, 1875-12-08
FOREIGN RELATIONS.


Our rotations with most Of tho foreign povoru
continue on satisfactory and friendly footing.
Increased intercourse, tho extension Of oou,-
morce. aod tho cultivation Of mutual interests
have stoadly improved cur relations with tue
largo majority Of tho pouors Of tho world. rou-
aerlug practicable tho peaceful co!ution Of
questions which from timo to tme necessarily
asiac, and leaving few which domand extended
or particular notice. Tho Corresponds co OF tho
Department OF State with our diplouaatio rcp.
pcscntAtiyes abroad IL transmitted horowtt.
ronTuaAL.
am happy to ANNOUNCE tho pasgage Of an act
by tbs 0enural Cortez OF Portugal. procIuitn esl
einca tho adjournment Of Congress, for
tho abolition Of soFvtudo In tho portuguosu
Colonies. It Is 10 TO hoped that such legislation
may DO another step toward tho groat CONSUME
1ntted. directly or indirectly, undor any yuise,
eexcnse. or form Of law, to hold hs fol!ou-man III
bondage. I am Of opinion, also. that ii Ia the
duty Of tho United States, contributing toward
that end, and required by tho spirit Of the age In
Which We llye, to provide by suttable Legislation
that no citizen Of the United States Blall hold
slaves ~ property in any othor country, 10 ,u-
toi cstcd thoroin.
has made repatriation in tic cAse Of the wha'o-
ship Good Return. seized without nuAlc,eut
cAtso upwards Of forty yeAra ago. Though sl,u
had hitherto denied her accountability, the do-
ntal Nas never acquiescad in by this Qoyern-
mont, hud tho Justice Of tho claim haa been 70
earnestly contended for that 1t has been gsa..fy-
lug that size Hhoull AAve acknowledged IL.
COLOMBIA.
The arbitrator In the case Of tho United Htntos
stcaacr Montljo, for tho soizure aud tlsseutiou
or Which tie Government Of tho Untted HtAtos
OF Colombia was ha.d accountable, hiss decided
III favor Ut tho claim. Thin decision has sestlod
question which lan beou pondfnG for tesoral
yosEH. and which, whtlo It continued open, might
Il
which it Ia denirnhIo should bo maintained be.
tween tie Nepubl.cs.
sANpw1cu 1slAxpa.
reciprocity treaty with tho King Of tho 1Ia.
Az 1t contains = stipulation that 1t ahall not
take cffoct until Congress shall euact ths proper
legislation fur tho purpose copies OF the ln-
ssrumene arc herewith submitted. 10 order thut,
II auoh should bs tho pleasure Of Congress, tho
necessary Legislation upon tho subjsct mag 10
adopted.
sPA1S--THE y!nn1N1Us.
In h1Aroh !aet m Arrangements WAS made
through Mr. Cnahlng, our Minlstof in Madrid,
With the Spanish 0ovornmeut for tito payment
by tho latter 10 tho Unlted States Of the sum Of
SB0 900 Ia coin, for the purpose III tho rsliof of
the families Of posBons Of tho ship's company
aud certain passengers Of the Yirsiuias. Tho
samo WAS to hayo bBen paid IN three INSTALL
monts, At two months oach. IL is due to tho
Spanish Government that should Btato that
tho payments wero fully aud speodllv anticipated
by that uoVe1nmont, and thAt s!lo who|n amount
WAS paid Within bus few days moro than two
months from tho late OF tho sgroement, . COPY
Of Which 10 herewith tranlnitted. 1n pusal-
aneo OF tho terms Of the adjustment, l hAfo di-
focted distribution Of the amount among tho
partIes entitled thereto, Including tho ships
company aud auch Of tho passengers - w0re
American citzons Tho payments arc rnste TO-
cofa.nktr. On tie application ot the PARTIES ensl-
tied thereto.
Ihe past year has furnished no evidence OF an
approaching antto tho rutuon1 conn!ok which
haa bean raging Tor seEen yearH ia tie nelghl,or-
lug Island Of Cuba. Tho eAma diBsegerd 0f tho
laws OF civilized warfare and OF the lust de-.
mAnds OF humanity Nhloh haso heretofore called
forth cxpreBHlons OF condemnation from thu ua-
lions OF Chrlatendom have continued to b!ackra
the sad scoue.
pEsnLAg1oa, Ru1s, AND PnLAun
Aro peEvAding tho rich lields ot QUA of the most
fertile aud productive fegonB Of the esrtl,, cnd
Tho lpcendiarys tosch, Eiug pl&ntAt lions aud val.
u&hle fsctorie and buildings il lilo agent marx
Ing the altetu1ts AdTAnco OF Estroas Of lho con-
tonuing partt9A. Ihe protr4ckod continuance OF
the strife Reitpl,1y Affects tue tutefesks Of ali
commercial pations, but those OF the Uultsl
States moro than others by reRson OF 1ta clpeo
proximity, itH larger trade aud intstool1ue with
Cuba, aud tho frequent aul intimate paxsopAl
and social relations wacl1 hAva grown up b.
tHasu lts citixaua aud those of tho is!sud bforo-
oycr, tho propaltf Ut cur citizenk III Cuba IL
largo, and il 1oDttered luseouts and deprecated
tu ysluo and in capacity Of production by tho
contluusnce OF tle,strite and tho unAatu1al mnao
Of itn conduct. Tho SAINT IL tue, differing ouly
in degree. with ruspoct to Tho Interests and pso-
Dls OF other usnpnH aud Tho sb.euca Of any seA-