Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-12-14

| given rise 10 our liSt complaints. lt is under
stood, also. that renewed efforts being
made 10 introduce reforms IN the internal adj
minstration of tho island. Persuaded, how.
over, that a proper regard for the interests of
| the United States aud of its citizens entitled 20
| relief from the strain tn which it has been sub
Jcctcd by tho difficulties OF the question and
| tho wrongs and losses which arise from the
| contest IN Cuba. and that the interests
| of humanity itself demand the cessation
| of the strife before the whole island shall be
| LAID waste and larger sacrifices of life be made.
! l shall t,cl It my duty should my hopes OF q
sat!sartor, adjustment aud Of the early restora-
! uol OF peace and the removal OF future causes
OF complaint be uhhapFily disappointed, TO
make further communication 20 Congress at
some period not far remote. and during the
J present session recommending what may then
J seem 10 me To bc necessary.
OUR RELATIONS WIFI MEXICO AND vENE-
zUELA.
/ The free zone. so calle |, several years since
established by the Mexican Government in cer-
tain States of that Republic adjacent 10 our
frontier, remains m idil operation. IL has been
always materially iniuriou1 20 honest traffic, tor
~ operates as an incentive To traders i'll
Mexico TO supply without Customs charges
the wants oi inhabitants on this side
the lJc. and prevents the same wants from
being supplied by merchants of the United
States thereby, 10 considerable extent, de-
fraudiDc oar revenue and checking honest COM
merCai enterprise. pcprcdauOns by armed
bands from Mexico on the people of Texas near
The frontier continue. Though the main
q, lcct Of the IrrUrsiOns il robbery,
they frequently result in the murder
Of unarmcd and eaceably-dispOscd persons,
and IN some instances even tho United States
Post Offices and mail communications have
been attacked. Renewed circumstances
this subject have been addressed 10 the Mexican
Government, but without much apparent eject.
The military force OF this Government dispos-
able for service IN that quarter is quito
inadequate 10 ehcctually guard the line,
even at those points where the incursiOns are
usually made. An experiment OF an armed
vessel on the Rio Grando for that purpose is on
trial, and 1t is hoped that. If not ihwarted by
the shailoWncss of the river and other natural
obstacles, It may materially contribute 10 tho
protection of the hcrdsmen Of Texas. The pro-
ceedngs OF the JOINT commission, under the
convention between the United States and
Mexico. of the 9Th July, 1868, on the subject
of claims, VIII soon be brought 10
close. The result of those proceedings
Will then be communicated 10 Congress.
am happy TO announce that the Government of
Venezuela has. ulol further consideration,
practically abandoned ils objection to pay 10 the
United States that share OF its revenue which
some years since 1t allotted toward the eXtin.
gulshnent of the claims of foreigners generally.
In thus reconsidcrns its determination. that
Government has shown n lust sense of self
~ ~ {
II in the eyes of all disni"rCStcd persons c.sc-
where. IL is to bc regretted, however, that
Its payments on account OF claims OF c.ti.
zens OF the United States arc still 80
mcasrc in amount. and that the stipu.
lauDus Of the treaty in regard 10 the sums
to be paid and the periods when these payments
were To take place should have been 80 sigually
dsregaricd. Since my last annual Message
the exchange has been made of the ratification
of treaty OF commerce and navigation with
Belgium, and of conventions with the Mexican
Republic for the further extension of tho Joint
commission respecting claims with the Hawaiian
Islands for commercial reciprocity and with
the Ottoman Empire for eXtradiion. all of which
have 6cen duly proclaimed. d
TIE ALABAMA CLAIMS COMMISSION =
Tho Court of Commissioners of Alabama
claims has prosecuted its important duties very
assiduously and very satisfactorily. IL convened
and was organized on the I'D day of july
1874, and By the terms of the act under which
10 wns created was to exist for one year from
that date. The act provided. however. that
should IL be found impracticable to complete
the work OF the court before the expiration Of
the year the President might, by proclamatIoS
extend the time OF It's duration TO period
not more than six months beyond the expira
ton OF the one wear. Having received
satisfactory evidence that it would be imprao
ticabe to complete the work within the time
originally fixed. issued proclamation Ia copy
OF which is presented herewith) extending the
. time of duration of the court for period of siy
months from and after the 22d day of July last.
A report made through the Clerk of the court
communicated herewthl 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 6Ss
had been disposed of at the date OF the report
| aW informed that 40 cases were decided
during the month of November Arguments
are being made and decisions given in the re-
naming cases with all the dispatch consistent
with the proper consideration Of the questions
submitted Many OF these claims are in behalf Of
mariners, or depend ON the evidence of mariners
whose absence has delayed the taking or the re-
turn of the necessary evidence Its represented
10 me that 1t will be impractlcable to the court
10 finally dispose Of all the cases before II with
III the present limit OF its duration Justice 10
the parties claimant who have been at large ex.
pense in preparing the claims and obtaining the
evidence in their support suggest short exten
sion TO enable the court 10 dispose of all OF
the claims which have been presented. u
recommend the legislation which may be
deemed proper 70 enable the court tC
complete the work before it, / recommend that
some suitable provision be made, by the crea.
tion OF a court or by conierring 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 nrse, excluding
all claims barred by treaty provisions
or otherwise. 1t has been found impossible TO
give proper consideration TO these claims by
the Executive Department of the Government.
Such tribunal would afford an opportunity 10
ahens other than British subjects. to present
their claims oh account OF acts committed
against their persons or property during the re-
beIlion, as also TO those subjects OF Great Brit.
ain whose claims having arisen subsequent 10
tue 9th day of April, 1862 could not be presented
10 the late commission. organized pursuant TO
the provisions Of the Treaty of Washington.
THE OCEAN TELEGRAPH CABLES.
The electric telegraph has become an essen
tial and indispensable agent in the transmission
Of business and social messages. Its operations
on land aud within the limit of particular
States Is necessarily under the control OF the
Jurisdiction within which 1t operates. The lines
on the high seas however, are not subject 10
the particular control of any one Government.
In 1863 a concession was granted by the French
Government to company which proposed to lay
a cable from the shores OF France to the United
States. At that time there was q telegraphic
connection between the United States and the
Continent OF Europe Through the possessions Of
Great Britain at either end of the lnel under
the control of an association which had at
larso outlay of capital and at great risk DEM
onstrated the practlcabIlity OF maintaining
such means OF communication. The cost of
correspondence by tins agency was great-possi-
bly, not too large at the time Tor proper re-
muncraton for so hazardous and so costly an
enterprise. il was, hoSever. "A heavy charge
upon !. means OF communication which the
progress ~ The. social and commercial inter-
course of the world found 10 DO necessity,
and the obtaining OF this French con-
ccsslyn slowed that other capital than
that already invested was ready to enter
into competition with assurance of adequate
return for their outlay. Impressed with the
conviction that the interests not only Of the
Deopie of the United States bus of the world at