The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-12-09

The amount usually appropriated LOT IOrelSl
intercourse by Withholding appropriation
for representatives OF the United States IN cei
tain foreign countries, and for certain Consul
lar offices, and by reducing the amounts usr
ally appropriated for certain other diplomat
&c posts and thus necessitatng q change II
the grade of representatives,. For these res
sons, Immediately upon the passage OF tn
bill making appropriations Tor the diplomat
ana consular service for the present force, IL
structions were issued to the representative
of the United States at Bolivia, Ecuador an
Columbia, and to the consular officers TO
whom no appropriation had been maze, |
close their respective legations and consr
lates and cease from the performance OF thei
duties, and in like manner steps were lmmec
Iately taken to substitute Charges d. Atfaire
for Ministers Resident at Portugal, Denmark
Greece, Switzerland and Paraguay.
While thoroughly impressed with the WIS
dom OF sound economy IN the foreign scrvlc
as in other branches of the Government,
cannot escape the conclusion that in some IN
stances the Withholding Of appropriation
will prove an expensive economy, and that lit
small retrcnchment secured by change o
grade in certain diplomatic posts is not al
ADEQUATE consideration for the loss OF iniiu
ence and importance which will attend ouI
foreign representatives under this reduction
am of the opinion that a denomination o
the subject will cause Il change IN some IN
stances in the conclusions reached on these
subjects at the last session Of Congress
The Court of Commissioners OF the Ala
bama Claims, whose functions were contln
ued by an act of the last session OF Congress!
until the 1st day OF January, 1877, has carried
on Its labors with diligence and general salts
faction. BY report from the clerk OF Thu
court transmitted herewith bearing date N
vember II, 1876 ii appears that during INT
time now allowed by law the court will have
disposed of all the claims presented tor ADJ
dcatiOn This report also contains state
ment of the general result of the labors OF The
court TO date thereof 1t is cause for satisiac
tnil that the method adopted tor the satisfac
ton of the classes of claims submitted to the
court, which are Of long standing and Justly
entitled - early consideration should have
proved sorressful and acceptable.
1t is with satisfaction that am enabled to
state that the " ork of the JOINT Commission
for determining the boundary line between
the United States and the British Possessions
from the northwest angle Of the Lake OF the
Woods to the Rocky Mountains, commenced
in 1872, has been completed The final agree.
mcn,s of the Commissioners, with the maps,
have been duly signed, and the work OF the
is complete. The fixing OF the
boundary upon the Pacific coast by the pro
tocol of March 10, 1873, pursuant to the award
OF the Emperor of Germany by Article ~ OF
the treaty of Washington, with the termina-
ton OF the work Of this commission, adjusts
and fixes the entire boundary between the
United States and the British possessions, eX.
cept as to the portion of territory coded by
Russia to the United States under the treaty
f 1861 The work lntrustcd to the Commits
,ioners and the officers of the army attached
% the commission, has been well and salts.
actorily performed. The original of the final
agreement of The Commissioners, signed upon
he Goth of May, 1876, with the original list
If astronomical stations observed, the Origi-
lal official list of monuments marking the IN.
boundary lines, and the maps, rec
)rds and general reports relating to the com
mission, have been deposited IN the Depart
nent Of State. The official report of The Com.
missioner on the part OF the United States,
with the report of the Chief Astronomer OF
he United States will be submitted TO Con-
gress within a short time.
! reserve for separate communication 10
congress statement of the condition Of the
questions which lately arose with Great Brit
mails under the treaty Of 1912.
The Ottoman Government gave notice, I'M
Ter date of January 10, 1874, of its desire to
crminatc the treaty of 1862, concerning com,
nerce and navigation, pursuant TO the pro
visions of the twenty-second article thereof
Jndcr this notice, the treaty terminated upon
he 9TH day of June, 1876. That Government
las invited negotiations towards the Conclu-
ion of new treaty. BY the act OF Congress
If March %, 1874, the President was author
zcd, when he should receive satisfactory in
formation that the Ottoman Government, or
That OF Egypt, had organized the new trlbun-
ais likely to secure To the citizens of the | nj
ed States the same impartial justice enjoyed
under the exercise Oh Judicial functions 10y
he diplomatic and consular officers al the
uittd States to suspend the operation of the
act of June %, 1860, and to accept for the cit
zens OF the United States the jurisdiction of
new tribunals. Satisfactory information hav
M been received of the organization of such
new tribunals in Egypt, caused prucama.
ion To be issued on the 2,th of March last,
the operation of the Act OF
June -, 1860, in Egypt, according 10 the pro
visions of the act. y copy OF the proclama.
ion accompanies this message. The United
States has united with the other Powers in
he organization OIL these courts. IL Is nOpcd
hat the iurISdictonal questions which have
arisen may be readily adjusted, and that THIS
evidence IN judicial cases may be hindcred
by no obstacles.
The necessary legislation to carry into et-
feet the conditions respecting commercial re.
ciprocity concluded with the Hawaiian Is.
lands, in 1873, having been had, the pr0cla-
nation to carry into effect the convention
rs provided by the act approved August 10,
1876, was duly issued upon the second Tuesday
OF September last \ copy thereof accom-
pauiCs tins message.
The commuliOus which have been prevalent
IN Mexico Tor some time past which unhap.
ply seem 10 bc not yet wholly quoted, have
led To complaints OF citizens CI the United
States of injuries by persons in authority. II
IS hoped, however, that these will ultimately
be adjusted To the satisfaction of both the
The frontier of the United
States IN that quarter las not been exempt
from acts of violence. either by citizens Oi
one republic OF those az the other. The ljc.
quency Of these acts | supposed to be incrc IS
ed, and their adjustment made more difficult