The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-12-18

1874
OTHER CLAIMS AGAINST Us.
In this connection I renew my recon
mendation made at the opening OF th
last session of congress, that a specis
court be created to hear and determin
all claims of aliens against the Unite
States arising from acts committe
against their persons or property durin
the insurrection. 1t appears equitabl
that an opportunity should be offere
for the persons of other states to pre-
sent their claims as well as to thos
British subjects whose claims were no
admissably under the late commission
to the early decision of a competen
tribunal, and I r commend the necessa
ry legislation to organize a court to dis
pose OF those claims of aliens who ar
referred to, in an equitable and salts
factory manner, and to relieve congress
and the departments from the consider
alton of these questions.
THE FISHERIES.
The Legislation necessary to extend t.
the fisheries of New Foundland certain
articles of the treaty of Washington O
9Th day of May, 1871, having been had
a protocol to that effect was suggested
in behalf of the United States an(
Great Britain on the 28th day of Ma,
last, and was duly proclaimed on thu
following day. A copy of the procla
nation is submitted herewith.
OUR NORTHWESTERN BOUNDARY.
A copy of the report of the commits
sion appointed under the act of Marcel
10, 1872, for surveying and making th'
boundary between the United States
and the British possessions, from the
Lake of the Woods to the summit O
the Rocky Mountains, is herewith
transmitted. am happy to announce
that the field work of commission has
been completed, and the entire line
from the northwest corner of the Lake
of the Woods to the summit of the
Rocky Mountains has been run anG
marked upon the surface of the earth.
1t Is believed that the amount remain.
ing unexpended of the appropriation
made at the last session of congress
will be sufficient to complete the work.
[ recommend that the authority of con
gress be given for the use of the unex-
pended balance of the appropriation in
the completion of the work of the COM
and making a report and print
ing the necessary map.
CLAIMANTS OF DAMAGES BY THE
ALABAMA.
The court known as the court of COM
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 ad-
missable under the provisions of the act
may be speedily. administered.
TURKEY.
1t has been deemed advisable to ex-
ercise the discretion conferred upon the
executive, at last session, by accepting
nent of Turkey for the privilege of
allowing the citizens of the United
States to hold real estate in the former
and by asserting to q certain
,hange of the jurisdiction of the courts
n the latter. A copy of the proclama.
ion upon these subjects is herewith
communicated.
SPANISH AMERICA.
There has been no material change in
,ur relations with the independent
sates on this hemisphere, which were
under the dominance of Spain.
on the frontiers, between
Iexico and Texas, still frequently takes
,lace, despite the vigilance of the civil
nd military authorities in that quarter.
Dhe difficulty of checking such trepasses
long the course CT q river of such
eDgth as the Rio Grande, aud so often
is obvious. It is hoped that
he effort of this government will be
econded by those of Mexico to the
fectual suppression Of acts of wrong.
MEXICAN CLAIMS.
From a report upon the condition of
he business before the American and
Gexican joint claims commission, made
" the agent of the United States, and
lated Oct. %, 1874, it appears that of
he !, 107 claims filed on the part of the
itizens of the United States, 4S3 had
een finally decided, and IS were IN the
ands of the umpire, leaving 4GO TO be
isposed of; and of the 998 claims
led against the United States, 726 had
cen finally decided on, one was before
be umpire, aud 271 remain to be dis
osed of. Since the date of each re-
ort, other claims have been disposed
f, reducing somewhat the number still
ending, and others have been passed
pom by the arbitrators. It has become
pparent, in view of these figures and
t the fact that the work devolvirg on
20 umpire is particularly laborious,
le commission would be unable to dis
ose of the entire number of claims
ending prior to the first day OF Febru-
y, 1875, the date fixed for the expira-
on. negotiations are pending looking
} the securing of the results of the
which have been received and
} q further extension of the commis-
ion for limited time, which it is con-
IDENTIFY hoped will suffice to bring all
le business now before it to a final
lose.
ARGENTINE.
The strife in the Argentine republic is
} be deplored, both on account of the
arties thereto and from the probable
fleets on the interests of those in the
,ade in that quarter, of whom the Uni
I'd States are among the principal. As
ct, so far as am aware, there has been
o violation of our neutrality rights,
hich, as we'll as our duties in that res
ect, it shall be my endeavor to main
lin and observe.
VENEZUELA.
1t is with regret that announce that
o further payment has been received
ON the government of Venezuela on
,count of awards in favor of the citi-
ans of the United States. Hopes have
cen entertained that, if the republic
DuId escape both foreign and civil war
= a few years, its great natural re-
Iurces would enable it to honor its OBJ
cations. Though it is now understood
, be at peace with other countries, a
,rious insurrection is reported to be in
rOgress in an important region Of that
,pubiic. This may be taken advan-
Lge of as another reason to delay the
ayment of the dues of our citizens.
CUBA.
The deplorable strife in Cuba contin-
ss without any marked change in the
,lative advantages of the contending
'rces. The insurrec5ion continues, but
pain has gained no superiority. Six
ears of strife give the insurrection a
gnifcance which cannot be denied.
s duration and the tenacity of its ad-
srents, together with the absence of a |
anifestel power of suppression on the
art of Spain, cannot be controverted,
I'D may make some positive steps on
le part of the other powers a matter of