The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-12-16


years since established by the Mexican
government In certain of the States
Of that Republic adjacent to our from
tier, remains in full operation. 1t has
always materially been injurious to
honest traffic for it operates as an In
cemtive to traders in Mexico to supply
with custom charges the wants of the
inhabitants Of this side of the line and
prevent the came wants from being
supplied by merchants Of the United
States, thereby to . considerable ex-
tent defrauding our revenue and
checking honest CONNER c;al enterprise.
.DepredaLions by armed bands irsm
Mexico, on the people of Texas near
the frontier continue Though the
main object Of the incursiOns is rob-
berry, they frequently result in murder
of unarined and peaceabiy disposed
persons, aud in some instances even
the United States post offices and mail
communications. have been alta acked.
Renewed remonstrances upon this
subject have been addressed to- the
Mexican government but without
much apparent effect. ti5 go s-l1.s
I, The military forco of this govern
menti4 disposable fer service in that
quarter is quite inadequate to effect
ualiy guard the line at these points
whore incursions are usually made.
An experiment Of an armed vessel on
the Rio Grande fer that purpose is on
trial. II not thwarted by the shallow
ness of the river and other distractions
it may greatly contribute to the pro-
lection, Of Texas. s.itg- .l5 III ..'...
I The proceedings of the Joint Com
mission, under the convention betW ee y
the United Statos and Mexico on the
4th Of, July, 1868, on the subject OF
claims, will bebroughts to q close. The
result Of these proceedings will then
be communicated to Congress. oa'
am happy to announce that the
government Of Venezuela has, upon
further consideration,p practically aban-
doned its objection to pay to the United
States that share of its revenue which,
some years since, it allotted toward the
extinguishmeitt,o Of the claims of for
eigncrs generally. In thus rscensid.
sring its determination, that govern
ment has shown just sense Of self
respect which c-nnot fail to reflect
credit upon it in the eyes of all disin-
tcrested persons elsewhere. 1t is to
be regretted .ht wever, that its pay
ment on account of claims of the citi-
zens of the United States are still so
ineagre in amount, and the stipulat ons
Of the treaty in regard to the sums to
be paid, aud the periods when those
. men s were to take place, should
have been SO siynaliy dieregarded.
Since my last annual message the ex-
change has been made of the ratifica-
ton Of q treaty OF commerce and nav
igation Of Belgium; and with conyen-
tiOns with the Mexican Republic for
the further exteI sion of the joint
commission respecting elaine, with
the Hawaiian Islands for commercial
reciprocity, and with the Ottoman
Empire for extradition, all of which
have been duly proclaimed. I iit-
The Court Of COMMISSIONER of Al
ALBANIA Claims has prosecuted its i'm
pOrtant duties very assiduously and
very satisfactorily. 1t conyened and
was organized on the 22d day of July.
1874. and by the terms of the act under
which it was created, was to exist for
enc year from that day. The act pre-
vided ,ho wever, that should it be found
impracticable to complete the work Of
the court before the close Of the year,
the, President might, by proclamation
extend the time Of it's duration 10 .
period not more than six months be-
yond the expiration OF tho one year.
Having received satisfactory evidence
that it would be impracticable to COM
piete efhs work within the time srigin-
ally fixed, l issued q proclamation, q
copy Of which 10 presented herewith,
extending the time of the, duration of
the court for . period of six lnonths
from and alter the 22d OF July last.
The report made through the clerk Ut
the court, communicated herewith,
shows the condition of tho calendar
on the first day of November last, and
the large amount Of work which has
been accomplished. Thirteen hun
dred and eighty-tws claims have been
presented, OF which 6S2 had been dis.
posed of at the date Of the report.
AIN informed that ITO cases were de.
cidsd during the month OF Nevember
Arrangements are being made and de-
cisions given in the remaining easel
/ with all tho d. .spatch consistent with
| the proper con, mplation OF tho Ques
tions submitted. Many Of these claim!
are IN behalf Of mariners or require
| the evidence of mariners, whose alb
sc ice delayed the necessary evidenct
1t is represented to nae that it will b,
| i'm practicable for. the court to 1inAll,
dispose Of all the cases now before
within the present limit of its dura
ton. Justice to the parties, who hav
been at large expense in preParin,
their claims and obtaining the evi
dence in their support, t,suggests shor
extensinn to enable the court TO dis
pose OF all the claims which have beel
presented. l recommend the le2isla
ton which may be deemed proper l.
enable the court to cemple'e the wor
before it. recommend that som
suitable provision be made by tho ere
alton OF q special court, or by confer
ring the necessary jurisdiction ups
some appropriate tribunal, for th
cor 81 leratiom and determination Of tn
claims eff aliens against the Unite
States which have arisen within sem
reasonable time Or which may hercai
t.r arise, excluding all claims barre
by treaty, provisions or otherwise.
h s. been found impossible to give th
:: proper consideration to these claiM
, By tho Executive department OF th
, government. Such tribunal woul
. afford an opportunity to aliens otht
than British subjects to present the
claims on account Of acts OOmmitte
| against their persons or property du
; ing the rebellion; as also to those sui
. jects of Great Britain whose CLAIM
having arisen subaeqaent TO the 81
: day OF April. 1865, could not be pr
sented to the late commission orgal
. lied pursuant to the treaty Of Wasl
, ington. .4....--,..-
/ The electric telegraph has becem
, an essential and indispensable agent
l the transmission Of business and soci
, messages. Its operation OH land, al
D within the limit of particular States
I necessarily under the control Of Il
: jurisdiction within which it operate
+ Tile lines on the high seas howeve
are not subject to the particular co
: troll ef. any one government. Iu lS
a concession was granted by Il
e French government to compa,
i. which proposed to lay a cable fro