The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-12-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.



gress has, especially the latter portion
of it, been an eventful 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 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
the other. But this, happily, is in the
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
friendlyas well 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
notice. The correspondence between
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, II 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 participate in
the advantages of the international ex-
hibition of the products of agriculture,
manufacture and the fine arts, to be
held at Vienna. I take pleasure in
adding that the American exhibitors
have received a gratifying number of
Diplomas and of medals. During the
exposition a conference was held at
Vienna for the purpose OF consultation
on the systems prevailing in different
countries for the perfection OF inven-
tions. | 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. 1t
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
ceremonies, and Of the interesting dis
cussions which preceded them, will be
found in tho 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 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 few days in advance of the
time when it would have become paya-
BILE according to the terms of the treaty.
Tn 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 it might, the public
debt of the United States, and the
amount 80 redeemed was invested in q
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.
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 tho severa
direct losses growing out of the destruc
tion of vessels and their cargoes by the
Alabama and Shenandoah after leaving
Melbourne, for which the sufferers have
received no equivalent or compensa
ton, and of ascertaining the names o
persons entitled to receive compensa
tion for the same, making the computa
ton on the basis Indicated by the tribu
nal OF arbitration at Geneva, and tina
the payment of such losses be author
lied to an extent not to exceed tn
awards of the tribunal at Geneva.
BRITIsH BOUNDARY.
By an act approved on the 14th 0
February last, congress made provision
for completing jointly with an officer o
commissioner to be named by Her Bri
tanic majesty. the determination of q
much of the boundary line between th
territory of Great Britain as was lef
incompleted by the commissioners ar
pointed under the act OF congress @
Aug. II, 1856. Under the provisions q
this act, the northwest boundary of tn
United States has been determined an
marked in accordance with the awar
of the emperor of Germany. A protc
col and copy of the map on which tn
line was thus marked are contained i
the papers submitted herewith.
I also transmit a copy Of the report {
the commissioners for marking th
boundary OF the line between tn
United States and the British posses
sions, west Of Lake of the Woods, and {
the operations of the commissioner
During the past season surveys hay
been made to n point 297 miles west {
the Lake of the Woods, leaving abor
$50 miles to be surveyed, the field wor
of which can be completed during I'll
next season.
COTTON CLAIMS.
The commissioners organized und,
the provisions of the treaty of wasl
ington, for the settlement and dete
mining of the claims of citizens
either power against the other, arisir
ont OF acts committed against their pc
sons or property duringthe period b
n ~