The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-12-09

venient communication between the United
States and Mexico by railway, are on the
point of disappearing. and that several i'm
portant enterprises of this character will soon
be set on foot which can not fail to contribute
largely to the pros peritS OF the two countries.
New envoys from Guatemala, Colombia
Bolivia, Venezuela and Nicaragua have re-
Gently arrived at this capital, whose distinc
ton and enlightenment AFFORD the best guar
antee of the continuance of friendly relations
between ourselves and these sister Republics.
The relations between this Government and
that of the United States of Colombia have
engaged public attention during the past
year, mainly by reason of the project of an
interoceanic canal across the Isthmus of Pam
anna, to be built by private capital under q
concession from the Colombian Government
for that purpose. The treaty obligations sub
sistlng between the United States and Colon
bia, by which we guarantee the neutrality of
the transit and the sovereignty and property
OF Colombia in the Isthmus, make II neceSsa-
ry that the conditions under which so stu
pendous change in the region embraced in
this guarantee should be efected-transform-
ing, as 1t would, this Isthmus, from a barrier
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, into
a gateway and thoroughfare between them,
for the navies and the merchant ships of the
world-should receive the approval of this
Government, as being compatible with the
discharge of these obligations on our part,
and consistent with our interests as the prin-
cipal commercial power of the Western Hem
L "a
special message to Congress in March last, in
relation to this project, deem it my duty to
press upon your attention. Subsequent con-
sideration has but confirmed the opinion
"that it is the right and duty of the United
States to assert and maintain such supervis-
ion and authority over any interoceanic canal
across the Isthmus that connects North and
South America as will protect our national
interest"
The war between the Republic of Chill on
the one hand, and the allied Republics OF
Peru and Bolivia on the other, still continues.
This Government has not felt called upon to
Interfere in a contest that is within the bel
igerent rights of the parties as indie
pendent States We have, however, always
held ourselves in readiness to aid in accom-
modating their difference, and have at differ
ent times reminded both belligerents of our
willingness to render such service.
Our good Offices in this direction. were re-
Gently accepted by all the belligerents, and it
was hoped they would prove eificacious; but
l regret to announce that the measures which
the Ministers of the United States at Santiago
and Lima were authorized to take, with the
view to bring about peace, were not success
full. In the course of the war some questions
have arisen affecting neutral rights; in all of
these the Ministers of the United States have,
under their instructions, acted with prompt
ness and energy inprotection OF American in
terests.
The relations of the United States with the
Empire of Brazil continue to be most cordial,
FOREIGN TRADE AND COMMERCE. Z,
The efforts ofthe Department of State to en-
large the trade and commerce of the United
States, through the active agency of consular
officers and through the dissemination of in
formation obtained from them, have been I'M
relaxed. The interest in these efforts, as de-
veloped in our commercial communities, and
the value of the information secured by this
means, to the trade and manufactures of the
country, were recognized by Congress at its
last session, and provision was made for
the more frequent publication Of consular
and other reports by the Department of
Of hos,
now been prepared, and subsequent issues
NAV regularly be expected. The Importance
and interest attached to the reports OF con-
sular officers are witnessed by the general de-
mand for them by all classes of merchants and
manufacturers engaged in our foreign trade.
1t is believed that the sy stem of such publ
cations is deserving of the approval of Con
greSs and that the necessary appropriations
for its continuance and enlargement will COM
mend itself to your consideration.
The prosperous energies of our domestic
industries, and their immense production of
the subjects of foreign commerce, invite, and
even require, an active development of the
wishes and interests of our people in that di
rection. Especially important it that our
commercial relations with the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts of South America, with the
West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico should be
direct, and not through the circuit of Eu-
ropean systems, and should be carried on in
our own bottoms. The full appreciation of
the opportunities which our front on the Pa
cific Ocean gives to commerce with Japan,
China and the East Indies, with Australia
and the island groups which lie along these
routes of navigation, should inspire
equal efforts to appropriate to our
own shipping, and to administer by our
own capital a due proportion OF this
trade. Whatever notifications of our regu-
lations of trade and navigation may be neces-
sary or useful to meet and direct these i'm
pulses to the enlargement of our exchanges
and of our carrying trade am sure the wisdom
of Congress viii be readytO supply. One initial
however, seems to me so clearly
useful and efficient that venture to press it
upon your earnest attention. 1t seems to be
very evident that the provision OF regular
steam postal communication, by aid from Gov
has been the forerunner of the COM
mercial predominance of Great Britain on all
these coasts and seas, a greater share in
whose trade Is now the desire and the intent
of our people. 1t is also manifest that the
efforts of other European nations to contend
with Great Britain for a share of this com
merce have been successful in proportion
with their adoption of regular steam postal
communication with the markets whose trade
they sought. Mexico and the States OF South
America are anxious to receive such postal
with this country, and to aid
in their development. Similar cooperation
may be looked for, in due time, from the
Eastern nations and from Australia. 1t is diff
ficult to see how the lead in this movementcan
be expected from private interests. In respect
of foreign commerce, quite as much as in inter
nal trade, postal communication seems neceS-
saTily a matter of common and public adj
and thus pertaining to Govern
ment / respectfully recommend to your
prompt attention such just and efficient
measures as may conduce to the development
of our foreign commercial exchanges and the
building up OF our carrying trade.
OUR NATIONAL FINANCES.
The condition of the financial affairs of the
Government, as shown by the report of the
of the Treasury, isvery satisfactory.
II is believed that the present financial stu
alton of the United States, whether consider
ed with respect to trade, currency, credit,
rrOUiDU wealth the extent and variety OF
our resources, is more favorable than that of
any other country of our time, and has never
been surpassed by that of any country at any
period of its history. All our industries are
thriving; the rate of interest is low; new rail
roads are being constructed; vast immigra-
ton is increasing our population, capital, and
abor; new enterprises in great number are III
progress; and our recommended relations with
other countries are improving.
The ordinary revenues, from all sources, for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1880, were
From customs ............. SlS6 So, 04 60
From internal revenue........... l24 ,009 1873 81
From sales of public lands...... 1,0l6,506 so
From tax on circulation and de-
posts of National Banks........ 7,ol4,s1 "A
From repayment of interest by
Pacific Railway Companies. l,7G ,S67 Is
From sinking fund for Pacific
Railway Companies. 1851 p
ties, etc....................t I,As,sOO I6
From fees-consular, letters pat
emit, and lands. 2,Ss7,O2s 90
From proceeds of sales of Govern
ment property. 2s2, GIG so
From profits on coinage, etc.. 2,79e, ls6 IS
From revenues of the District of
Columbia OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. lSO9, 469 20
From miscellaneous sources.... 1893 ,603 SS
Total ordinary receipts 1900. 1888 ,526 $40 SO
The ordinary expenditures for the same
period were
For civil expenses. .......S 1885,, 1853 IS
For foreign intercourse....... 1,211, 490 So
For Indians ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5,945,457 %
For pensions, including S19, Al,
025 20 arrears of pensions....... 56,777, la A
For the military establishment,
including river and harbor i'm
provements and arsenals....... 3s,lIs9l6 p
For the naval establishment, in
Gliding vessels, machinery,