, 1877-12-15

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ment have both the disposition and til
power to prevent and to punish such un
lawful invasions and depredations. Ii
earnestly to be hoped that events ma,
prove these assurances to be well founded
The best interests of both countries re
quire the maintenance of peace upon tn
border, and the development Of commerc
between the two republics, II is grstify
ing to add that this temporary interrup
ton Of official relations has not prevente,
due attention by representatives OF tn,
United States in Mexico To the protection
Of American citizens as far rs practicable
nor has it interfered with the prompt pay
ment of the sum dne from Mexico to IN,
United States under the treaty of Jul'
4th, 1868, and the awards of the join
commission. While | do not anticipat,
an interruption Of the friendly relations
with Mexico, yet / cannot but look witt
some solicitude upon continuance of thl
border disorders rs bringing the two com
tries To nfriendly popular feeling ;rnt
miSchancas OF action which are naturally
unfavorahle to complete amity. Firmly
determined that nothing shall be wantina
on my part to promote good understand
ing between the two nations, l yet mus:
ask the attention of congress to the actual
occurrences on the border, that the lives
and property of our citizens may be ade-
quately protected and peace preserved.
CUBAN AFFAIRS.
Another year has passed without bring
ing to close the protracted contest be-.
tween the Spanish government and the
insurrection on the island of Cuba While
the United States have sedulously abstain
ed from any intervention III this contro-
versy, it is impossible not 10 feel that it is
attended by incidents affecting the rights
os American citizens apart from the effect
of the hostilit.es upon trade between the
United States and Cuba. Their progress
is inevitably accompanied by complaints
havingmore orieSsfoundation, of searches.
arrests, embargoes and oppressive taxes
upon the property Of American residents
and of unproyoked interference with
American vessels and commerce. 1t is due
To the government OF SPAN to say that,
durin. the irast year, it has promptly dis
ayowcd and offered reparation for any un-
authorized acts of unduly zealous subord-
mates whenever srch acts have been
brought to its attention. Nevertheless,
such occurrences cannot but tend to ex-
cite feelings of annoyance, suspicion and
resentment, which are greatly to be dep
recated between the respective subjects
and citizens of two friendly powers
THE VENEZUELAN AWARDS.
Much delay consequent upon occasions
Of fraud III scme of The awards have occur
cd in respect to the distribution Of the
limited amounts received from Venezuela
under the tr, ATTY of April %, 1856, appli-
cable to the awards of the JOINT commis-
sion created by that treaty, So long us
these matters iire pending IN congress the
executive cannot assume either to pass
upoa the questions presented or to dis
tribute the funds received. 1t is evident
" desirable that definite legislative action
shoEld be taken. either deciding the awards
to be final CT providing some methods for
REORGANIZATION Of the claims.
Our relations with the republics OF Cen
tral and South America and with the cm
pre- Of Brazil have continued without Ser
,ous change, further than The temporary
interruption of diplomatic intercourse with
Venezuela and with Guatemala. Amicable
relations have already been fully restored
with Venezuela, and it is not doubted that
all grounds of misunderstanding with
Guatemala Will bespeedily removed. From
all these countries there are favorable IN
dications of 4 disposition Oh the part OF
their governments and people to reclpro-
cate our efforts in the direction Of lncreas !
ed commercial intercourse
The government Of the Samoan Islands |
have sent an envoy in the person Of It's |
secretary Of state 10 invite the Tn ed |
States to advise and protect independence,
to establish commerciai relations with
their people and to assist them in their
steps toward responsible and regular gov
ernment The inhabitants of these islands |
having made considerable progress III
christian civilization and the development |
of trade, are doubtful of their ability To
maintain peace and independence without
the aid OF some stronger power. The sub
Ject Is deemed worthy Of respectful atten-
ton and the claims upon our assistance OF
these distant communities viii be carefully
considered.
TEaDE WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
ThSS,ng commercial depression in the
United States has directed attention to
the subject of the possible increase of our
Z l. IL l.. 8, i.
velopment, not only with Europe but with
other countries, and especially with the
states and sOvereignties OF the western
hemisphere. Instructions from the de-
partment OF state were issued to the var
ious diplomatic and consul officers of the
government asking them to devote atten-
ton to the question of the methods by
which trade between the respective conn
tries OF their official residence and the
United States should be most judiciously
founded In obedience to the iIistruc
tions examinations and reports upon this
subject have been made by many of those
officers and transmitted to the considera-
ton OF congress
GOVERNMENT FINANCES.
The annual report Of the secretary OF
the treasury on the state of finances pre-
sents important questions for the action
of congress, upon some of which l have
already remarked The revenues of the
government during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1877, were S269 ,OO0, $50 52 The
total expenditures for the same period
were S22S, ,6G0, ,O0S 90, leaving surplus
revenue of s30, ,340,577 60. This has sub |
stantially supplied the requirements Of the
sinking fund for that year The estimates
Of revenue of the current fiscal year are
S265, 800, 900, and the estimated expendi-
rures for the same period are S232 49,