The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-01-04

D'1ADA '''44StA AASA7 JUST CiUSEN anu DE the EA-
ertlons made by distant powers show their
interest. and friendly feelings towards the
United States commemorative Of the CEN
| tennlal OF the nation. The government and
people Of the United States have not fully
appreciated this exhibition of kindly feel
ing, but it may be justly and fairly expected
that no small benefits will result to ourselves
| and other nations from n better acquaint-
anCe and better appreciation of our mutual
advantages and mutual dependence.
Congress at its last session saw fit to reduce
the amount usually appropriated to foreign
intercourse by Withholding appropriations
for representatives of the United States in
certain foreign countries and for certain con-
sular officers, and by reducing the amount
usually appropriated for certain other d.
plomatic posts and thus necessitating
changes in the grades of representatives.
For those reasons, Immediately upon the
passage of the bill making appropriations
for diplomatic and consular services for the
present force, instructions were issued to the
representatives of the United States at BO.
liVia, Ecuador and Columbia, and to the
consular officers for whom no appropriation
| had been made to close their respective le-
cations and cOnsUlateS, and cease from the
performance Of their duties, and, in like
manner, steps were Immediately taken to
substitute Charges de Affairs for ministers
resident in Portugal, Denmark, Greece,
Switzerland and Paraguay. While thorough
ly impressed with the wisdom of sound
! economy in the foreign service, as IN other
branches of the government, I cannot es-
cape the conclusion that in some instances
! the withholding of appropriations will prove
an expensive economy and that the small
! retrenChment secured by change Of grade
in certain diplomatic posts as not an ade-
| quate consideration for this influence and
! Importance which will attend our foreign
| representatives under this reduction. | am
of opinion that a re-eXaminatOn of the sub
| ject will cause change in some in
| stances in the conclusions reached on
these subjects at the last session of
! congress; and the court of commissioners of
( the
ALABAMA CLAIMS,
whose functions were concluded by an act
of the last session Of congress until the first
day of January, 1877, has carried on its Ia
! bOrs with diligence and general satisfaction.
| By a report from the clerk of the court
transmitted herewith, bearing the date of
! November H. 1876, it appears that during
! the time now allowed by law, the court will
| have disposed of all the claims presented
| for adjudication. The report also contains
! the statement of the general result of the
| labOrs of the court to date thereof. 1t
! is cause for condemnation that the method
| dQODLeu IOE the Satisfaction Ol tue CLASS OF
! claims admitted to the court which are Of
| long standing, and Justly entitled to early
consideration, should they prove to be sue
| cessful and acceptable.
1t is with satisfaction that I am enabled
! to state that the work of the joint commits
| sion, for determining the boundary line be-
! tween the United States and the British
| possessions from the northwest angle of the
| Lake of the Woods to the Rocky mountains
| L. o%o,I
| The final agreement 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, 1873,
pursuant to the agreement of the emperor
| of Germany, by article 81 of the treaty of
| Washington, with the termination of this
| commission, which djusts and fixes the end
| boundary between the United States and
the British possessions, except as to the
portion of territory coded by Russia to the
| United States and the treaty of 1867. The
work entrusted to the commissioners of the
! offices of the army, attached to the COmmis-
SION has been well and satisfactorily per
formed. The original official agreement OF
the commission, signed upon the goth OF
May, 1876, with the original list Of astronG-
miCal stations observed, and the original
official test of monuments marked inter
QaLlOQdl DOuuudIN 1luGSy anu maps anu LC-
cords and general reports relating to the
commission have been deposited in the de-
partment of state. The official report Of the
commissioner on the part of the United
States, with the report of the chief astrORO-
mer of the United States, will be submitted
to congress within q short time.
FOREIGN TREATIES.
| reserve for a special communication to
congress statement of the condition of the
questions which have lately arose with Great
Britain respecting the surrender Of fugitive
criminals under the treaty Of 1912. The OF.
tOman government gave notice under date OF
January Is, 1874, of its desire to terminate
the treaty of 1852, concerning commerce
and navigation, pursuant to the 22d article
thereof. Under this notice the treaty ter
minated upon the 9TH day of June, 1876.
That government has invited negotiations to-
wards the conclusion of a new treaty. ny
the act of congress of March %, 1874, the
president was authorized when he should re-
receive satisfactory information thStthe Otto
man government, or that of Egypt, had organ
lied new tribuni Is likely to secure to citizens
of the United States the same impartial JUS
tice enioyed under the exercise of judicial
functions by the diplomatic and consular
officers of the United states, to suspend the
oDeration of the act of June p, 1860, and TO |
accent for the citizens Of the United States |
the jurisdiction of the new tribunals |
Satisfactory information having been
received of the organization OF
such new tribunals in Egypt l caused |
a proclamation to be issued on the 9th |
of March last, suspending the operation
of the act of June y, 1876, in Egypt, &C !
cording to the provisions Of the act. A
copy Of the proclamation accompanies
This message. The United States has
united with the other powers in the organ
iZatiOn of these courts. 1t is hoped that the