Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-12-08

~ StSiACuS. nc Eun1eC)
OF our
INDIAN POLICY
and treatment is so fully set forth by
the Secretary of the Interior and the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and
my own views are so fully expressed
therein, that | refer to their reports
and recommendations as my own.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Tho relations of the United States
with foreign powers continue on a
friendly footing. Questions have
arisen from time to time in regard
to the foreign relations of the gov
eminent, but the United States has
been happily free during the past
year from tho complications and EN-.
barrassmQnts which have surround.
ed some of the foreign powers. The
diplomatic correspondence submitted
herewith contains information as to
certain of the matters which have
occupied the attention of the Coy.
eminent The cordiality which at
tends our relations with the powers
Of the earth has been plainly shown
by the general participation of for.
eign nations in the
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION
which has Just closed, and by the
eXertions made by distant powers to
show their interest in and friendly
feelings toward the United States in
commemorative of the centennial
of the nation. The Government and
people of the United States have moi
only fully appreciated this exhibition
of kindly feeling, but it may De Just.
ly and fairly expected that 40 small
benefts@ill result, both to ourselves
and other nations, from a better &C.
quaintance and better appreciation
OF our mutual advantages and mutual
wants.
CALLING HOME OUR MINISTER'S.
Congress, at its last session, saw
fit to reduce the amount usually APP
propriated for foreign intercourse,
by Withholding appropriations for
representative of the United States
in certain foreign countries, and for
certain consular offices, and by re.
ducing the amounts usually appro-
priated for certain other diplomatic
corps, and thus necessitaling change
of grade of representatives. For
these reasons, Immediately upon the
passage of the bill making appropri-
atoms for diplomatic and consular
service for the present force, instruc-
tons were issued to the representa-
tives of the United States at Bolivia,
Ecuador and Colombia, and to the
consular officials for whom no appro.
priation had been made, to close
their respective legations and consu,
lates, and cease from the perform
ance of their duties. In like manner
steps were Immediately taken to sub
stitute charges d'atfaires for ministers
resident in Portugal, Denmark,
Greece, Switzerland and Paraguay.
While thoroughly impressed with
the wisdom OF sound economy in
the foreign service as in other branch
es of the government, l cannot es-
cape the conclusion that in some in
stances the Withholding of appropri-
atoms will prove an expensive rene
dy, and that the small retrenchment
saved by the change IF grade in GER
tain posts is an inadequate con-
sideration for the loss of influence
and Importance which will attend
our foreign representatives under
this reduction. l am of opinion that
a reconsideration of this subject will
cause change in some instances in
the conclusions reached.
ALABAMA COMMISSION.
At the last session of Congress the
Court of Commissioners of the Ala
bama Claims, whose functions were
continued by an act of the last ses-
sion of Congress until the first day
of January, 1877, has carried on its
labors with diligence and general
satisfaction. BY a report from the
Clerk Of the Court, transmitted here
with, bearing date Nov. IA, 1876, it
appears that during the time now al
lotted by law the Court will have
disposed Of all the claims presented
for adjudication. This report also
contains a statement of the general
results of the labors of the Court to
the date thereof. 1t is cause for con-
graduation that the method adopted
for the satisfaction Of the classes of
cases submitted to the Court, which
are of long standing and justly enti-
tied to early consideration, should
have proved successful and accepta-
BILE.
BOUNDARY WITH BRITISH AMERICA.
1t is with satisfaction that l am
enabled to state that the work OF the
Commission for determining the
boundary line between the United
States and British Possessions from
the northwest angle of the Lake of
Woods to the Rocky Mountains,
commenced in 1872, has been com
pleted. The final agreements OF the
Commissioners, with the maps, have
been duly signed, and the work of
the Commission is complete.
The fixing Of the boundary upon
the Pacific coast by the protocol of
March 10, 1873, pursuant to the
award of the Emperor OF Germany
by article XXXIV of the treaty of
Washington, with the termination of
the work of this commission, adjusts
and fixes the entire boundary be-
tween the United States and British
possessions, except that portion of
territory coded by Russia to the Uni
ted States under the treaty of 1867.
The work entrusted to the commits
sioners and the officers of the army
attached to the commission, has been
well and satisfactorily performed.
This original or final agreement of
the commissioners signed upon the
goth of May, 1876, with the original
list of astronomical stations observ-
ed. the original official list of monu-
ments, marking the interna tional
boundary lines,and the maps, records
and general reports relating to the