Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-12-16
IN ADVANCE.
NO. 81.
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE


the representatives of the United States at
Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia, and to the
consular officers for whom no apf ropratlon
had been made, to close their respective lega-
tions and consulates, and cease from the per-
formauce Of their duties and, in like manner,
steps were Immediately taken to substitute
chsrges daffaires for ministers resident in
Portugal, Denmark, Greece, Sutherland and
Paraguay. While thoroughly impressed with
the wisdom Of sound economy in the foreign
service as in other branches Of the govern
ment, cannot escape the conclusion that IN
some instances the Withholding Of appropria-
tions will prove an expensive economy, ana
that the small reirenchment secured by
change of grade in certain diplomatic posts
is not an adequate consideration for the loss
of influence and Importance which viii attend
our foreign representatives under this reduc-
tion. | am of tae opinion that re,examina-
ton of the subject will cause change IN
some instances in the conclusions reached on
these subjects at the last session OF Congress-
THE COURT OF COMMISSIONERS
Of AI.bama elaine, whose functions were con-
tinued By an act Of the last session OF Coz
gress until the first day Of January, 1877, has
carried on its labors with diligence and gen.
eral satisfact or. By a report from the clerk
Of the court, transmitted herewith, bearing
Gate November IA, 1876, it appears that within
the time now allowed by law the court will
have disposed of all the claims presented for
ADJUDICATION. This report also contains state
ment of the general results Of the lsbors of
the court to date thereof 1t is cause Of sat
isfaction to know that the method adopted for
the satisfaction of the classes of claims sub
mitted to the court which are of long stand
ing and Justly entitled to early consideration,
should have proved successful and acceptable.
It is with satisfaction that l am enabled to
state that the work of the joint commission
for determining the boundary line between
the United States and 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
ments 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, 1878, pursuant to
| the award of the emperor OF Germany by ar
tic XXXLV Of the treaty of Washington,
| with the termination Of the work OF this com
mission, adiusts and fixes the entire boundary
between tie UDited States and the British .
possessions, except the portion OF territory
ceded by Russia to The United States underline
treaty of 1867. The work intlusted to the
commiss toner's and the oficsrs of the army at
tached to the commission has been well and
salts sfactorily performed. The original OF the
final agreement OF the commissioners. signed
upon the twenty-ninth Of May, 1876 with the
original ''list of astronomical stations OBJ
served" the original official list OF monu-
ments marking the International boundary
line" and the maps records and general re-
ports relating to the commiss, ion have been
deposited in the department OF State. The off,
cial report Of the commissioners on the part
Of the United States, with the report OF the
chief astronomer of the United States, will be
submitted to Congress within short time.
THE ExTRADITIoN TREATY WITH ENGLAND.
....o fo- a sororota communication n
Congress statement of the condition OF the
questions which lately arose with Great
Britain respecting the surrender of fugitive
criminals under the treaty Of lS42'
FOREIGN TREATIES.
The Ottoman government gave notice under
date of January Is, 1874, Of its desire to ter
inmate the treaty of 1862 concerning COM
merce and navigation, pursuant to the pro-
visions of the tTenty-second article thereof.
Under This notice the treaty terminated upon
the fifth day of June, 1876. That government
has invited negotiations toward the conclu-
sion of a new treaty By the act Of Congress
of March 23, 1874 the President was author
lied, when no should receive satisfactory IN
formation that the Ottoman government or
that Of Egypt had organized new tribunals
likely to secure to citizens Of the United States
the same impartial justice enjoyed under the
exercise of judicial functions by diplomatic
and consular officers Of the Uuited States, to
suspend the operation OF the act of June ",
1860, and to accept for citizens OF the United
States the jurisdiction OF the new tribunals;
Satisfactory information having been received
Of the organization OF such new t'lDunsls IN
Egypt csueed a proclamation to be Issued
on the twenty-seventh of March last, suspend
ing the operation OF the act Of June ", 1860,
. in Egypt, according to the PROVISIONS OF the
act. A copy OF the proclamation accompanies
this message The United States has nnltea
with the other powers in the organizanon OF
: these courts 1t is hoped that the Jurisdiction
al questions which have arisen may be reaaily
adjusted, and that this advance in judicial re-
! form may be hindered by no obstacles.
The necessary legislation to carry into ehect
the convention respecting commercial reel
, procity concluded with the
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS
, in 1875 having been had, the PROCLAMATION to
carry into effect the convention As PROVIDED
by the act approved Augustus, 1876 was duly
: issued upon the 9th day Of September iast; A
copy thereof accompanies this message. Inc
connections which have been prevalent IN
Mexico for some time past, and which, unhap-
pily seem to be not yet wholly quieted, nave
! led to complaints of citizens OF the United
States of iniuries by persons in authority. IL
) is hoped, however, that these will ultimately
, be adjusted to the satisfaction OF both govern
! ments. The
|
in that quarter has not bsen exempt from acts
of violence by citizens of one republic on those
, Of the other. The frequency Of these is sup
posed to be increased and their adjustment
made more difficult, by the considerable
changes in the course of the lower part OF
the Rio Grande river, which river is part OF
the boundary between the two countries.
} These changes have placed on either siae Oh
that river portions of land which by existing
conventions belong to the jurisdiction OF the
government On the opposite side OF the river:
: The subject Of adius ment of this cause OF
difficulty is under consideration between the
two republics.
: The government of the United States OF
Colombia has paid the award in the case OF the
steamer Montiio, seized by the authorities Of
that government some years since, and the
7 amount has been transferred to the claimants
MEXICAN CLAIMS.
II is with satisfaction that / am able to an
nouuce that the ioint commission for the ad-
iustment Of claims between the United states
and Mexico under the convention Of 1868, the
, duration Of which has been several times ex-
tended, has brought it's labors to close:
From the report Of the sgent Of the United
: States which accompanies the papers trans
mitted herewith, it will be seen that within
the time limited by the commission one thou
sand and seventeen claims on the part OF clti-
: zens of the United States against Mexico were
referred to the commssion.
OF these claims s3i were dismissed or disal-
lowed, and 1856 awards were made in favor OF
: the claimants against the Mexican republic,
amounting in the aggregate TO VA il20, ozz'zV.
Within the same period 99S claims on the part
of citizens of the Mexican republic against the
United States were referred to tho commis-
sion or these claims S31 were Dismissed or
disallowed, and in l67 cases Awards we're made
in favor Of the claimants against the United
: States amounting in the aggregate to $780,
1891.