Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-08

TO time, from the date when specie redemption
commences. To this might and should be added
a revenue sufficiently in excess OF expenses to
insure an accumulation of gold IN the treasury 70
sustain redemption. commend this subject to
your careful consideration, believing that favor,
able solution is attainable, and that II reached
by this Congress that the present and future gen
crations will ever gratefully remember 1t as theii
delivery from a thraldom Of evil and disgrace.
FREE BANKING.
With resumption, free banking may be author,
lied with safety, giving full protection to oii
holders, which they have not under exlsting laws
Indeed, / would regard free banking as essential
1t would give proper elasticity to the currency as
more currency should be required for the transsc-
ton of legitimate business. New banks would De
started and in turn the banks would wina up their
business when it was found that there was su,
perabundancc of currency. The experience and
Judgment of the people can best decide Just now
much currency is required for the transaction OF
the business Of the country. 1t is unsafe to leave
the settlement of this question to Congress tho
Secretary of the Treasury is the Executive. Con
gress should make the regulation under which the
banks NAV exist, but should not make banking 4
MONOPOLY by limiting the amount of redeemabie
paper currency that shall be authorized Such
Importance do attach to this subject and so ear,
nestly do commend it to your attention, that
give it prominence by introducing it at the begin
ming of this message.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
During the past year nothing has occurred 10
disturb the general friendly and cordial relations
of the United States with other powers. Inc
correspondence submitted herewith between TINS
government and t. diplomatic representatives, as
also with the representatives of other countries,
shows satisfactory condition of all questions be-
tween the United States and the most OF those
countries, and with few exceptions, to which
reference is hereafter made, the absence OF any
r ka Qftt All d q
directed by the resolution of Congress of June,
1874, to be given to terminate the convention OF
july 18th, 1858, between the United States and
Belgium, has been given, and the treaty will &C
cordngly terminate on the first day OF July, 1874
This convention secured to certain Belgium YES
sells entering ports Of the United States exception
al privileges, which are not accorded to our own,
Other features of the convention have proved
satisfactory and have tended to the cultivation OF
mutually beneficial commercial intercourse and
friendly relations between the two countries. |
hone that the deput atoms which have been invited
will result in the celebration of another treaty
which may tend to the interests Of both countries
Our relations with China continue to be friend
". During the past year the fear OF hostilities
between China and Japan, growing out of the
landing of an armed force on an island of For
moss by the latter, has occasioned uneasness. 1t
is earnestly hoped however, the difficulties arising
from this cause will be adjusted and that the ad-
vance of civilization in these empires may not be
retarded by war, in consequence OF the part taken
by certain citizens of the United States in this
expedition. Our representatives IN those coun-
tries have been instructed to impress the govern
ments of China and Japan with the firm intention
of the United States to maintain strict neutrality in
the event of hostilities, and TO carefully prevent
any infractions of the law the part Of Our clti
zcns on this subject.
CHINESE EMIGRANTs AND LABOR.
call the attention Of Congress to generally
conceded fact that the great pro portion ofthe Chin
csc emi9rants who come to our shores do not come
voluntarily to make their homes with us, to make
their labor productive of general prosperity, but
come under contracts with herdmen who own them
almost absolutely. In worse form does this ap-
ply to Chinese women. Hardly perceptble per.
centage of them perform any honorable labor, but
they are brought for shameful purposes to the dis
grace of the communities where they have settled
and to the great decentralization Of the youth Of
those localities. II this evil practice be legslatee
against, it will be my pleasure as well as duty tt
enforce any regulation to secure so desirable ar
end.
THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN.
1t is hoped that the negotiation between the
government of Japan and the treaty powers, look
ing to the further opening to the empire and re.
moval of various restrictions upon trade and trav-
Ell, may soon produce the results desired which
cannot fail to enure to the benefit of all parties
Having on previous occasion, submitted to the
consideration Of Congress the propriety of the re
lease Of the Japanese government from the fur
Their payment of the indemnity under the conven
ton Of October Odd, 1864, and as no action ha
been taken thereon, it became my duty to regarl
the regulations Of the convention in force, and thu
other powers interested have received their portion
of the indemnity in full. The minister of UriteC
States in Japan on behalf of this government re-
ceived the remainder of the amount due the
United States, under the convention of Simousky
submit the propriety Of applying the income ola
part if not the whole of this fund to education in
Japanese language of q number Of young men to
be under obligations to serve the government fol
specified time interpreters at the legation and
the consulstes in Japan. A limited number Of
Japanese youths might at the same time be edu-
Gated in our own vernacular, and mutual benefits
would result to both governments. The impor.
lance of having our own citizens competent and
familiar with the language Of Japan, to act as in
terpreters, and in other capacities connected with
legation and consulates i'll that country, canno,
readily be over-estimated.
TREATY OF WASHINGTON.
The amount awarded 10 Great Britain, by the
mixed commission organized under the provis
ions of the treaty Of Washington in settlement Of
claims Of British subjects arising from acts com
mitted between April H. 1861, and April 9, 1865
became payable under the terms of the treaty
within the past year and was paid upon the 2lst
day of September, 1872. In this connection,
renew my recommendations made at the opening
of the last session of Congress that special court
be created to hear and determine all claims OF
aliens against the United States arising from acts
committed against their persons and property
during the insurrection. II appears equitable that
opportunity should be offered to the citizens Of
other States to present their claims as well as
those Of British subjects, whose claims were not
admissible under the late commission to an early
decision of some competent tribunal. To this
end, recommend the necessary legislation to Or
ganize q court to dispose of all claims of the ma
ture referred to in an equitable manner and TO
relieve Congress and other departments of these
questions.
The legislation necessary to extend to the col
ony Of Newfoundland certain articles of the treaty
of Washington of the 9Th day Of May, 1877, hsv-
ing been had, protocol to that effect signed
the part of the United States and Great Britain
on the 2sth day Of May last and was duly pro-
claimed on the following day. A copy OF the
proclamation is submitted herewith.
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION.
A copy Of the report of commissioners appoint
ed under the act OF March 9Th, 1871, surveying
and making the boundary between the United
States and the British Possessions, from the Lake
of the Woods to the summit of the Rocky Noun
tans, is herewith transmitted l am happy to
announce that the field work of the commission is
completed, and the entire line from the northw est
corner of the Lake of the Woods to the summit
OF the Rocky Mountains has been run and mark
ed upon the surface of the earth. 1t is believed
that the amount remaining unexpended OF the
appropriation made at the last session Of Congress