and most
or the South American republics, and
with Japan.
THE VIENNA ExPOsITION-THE REPORT
OF THE AGENT TO BE LAID BEFORE
CONGREss-GRATIFYING DIPLOMAS RE-
CEIYED. ST.. $3.50 , O.. .e
Nothing has occurred during the year
TO demand special notice. The Cores
pondence between the Department. of
State and various diplomatic represent
atlves in or from those countries is trans
mltted herewith. In executing the will
or Congress, as expressed in it's Joint
resolution of the 14th of February last.
and IN accordance with the provisions
| OF the resolution, a number of practical
artisans, OF scientific men ana OF honor
airy commissioners were authorized 10 at
tend the Exposition at Vienna as com
mlssloners on the part of the United
States. 1t is believed that we have at
tanned the object which Congress had in
| view when it passed the joint resolution,
| IN order to enable the people of the
| United States to participate in the ad-
vantages of the International Exhibition
OF the products of agriculture, manu-
factures and the fine arts to be held at
Vienna. | take pleasure in adding that
the American exhibitors have received
gratifying number of diplomas and
medals. During the Exposition q con-
ference was held at Vienna for the pur-
pose Of consultation ON the systems pre-
valllng in different countries for the
protection of inventions. | authorized
| representation from the Patent Office
| to be present at Vienna at the time
when this conference was to take place
in order to aid, as far as he might, IN Sc
curing any possible additional pro-
lection to American inventors in
Europe. The report of this agent will
be laid before Congress.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE EMPEROR OF
CHINA ATTAINING HIS MAJORITY.
1t is my pleasant duty to announce
to Congress that the Emperor of China,
on attaining his majority, received the
diplomatic representatives of the Wes-
tern powers in person. An account Of
| these ceremonies, and of the interesting
| discussions which preceded them, will
be found in the documents transmitted
herewith. " 49,.
CONGRESS TO AID IN THE SUPPRESSION
- OF THE COOLIE TRADE.
The accompanying papers show that
some advance, although slight, has been
made during the past year towards
the suppression of the infamous Chi
nese cOOlie trade. recommend Con-
gress to inquire whether additional leg
islation be not needed on this subject.
THE GENEVA AWARD.
The money awarded to the United
States by the tribunal of arbitration at
| Geneva, was paid by her Magesty's gov
ernment a few days in advance of the
time when it would have become pay
| able according to the terms of the
treaty in compliance with the provis-
ions of the act of March 3, 1878. It was
at once paid into the Treasury and used
| to redeem so far as it might be the pub
lie debt of the United States, and the
amount so redeemed was invested in a
five per cent. registered bond of the
United States for fifteen million five
hundred thousand dollars which is now
held by the Secretary of the State sub
iect to the future disposition of Con-
gress.
RENEWAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION
TO APPOINT A COMMISSION TO AUDIT
CLAIMS GROWING OUT OF THE DE-
sTRUcTIoN OF THE ALABAMA, THE
FLORIDA, AND OTHER VESSELS. + q
renew my recommendation, made at
the opening of the last session of Con-
gress that q commission be created for
| the PURPOSE of auditing and determin-
ing the amount of the several direct
losses growing out of the destruction of
vessels and their Cargoes by the Ala
bana, the Florida or the Shenandoah,
after leaving Melbourne, for which the
sufferers have received no equivalent
or compensation, and of ascertaining
the names of the persons entitled to res
ceiVe compensation for the same, max
| ing the computations upon the basis in
dicated by the tribunal of arbitration
at Geneva, and that payment of such
losses be authorized to an extent not to
exceed the awards of the tribunal at
Geneva. - r. ',5:. s4s"4a@.. -
BoUNARY LINE BETWEEN THE TERRI
TORY OF THE UNITED STATES AND
GREAT BRITAIN. X .sGasEs-.s st:a .,...f.s
By an act approved on the 14th day of
February last, Congress made provision
for completing, jointly with an officer
or commission to be named by her Bri-
tannic Majesty, the determination of
SO much of the boundary line between
the territory of the United States and
the possessions of Great Britain, as was
left uncompleted by the commissioners
appointed under the act of Congress of
August II, 1856. Under the provisions
of this act the northwest water bound
ary of the United States, has been deter
mined and marked in accordance with
the award of the Emperor of Germany.
A protocol and copy Of the map upon
which the line was thus marked are con-
tanned in the paper submitted herewith.
also transmit copy of the report of the
commissioner for marking the northern
boundary between the United States
and the British possessions west of the
Lake of the Woods of the operations of
the commission during the past season.
Surveys have been made to q point 497
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