Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-06-21
WASHINGTON.
Grants Speech n Ratiacasion Of Bayes,s
NesafaatiOn-GeneraI Reynolds
Home at San Antonio.
Morton and Empeaehment-Inereas Of
the Naval Appropriations The
Blaine InVestigatIOu- Blu.
ford WIIsOn-Etc.

WASHINGTON, June % The Prssi
uent to-day sent message tc the senate
ana nOase Of Representatives, respecting
the extrsdition treaty with Great Brit
aio. Alter Stating at length the pro.
Visions Of the treaty, and cTiticising the
action taken by the British government
an the Winslow and Brent cases, the
| President says:
ie is with extreme regret that / am
now called upon to announce that her
maJesty's gOs eminent has fiuslly re-
leased both Of these fueitives-Winslow
and Brent-and set them at liberty, thus
emitting to comply with the provisions
| and requirements OF the treaty under
which the extraditOn OF fugitive GRIM
lnals is made between the two govern
ments. The position thus taken by the
British government is adhered to, and
cannot but be regarded as an ahrogstion
and annulment of the article of the
treaty on extrsditicn. Under these cir
cuustsnces it viii not, in nov judgment.
comport with the dignity or self.
respect Of this government TO make
demands upon the British government
fer the surrender Of criminals, nor enter
tain any requisition of that character
from that government under the treaty.
1t will be cause of deep regret il the
treaty, which has been thus beneficial In
its practical operations, which has
worked SO well and so efficiently, and
which, Notwithstanding the exciting
and, at times, violent political disturb.
snces Of which both countries have been
the scene duriEg its existence, has given
rise to no Complaint on the part Of either
government against either its spirit or
Ils provisions, should be abruptly termi-
mated, 1t has tended TO the protection
of society and the general interests of
Ootn couEtfieS. Its abrogation and an
nuimsHt would be q Tetr0grade step in
international intercourse. 1 have been
anxious, and have made an effort, TO en-
large its scope, aud to make a supple
mehtsry treaty which would be a still
more efficient agent for the punishment
and prevention of crime. at the same
time have felt it to be my duty to de-
cline to entertain proposition made by
Great Britain, pending its refusal to ex-
ecute the existing treaty, to amend it
by practically conceding by treaty the
identical conditions which that govern
ment demands under its act of parlia-
ment. In addition to the impossibility
Of Insisting upon entering into negotia.
tions under the menace of an intended
violation or 8 refusal to execute the
terms OF an existing treaty, deemed 1t
iDadvisable to treat OF only the one
amendment proposed by Great Britain.
While the United States desires an er-
lsrgement Of the list Of crimes for which
extrsdition may be a. ked, and tther i'm.
provements which experience has shown
n1igbt be embraced ia new treaty, it is
for the wisdom of congress to determine
whether the article OF the treaty relating
to extradition is to be any longer regard
ed as obligatory on the government OF
the United States, or as forming part of
the supreme law of the land. Should
the attitude of the British government
remain unchanged, shall not, without
an expression of the wish of congress
that [ should do so, take any action
either in making or granting requisi-
tions for the surrender OF fugitive crimt-
mails under the treaty of 1872.
U. S. GRANT.