Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-04

answer TO their respective resolutions of iuqulry
Assurances have beeureceved that the au boz IN =
| at the seat of the Mexican Government have hotl
the disposition and the power 10 prevent and pun
ish such unlawful lnyRsions and deptedauons IL i
| earnestly hoped that events may prove these as
| surances to be well founded The best Interests
| of both countries require the msiutainarce o.
| peace upon the border, aud the development Of
| commerce between the two republics. II Is graft
| fying to add that tins temporary interruption O.
| official relations has not prevented due aUeutloi
| bv the representatives. OF the United S'aies H.
| Mexico to the protection of American ClilZeus =
far rs practicable. uoI has II utertered with the
| prompt payment Of the amounts due from MrN
leo to the United states, under the treaty oil jay
| T. 1868, and the award of the joint com 'ssion'
| White | do not anticipate an Interruption Of
| friendly relations wi h Mexico, yet | cannot bat
| look " ith some soCitude upon continuance O.
| border disorders as exposing the two countries 10
| mutations of popular feeling, and mlschauceN "i
| action which are naturally unlavOrable to com
| pe,e amtv. Firmly determined that nothing
| shall lie wanting on NV part 10 promote GOO
| understanding between the two nations | yet
| must ask the attention of Congress to The ac'ua
occurrences On the border, that the lives an
| property OF our cit zens may be adequately pro
| teCted aud peace preserved.
| The CUBAN WAR.
| Another year has passed without bringing to a
| close he protraCcd contest between the auisl
government and the instruction IN The island al
| Cuba. While the United States nave Sc tulou,ll
| ab,tained from any intervention ia tins contest,
il l. impossible not to feel 1t l. att nded by me-
dents affecting the rights OF American citlans
| apart from the effect OF the hos tues upon
| trade between the United States and CUBA tn u
progress Is inevitably accompanied by complaints
having more or less foundations of >eaIchts al
rests, emba goes and oppressive taxes upon the
property of American residents, aud OF unpro-
voked interference with American vessels and
commerce. II is due to the government of Sp'ln
to say that during the past year 1t has promptN
dIsal owed and offered PREPARATION Tor any unsu-
thorzed acts ofuuduly >ubordinstcs whenever such
acts have been brought to It's attention Nuch occur
| rences canuot but excite feelings of aun,yaucc,
suspicion and reseutmen', which are Greatly To b'
deprecated between the respective SUI icct- and
| ciliz us OF two tIien lily powers.
VENEZUELA.
Much delay consequent upon accuse ion Of
fraud in some of the awards has occurred IN re-
spect 10 the distribution of me limited amouut,
criyed from Ven, zutlA under the treaty OF April
p, 1856, applicable 10 the award, VI the JOINT com
mission created by that usaty 80 long these
matters pending in Congress, the executive
cannot assume eithC to pass upon the question pre-
scented, To distribute the funds received. IL l.
emue ntly desirable that Il, hnNe legislative action
should be taken, either approving the awards, To
be hual, or providing soue mode for lie exam iuas
ton of the CLAIMS.
CENTRAL. AND SOUTH AMERICA.
Oar relations " I'LL tM republics OF Genital and
South America and with the Empire of Btazt
have continued without serious change. further
than the temporary interruption OF pomatic inter
Course with Ven, zuela aud with GuAtc InHia. Am
lcabie II iatious have 'ieauy been rrstoItd with
Nelezuell, aud uut doubted that all grounds of
mi'undes standing with Guat mia vii speedily be
removed.
from all these counties there are favorable iu-
dlcauous OF u disposition ON the part vi their
governments ami people to reciprocal our cttotts
IN the direction OF increased commercial inter-
course. The governments of the samoan Islands
has sent au envoy IN tAe person oi rs secretary
Of Site to invite the government OF the
United States to Iecoguze anu pro Get their iu-
depeLdeLce, To establish commercial rtIstl Jns
with tfelr people, aud to assist them in their steps
toward responsible and regulated government
| The inhabitants OF these Islands, hAv NJ made
considerable progress m Christian ClvilZ ltIou aud
the development OF trade. are doubtful oil then
ability to mautsIu peace aud Independence with
| out the aid oi some stronger power. The subject
Is deemed worthy of respectful attention, and the
| ans upon assistance by thi. distant comnu-
| NIFTY Will be carefully considered.
INCREASE OF FOREIGN TRADE.
The long commercial depression in the United
States has dnecied attention to the subject of the
| possible Increase of our foreign trade, and the
| methods Tor lis development, not only with Eu-
| rope, but with other couutrts, anu especially
| with the states AMI sOvere.utes of the Western
| Hemisphere. Instructions IRON the Department
| OF state were issued TO the various hplomatc and
consular officers oil the government, asking them
| devote attention to the question of methods by
| winch trade between the respective countries Of
| their official residences and tle United state,
| could be most Judclousiy iostered. In obedience
| to these INST actions, examinations and reports
! upon this subject have been made by many OF
| these officers aud transmitted to The apartment
and the same are submitted to the Consideration
OF Congress.
REVENUES OF THE GOVERNMENT.
The annual report OF the Secretary of the Treas
ury on the state OF the finances, presents impor-
tant questions ior the action Of Con. ess, upon
some of which have already Iemalk ed.
The revenues OF the government during the
fiscal year ending June 3Oth, ISL, were S26y O0J-
5o6.62. The total expenditures Tor the same per-
Iod were S23o 600 OOS %, leaving surplus of
$50 $40 jT6y. This has substantially supplied
the requirements OF the sinking fund COR that year
The estimated revenues OF The current fiscal year
are 500 100000, and the est.mated expenditure
for the same period are S232, 400 643.12. Ii these
estimates prove to DC cor eel, there viii be sur
plus revenue Of S33 u6Y 500 Is an amount nearly
sufficient lor the slnkIng fund iol that year. The
Estimated revenues Tor the next fiscal year are
SO, go 900 1t appears fom the report, that
duriSg he last I>caa year The revenues OF the
gOvefuu cut compared with the pre-, year have
largely uecrtased. Tins decrease, Amounting 10
| the sam ol ) Is, liJ, iJ2, was manll III custom
duties, caused paIty by large falling of of the
amount Ot Imported uuuDle goods, aud partly by
| the general ia OF prices III the markets oi the
produc vi such articles as pay advalorem taxes.
While this Is iet lnJunous,y III the diminuton OF
the revenue, II has been accompanied " ith very
large increase OF expectations. The total exports
ddrn9 the last t.c"l year, including com, have
been r60o ,G3l ,ijl aud The imports have been
j. si52 %. pa lea,Iug balance Of irade in favor
| OF the L nittd State, amounting to tue sum of
SiG6 j39 Jll the b, neicIa effects of winch enter
| INTO all branches Of business.
CHANGE IN REVENUE LAWS.
| The estimated revenue for the next fiscal year
| will impose upon Congress the duty of strict ly
| limiting appropriations, including the ne uui~ite
sum Tor the maintenance of the sinking fund with.
| IN the aggregate of receipts, while the aggregate
| Of taxes should not be increased. Atns ndmen, Is
| must he made TO the revenue laws that would,
without diminishing the revenue, relieve the peo-
| pie from unnecessary burdens. A tax on tea and
coffee is shown by the experience, not only of our
own country, but of other counties, to be easily
collected without loss.
a tax of ten cents pound on tea, and two Gems
apouud on coffee, would produce a revenue ex.
ceedIng VIZ 100000, and thus enable Congress TO
repeal "A multitude oi annoying taxes including a
revenue not exceeding that sun. The internal
revenue system grew out of the uecesstics of war
aud most of the legislation imposing taxes upon
dome stic products under this system has been re-
pea,d by the substitution OF a tax on tea and COT
lee. All forms OF internal tax may be repealt d
except that on wbiskey, spirits tobacco ana beer
a.. A