Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-07

the United States conceded the notifications Of
existing treaties should careful regard for
the interests and susceptibilities OF that govern
ment in the enactment Of any laws relating to
Chinese immigration Those clauses of the treaties
which forbid the participation Of citizens OF ves-
sells of the United States In the opium trade will
doubtless receive approval and will attest the sin
cere interest which our people and government
feel In the commendable efforts of the Chinese
government to put stop TO this demoralizing
and destructive traffic In relation both to China
and Japan, some changes are desirable In our
present system of consular Jurisdiction. hope,
ut some future time. to lay before you scheme
for its improvement in the entire east.
PROGRESS IN JAPAN.
The intimacy between our country and Japan,
the most advanced Of the eastern nations, con-
tinues to be cordial | am advised that the en-
peror contemplates the establishment of full con-
sttutional government, and that he has already
summoned parliamentary congress for the pur-
pose of effecting a change. Such remarkable
step toward complete assimilation with the west
ern system cannot fail to bring Japan into closer
and more beneficial relationship with ourselves
as the chief Pacific power. question has arisen
In relation to the exercise In that country Of the
judicial functions conferred upon our ministers
and consuls. The indictment. trial and convic-
tion in the consular court at Yokohama OF John
Ross, merchant seaman on board an American
vessel, have made it necessary for the govern
ment to institute a careful examination into the
nature and methods Of this jurisdiction. 1t ap-
peared that Ross regularly shipped under
the flag of the United States, but was by birth
British subject. My predecessor felt 1t his duty
to maintain the position that during his service
as regularly shipped seaman on board an Amer
ican merchant vessel Ross was subject to the laws
OF that service and to the jurisdiction OF the
United States consular authorities ] renew the
recommendation which has been heretofore urged
by the executive upon the attention of congress
that after the return Of such amount ~ may be
found due to American citizens the balance of the
indemnity funds heretofore obtained from China
and Japan, and which are now in the hands Of
the state department, be returned to the govern
ments of those countries.
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
The king Of Hawaii, in the course Of his home
ward return, after journey around the world,
has lately visited this country. While our rea-
tions with that kingdom are friendly. this govern
ment has viewed with concern the efforts TO seek
a replenishment OF the diminishing population of
the islands from outward sources TO degree
which may impair the native sovereignty and in
dependence in which the United States was among
the first to testify lively interest.
GENERAL FOREIGN RELATIONS
Relations OF unimpaired amty have been main
tained throughout the year with the respective
governments of Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Dem
mark, Hayti, Paraguay, Uruguay, Portugal and
Sweden and Norway. This may also be said of
Greece and Ecuador, although our relations with
those states have for some years been severed by
the withdrawal OF appropriations for diplomatic
expedient to restore those missions, even on re-
duced scale, and decidedly recommend such
course with respect to Ecuador, which is likely
within the near future to play an important part
among the nations of the Southern Pacific.
THE GENEVA CONVENTION.
At its last extra session the senate called for
the text OF the Geneva convention for the relief
OF the wounded in war. trust this action fore
shadows such interest in the subject as will re-
suit in the adhesion OF the United States to that
humane and commendabe engagement.
NAVIGATION OF THE HIGH SEAS.
invite your attention to the propriety Of adopt
ing the new code of international rules for the
prevention of collisions on the high seas, and of
conforming the domestic legislation of the United
States thereto, so that no confusion may arise
from the application of conflicting rules in the
of vessels of different nationaities meeting
in tidal waters. These international rnles differ
but slightly from our own. They have been alb
sorbed by the navy department for the governance
of the war ships OF the United States on the high
seas and in foreign waters and through the action
OF the state department In disseminating the rules
and in acquainting shp-masters Of the option of
conforming to them without the jurisdictional
waters of the United States. They are now very
generally known and obeyed
FOREIGN TRADE REPORTS.
The State Department still continues to publish
to the country the trade and manufacturing re-
ports received from its officers abroad The sue
cess of this course warrants its continuance, and
such appropriations as may be required to meet
the rapidly increasing demand for these publica-
tions. With special reference TO the Atlanta Cot
ton Exposition, the October number OF the reports
was devoted TO a valuable collection Of papers on
the cotton goods trade of the world
THE SANITARY CONFERENCE
The International Sanitary Conference, for which
in 1879 congress made provision, assembled in
this city early In January last, and its sessions
were prolonged until March (although it reached
specific conclusions affecting the future action
OF the participant powers). the interchange Of
views proved to be most valuable. The full pro-
tocols OF the sessions have been already presented
to the senate. As pertinent to this great subject,
| called your attention to the operations of the
national board OF health, established by act Of
congress, approved March g. 1879. Its sphere OF
duty was enlarged by the act OF June I'd in the
same year. By the lsst-named act the board was
required to institute such measures as might be
deemed necessary for preventing the introduction
Of contagious or infectious diseases from foreign
countries into the United States from one state
into another The execution OF the rules and
regulations prepared by the board and approved
by my predecessor has done much to arrest the
progress Of epidemic diseases, and has thus es-
tablished service to the nation. The International
Sanitary Conference, to which referred adopted
R form OF a bill of health TO be used by all ves-
sells seeking to enter the ports of countries whose
representatives participated in its deliberations
This form has since been prescribed by the ma
tional board OF health and incorporated with It's
rules and regulations, which have been approved
by me In pursuance OF law The health Of the
people is of supreme importance, and all meas
looking to their protection against the spread
of contagious diseases and to the increase of
our sanitary knowledge for such purposes deserve
the attention Of congress
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY
The report OF the secretary OF the treasury
represents in detail a highly satisfactory exhibit
Of the state Of the finances and the condition of
the various branches OF the public service admin
istration by that department The ordinary rev.
enues from all sources for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1881, were: From customs Sl9S, l59-
67602 from Internal revenue, S135, ,264, ass 81;
from sales Of public bonds, S25l 02l, 1868 III from
tax on circulation and deposits OF national banks,
50: l16' "; from repayment OF interest by Pa
cfic railway companies $50, 1888 so; from sink
ing fund for Pacific railway companies, $780,
$50 o.; from customs fees fines, penalties, ETC.,