The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To The Senate and House of Repre-
se7at1tiUes
The year that has passed since th
submission of my last message to con
gress has, especially the latter part O
1t, been an eventful one to the country
/ In the midst of great national prosperi
ty financial crisis has occurred tina
has brought low the fortunes of th
great. Political partisanship has almos
ceased to exist, especially in the agricul
tural regions, and finally the captur
upon the high seas of a vessel bearin,
our flag, has for a time threatened
the most serious consequences, and ha
agitated the public mind from one enc
of the country to the other. But this
happily, now is in the course of a salts
factory adjustment, honorable to botl
nations concerned. The relations of tn,
United States, however, with most O
the other nations, continue to be friendly
as well as cordial. With France, Ger
many, Russia. Italy and the various Eu
ropean powers with Brazil and most o.
the South American republics, and will
Japan, nothing has occurred to demand
special notice. The correspondence be
tween the department of state and the
various diplomatic representatives in OF
from those countries is transmitted here.
with.
THE VIENNA VANITY.
In executing the will of congress as
presented in its joint resolution of the
14th of February last, and in accordance
with the provisions of the resolution, a
&c f
merit and of honorary connoiseurs 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 con-
gress had in view when it passed the
joint resolution in order to enable the
people of the United States to partici-
pate in the advantages of an interna-
tional exposition of the products of ag-
manufactures and the fine
arts, to be held at Vienna. I take plea
sure in adding that the American exhi-
bitiOns have received a gratifying num-
Der of diplomas and of medals.
INTERNATIONAL INVENTORS.
During the exposition conference
was held at Vienna for the purpose of
on the systems prevailing
in different countries for the perfection
of inventions. / authorized a repre-
sentative 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 Amer
lean inventors in Europe. The report
of this agent will be laid before con-
gress.
CELESTIAL CoURTEsIES.
It is nay pleasant duty to announce to
congress that the emperor of China on
attaining his majority, received the di-
Dlo matte representatives of the western
powers in person. An account of these
and OF the interesting dis
,ussions 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. / recon-
mend congress to inquire whether addi-
;ional legislation be not needed on this
subject.
ALABAMA AWARD.
The money awarded to the United
States by the tribunal of arbitration at
feneva was paid by her majesty's gov
few days in advance of the
ime when it would have become paya-
Die according to the terms of the treaty
IN compliance with the provisions of
he act of March 3, 1878, it was at once
paid into the treasury and used to re-
leem, so far as it might, the public
lebt of the United States, and the
AMOUNT SO redeemed was invested in n
i've 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
20 the future disposition of congress.
/ renew my Recommendation made at
he assembling of the last session of
congress that commission be created
or the purpose of auditing and deter
mining the amounts of the several di-
'ect losses growing out of the destruc-
ion of vessels and their cargoes by the
and Shenandoah after leaving
for which the sufferers have
eceived no equivalent or compensation,
md of ascertaining the names of per
oDs entitled to receive compensation
or the same, making the computation
N the basis indicated by the tribunal
# arbitration at Geneva, and that the
,ayment of such losses be authorized
o an extent not to exceed the awards of
he tribunal at Geneva.
BRITISH BOUNDARY.
By an act approved on the 14th of
february last, congress made provision |
or completing jointly with an officer or
to be named by her Brit |
mic majesty, the determination of so |
1uch of the boundary line between |
be territory of Great Britain as was
eft incompleted by the commissioners
ppointed under the act of congress of |
.ugust IL, 1857. Under the provisions |
{ this act, the northwestern boundary OF |
he United States has been determined |
nd marked in accordance with the |
ward of the emperor of Germany. A
rotocOl and a copy of the map on
hich the line was thus marked are con-
lined in the papers submitted here
18th.
also transmit a copy of the report
the commissioners for making the
oundary of the line between the Uni |
ID States and the British possessions
est of Lake of the Woods, and the OPP
rations of the commissioners. Du-
ing the past season surveys have been
lade to point 297 miles west of the
AXE of the Woods, leaving about $50 |
liles to be surveyed, the field work of
hich can be completed during the
ext season.
COTTON CLAIMS.
The commissioners organized under
ne provisions of the treaty of Wash
lgton, for the settlement and determin-
lg of the claims of citizens of either
over against the other, arising out of /
cts committed against their persons or
roperty during the period between
.pril 18th, 1861, and April 9th, 1865,
lade its final award on the 25th day of |
eptember last. 1t was awarded that
ne government of the United States
hould pay to the government of her
'ritanic majesty, within twelve months
,om the date of the award, the sum of
], ,929, S19 in gold. The commissioners
isallowed or dismissed all other claims