The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House Of Repre-
se11tatiUes

To the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiUe8:
The year that has passed since the
submission of my last message to con.
gress has, especially the latter portion
of it, been an eventfuI one to the coun,
try. In the midst of general national
prosperity, financial crisis has occur
red that has brought low the fortunes
of the great. Political partizan-
ship has almost ceased to exist, es.
pecially in the agricultural region, and,
finally, the capture upon the high seas
of a vessel bearing our flag has, for a
time, threatened the most serious con-
sequences, and has agitated the public
mind from one end of the country to
course of satisfactory adjustment hon
Orable to both nations concerned. The
FOREIGN RELATIONS
of the United States, however, with
most of the other nations continue to be
friendly as we'll as 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
the department of state and various
diplomatic representatives, in or from
those countries, is transmitted here
with.
In executing the will of con-
gress, as EXPRESSED in its joint resolu-
tion of the 4th of February last, and in
accordance with the provisions of the
resolution, a number of practical arti-
sans and scientific men, and of honorary
commissions, were authorized to attend
the
EXPOSITION AT VIENNA,
as commissioners on the part of the
United States. It is believed that we
have obtained the object which congress
had in view when it passed a Joint re-
solution in order to enable the people
of the United States to participates in
the advantages of the international ex-
hibition of the products of agriculture,
and the fine arts, to be
held at Vienna. take pleasure in
adding that the American exhibitors
have received a gratifying number of
diplomas and of medals. During the
n conference was held at
Vienna for the purpose of consultation
on the systems prevailing in different
countries for the perfection of inven-
tiOns. I authorized the representative
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 securing any possible
additional protection to American in
ventors in Europe. The report of this
agent will be laid before congress. Tt
is my pleasant duty TO announce to con-
gress that the emperor of China, attain
ing his majority, received the diplO-
matte representatives of the western
powers in person. An account of these
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 towards the suppression of the in
famous Chinese coOlie trade. I recon-
mend congress to inquire whether ad-
ditional legislation be not needed on
this subject.
ALABAMA AWARD.
The money awarded to the United
States by the tribunal of arbitration at
Geneva was paid by her maiesty's gov
ernment a few days in advance of the
time when it would have become paya-
BILE according to the terms of the treaty.
In compliance with the provisions of
the act of March 3, 1873, it was at
once paid into the treasury and used to
redeem, so far as # might, the public
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 state subject
to the future disposition of congress.
I renew my recommendation made at
the assembling of the last session of
congress that a commission be created
for the purpose of auditing and deter
mining the amounts of the several
direct losses growing ont of the destruc-
ton of vessels and their cargoes by the
Alabama and Shenandoah after leaving
Melbourne, TO which the sufferers have
received no equivalent or cOmpensa-
ton, and of ascertaining the names of
persons entitled to receive compensa-
tion for the same, making the computa-
tion on the basis indicated by the tribu-
nal of arbitration at Geneva, and that
the payment of such losses be author
lied to an extent not to exceed the
awards of the tribunal at Geneva.
BRITISH BOUNDARY
By an act approved on the 14th of
February last, congress made provision
for completing jointly with an officer or
commissioner to be named by Her Bri-
tanic majesty, the determination of so
much of the boundary line between the
territory of Great Britain as was left
incompleted by the commissioners ap-
pointed under the act of congress of
4 h, - ,.-,e
this act, the northwest boundary of the
United States has been determined and
marked in accordance with the award
of the emperor of Germany. A prOtO-
col and a copy of the map on which the
line was thus marked are contained in
the papers submitted herewith.
I also transmit a copy of the report of
the commissioners for marking the
boundary of the line between the
United States and the British posses
sions, west of Lake of the Woods, and of
the operations of the commissioners.
During the past season surveys have
been maize to a point 297 miles west of
the Lake of the Woods, leaving about
$50 miles to be surveyed, the field work
of which can be completed during the
next season.
COTTON CLAIMS.
The commissioners organized under
the provisions of the treaty of Wash
ington, for the settlement and deter
mining of the claims of citizens of
either power against the other, arising
out of acts committed against their per
sons or property duringthe period be.
tween April 13, 1861, and April 9, 1865,
made its final award on the 25th day
of September last. It was awarded that
the government of the United States
should pay to the government of heI
Britanic majesty, within twelve months
from the date awarded the sum Oi
81, ,929, ,S19 in gold. The commissioners
disallowed or dismissed all other claims
nf Rrifish anhiaets aoainst the ITnitad