Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-12-17
President Message.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives Of

To the Senate and House Of Representatives Of
the United States:
Anappalling calamity has befallen the Amer
lean people since their chosen representatives
last met in the halls where you are now as
sembled. We might else recall with unalloyed
content the rare prosperity with which
throughout the year the nation has been
blessed. Its harvests have been penteous,
its varied industries have thrtven, the health
of its people has been preserved, it has main
tanned with foreign governments the undis-
turbed relations OF amity and peace. For these |
manifestations of His favor We owe to Him
who holds our destinyin His hands the tribute |
of our grateful devotion. To that mysterious |
exercise of will which has taken from us the |
loved and illusrious citizen who was but
lately the head of the nation, we bow in sor-
row and submission. The memory OF his ex-
allied character, of his noble achievements |
and of his patriotic life, will be treasured Tor
ever as n sacred possession OF the whole peo-
pie. The announcement OF his death drew
fromforelgn governments and peoplestributes
of sympathy and sorrow which history Will
record us signal tokens of the kinshipot ma
tons and the federation OF mankind.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The feeling of good will between our Gov
eminent and that of Great Britain was never
more marked than present In recognition
of this pleasing fact directed, on the occa,
sion OF the late centennial celebration at
Yorktown, that salute be given to the Brit
ish flag.
Save for the correspondence to which 1
shall refer hereafter in relation to the pro-
posed canal across the Isthmus of Panama,
little has occurred worthy of mention in the
diplomatic relations OF the countries, Earlym
the year the Fortune Bay claims were salts.
| factorily settled by the British Government
paying in full the sum of $4,000, most OF
which has already been distributed. AS the
| terms of the settlement included compensa.
| tlon for injuries suffered by our fishermen mt
| Aspee Bay, there has been retained from
the gross award sum which is deemed ade
| nnntp for fhpSa claims The nnrflCtnntlOn oil
| Americans in the exhibitions at Melbourne
and Sydney will be appropriately mentioned
in the reports OF the two exhibitions soon 10
! be presented to Congress. They Will disclose
| the readiness of our countrymen to make sue
cessful competition in distant fields OF en-
terprise.
| Negotiations for an international copyright
convention are in hopeful progress. The sur
render of Sitting Bull andhis force upontheCa-
madam frontier, has allayed all apprehension,
| although bodies of British Indians still cross
| the border in quest of sustenance. Upon THIS
subject II correspondence has been opened
which promises an adequate understanding.
Our troops have orders to avoid, meanwhile
all collisions with alien Indians.
The presence Mt the Yorktown celebration
of representatives of Lafayette and of his gal
liant compatriots who were our allies in the
Revolution has served to strengthen the splr'
it of good will which has always existed be,
tween the two nations. You will be furnished
with the proceedings of the Bimetallic Con.
ference held during the summer ut the city OF
Paris No accord was reached, but valuable
interchange of views was had, and the con-
ference will next year be renewed.
At the electrical exhibition ana congress,
also held mt Paris, this country was credtably
represented by eminent specialists who, IN
the absence of an appropriation, generously
lent their efficient aid ut the instance of the
State Department. While our exhibitions IN
this almost distinctively American field oil
achievement have won several awards, rec
Ommcnd that Congress provide for the repay
ment of the personal expenses incurred III
! the public interest by the honorary commits
:, sionCrs and delegates.
No new questions respecting the status oil
our naturalized citizens in Germany have
arisen during the year, and causes of com
' plant, especially in Alsace and Lorraine, have
, practically ceased, throughthe liberal action
of the imperial government In accepting oul
often expressed views on the subject. The
application of the Treaty of 1868 to the lately
+, acquired Rhenish provinces has received
, very earnest attention, ana dennlte anC
lasting agreement on this point is confidently
. | expected.
, The participation of the descendants o
= BaronVon Steuben the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and their subsequent reception by thel
:, American kinsmen, evince the ties of goot
\ will which unite the German people and on
a own.
" y Our intercourse with Spain has been friend
Z ~. An agreement concluded in Februar,
n last fixes u term for the laborS of the Spanish
n and American Claims Commission The span
a ish Government has been requested TO pa,
the late awards OF tIe COMMISSION uHu VIII
: it is believed, accede to the request a
n promptly and courteously as on formerocca
- sions. BY recent legislation numerous fine
II have been imposed upon American shippin
# in Spanish and colonial ports Tor slight rreS
: ularties in maniiests.
y one case of hardship is specially worth
l. of attention. The bark Masonic" boun
10 for Japan, entered Manila in distress
ii and is there forced to lie confiscated undo
Spanish revenue laws for an alleged shortag
in her transhipped cargo. Though efforts &c
her relief have thus far proved unavailing,.
is expected that the matter will be adjusted
friendly spirit.
= The Senate resolutions of coincidence on tl
> assination of the Gar Alexander Second wei
SO appropriately communicated to the Russia
M Government, which in turn has expressed Il
W sympathy in our late national bereavement
Ill 1t is desirable that our cordial relations VIII
r. Russia should be strengthened by proper OF
-, gagements, assuring to peaceable American
III who visit the Empire the consideration whit
IS is due to them as citizens of friendly stat
n, This Is especially needful with respect
: American lsraelites, whose classification WI
or the native Hebrews has evoked energetic +
ey monstrances from this Government.
n. The abolition of all discriminating duti
- against colonial productions of the Dutch Ea
W Indies as are imported hither from Hollan
r. has been already considered by Congress
trust that at the present session the matt
may be favorably concluded. The insecure
US of life and property in many parts OF Turk
od has given rise to correspondence with u
Porte looking W Llt UOltOl ~
ne lection of American missionaries in the Ell
he pirc. The condemned murderer oil the el
~ inent missionary, DR.. Justin w. Parsons,
IL not vet been executed although this Cover
APP ment had repeatedly demanded that excl
IT. plary justice be done.
~ The Swiss Government has solicited I
good offices of our diplomatic ana consul
he agents for the protection OF ITS cltlzens
10 countries where it is not itself Representa-
les This request has within proper limits be
Inv granted. Our agents in Switzerland ma
-. been instructed to protest against the conul
ecu of the authorities of certain communes
nd permitting the emigration to this country
49,, criminals or other Objectionable perso
vas Several such persons through the cooper
me ton of the Commissioner OF EmiSration
ing New York, have been sent back by the stea
ers which brought them. A continuance
OF this course may prove more elective re
in edy than diplomatic remonstrance.
Ia Treaties of commerce and Navigation q
Ill for the regulation of consular privileges hi
Id been concluded with Roumania and SER
es- since their admission into the family OF
ropean states. As is natural with contlgu,
states having like institutions and like al
'ri- of advancement and development, the irlel
ship of the United States and Mexico mas %
gh- constantly maintained. The Government
oh / lost no occasion of encouraging the MeNl'
~ Government to a beneficial realization OF
the mutual advantages which will result II
ldy more intimate commercial intercourse, !
bt- from the opening OF the riclf interior OF NJ
Nv leo to railway enterprise. deem 1t imp
"a tant that means be provided to restrain
ra lawlesmess unfortunately so common on
frontier and to suppress the forays OF the
Ow- ervation Indians on either side of the
ST Grande.
o'' The neighboring States of Central Amel
non have preserved international peace, and q
outward relations toward MS have been th
t,lo of intimate friendship. There are encouI
'VlO ing signs of their growing disposition to $
red, ordinate their local interests to those wi
rom are common 70 them pS re honp S e disI
heir between Guatemala and Mexico has ahor
who this Government an opportunity TO eXer
49,; its good offices for preventing rupture
nv,nf rsTA n