River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-12-09
Our Foreign and Domestic
Relations.
The Capture Of the Virginius aud
Our Demands Relating There o.
Important Amendments 10 the COn>tllu'
tiOn Recommended
" Cuba the Cause of the
Trouble There,
Slavery
WA.nINaroN, December 2. 1s73.

WAsHNGToN, December 2, 1878
10 ne Senate ant House OF Representatives.
The year that has passed since the subm,s.
sion of my last message 10 Congress has, cs-
pecially the latter part Of it, been an oyentiul
one to the county. In the midst Of great
national prosperity, a financial ctisis has Uc-
CURED thar has wruDg large fortunes from a
great proportion. Political partisanshp
has almost ceased ~ exist especially
IN the agricultural regions AID the
capture upon the high sea- OF a vessel bcarlng
our fag, has az one time threatened the most
serious couseq 1rncts, and occupied the pub
lie mind from one end OF the country e. the
other. THIS, happily, Is now IN the course OF
satisfactory adjustment, honorable 20 both
nations coucernei. The relations ni the Uu-
ted States. however, with most OF the other
nations continue tn Ice FRIENDLY and cordial.
with FIance, Germany Russia. italy. aud the
minor powers With Brazil and most IT the
south American Republics and With japan.
Nothing has occurred during the wear d de-
maud special notice. The correspondence
between the Department OF State aud various
diplomatic representatives in or from these
countries Is transmitted herewi h.
Ia executing the will ui Cuhgrts as ex
pressed IN It's JOINT resolution ut the nth OF
February last, and in accordance with the pro-
visions Of the resolution. number Of ractI-
cal artisans and scientific men, aud OF honor
AIRY commissions were authorized 10 attend
the Exposition az Vienna as commissioners on
the part Of the United states II Is beneved
that We have obtained the object which Con-
gress had IN view when 1t passed the ioiut
resolution in order to enable the people of the
United States % participate Ia the advantages
OF the int, national eXhluil0n OF the pro iuct
OF agriculture, manufactures and the fine arts
20 be held at Vienna. | take pleasure in
adding that the American exhibitors have re-
ceyed gratifying number of diplomas and
medals during the Exposition,
A conference was held at Vienna for the
purpose of consultation on the systems PIE.
valiug in different countries tor the peIfcc-
ton of inventions | authorized a representa-.
tive from the Patent Office to be present at
Vienna al the time when this conference was
to take place, IN order to aid a. far as he
might, in securing any possible additional
protection 20 American inventions IN Europe.
The report OF the agent vii be laid before
Congress.
1t Is my pleasant duty to announce to Con
gress that the Emperor of China, on attain
ing his majority. received the diplomatic rep
resentatlyes OF the western powers M per-
son. An account of these ceremonies. and OF
the intere sting discussions which preceded
them will be found ia the documents trans
mltted herewith. The accompanying papers
show that -onie advance, although Slight, has
been made during the past year towards the
suppression of the infamous Chinese CO he
trade. | recommend Congress to inquire
whether additional legislation be not needed
on this subject.
TIE GENEVA AWARD
The money awarded to the Unltod States by
the tribunal OF arbitration at Geneva, was paid
bs Her Majesty'- Government a few days in
advance of the time when il would have he
come payable according 10 The terms of the
treaty. In compliance with the provisions of
the act Of March Sd 1878, It was al once laid
into the Treasury aud used tn redeem, as tar
as 1t might, the public debt OF the United
States and the amount 80 redeemed was in
vested IN hive Per cent. r. gIstcrCd bOud of
the United States Tor fifteen mihon4 five hun
died thousand dollars, which Is now held by
the secretary Of State subject to the future
disposition " Congress. | renew my tecom-
mCudatlun, made at the assembling Of
the last session OF Congress that a
commission be- created for the purpose Of au
dltlng and determining the amounts OF the
sever direct losses growing out Of the de
-trucGou ol vessels aud their cargoes by tho
Alabama aud the shenandoah after leaving
Melbourne, tor which the sufferers have re-
CeNtd no equivalent or CumVenzatiOn. Of
asecrl19lng the ndmt ot the persons ontlticd
To receive compensation for the same; making
the romputatl ~ .On the basis indie ted by
tlf liitltlldi 81 diifAIHi'lU Ni ArtHCNa. ana
that the payment Of such losses be authorized
70 an extent not 10 exceed the Awards IT the
Tribunal az Geneva.
THE SOUTHWESTERN BOUNDARY
By an act approved on the llth day
Of February last, Congress made provision
fer completing Jointly with an officer
or commissioner 10 bc named by Her Brit
tame Mai sty. the boundary line between the
territory OF Great Britain, az vas left un ON
plet,d 10y the commissioners appointed under
Tho act OF Congress OF August llth 1856.
Under the provisions Of this act the northwest
water boundary Of the United States has
been determined and marked ~ accordance
with The award 81 the Emperor ol Germany.
A protocol ard cory OF the map upon which
the line WAS thus marked are contained m the
papers submitted here. ! also transmit a
copy of the report OF the Commissioners for
marking the boundary between the United
States and the British Possessions west II the
L1hC ot the WOods, at the operations OF the
Commissioners. During the past season sur
Ve5- have been made o. a poiut ly miles
west uf the Lake ~ the Woods. leaving ABOUT
500 mile, io be- surveyed, the field work Of
which can be- completed duripg the next sea-
sdn
CLAIMS.
The commission organized under the mo.
Visions a. the treaty ~ Washington tor the
settlement aud determination Of the claims OF
citizens Of either power against the other,
arising out at acts committed against their
persons 81 property during the period be-
tween Apul 18Th. isGl and April 9th, 1855,
made Ils first award un the 2jth Gay ot sep
TENDER last. II wac awarded that the Gov
eminent a the United States should pay tu
The Government OF Tier Blutanuic Majesty
within twelve months from the date Oi the
aUari, the sum IT sl929,sl) % gold The
commission dinllowcd or dismissed an the
claims at British subjects against the United
States. The amount ~ tn claims presented
by Inc Brush Government, but dlsallowcd or
a.suis.rd. a. understood e. be- about ninety
three millions of dulllis. II also disal.
lows an the claims ~ the United states
aeamst Great Britain which were referred to
III. recommend the early passing Of an act
apyropriatug the amount necessary 70 pay
tins award against the Unit 4 states have
caused 20 be- communicated % tue govern
meul oi the Kup Of Italy the thanks ot Tins
government lnr the eminent services rendered
by Count Cont. Who. az the third commits
stoncr Of this commission, with dignity, learn
ing and impartiaiity discharged the duties re-
ouiring great labor aud constant patience, a.
tho satisfaction, | believe, Ct both govern.
mtuts
recommend legislation % create a
sp.riai court 20 consist ~ three judges,
Who shall he empowered o. hcsr the
eiatf,s "a aliens upnn the United
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