Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-12-10


| accumulation of gold In the Treasury to sus
tain the resumption. | commend this subiec
to your careful consideration, believing that
favorable solution is attainable, and that
reached by this Congress, the present and fu
ture generations will ever gratefully remembe
it as their deliverer from a thralldom of eyi
and disgrace. With the resumption of speci
payments
FREE BANKING us &c.
may be authorized with safety, giyingpthe FIJI
protection to bill holders which they have un
der the existing laws. Indeed, Iwould- regart
free banking as essential. 1t would give prop
er elasticity to the currency AS more curren
CIV would be required for the transaction of lie.
Ultimate business new banks would be started
and in time the banks would wind up thei
business when il was found that there was
superabundance of currency
The experience and judgement of the peopl,
can best decide just how much currency is re-
quired for the transaction of the business o
the country. 1t is unsafe to leave the settle
ment of this question to Congress, the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury, or the Executive Con
gress should make the regulation under which
banks may exist, but should not make bank,
ing monopoly by limiting the amount of re
deemable paper currency that shall be author
lied. Such Importance DO | attach to this sub
iect, and so earnestly do commend it to youl
attention, that give it prominence by intro
ducing it at the beginning of this message
OUR RELATION WITH OTHER NATIONS.
During the past year nothing has occurred
to disturb the general friendly and cordial re
ations of the United States with other powers
The correspondence submitted herewith be-
tween the Government and the diplomatic
representatives of other countries shows a sat-
isfactory condition of all questions between The
United States and the most of those countries
and with few exceptions, TO which reference
is hereafter made, the absence of any points oil
difference TO be adjusted The notice directed
by the resolution of Congress of June II. 1874
TO be given TO terminate the convention OF
Julyl7, 1858, between the United States and
Belgium, has been given, and the treaty will
accordingly terminate on the ist day of July
1875. This conyention secured to certain
Belgian vessels o. ering the ports of the United
States, exceptional privileges which are NOT
accorded to our own vessels. Other features
of the convention have proven satisfactory
and teaded to the cultivation of mutually ben
ehcial commercial intercourse and friendly re-
lations between the two countries. | hone
that the negotiations which have been invited
will result in the celebration of another trea-
W, which may tend to the interests of both
countries.
Our relations with China continue 10 he
friendly. During the year the fear of hostility
between china and Japan, growing out OF the
landing OF an armed force upon the island OF
Formosa, by the latter, has occasioned uneasi-
ness. 1t is earnestly hoped, however, that the
difficulty arising from cause will be adjusted
n haf aHu af
empires may not be retarded by state of war.
In consequence of the part taken by citizens
of the United States in this expedition. our
representatives in those countries have been
instructed to impress upon the Governments
of China and Japan the firm intention of this
country to maintain strict neutrality in the
event of hostilities and carefully prevent any
infraction of the law on the part of our citizens
In connection with this subject | call the at
tention OF Congre IS TO a generally conced ed
fact, that the great proportion of Chinese i'm
migrants who come to our shores do not come
voluntarily to make their homes with us. and
their labor productive of the general prosper
ity, but come under contract with head men.
who own their labor almost absolutely. In a
still worse form does this system apply to Chi
nese women, hardly perceptible percentage
of whom perform any honorable labor. They
are brought for shameful purposes, to the dis
grace of the communities where settled, aud
to the great decentralization OF the youth of
those localities If this evil practice can be
against it will be pleasure as well as
duty to enforce any regulations to secure so
desirable an end
1t is hoped that negotiations between the
Government of Japan and the treaty powers
for the further opening of the Empire and to
re hove various restrictions upon trade and
travel, may soon produce the desired result.
which cannot fail to innre 10 tho hs"ons VI all
the parties.
Having OH previous occasions submitted TO
the consideration of Congress the proprietv of
the release of the Japanese Government from
the further payment of indemnity under the
convention of October ~, 1864 and as no ac-
ton had beer taken thereon, it became nv
duty to regard the obligations OF the conven-
ton as in force, ard as other powers interest
ed have received their portions of the indem-
nifty in full, the Minister of the United States
in Japan has, in behalf of this Government,
received the remainder of the amount due to
the United States under the Convention of
Rimousesky, | submit the propriety of apply
ing the income of part of it, not the whole
of this fund. TO the education in the Japanese
language of number of young men, to be un-
der obligation to serve the United States Cows
eminent for spe Gifted time as interpreters at
the Legation and the Consulates in Japan. A
limited number of japanese youths might be
at the same time educated in our own verna-
cuar, and mutual benefit would thus result to
both Governments. The Importance of hay
ing our own citizens competent and familiar
with the language of Japan, to act as inter
prefers and in other capacities connected with
~ I ~
country can, hardly be overestimated.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The amount awarded to the Government of
Great Britain by the mixed commission under
the treaty of Washington in settlement Of the
claims Of British subjects arising from acts
committed between April Is, 1861, and April
9th, 1865, became payable under the terms of
the treaty of Washington the past year, and
was paid on the 21st day Of September, 1874.
In this connection | renew my recommends.
ton, 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 or property
during the insurrection. 1t appears equitable
that opportunity should be offered to citizens
of other States to present their claims, as well
as 10 luOSc DfltlSu SuDJeCIS whose claims
were not admissible under the late Commits
sion, to the early decision of some competent
tribunal To this end recommend the nee
essary legislation to organize court to dis
pose of those claims of aliens, of the nature
referred to, in an equitable and satisfactory
manner, and thus relieve Congress and the
Departments from the consideration Of these
questions.
The legislation necessary to extend to the
colony of Newfoundland certain articles OF
the treaty of Washington. of the 18th of May
1871, having been had, a pro tocol to that eff
feet was signed IN behalf of the United States
and of Great Britain on the 2sth day Of Nav
last, ana was duly proclaimed on the follow
ing day A copy Of the proclamation is sub
mitted herewith
INTERNATIONAL MATTERS.
A copy of the report of the commissioner
appointed under the act of March 10, 1872.
for surveying and marking the boundary be-
tween the United States and the British pos
sessions, from the Lake of the Woods to the
summit of the Rocky Mountains, is herewith
submitted. am happy to state that the field
G., bo commissioner hos haoD