The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-08

| ing Iull protectlon TO bill holders which they
have not under existing laws. Indeed 1
would regard free banking as essential. 1t
would give proper elasticity to the
currency. As more currency should be
required for the transaction of legitimate
| business. New banks would be started, and
In turn the banks would wind up their busi-
ness when it was found that there was
| superabundance of currency. The experience
| and Judgment OF the people can best decide
| Just how much currency is required for the
| transaction of the business of the country.
IL is unsafe to leave the settlement of this
| question to Congress. The Sc ,retary of the
| Treasury is the executive. Congress should
| make the regulation under which the banks
| may exist, but should not make banking mo.
| nopoly by limiting the amount of Iedeemable
| paper currency that shall be authorized. Such
| Importance do attach to this subject, and go
earnestly do commend it to your attention,
that give it prominence by introducing it at
the beginning of this message.
Foreign Relations.
During the past year nothing has occurred to
disturb the general friendly and cordial rela.
tions of the United States with other powers.
The correspondence submitted herewith be-
tween this government and its diplomatic rep
resentatives, as also with the representations
of other countries, shows satisfactory condi
tion OF all questions between the United States
and the most OF these countries and with few
exceptions, to which reference is hereafter
made, the absence of any points of difference
to be adjusted.
The Belgian Convention.
The notice directed by the resolution of Con-
gress OF June 7th, 1874, to be given to termin-
ate the convention of July 17th 1858, between
the United States and Belgium has been given
and the treaty will accordingly terminate on
the first day of July, 1876 This convention
secured to certain Belgian vessels entering the
ports of the United States exceptional privil-
| wi oran rIo1 To
sells. Other features of the convention have
proved satisfactory and have tended to the cul-
tivation of mutually beneficial commercial in
tercourse and friendly relations between the
two countries l hope that the deputations
which have been invited will result in the cele-
bration of another treaty which may tend to
the interests of both countries.
China and Japan.s
Our relations with China continue to be
friendly. During the past year the fear of hos
tilities between China and Japan, growing out
OF the landing Of an armed force upon the
island of Formosa by the latter, has occasioned
uneasiness. 1t is earnestly hoped, however,
that the difficulties arising from this cause will
be adjusted and thal the advance of civilization
in these empires may not be retarded by the
state OF war in cOnse Quence OF the part taken
by certain citizens of the United States in this
expedition. Our representatives in these coun-
tries have been instructed to impress the gov
ernments of China and Japan with the firm in
trality in the event of hostilties and to CAREFUL
ly prevent any infraction of the law on the part
OF our citizens on this subject
| call the attention of Congress 10 general
ly conceded fact that the great proportion of the
Chinese emigrants who come TO our shores do
not come voluntarily to make their homes with
us, and their iaeor productive of general pros
perity, but come under contracts with herd
men. who own them almost absolutely. In a
worse form does this apply to Chinese women.
a of no
form any honorable labor, but they are
brought for shameful purposes, to the disgrace
of communities where they have settled, aud
to the great decentralization of the youth of
these localities. If this evil practice can be
legislated against, it will be my pleasure, as
well as my duty, to enforce any regulation
to secure so desirable an end.
1t is hoped that the negotiation between the
government of Japan and the treaty powers
looking to the further opening of the empire
and the removal of various restrictions upon
trade and travel, may soon produce the results
desired which cannot fail to inure the benefit
of all parties.
Having on previous occasions submit
ted to the consideration of Congress
the propriety Of releasing the Japan
ment Of the indemnity under the conven.
tion of October 22d, 1864, and as no action has
been taken thereon, it became my duty to re-
gard the obligations of the convention as in
force, and as the other Powers interested have
received their portion of the indemnity in full
the Minister of the United States in Japan
has, ON behalf of this government, received
the remainder of the amount due the United
States, under the convention of Simonsky. /
submit the propriety of applying the income
of part, if not of the whole, of this fund to
the education in the Japanese language of a
number of young men to be under
obligations to serve the government for
a specified time as interpreters at
the legation of the cousulates in Japan.
A limited number of Japanese youths might,
at the same time be educated in our own yer.
nacular, and mutual benefits would result to
both governments. The Importance of havin
our own citizens competent and familiar wit h
the language of Japan, to act as interpreters
and in other capacities connected with the lega-
ton and the consalates in that country, cannot
be readily overestimated.
Great Britain.
The amount awarded to Great Britain by the
Mixed Commission, organized under the pro-
visions of the Treaty of Washington, in settle
ment of the claims of British subjects arising
from acts committed between April 13, 1861,
and April 9, 1866, became payable under the
terms of the treaty within the past year and
was paid upon the 2lst day of September 1874.
In this connection renew my recommended
tiOn 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 frem acts committed
against their persons and property during the
insurrection 1t appears equitable that an oppor-
tunity should be offered to the citizens of other
states to present their claims as well as those of
British subjects, whose claims were not adms-
sbe under the latelcommission, to the early
decision of some competent tribunal. To this
end recommend the necessary legislation to
organize court to dispose of claims of aliens,
OF the naturesreferred to, in an equitable and
satisfactory manner, and to relieve Congress
and other departments Of these questions. The
legislation necessary to extend to the colony of
Nov md rtain artia of fna roE
Washington, of the Sth day of May, 1871, hav-
ing been had protocol tOtthe effect, was signed
in behalf of the United States and Great Brit
ain, on the 2Sth day of May last, and was duly
proclaimed on the following day. A copy of
the proclamation is submitted herewith.
A copy of the report of the commissioners
appointed 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 Mountains is herewith transmitted.
/ am happy to announce that the field work
of the commission has been completed and the
entire line from the northwest corner of the
the Lake OF the Woods to the summit of the
Rocy Mountains has been run and marked up
on the surface of the earth. 1t is believed that
the amount remaining uneXpended of the ap-
propropriation made at the last session of Con-
gress, will be sufficient to complete the Office
work. L recommend that the authority of
Congress be given to the use of the appropria-
tion in the completion of the work of the COM
mission, in making IFS report and preparing the
necessary papers,
The Alabama Claims.
The court known as the Court of Commits
sioners of Alabama Claims created by an act
of Congress at the last session, has organized
and commenced its work; and it is to be hoped
that the claims admissible under the provisions
of the act may be speedily ascer,ained and
paid.
Turkey
1t has been deemed advisable to exc rcise the
discretion conferred upon the Executive at the
last session of Congress by accepting the condi-
tions required by the government of Turkey for
the privilege of allowing citizens of the United
States to hold real estate in the former country
and by asserting to ascertain a change in the
jurisdiction of the courts in the latter. A copy
of the proclamation upon these subjects is here
with communicated.
The American Republics.
In our relations with the independent states
of this hemisphere, which were formerly under
the dominion of Spain, thhre has been no
material change. Marauding on the
frontiers between Mexico and Texas still fire.
quently takes place. despite the vigilance of
the civil and military authorities in that quar-
ter. The difficulty of checking such trepasses
u