Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-09

States toward Colombia, or with the
vital needs of the two friendly plrtic,
to the compact.
This government secs with great con.
Germ the continuance of the hostile re-.
Ia ions between Chilli Bolivia and
Peru. An early peace between these
republics is much to be desired. not only
that they themselves be spared further
misery and bluodshcd. but because THEN
continued antagonism threatens consc-
qucnCCs which are in mViudgmcnt, dam
gCrOus TO the interest of republican gov
erumcnt ON this continent, and calcu.
lated to destroy the best elements OF
our free and peaceful civilization.
As in the present excited condition of
popular feeling in these countries there
has been serious mi>apprchension OF
the position of the United States and rs
separate diplomatic intercourse with
each through independent ministers is
sometimes subject owing To the want of
prompt reciprocal communication to
temporary misunderstanding, | have
deemed it iudiciouS at the present time
to send a special envoy, accredited to
all and each of them, and furnished
with general Instructions, which will,
| trust, enable him to bring these powers
into friendly relations.
OTHER FOREIGN Tories.
The government of Venezuela main
/ tains its attitude of warm friendship.
and continues with great regularity its
| payment of the monthly quota of the
! diplomatic debt. Without suggesting
/ the direction in which Congress should
act. / ask its attention to the pending
/ questions affecting the distribution of
/ the sums thus far received.
The relations between Venezuela and
/ France. growing out of the same debt
have been for some time past in an I'M
! satisfactory state, and this government,
rs the ncighhOr and one Of the largest
creditors of Venezuela, has intcrpo>cd
| itSclfwith the French government, with
the view of producing a friendly and
/ honorable adjustment.
| regret that the commercial Interests
| between the United States and Brazil.
from which great advantages were
hoped a wear ago, have suffered from
the withdrawal of the American lines
of communication between the Brazilian
ports and our own. Through the
efforts of our minister resident at
/ Bucnos Ayrcs and the United
States minister mt Santiago
n treaty has been concluded between
the Argentine r cpublic and Chilli, dis
posing of the long-pcnding Patagoniar
boundary question. 1t is a matter OF
congratulation that our government has
been afforded the opportunity of sue
cesSfully eXerting its good influence for
the prevention of disaCrcements be
tween these republics of the American
continent.
| am glad to inform YOU that the
treaties lately negotiated with China
have been duly ratified on both side,
and the exchange made at Picking
Legislation is necessary to carry tho
provision into effect. The prompt anC
friendly spirit with which the Chimes,
government, at the request of the Uni
ted States, conceded the modification O
existing treaties should secure careful
regard for the interests and susCcpti
bilitics of the government in the enact
mcnt of any laws relating to Chimes
migration.
Those clauses Of the treaties whicl
- 'rbid the participation Of citizens o
csscls of the United stat S in tn
plum trade will doubtless receive YOU
pproyal. They will attest the SINGER,
. interest which our people and govern
mcnt feel in the commcndabc effort o
the Chinese government to put stop t,
This drmuraliZing and destructive traffic
In relation both to China and Japal
. some changes are desirable in our pres
cnt system Of consular jurisdiction.
hope at some future time to lay bcfor
! you scheme for its Improvement i
the entire East.
The intimacy between our COuntr
and Japan, the most advanced of In
J Eastern nations, continues to he COrdia
l | am advised that the emperor contcm
plates the establishment of full COnSt
tutional government, and that he Ina
! already summoned a parliamentary
l congress for the purpose of clecting tn
2 change. Such remarkable step tOwar
: complete assimilation with the Wester
: system cannot fail to bring Japan int
1 closer and more beneficial RELATIONSHIP
. with ourselves rs the chief pacitl
: power.
A question has arisen in relation [
c the exercise in that country of the iud
: cial functions conferred upon our mini
:, tiers and consuls. The indictment, tria
{ and conviction in the consular court {
e Yokohama of John Ross, a merchar
e seaman on board an American vesse
a have made it necessary for the govern
/ ment to institute a careful examine
ton into the nature and method
of this jurisdiction. 1t appears tn;
e Ross was regularly shipped under tn
s flag of the United States, but was b
: birth British subject. My predeccssC
t felt it his duty TO maintain the position
n that during his service rs a REGULAR,
S shipped seaman on board an America
l. merchant vessel, Ross was subject /
= the laws of that service, and to the iu
y isdiction of the United States cOnsuli
It authorities.
h renew the recommendation whic
) has been heretofore urged by the Exec
/. tive upon the attention of Congress, thu
y after the reduction of such amount {
a may be found due to American either
Q the balance Of the indemnity funds her
e tofore obtained from China and Japa
|, and which are now in the hands of IL
) state department, be reMrned to II
l. governments OF those countries.
1t The king Of Hawaii in the course
y his homeward return after a journC
o.. Il. 4 L. l.. a