Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-12-09
President ) Message.
wAsnrNoroN, December ..


An appalling calamity has befallen the Amer
lean people since their chosen representatives
met In the halls where you are now assembled.
We might recall with unnlloyed content the
rare prosperity with which, throughout the
year, the Nation has been blessed. Its hnrvests
have been pienteous; Its vnried industries have
thriven; the health OF Its people has been
preserved. 1t has maintained with foreign
Governments the undisturbed relations of am
lty and peace. For these manifestations OF
His favor we owe to Him who holds our des.
tiny in his hands the tribute of our grateful
devotiOns.
has taken from us the loved illustrious citi-
zen, who was but lately the head OF the ma
tion, we bow In sorrow and submission. Tho
achievements and of his patriotic life will be
treasured forever as u sacred possession of the
whole people The announcement OF his
death drew from foreign governments and
the people tributes of sympathy and sorrow,
which history will record AS signal tokens of
the kinship of nations and the federation of
our own Government and that of Great
Britain was never more marked than Mt pres
ent In reeegntlon Of this pleasing fact fact, l
nial celebration at yorktown, that salute be
given to the British flags.
OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
Save for the correspondence to which
shall refer hereafter in relation to the pro-
posed canal across the lsthmus Panama little
matte reiat ions of the countries. Early in the
year the Fortune Bay claim was satisfactorily
settled by the British Government paying in
been already distributed, AZ the terms of the
settlement include compensation for injuries
suffered by our fishermen at Aspee Bay, there
has Nren retained from the gross reward
q sum which IS deemed adequate for
these claims. The participation Of Amer
leans @ in the exhibitions fii at Melb9nrne
MENTIONED @ s'h'S n @ the reports S "ppoff'EhS Of the
two exhibitions soon to be presented to Com
Gress- They Will disclose the readiness of our
IN make guccpaaful COmDetltlOn
distant fields of enterprise.
The presence at the Yorktown celebration of
ants 0 Lafayette and of his gallant COP atriots
who were our allies in the Revolution. has
served tostIengthen the spirit Of good will which
has always existed between the two nations.
No new questions respecting the status of our
naturalized in Germany have arisen during the
year. and the causes of complaint, especially in
Alsace and Lorraine. have practically ceased
through the liberal action of the Imperial Gov
ernment in accepting our often expressed views
1868 to the lately acquired Rhenish provinces has
received very earnest attention definite and
lasting agreement on ~ this point i conf
ben ben 'fhsie in the Yorktown W. festivities, and the
e tbs es o saod
which unite the German people and our own.
THE INTER-oCEANIC CANAL.
The question growing out of the proposed
inter-oceanic water way across the Isthmua of
Panama are of grave National Importance. This
Government has not been unmindful OF the
pact of 1876 with Colombia as the independent
and sovereign nfstress of the territory crossed
BY the canal and has sought to render them eff
fective by fresh engagements with the Colom-
Hsai sseeaion. The neeotia.iops e {,
appeared, to be mutually satisfactory
solution here, were met in Colombia by dis
avowal of the powers which its envoy had as
sumed and By proposition for renewed ne
gotiatious on modified basis. Meanwhile
this Government learned that Colombia had
proposed TO the European powers to Join in =
guarantee of the neutrality OF the proposed
Panama CAMILLA guarantee which would bt
in direct contr,vention of our obligations a.
the sole guarantor of the integrity Of tht
Colombian territory and of the neutrality o.
the canal itself. My lamented predecessor fel
1t his ttuty to place before the European pow
ers the reasons which make the prior gunran
and for which the interjection of an!
foreign guarantee might be regarded
as superiiuOus and unfriendly act
forseeing the probable reliance of the Britisl
Government on the provisions of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty OF 1850, as aifording room for
States coyenanted with Colombia four years be
fore. have not hesitated TO supplement tn
sction of my predecessor by proposing to He
Maje-ty 8 Government the modification of tina
instrument and the abrogation of such clause
thereof as do not conflict with the obligation
of the united states towards Soiompia OF WI
the vital needs Of the two friendly parties I
the compact.
.cIrIA BOLIVIA AND PERU.
This Government sees with great concer
the continuance of the hostile relations bt
tween Chhi, Bolivia and Peru. An earl
peace between these Republics is much to
desired, not only that they themselves ma
be spared further misery and bloodshed, br
because their continued antagonsm threa
ems consequences which are, in my Judi
ment, dangerous TO she interests OF reput
iican government on this continent and ca
culated to destroy the best element
of our free and peaceful civilization
Aa, ttasr nf,f
lar feeling In these countries there has bee
eerious misapprehensions of the position of IL
United sta.es and as sep9rsSe diplomatic inte
is sometimes subject to delays, owing TO the wal
of prompt reciprocal communica ion to the ten
porary Misunderstanding, have deemed 1t jud
eious at the present to send a special envo
accredited to all and each of them, and furnish,
with general INSTRUCTIONS which will. trust. e.
able him to bring these powers into friendly r
lation.
TREATIES WITH CHINA.
am glad to Inform you that the treaties lat
ly negotiated with China have been duly rat
fed on both sides, and the exchange made at Il
Pekin Liquidation is necessary to carry the pT
vision into effect. The prompt and friend
spirit with which the Chinese Government,
the request of the United States, conceded tn
the modification OF existing treaties should s
cure careful regard for the interests and susce
tibilities OF that Government in the enactme
of any laws relating to Chinese immigratio
Those CLASSES of treaties which forbid the pa
6tates in the opium trade will doubtless recei
your approval. They will attest the sincere i
terest which our people and Government feel
the commendable efforts of the Chinese Go
eminent to put a stop to this demoralizlng, a.
destructive traffic. In relation both to Chi
and Japan some changes are desirable in o
present system of consular jurisdiction. ho
at some future time to lay before you . scheI
for its improvements in the entire East.
COLLISIONS ON THE HIGH SEAS.
Invite your attention to the propriety
adopting q new code of international ru
for the prevention of collisions on the hi
seas and OF conforming domestic legislati
of the United States thereto, so that no &C
fusion may urise from the application
conflicting rules in case OF vess
Of different nationalities meeting in tit
waters. These international rules differ b
slightly from our own. They have been adopt
by the Navy Department for the governme
OF the war ships of the United States on
high seas and in foreign waters. and throu
the action of tho State Department In disse
mating the rules and in &C ,uainting shipm