The National tribune., 1881-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

esn neonle since their chosen representatives last
met in the halls where you are now assembled
We might else recall with unalloyed content the
rare prosperity with which throughout the year
the Nation has been blessed Its harvests have
heen plenteous its varied industries have thriyen:
tbe health of its people has been preserved it has
maintained with foreign governments the undis-
sturbed relations Of amity and peace For these
manifestations of His favor, we owe to Him who
holds our destiny in His hands the tribute of our
grateful devotion.
To that mysterious exercise of His will, which
has taken from US the loved and illustrious citi-
zen who was but lately the head of the Nation,
we bow in sorrow and submission
The memory of his exalted character, of his
noble achievements and of his patriotic life will
be treasured forever as sacred possession of the
whole people.
The announcement Of his death drew from for
elgn governments and peoples tributes of sympa-
thy and sorrow which history will record as sig
nal tokens of the kinship of nations and the fed
Grafton Of mankind.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Preference is next made to the good feeling exist
ing between the United States and Great Britain,
settlement of the Fortune Bay fisheries claims sur
render of Sitting Bull, the Yorktown celebration,
Bi-Metallic Monetary Conference, and Electrical
Exhibition and Congress held in Paris; also to the
pending negotiations for an International Copy
right convention.
The relations existing between the United States
and Spain, Germany, Russia, Italy, Holland, and
Turkey are next touched upon briefly, the mes
sage stating that correspondence is being con-
Quoted with the latter country with view to
securing better protection to American citizens
resident therein.
Switzerland has been requested to take steps
TO prevent the emigration Of criminals under the
laws of that country to our shores, and the mes
sage further states that treaties of commerce and
navigation have been entered into between Rou-
mania and Servia.
Mexico and the Central America States are re-
ferred to briefly and recommendation is made
that our Government take proper steps to prevent
IawleSsness on the frontier of the former.
THE ISTHMUS CANAL.
The President in his message, referring to the
ISthmuS canal, says:
The questions growing out of the proposed in
ter-oceanic waterway across the Isthmus of Pan
anna are Of grave national Importance. This Gov
eminent has not been unmindful of the solemn
obligations imposed upon it by its compact of
1876 with Colombia, as the independent and SOW
ereign mistress of the territory crossed by the
nal, and has sought to render them effective by
fresh engagements with the Colombian Republic
looking to their practical execution. The nego-
tiatiOns to this end, after they had reached what
appeared to be mutually satisfactory solution
here, were met in Colombia by disavowal of the
powers which its envoy had assumed, and by
proposal for renewed negotiation on a modified
basis
Meanwhile this Government learned that Co.
lombia had proposed to the European powers to
Join in a guarantee of the neutrality of the pro-
posed Panama canal-a guarantee which would
be In direct eontravention Of our obligation as the
sole guarantor of the integrity of Colombian ter
ritOry and of the neutrality of the canal itself.
Ny lamented predecessor felt it his duty to place
before the European powers the reasons which
make the prior guarantee Of the United States
and for which the interjection of
any foreign guarantee might be regarded as a
superfuous and unfriendly act.
Foreseeing the probable reliance of the British
government on the provisions of the Clayton
Bulwer Treaty Of 1850, as affording room for a
share in the guarantees which the United States
covenanted with Colombia four years before, l
have not hesitated to SUPP lement the action ofmy
predecessor by proposing to Her Majestys gov
eminent the modification of that instrument and
the abrogatiOn of such clauses thereof as do not
comport with the obligations of the United States
toward Colombia, OF with the vital needs of the
two friendly parties TO the compact.
CHILL AND PERU.
This Government sees with great concern the
continuance of the hostile relations between
Chill, Bolivia, and Peru. An early peace between
these republics is much to be desired, not only
misery and bloodshed, but because their continued
antagOnism threatens consequences which are,
In my Judgment, dangerous to the interests of re-
publican government on this continent and cal
cuIated 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
misapprehensiOn of the position of the United
States. and as separate diplomatic intercourse
with each through Independent ministers is some
times subject, owing to the want of prompt re-
cipr0cal communication, to temporary misunder-
standing, have deemed it iudicous, at the pres
ent time, TO send special envoy, accredited to
all and each of them, and furnished with general
instructions, which will, l trust enable him to
bring these powers into friendly relations.
OTHER FOREIGN STATES.
Continuing, the message refers to the friendly
relations existing between our own and the Vene-
zuelan Government and its prompt payment of
the monthly quotas of the diplomatic debt, and
deplOres the withdrawal of the American lines of
communication between our own ports and those
of Brazil.
In speaking Of China and Japan, the President
recommends that the balance of the indemnity
fund paid by those governments now remaining
ID the State Department be repaid to them.
Some suggestions of minor importance are alss
made regarding the consular service especially in
Japan.
The relations existing between the United
States and Hawaii, Austria, Hungary Belgium
Denmark, Hayti, Paraguay, and Uruguay, Por-
tugaI Sweden and Norway, Greece and Ecqua-
dor are declare friendly, and a recomr. r.endation
is made to restore the missions to the two coun-