The Portland daily press., 1875-12-08

hope and would not remove the evils which this gov
ernment and its people are experiencing, but would
draw the United States into complications which it
has waited long, and already suffered much to avoid.
The recognition of independence or belligerency
being thus in my Judgment equally inadmissibe, it
remains to consider what course shall be adopted
should the conflict not soon be brought to end by
acts of the parties themselves, and should evils
which result therefrom, affecting all nations and par
ticularly this continue. In such event am of the
opinion that other nations will be compelled to
sumo the responsibility which devolves upon them,
and to seriously consider the only remaining
ures possibe-mediation and Intervention. Owing,
perhaps to the large expanse of water separating the
island from the peninsula, the want of harmony
and of personal sympathy between the inhabitants
Of the colony and those sent thither to rule them
and want of adaptation Of the ancient colonial system
of Europe to the present parties the services of other
nations iu mediation were declined by Spain, with
the declaration, nevertheless. that at future time
they would be indispensable. No ntimaton has
been received that in the opinion oSpain the time has
been reached, and yet the strife continues with all
its dread horrors and all of its injuries to the inter-
ests the United States and other nations. Each
party seems quite capable of working great injury
and damage to the other, well as to all the rela
tions and Interests dependent on the existence of
peace in the Island. But both of them seem ncapa-
BILE of reaching any adjustment, and both have thus
failed OF achieving any success whereby one party
shall possess and control the Island to the exclusion
Of the other Under these circumstances the agency
Of others, either by mediation Intervention,
to be the only alternative, which must sooner or
later beinvoked for the termination of the strife.
While thus impressed, do not at this time recon-
nf
shall bs ready at all times and as the equal friend
Of both parties to respond to suggestion that the
good Offices of the United States will be acceptable to
aid in bringing about peace honorable to both 1t
is due to Spain, far this government is
ed, that the agency of third power to which have
adverted, shall be adopted only as last expedent.
Had it been the desire of the United States to inter-
fre in the affairs of Cuba repeated opportunities for
so doing have been presented within the last few
years, but we have remained passive and have per-
formed eur whole duty, and all international obliga
tions to Spain with friendship, fairness and fidelity
and with spirit of patience and torbearance which
negatives every possible suggestion of desire to inter-
fere to add to the difficulties with which she has
been surrounded.
The Government of Spain has recently submitted
to our minister at Madrid certain proposals which
may be found to bs the basis if not the actual sub
mission, of terms to meet the requirements Of the
particular giefs of which this government has felt
itself entitled to complain These proposals have
not yet reached me in their full text On their ar
rival they will be taken into careful examination,
and may, hope, lead to a satisfactory adjustment
of the questions to which they REFER and remove the
possibility OF future occurrences such have given
rise to our just complaints 1t is understood also,
that renewed efforts being made to introduce re-
forms in the internal administration of the Island.
Persuaded however, that proper regard for the in
terests Of the United States and Of its citizens en-
titled to relief from the strain to which it has been
subjected by the difficulties of the question: and the
wrong and losses which arise from the contest in
Cuba, and that the interest Of humanity ITSELF de-
mands the cessation of the strife before the whole
Island shall be laid waste and larger sacrifices of life
be made 1 shall feel it my duty, should my hopes
of satisfactory adjustment and of the early restora-
tion of peace and the removal of future causes Of
complaint, be unhappily disappointed to make a
further communication to Congress at some period
not far remote aud during the present session.
ommending what may seem to me to be necessary.
The Mexican Border Troubles.
The "free seane,' so called, several years since
established by the Mexican Government in certain Of
the states Of that republic adjacent to frontier
remains in full operation. 1t has always been ma
teriay injurious to honest traffic, for it operates
an incentive to leaders in Mexico to supply without
customary charges the wants of inhabitants this
side of the line, and prevents the wants from
being supplied by merchants of the United States
thereby, to considerable extent. defrauding our
revenue and checking honest commercial enterprise
Depredations by armed bands from Mexico ON the
people of Texas, the frontier continue, Though
frequently result in the murder of uuarmed and
peaceably disposed people, and in some instances
even the United States postofice and mail commun-
ications have been attacked. Renewed remon-
strances upon this subject have been addressed tc
the Mexican Government, but without much appar-
ent effect. The military force of the government
dsposable for service in that quarter is quite made
quate to effectually guard the line, at those
points where the incursions are usually made. Ar
experiment of an armed vessel on the Rio Grandt
for that purpose is on trial, and it is hoped that
not thwarted by the shallowness Of the river and
other natural obstacles 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 4th of July, 1s6s the subject of claims, will
soon be brought to close The result Of these pro
| ceedings will then be communicated to Congress.
The Venezuela Claims.
| lam happy to announce that the government Q
Venezuela has upon further consideration practically
abandoned its objection to pay the United States tha
share of its revenue which years since allot
ted toward the extnguishment of the claims of for
egnerslgeneraly In thus reconsiderng, its determi
| nation that government has shown just sense o
self-respect which cannot fail to reflect cred: upoI
it in the eyes of all dsnterested persons elsewhere
1t is to be regretted hnwever, that the payments
account of the citizens of the United States still
meagre in amount, and that the stipulation of th
treaty in regard to the to be paid and the peri
ods when these payments we're to take place. should
have been so signally disregarded.
Treaties.
Since my last annual message the exchange has beel
made of the ratification of treaty of commerce ant
navigation with Belgium, and of conventions witt
the Mexican republic for the further extension of h
joint commission respecting claims with the Hawai-
ian Islands for commercial reciprocity, and with tht
| Ottaman empire for extradition, all of which hav
been duly proclaimed.
Alabama Claims Court.
| The court Of commissioners of Alabama claims ha
prosecuted its important duties very assduousy
very satisfactorily 1t convened and was organizes
the 22d day of july 1874 and by the terms of the
act under which it was created was to exist for
| year from that date. Tee act provided, however
that should 1t be found impRactcabe to complete tn
work of the court before the expiration of the yea
the President might byIprocamation extend its tim
| of duration to a period not more than six month
| beyond the expiration Of the one year. Having re
ceived satisfactory evidence that it would be mprac
tcable to complete the work within the time origi
nally fixed, issued proclamation "a copy Of whicl
is presented herewih extending the time of duration
| of the court for period of six months from ant
| after the 22d of July last.
A report made through the clerk of the cour
| Communicated herewth) shows the condition of tn
calendar on the first of November last and the larg
amount Of work which has been accomplished. Thir
| teen hundred and eighty-two claims have been pre-
sented of which 6s2 had been disposed of at the dat
| of the report. 1 am informed that III cases wer
| decided during the month OF November. Agreement
are being made aud decisions given in the remainn,
with all the dispatch consistent with the prope
| consideration Of the question submitted. Many o
these claims behalf of Mariners or depend OF
the evidence Of mariners whose abzence has delayed
the taking the return Of the necessary evidence
1t is represented to that it will be impracticab
to the court to finally dispose of all the cases befor
1t within the present limit of its duration. Justc
to the parties claimant who have been at large ex