The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-12-18
The result of those proceedings will then be

am happy to announce that the Govern
| ment of Venezuela has, upon further con-
sideration, practically abandoned its objec-
| ton to pay to the United States that share
Of its revenue which, some years since, it
allotted towards the extinguishment of
claims of foreigners generally. In thus con-
sidering its determination, that Government
has shown just sense of self respect which
cannot fail to reflect credit upon it in the
eyes of all DISTINGUISHED persons elsewhere.
1t is to be regretted that its payments
account of claims of citizens of the United
States are still SO meagre in amount, and
that the stipuations of the treaty in regard
to sums to be paid; and the periods when
these payments were to take place should
have been so signally regarded. Since my
last annual message the exchange has been
made of the notification of treaty of com
merce and navigation witt, Belgium aiid of
conventions with the Mexican Republic for
the further extension of the joint commits
sion respecting claims with the Hawaiian
Islands for commercial reciprocity, and with
the Ottoman Empire for extradition, all of
which have been duly proclaimed. The
Court OF Commissioners CT Alabama Claims
has prosecuted its important duties very
assiduously and very satisfactorily. 1t con-
,enru and was organized on the 22d of July
1857 and by the terms of the act under
which it was created was to exist for one year
froih that date. Tbs act provided, howevef.
that should it be found impracticable to COM
plete the work of the court before tno cc--rir-
alton of the year, the President might, by proc
lamation, extend the time of its duration to
n period not more than six months beyond
the expiration of the one year. Having re-
ceiyed satisfactory evidence that it would he
impractieable TO complete the work in the
time originally fixed, l issued a proclaIna
ton, Il copy of which is presented herewith,
extending the time of duration OF the Court
for a period of six months from and after
the ed day of July last. 4 report made
It,An fhn of
Gated herewith, shows the condition of the
calendar on the. first of November last, and
the large amount OF work whirh Eas been
accomplished. Thirteen hundred and eighty
two claims have been presented, of which
So had been disposed of up to the date of
the report. 1 am informed that ITO cases
were decided during the month Of Novem-
Der. Arguments are being made and de-
eisiotis given in the remaining eases with qll
the dispatch consistent With the proper sci.
Element of the claims presented. Many of
these claims are in behalf of mariners, or
depend on the evidence of mariners, whose
absence has delayed taking the return.
Necessary evidence IS presented tn ME that
it will be impracticable for the Court TO
finally dispose of all the eases before it
! within the present limits of its duration, in
justice to the parties claimed, who have
been at large expense in preparing their
claims and obtaining the evidence in their
support. He suggests short extension to
etlaDle tHp COufU 10 ulSpNSe pI all tne cjdtHiS
which have been presented. fec0hiiiefd
the legislation which may be deemed proper
70 enable tbe Court to complete the work be-
fore it, | recommend that provision be
made by the creation of a special Coiirt Or
by comforting the necessary jurisdiction upon
some appropriate tri bunal, for the consider
alton and determination of claims of aliens
Hgainst the government of the United States,
which have arisen within some reasonable
time or which may hereafter arise, excluding
all claims barred by treaty provisions or
otherwise.
It has been found impossible give proper eonsid-
grafton to ibe claims by the Executive Department
the Government. Subj tribunal would atft1rd
10 present their claims on account of acts committed
against their persons or property during the rebel
ian also to those subjects of Great Britin whose
April, 1865, could not be presented to the late
mission, organized pursuant to the provisions of
The electric telegraph has become essential and
indispensable agent in the transmission Of business
and social messages. Its operation land and
within the limit Of the particular States, is
sity under the control of the jurisdiction within
not subject to the particular control OF any
one government. In 1869 concession was granted
by the French Government to company which pro.
posed lay cable from The shores Of France TO the
Unite States At that time there vas Geographic
connection between the United States .and the co'
tihent of Europe through the possessions ri Great
Britain at either end of the line The control OF
Association which had q. large outlay of capital and
tairiipg sch means Of eopiniiinication and correT
spodence by this agency, doubtless intolted great
expense but possibly not too large at the time for
proper remuneration for so costly enterprise 1t
was, however heavy charge upon the means Of
communication which progress in the social and COM
cessty, and the otdiniiig OF this French Concession
show ed thai ohef capital than that already invested
ready to enter into competition, with the assur
of adequate returns for their outlay Impressed
with the conviction that the interests not only OF the
people of the United States, but the world at large,
demanded
such means of communication between separated
continents, was DESTROYS that the proposed
ncction should he made but certain provisions of
this concession were deemed by me to be objection
able particularly one, which gave for long term of
years. exclusive right of Geographic communication
by submarine cable between the shores of France
and the United States. | could not eoneede that
power should claim the right to land cable on
the shores of the United States its citizens
equal right to land cable on its shores. The right
to control the conditions for the laying of cables
within the urisictional waters of the United States,
to connect OUR shores With those Of ATTY foreign
United States 1ner such conditions and Imitation
as Congress may impose In the absence OF legisla,
to yield to foreign State the right say that its
grantees might land on our shore while it denied
similar ri to our people to land on its shores on
the other hand was reluctant TO deny to the great
interests of the world and of civilization the fciii
ties Of such communications proposed 1
therefore withheld resistance to the landing Of any
cable on the condition that the offensive monopoly
feature of the concession would be abandoned, and
that the right OF any cable which may be established
by the authority of this Government to land on
French territory, and to connect with French land
lines and enjoy the necessary facilities privileges
incident TO the use thereof upon favorable terms
any other company, he conceded result there
of. The company in question renowned the ex-
elusive privileges, and the representative of France
informed that the UNDERSTANDING this relinquisl-
meut was to be construed az granting entire reciproc
lily and equal facilities, of which it had been de
iiianded by the opposition to the landing OF the ca
ble withdrawn. The cable, under this French
concession, landed in the month of July, 1869,
and has been efficient and valuable agent OF COM
munication between this country and the other con-
nS-nI undo Tho nnfr nf fhnSn
who had the management of the cable connecting
Great Britain with this continent, and thus what
ever benefit to the public might have issued from
competition between the two lines was lost having
greater facilities Of additional lines and additional
security Of accident to of them, but these
increased facilities, and this together with the
binei controlof capital the two companies gave also
greater to prevent the future construction OF
other lines and to limit the control Of other lines of
telegraphic communication between the continents
to those possessing lines already laid. Within a few
months cable has been laid, known as the United
States Direct Cable, connecting the United states
directly with Great Britain. As soon as this cable
was reported to be in working order, the rates OF the
existing consolidated companies were greatly re-
dueed. Soon however, break was announced in
the cable and Immediately the rates OF the other
line which had been reduced, again raised.
This cable being now repaired, the rates appear not
to he reduced by either line from that formerly
charged by the other company. There is no reason
to believe That large amounts OF capital, both at
home and abroad ready to seek profitable invest
ment in the advancement of this useful and most
civilzinS means OF intercourse and correspondence
and conditions on which they may safely be made
tributary to the good. As these cable telegraph
lines connect separate States there questions
10 their organization and control which probably can
he best, if not solely, settled by convention be-
tween the respective States. In the absence, how
ever, of international conventions the subject,
municipal legislation may secure many points which
appear to me important, II not Indispensable, for
the protection Of the public against the eNtortons
which may result from monopoly OF the right OPP
Grating cable kilograms or from combination be-
tween several lines.
/. No line should he allowed to land on the shores
Of the United States under the concession from an
other power which does not admit the right of any
other line lines formed in the United States to
land and freely connect with and operate through
land line
2 No line should be allowed to land on the shores
Of the United States which is not by treaty stpua-
ton with the Government from whose shores il pro-
ceeds by prohibition in its charter or otherwise
to the satisfaction OF this Government, prohibited
from consolidating aniagauatiIg with any other
cable telegraph line, combining Herewith for the
purpose OF regulating and maintaining the coil OF
Geographic communication.
B. AL lines should he bound To give precedence in