Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-17


subjected by the difficulties of the question
and the wrongs aud losses which arise
from the contest in Cuba, and that the in
terests Of humanity itself demand the ces-
sation of the strife before the whole island
shall be laid waste aud larger sacrifices o
life be made, shall feel it my duty should
my hopes OF IA satisfactory adjustment and
of the early restoration Of peace and the
removal OF future causes OF complaint be
unhappily disappointed, TO make fur
ther communication to Congress at some
period not far remote, and during the pres
ent session, recommending what may then
seem TO me to be necessary.
OUR RELATIONS WITH MEXICO AND vENE-
zUELA.
The free zone, so called, several years
since established by the Mexican Govern
ment in certain States Of that Republic ad-
iavent 10 our frontier, remains in full OPP
Grafton. Ii has been always materially in
furious to honest traffic, for it operates as
an incentive TO traders in Mexico TO supply
without Customs charges the wants Of in
1abitants on this side the line, and pre-
vents the same wants from being supplied
by merchants of the United States, there
by, 10 a considerable extent, delrauding
our revenue and checking honest CONNER
cial enterprise. Depredations by armed
bands from Mexico on the people Of Texas
near the frontier continue. Though the
.
they frequently result in the murder of un
armed and peaceably- disposed persons,
and in some instances even the Unled
States Post Offices aud mail communica-
tons have been attacked. Renewed re-
monstrances on this subject have been ad
dressed TO the Mexican Government, but
without much apparent effect. The mill
itary force of this Government disposable
for service in that quarter is quite made
quate TO etlrctualY guard the line, even at
those points where the incursiOns are
usually made. An experiment OF an arm
cd vessel ON the Rio Gronde for that pur-
pose is on trial. and it is hoped that, If not
thwartcd by the shallowness of the river
aud other natural obstacles, it may ma
terially contribute 10 The protection OF the
heIdsmen Of Texas. The proceedings OF
the joint commission, under the cunven-
tion between the United States and Mexico,
Of the 4til July, 1865, on the subject of
claims, will soon be brought 10 a close.
The result Of those proceedings will then
be commune ated 10 Congress. ! am hap
py 10 announce that the Government of
Venezuela has, upon further consideration,
practically abandoned its objection to pay
to tue United States that share of its reve-
nue. which some years since it allotted
toward the eXtinguishmeut of the claims
of Foreigners generally. In thus recon. i'd
ering its determination, that Government
has shown a just sense of self-respect which
cannot fail to reflect credit upon 1t in the
eyes of all disinterested persons elsewhere.
1t Is TO be regretted. however, that its pay
mentS on account of claims of citizens Of
the United States are still 50 meagre in
amount, aud that the stipulalious of the
treaty in regard TO the sums to be paid and
the periods when these payments We're to
take place should have been so sgually
disiegarded. Since my last annual Mes
sage the exchange has been made of tue
ratification OF treaty of commerce aud
navigation with Belgium. aud of Conven-
lions with the Mexican Republic Tor the
furthe- extension OF The Joint commission
respecting claims with the Hawaiian Is
lands for commercial reel iprocity, aud with
the Ottoman Empire for extradlliou, all OF
Which have been daily proclaimed.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS COMMISSION.
The Court of Commissioners or Alabama
claims has prosecuted lis inportInt duties
very assiduOusly and very satisfactorily.
1t convened and was organized on the - |
day OF July, 1874, and by the terms of the
act undOr which it was created was 10 ex-
ist for one year from that date. The act
provided, however, that should it be found
impracticable TO complete the work of the
court before the expiration of tue year the
Preside might by proclamation, extend
The lime Of its duration TO a period not
more than six months beyond the expitA-
tiOn Of the one year. Having received sat
isiac,Ory evidence that il wouid he inIprac-
licable TO complete the work within lhg
time originally liked, issued a proclama-
ti0n "a copy of which is presented here
with extending the time of duration of the
court for a period of six mouths from and
ailer the 221 day Of July last. 4 report
made through the Clerk of the court (cOm-
municatCd herewith) shows the condition
of the calendar on the lst of November
last, and the large amount of'work which
has been accomplished. Thirteen hundred
and eighty-two claims have been presented
of which 6S2 had been disposed OF at thC
date of the report. am Informed that 40
cases were decided during the month Oi
November. Arguments are being made
and decisions given in the rem lining cases
with all the dispatch consistent with the
proper consideration of The questions sub
mitied. Many OF these claims are in he
half of mariners, or depend on the evil
dence OF mariners whose absence has de-
layed the taking or the return of The nee
esSary evidence. 1t is represented to me
that it Will be impraclcable TO the court tC
finally dispose Of af the cases before il
within the present limit of its duration
Justice 10 the parties claimant who have
been al large expense in preparing The
claims and obtaining the evidence in iheii
support suggest short extension to enable
| the court TO dispose of all of tho claims
| which have been presented. IrecommenC
| the legislation which may be deemed prop
| er to enable the court to complete the work
| before it. recommend that some suitable
| provision be made, by the creation Of
court or by comforting the necessary juris
| diction upon some appropriate tribunal, lol
| the consideration and determination of th,
| claims of aliens against the Government o
| the United States, which have arisen with
in some reasonable Limitation of time, o.
which may hereafter arise, excluding al
al,
| erwise. 1t has been found impossible L
| give proper consideration 10 these caimi
by the Executive Department of the Gov
| ernmeut. Such a tribunal would afford al
| opportunity TO aliens, other than British
subjects, TO present their claims on accoun
of acts committed against their persons o
property during the rebellion, as also I,
those subjects of Great Britain who's
claims having arisen subsequent 10 the 9tl
day of April, 1865, could not be presented
to the late commission, organized pursu
ant TO the provisions of the Treaty of Wash
ingtOu.
THE OCEAN TELEGRAPH CABLES.
The electric telegraph has bee )me an es
sential and Indispensable agent in tn
transmission of business and social mes
sages. It's operations on land and withi
the limit of particular States is necessaril
under the control OF The jurisdiction With
which ii operates. The lines on the hig
seas, however, are not subject to the par
ticular control of any one Government. Il
1869 a concession was granted by tn
French Government TO company whic
proposed to lay a cable from the shores {
France to the United States. At that tim
there was a telegraphic connection betwee
the United States and the Continent {
Europe OhrOugh the possessions of Grea
Britain at either end of the line) under tn
control of an association which had at larg
outlay Of capital and at great risk demon
strated the practicability of maintainin
such means of communication. The COS
Of correspondence by this agency wa
great-posslbly not too large at the tim
ior proper remuneration for 50 hszardou
and so costly an enterprise. 1t was, how
ever, heavy charge upon a means Of con
munication which the progress in the 81
| al faI inf Of