New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-08

/ RADAAAes
Il is understood, also, that renewed Of.
forts are being made to introduce reforms
| in the internal administration of the island
| Fersuaded, however. that . proper regard
| for the interests Of the United Ststes and
Of its citizens entitle it to relief from the
strain to which it has been subjected by the
dificul'fe les of the questions and the wrongs
and losses which arise from the contest in
CuDa, and that the interests of humanity
itself demand the cessation OF the strife be-
fore the Whole island shall be laid waste
and larger sacrifices of life be made, shall
feel it my duty, should my hopes of salts
factory adjustment and of the early restora-
ton of peace and the removal of future
causes of complaint be unhappily disap-
pointed, to make further communication
to Congress at some period not far remote,
and during the present session, recommend
ing what may then seem to me to be neces-
sary.
MEXICO.
The free zone, so called, several years
since established by the Mexican govern
ment In certain of the States of that repub
lie, adjacent to our frontier, remains in full
operation. 1t has always been materially
injurious to honest traffic, for it operates as
an incentive to traders in Mexico to supply
without customs charges the wants of in
habitants on this side of the line. and pre-
vents the same wants from being supplied
by merchants of the United States, thereby,
to considerable extent defraudipg our
revenue, aud checking honest commercial
enterprise. Deprodations by armed bands
from Mexico on the people OF Texas, on the
border, continue. Though the main object of
these incursionsl is robbery, they frequent
ly result in the murder of unarmed and
peaceably disposed persons, and in some
Instances, even, the United States post
offices and mail communicate, rs have
been attacked. Renewed circumstances
upon this subject have been addressed
to the Mexican government but without
much apparent effect. The military force
of this government disposable for service in
that quarter is quite inadequate to effect
ually guard the line, even at those points
where the incursions are usually made. An
experiment of an armed vessel on the Rio
Grande for that purpose is oa trial, and it
is hoped that, If not thwarted by the shall
lowness of the river and other natural OBJ
stacles, it may materially contribute to the
protection of the herdsmen of Texas.
The proceedings of the joint commission
under the convention between the United
States and Mexico of the fourth of July,
1868, on the subject of claims, will soon be
ceedings will then be communicated to
Congress.
l am happy to announce that the govern
ment of
VENEZUELA
Has, upon further consideration, practically
abandoned it's objection to pay to the United
States that share of it's revenue which some
years since it allotted toward the extin-
guishment of the claims of foreigners gen
orally. In thus reconsideripg its determine.
ton, that government has shown just
sense of sef-respect which can not fail to
reflect credit upon it in the eyes of all disin-
terested persons elsewhere. 1t is to be re-
GREETED, however, that it's payments en- &C.
count of claims of citizens OF the United
States are still SO meagre in amount, and
that the stipulations of the treaty in regard
to the sums to be paid, and the periods
when those payments were to take place,
should have been so signally disregarded.
TREATIES.
Since my last annual message the ex
change has been made of the ratification of
treaty of commerce and navigation with
Belgium and of conventions with the Mex.
lean republic aud the further extension of
the joint commission respecting claims with
the Hawaiian Islands for commercial re
oiprocity, and with the Ottoman empire for
extradition, all OF which have been duly
proclaimed.
THE COURT OF COMMISSIONERS OF ALABAMA
CLAIMS.
Has prosecuted it's important duties very
convened and was organized on the twenty
| second day of July, 1874, aud by the terms
of the act under which it was created
was to exist one year from that
| date. The act provided, however, that
| should it be found impracticabls to COM
| plete the work of the court before the expi-
| ration of the year, the President might, by
| proclamation, extend the time of its dura-
| tion to period not more than six mouths
| beyond the expiration of the one year.
| Having received satisfactory evidence that
| it would be impracuicable to complete the
work within the time originally fixed, |
issued a proclamation, a copy OF which is
| presented herewith, extending the time of
| duration of the court for period of six
| months from and after the twenty-second
| day of July last.
report made through the clerk of the
court, communicated herewith, shows the
| condition of the calendar on the first of No
vember last, and the large amount of work
which has been accomplished Thirteen
hundred and eighty-two claims have been
presented, of which 682 had been disposed
Of at the date of the report. am informed
| that ITO cases were decided during the
month of November. Arguments are being
made and decisions given in the remaining
cases with all the dispatch consistent with
the proper consideration OF the questions
| submitted. Many of these claims are in be-
half of mariners, or depend on the evidence
| of mariners, whose absence has delayed the
taking or the return of the necessary evil
| dence.
| 1t is represented to me that it will be i'm.
| practicable tor the court to finally dispose
| of all the cases before it within the present
| limit of its duration Justice to the parties
| claimant, who have been at large expense
| in preparing their claims and Obt aiming evi
| dence in their support, suggests short ex-
| tension to enable the court to dispose of all
| of the claims which have been presented
| l recommend legislation which may be
| deemed proper to enable the court to com.
plete the work before it,
recommend that some suitable provision
| be made by the creation of special court,
| or by comforting The necessary jurisdiction
upon some appropriate tribunal for the
| consideration and determination of the
CLAIMS OF ALIENS
| Against the government of the United
| States, which have arisen within some
reasonable limitation of time, or which may
hereafter arise, including all claims barred
| by treaty provisions or otherwise. 1t has
| been found impossible to give proper con-
| sideration to these claims by the executive
| departments of the government. Such a
tribunal would afford an opportunity to
aliens other than British subjects to pre-
| sent their claims on account Of acts COM
mitted against their persons or property
during the rebellion, as also to those sub.
jects of Great Britain whose claims, having
| arisen subsequent to the ninth day of April,
| 1865, could not be presented to the late COM
mission, organized pursuant to the pro-
visions of the treaty of Washington.
| THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
| Has become an essential and indispensable
| agent in the transmission of business and
social messages. Its operation on land and