The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-06


The Court Of Commissioners Of Alabama
Claims, whose functions were continued 10y m
act Of the last session " Congress until the nrst
dav OF January, Isl. has carried on its lnbOrs
with diligence and general Satisfaction. By
fepoft from ihe clerk OF the court
transmitted herewith, bearing date November
H. 1870 IL appears thu within tho time now
allowed bv law. the Court Will have disposed OF
all the claims presented for adjudication. This
report also contains statement ~ tho general
results OF the labors Of the Cout ~ date thereof
IT is cause OF satisfaction that the method
Hdopted for the satisfaction of the classes Of
Claims submitted 70 the Court: which arc OF
long Standing and justly entitled 20 early CON
sideration, should prove successful and accepta-
IL Ia with satisfaction that I am enabled TO
state that the work Of the Joint commission for
determining the boundary line between the
United States and the British posscssions from
the northwest angle ofthc Lake Of the Woods to
tne Rocky Mountains, commenced In 1872. has
commissioners with the maps have been duly
signed. and the work OF the commission Is COM
plete. Tho fixing of the boundary upon the Pa
rihc coast by the protocol Of March TO- is,3pufsu-
nmt TO the award Of th Emucror OF Germany by
srticle ANNlN otthe treaty OF Washington. with
the Termination Of the work Of this commission,
adjuste aud fixes the entire boundary between
the United states aud the British possessions
30 the United States under the treaty of 1866.
The work intristed to the Commissioner. aud
Bion, has been well and satisfactorily perform
ed. The original 81 the final agree cnt Of the
iSG' with tho ORIGINAL "iist CT astronomic3i
stations observed, the original unical 9" list OF
monuments ilUrklug the International boundary
line" aud the maps records. aud general re
ports relating To the Commission. have been de-
posted IN the Department OF state. The official
report Of the ommi-suner on the part Of the
United States, with the report ~ the chief A.
tronomer uf the United states. will he submit
Rcd To Congress within short time.
reserve Tor separate communication To
Congress statement Of the condition % the
questions which lately arose with Great Britain
Respecting the surrender Of fugitive criminals
under the treaty Of lsi2.
THE OTTOMAN TREATY
The Ottoman Government gave notice under
date Of Jan. 10. 1874. of it, desire t. terminate
the treaty of lstE.. concerning commerce aud
navigation, pursuant to tho provisions Of The
notice the treaty terminated upon the jth day ~
June, 1876. That Government has Invited nego-
Nations toward the conclusion 81 "A new treaty.
Hy the act Of Congress Of March -, 1874, the
President was authorized when he should re-
reive satisfactory Information mat me ottoman
Government, ur that Of Egypt had organized
new tribunals likely 70 secure TO citizens Of
the United States the same impartial jus
fice enjoyed under the exercise Of judicial
functions 10y diplomatic and consular officers Il
the United States, To suspend the separation 81
the act Of June -, icN and To- accept Tor citizens
Of the United States the Jurisdiction of the new
tribunals. Satisfactury Information having been
received Of the organization uf such new til
bunals In Egypt. caused "A proclamation to hc
Issued on the nth of March last. suspending the
operation Of the act of Juue -. 1900 IN Egy pt,
according TO the provisions ~ the act. copy
Of the proclamation accompanies this message.
The United States has united with the other
powers in the organization OF these courts. II l.
hoped that the jnr dic!innal questions which
this advance IA Judicial reform may he hihdered
BY no obstacles.
Tie necessary legislation to carry into effect
Me convention respecting commercial reciproci-
" concluded with the Hawaiian Islands IA ls1j
having been had. the proclamation 10 carry into
effect the convention IA provided by the act AZ
proved Aug l5' $50, WAS duly issued upon the
bth day of september last COPS thereof ac
companies this message.
The commotions which have been prevalent
In Mexico for some time past. aud which, un-
happily, seem to he not yet wholly quoted. have
ed to complaints of citizens Of the United
states OF Injuries 10y persons Ia authority 1t is
hoped, however, that these will ultimately he
adjusted 70 the satisfaction Of both Govern
ments. The frontier OF the United States ia
that quarter has not been exempt from acts ~
violence by citizens of one republic or those Of
the other. The frequency of these Is supposed
Ia be increased, and their adjustment made
more difficult, by the considerable change In the
course oi the lower part OF we no riahue
nyer, which river Is a part o. the boundary he-
tween the two countries. These changes have
placed on either side OF the river portions IT
land which by existing conventions belong To
the jurisdiction of the Government ON the up
,'osiie side Of the river. 1he.. subject of the al
nstment ~ this cause of difficulty IL under con
tideration between the two republics.
Tne Government Of the lnltcd states II Co.
steamer sonliio. seized 10y the authoritic. u
That Government some Year, since ami the
amount has been transferred 10 the claimants.
the MEXICAN CLAIMS.
Il Ia with satisfaction that | am allie 20 an
nounee that the Joint commission for the adj
1ustment OF claims between the | nitcd states
and Mexico under the convention ~ lN~ the
duration Of which has been several times eX-
the report OF the agent Of the United states,
which accompanie7 the papers irnnsmitted
ume limited by the re eo o one thou v
SAND and seventeen claims on the Part II
leo were referred to the commission. OF
these claims eight hundred aud tmriy-one
were dismissed or disallow,d. and la one nun
dred and eichty.siN ca es awards were made Ia
favor OF the claimants against The MeNicau re-
public, amounting IA thc aggregate g. Si.l2i.-
62& within the same period nine hundred
and ninety eight claims on the part ~ the Citi-
zens Of the Me dcan rcpnhlic against the l'ni;ed
States were referred To- the commission. OF these
claims eight hundred and thirty conc We're dis
missed or dlsallowod and In one bundled aud
slxty-seven cases awards were made ia favor Of
the claimants against the United Statcv amount.
Ing In the aggregate t" Si',i4'~ ~ ~ The terms
IL TO be deducted from the amount awarded in
favor Of our ctizen. ngam-i MeM'n, and the
States, leaving the United states 10 make pro-
visions for thi proportion Of the awards in favor
the legislation which will he necessary to pro-
vide for the payment. In this connection am
ments due To- Fir Edward Thornton, the umpire
OF tho commission. who has given To The con
sidcration Of the large number II claims submit
tod TO him much time uuWcAilcd patience, ana
that fairness and Intelligence which are We'll
known 70 belong e. the arcompi he'd represent
alive of Great Britain. and WHICH are liNcWi-e
recognized 10y the Representatives in thls ooun-
Try of the republic of MeXico.
Monthly payments OF a very small part II the
amount due by the GOyernment of Venezuela
TO citizens Of the United state on account Of
continue to be made with reasonable punctual-
ty. That Government has proposed to change
the system which II has hitherto pursued Ia
this respect by issuing bonds Tor part If the
amount of the several claims. The proposition,
however, could not 1t is supposed properly he
accepted. AT least without The consent of the
holuers Of certificates of the Indebtedness 81
Venezuela. These are so much dispcr,cd that
would be dinc'lt If not impossible to ascer-
tain their disposition on the subject
EATuRAIIzATION.
In former messages have called the attention
OF Congress to the necessity Of legi, Stating with
regard to fraudulent naturall ation. and 10 the
subject of cxpatratiOu aud the election II ma
tiOnality The numbers Of persons 81 foreign
birth seeking a home IN the nited states. tho
ease and facility with which the honest en- grant
may after the lapse ui a reasonable time. be-
come possessed Of all the privileges Of citizen
ship Of the United States, and the frequent
occasions which Induce such adopted citi-
zens to return to the country Of their birth,
render the subject OF naturalization and tho
safeguards which experience has proved
necessary for the protection 81 the honest
naturalXcd citizen Of paramount importance.
The very simplicity in the requirements Of the
laws ON this question afford opportunity for
fraud and the want Of uniformity in the pro-
ceedings aud records II the various counts, and
In the forms Of the certificates of naturalization
Issued, Afford Il constant source 81 ulIlCIliy.