American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-12-08


ed due attention by the representatives of
! the United States in Mexico to the protec-
| ton of American citizens, as far as practical
| BILE, nor has it interfered with the prompt
| payment of the amounts due from Mexico
| to the United States, under the treaty of
| July 4, 1868, and awards of the Joint Com
mission. While do not anticipate any in
| terruptiOn of friendly relations with Mexico,
yet can not but look with some
solicitude upon a continuance of border
disorders, as exposing the two countries to
emotions of popular feeling and mischances
of action, which are naturally unfavOrable to
| complete amity. While L am firmly deter
| mined that nothing shall be wanting on my
part to promote good understanding be-
| tween the two nations, yet must ask the
| attention of Congress to actual occurrences
on the border, that the lives and property of
our citizens may be adequately protected
| and peace preserved.
THE CUBAN QUESTION.
Another year has passed without bringing
to close the prOtracted contest between the
Spanish Government and the insurrection-
lists in the island of Cuba. While the United
States have sedulously abstained from inter
vention in this controversy, it is impossible
not to feel it is attended by incidents affect
ing American citizens, apart from the
effect of the hostilities upon trade be-
tween the United States and Cuba.
Their progress is inevitably accom-
panied by complaints, having more or
less foundation, searches, arrests, embargoes
and oppressive taxes upon property of Amer
lean residents, and unprovOked interfer-
| cnCcS WITH American vessels ana commerce.
1t Is due to the Government of Spain to say
that, during the past year, it has promptly
disavowed and offered PREPARATION for any
authorized acts of unduly Jealous subordi-
mates whenever such acts have been brought
to its attention. Nevertheless, such occur
rences can not but tend to excite feelings
| of annoyance, suspicion and resentment,
which are greatly to be deprecated between
the respective subjects and citizens of the
two friendly powers.
VENEZUELAN CLAIMS.
tions of fraud in some of the awards, has
occurred in respect to the distribu-
ton of the limited amounts recciv-
2 ed from Venezuela under the treaty
4 of April %, 1866, applicable to the awards
| of the Joint Commission created by that
e treaty. So long as these matters are pend
ing in Congress, the Executive can not as
sumo either to pass upon the questions pre-
4 scented or distribute the fund received. 1t
t is eminently desirable that definite legisla-
tive action should be taken, either deciding
;, the award to be final or providing some
o method for the examination of claims.
: SOUTH AMERICAN RELATIONS.
f Our relations with the Republics of Cen
: trail and South America and with the EN-
n pire of Brazil have continued without
: serious change, further than the temporary
$ interruption of diplomatic intercourse with
/, Venezuela and with Guatemala. Amicable
n relations have already been fully restored
d with Venezuela, and it is not doubted that
# all grounds of misunderstanding witt
a Guatemala will be speedily removed: From
l, all those countries there are favorable lndI-
Is cations OF a disposition on the part OF theIl
K Governments and peoples to reciprocate oul
e efforts in direction of Increased commercia
,e intercourse.
IS THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.
Al The Government of the Samoan Islands
y has sent an envoy, in the person of its Sec
= rotary of State, to invite the Government o
n the United States to advise and protec
l. their independence, to establish commercial
ii relations with their people, and to assis
l. them in their steps toward responsible ant
IN regulated government. The inhabitants o
ID these islands having made considerable prog
l. ress in Christian civilization and the de
&c velopment of trade, are doubtful OF thel
&c ability to maintain peace and independence
r, without the aid of some stronger power
in The subject is deemed worthy of respectful
at attention, and the claims upon our assist
l. ance by this distant community will b
m carefully considered.
l. FOREIGN TRADE.
l. The long commercial depression in tn
IN United States has directed attention to tn
N subject of the possible increase of our for
Ig eign trade, and the methods for its develop
lie ment, not only with Europe but with othe
Of countries, especially with the States AM
I'd SOvereignties of the Western Hemisphere
E. Instructions from the Department Of Stat
IS. were issued to various diplomatic and con
rs sular officers of the Government, askin
r. them to devote attention to the question
J. and to the methods by which trade between
IS, the respective countries of their official resi-
a. dences and the United States could be ju
diciously fostered. In obedience to thes
instructions, examinations and reports upo
es this subject have been made by many Of thes
a. officers and transmitted to the Department
of and the same are submitted to the consider
sh alton of Congress.
D. TREAsURER's REPORT.
IN The annual report of the Secretary of tn
ne Treasury on the state of the finances pre-
ne SCENTS important questions for the action {
lg Congress, upon some of which have alread
remarked. The revenue of the Govern
L. ment during the fiscal year ending June 81
ed 1877, was $3.50, 000, $50. The total eXpendi
IS, lures for the same period were $23S, $3.50, O0t
is leaving a surplus revenue of $50, $40, 81
to This has substantially supplied the require
ed ments of the sinking fund for that year. Tn
of estimates of the revenue for the current ifs
cal year are 1865 800 900, and the estimate
IS, expenditures for the same period are 1922
E. 430, 643. If these estimates prove to b
in correct there will be surplus revenue {
of $50, 069, 500, amount nearly sufficient fC
ce the sinking fund for that year. The est
- mated revenues for the next fiscal year az
of sos, 250, 900.
as 1t appears from the report, that during tn
ty last fiscal year the revenues of the Govern
+, ment, as compared with the previous yea
lie have largely decreased. The decrease
amounting to SIS, 4S1 1854, was mainly
a. customs duties, caused partly by larg
o. falling off in the amount of imported dutiabl
i goods and partly by the general fall of price
or in the markets for productions of such arti
y. cles as pay ad valOrem taxes. While thi
Is, is felt injuriOusly in the diminutiOn of tn
ry reveMle, it has been accompanied with
I'd tai exports during the last fiscal year, includ
he ing coin, have been $685., 637 ,457, and the i'm
IT, ports have been 1892 ,097 $40, leaving a bal
so ance of trade in favor of the United States
ed amounting to the sum of $166, $50 ,917, tn
st beneficial effects of which extend to a
ly branches of business.
us ECONOMY URGED.
Ut The estimated revenue for the next fiscs
to year will impose upon Congress the duty c
is strictly limiting appropriations, includn
ne the requisite sum for the maintenance o
2, the sinking fund, within the aggregate esti
~ mate of receipts. While the aggregate c
OF taxes should not be increased, amendment
might be made to the revenue laws tha
would, without diminishing the revenue
of relieve the people from unnecessary burden
of A tax on tea and coffee is shown by the eX
ne perience, not only of own country, bu
n of other countries, to be easily collecte
!. without loss by differentiation or fraud
n and largely borne in the country of produc
ld ton. A tax of ten cents a pound on tie
of and two cents pound on coffee would pro
mi duce revenue of SIS, 000, 900, and thus en-
re abe Congress to repeal multitude of an
le nOying taxes yielding revenue not exceed
70 ing that sum. The Internal revenue syster
grew out of the necessities of war, an
most of the legislation imposing take
In upon domestic products under this system
p has been repealed. By the substitution @
ri tax on tea and coffee all forms of interna
l. taxation may be repealed, except that o
lie whisky, spirits, tobacco and beer.
Id - VIOLATIONS OF REVENUE LAWS.
IN enacting more vigorous laws for the protec
as ton of the revenue, and for the punishment
Oh of fraud and smuggling. This can best b
lie done by iudiciOus provisions that will in