The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-12-07

other branches OF the Government, l can
| not escape the conclusion that in sons
! instances the Withholding OF ap
| propriaIlcns VII prove an expensive
! economy, and that the small retrenchmei.t
| secured by change ef grade in certain
| diplomatic posts, Is net al adequate COD.
| sideration for the loss Of influence and i'm
portance which will attend our foreign rep
resentaiives under this reduction. ] am Of
the opinion that a reconsideration of the
subject will cause a change in some in.
/ stances in the conclusion reached at the
last session Of Congress.
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
The count Of commissioners on the Ala.
bama claims, whose functions were contin.
ued By get OF last Session Of CONGRESS until
the fret day Of January, 1877, has
carried On is labors with dill.
gence and general satisfaction. By q
| report from the clerk OF the court, Trans
mittad herewith, bearing date November
II, 1876, it appears that during the time
now allowed by law the court will havs
disposed OF all OF the claims presented fo,
| adjudication. This report also contains a
statement OF the result Of the court to date
There is cause of satisfaction that the
method adopr"d for the satisfaction OF the
CLASSES OF claims admitted the court, which
are Of long standing and justly entitled to
early consideration, should have proved
successful and acceptable.
BOUNDARY COMMISSION.
Il is with satisfaction that / am enabled
| 10 state that the work of the Joint Commits.
| sion for determining the boundary line
between the United States and British pos
sessions, from the northwest angle Of the
Lake OF the Woods TO the Rocky Noun
| tains, commenced in 1872, has been com.
pleted. The final agreements of the Com.
missioIers, with the map, has been duly
signed, and the work Of the Commission il
| 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 x1xiv
OF the treaty OF Washington, with the ter
| mination Of the work of this Commission,
adjusts and fixes the end boundary between
| the United States and the British posses
sions, except rs 10 the portion of territory
ceded by Russia to the United States by
the treaty Of 1861. The work entrusted to
the Commission and the officers OF the
army attached to the Commission, has been
we'll and satisfactorily performed. The
original draft OF the final agre emen. of the
Commission, signed upon the 18th OF May,
1876, with the original list OF astronomical
stations Observed, and the orig inal official
list OF monuments marking the Interra-
tional boundary lines, and maps and re-
cords and general reports relating to the
Commission, have been deposited in the
Department of State. The official report
of the Commissioner 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 / reserve
for a separate communication to Congress a
statement of the condition of the questions
which lately arose with Great Britain, re-
specting the surrender Of fugitive criminals
under the treaty of 1912. The Ottoman
Government gave notice, under date of J an
uary ID, 1874, Of its desire to terminate the
treaty OF 1862, concerning commerce and
navigation. Pursuant TO the provisions OF
the 22nd article thereof, under this notice,
the treaty terminated upon the 9th day OF
June, 1876. That Government has invited
negotiations towards the conclusion Of i
new treaty. BY the act Of Congress of
March Ord, 1874, the President was au-
thorized, when he should receive satisfactory
information tina; the Ottoman Government
or that OF Egypt had organized new tribun-
ais likely 10 secure - citizens OF the United
States the same impartial justice enjoyed
under the exercise Of judicial functions by
diplomatic and consular officers OF the Unit
ed States, TO suspend the operation of the
act Of June Dad, 1850 and TO accept for
citizens Of the United States the jurisdic-
ton Of the new tribunal. Satisfactory in
formation having been received of the or
ganiZslion OF such Few tribunals in Egypt,
| caused proclamation TO be issued on the
9th Of March last, suspending the opera
ton of The act Of the 27ih Of June 1876 in
Egypt, according to the provisions OF the
act. 4 copy OF the proclamation accumpa-
nies this message.
The United States has united with the
other powers in the organization Of these
courts, and it is hoped that the jurisdiction
questions which have arisen, may be readf-
iy adjusted.
The necessary legislation TO carry into
effect the cammeicial reciprocity concluded
with the Hawaiin Islands in 1879 having
bsen had, the proclamation TO carry it into
effect, and TO call the convention, as pro-
vided by the act approved August ID lS76f
was duly issued upon the first Tuesday o,
September last. A copy thereof accompa-
MES this message. The commotions which
have been prevalent in Mexico for some
time past which unhappiiy seem to he not
wholly quoted yet, have led to complaints
of citizens OF the United States, of injuries
by persons in authority. 1t is hoped, how
ever, that these will ultimately be adjusted
to the satisfaction OF both Governments.
The frontier Of the United States in that
quarter has not been exempt from acts ii
violence by citizens Of one republic on
those of the others; the frequency OF these
is supposed to be increased, and their adjust
ment made more difficult, by al
change in the course OF the lower part OF |
the Rio Grsnde river, which river is a part |
of the boundary between the two countries. |
These changes have placed on either side |
of that river portions of land which by ex-
isting conventions belongs TO the iurisdic-
ton OF the government on the opposite side
Of the river. The subject of the adjustment |
Of this cause Of difficulty is under consider
alton between the two republics.
The government of the United States OF |
Columbia has paid the award in the case OF
The steamer Montejo, seized by the authori-
ties OF that government some years since,
and the amount has been t. ansferred to the
claimants.
1t is with satisfaction that am able to
announce that the joint commission for the
adjustment OF claims between the United
States and MeIica, under convention of
1865, the duration Of which has been sey.
.ral times extended, has brought its labors
10 a close. From the report OF the agent
Of the United States, which accompanies
he papers transmitted herewith, it will be
'een that within the time limited BY the
commission l,OlI claims on the part
't the United States against Mex
co we're referred to the commission.
D. these claims S3l were dismissed or dis
allowed, and in 1S6 cases awards were made
n favor of the claimants against the Mex
can Republic, amounting 10 $40 035 633 20.
Within the same period 99S claims on the
part of citizens of the Mexican Republic
'gainst the United States were referred to
he commission. OF these claims S3l were
dismissed or disallowed, and in 167 cases
wards were made in favor of claimants
lgainst the United States amounting in the
ggregate to Sl5,Oi9,sil. BY the terms of
he convention the amount OF these
wards is to be deducted from
he amount awarded in favor
f our citizens against Mexico and
he balance only TO be paid by Mexico to !,
he United States, leaving the United ;
tates to make provisions for their pro. !,
'csition of the awards in favor of its own ].
itizen. invite your attention to legisla- a.
ion which will be necessary to provide for
heir payment. In this connection l am
repaired to be able to express the acknowl-
fgment due Lord Thornton, the Umpire of