Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
y Congress Of the United States:

I ~ lAS NhANShOAN Va aOAA ANA-SS--N-NA-S
congratulate you upon the favorable aspect
/ of the domestic and foreign affairs of this
| government Our relations with other
| countries continue to be upon friendly
/ footing. With the Argentine Republic
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Hayti
Italy, Santo Domingo and Sweden and Nor
way no incident has occurred which calls for
/ special comment The recent opening OF
new lines of telegraphic communication
with Central America and Brazil, permitted
the interchange of messages Of friendship
/ with the governments of those countries
/ During the year there have been per-
/ fected and proclaimed consular and COM
| mercial treaties with Servia and a
I consular treaty with Roumania, thus
| extending our intercourse with the
Danubian countries while our
/ Eastern relations have been put upon wider
basis by treaties with Corea and Madagascar
| The new boundary survey treaty with Mexi-
CO. a trademark convention and supple
mentary treaty of extradition with Spain,
and conventions extending the duration OF
| the Franco-American claims commission,
have also been proclaimed.
| Notice of the termination OF the fisheries
articles of the treaty of Washington was
duly given TO the British government, and
the reciprocal privileges and exemptions of
the treaty will accordingly cease on July l,
1885. The fisheries industry pursued by q
| numerous class of our citizens on the north
| ern- coasts, both of the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, are worthy of the fostering care of
| Congress. Whenever brought into competi-
| ton with the like industries of other coun-
| tries our fishermen, as well as our manufac-
turers OF fishing appliances and preparers OF
| fish products have maintained foremost
| place. / suggest that Congress create a com
| mission to consider the general question of
our rights in the fisheries and the means of
| opening to our citizens under just and en-
during conditions the richly stocked fishing
| waters and sealing grounds of British North
America
ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS.
The question has arisen touching the de-
portation into the United States from the
British islands by government or municipal
aid, of persons unable there to gain living,
and equally burden on the community
here. Such of these persons as will come un-
der the pauper class as defined by the law
have been sent back, in accordance with the
provisions OF our statutes. Her malesty's
government has insisted that precautions
have been taken before shipment. They
have, however, in so many cases proven in
effectual, and especially so in certain recent
instances of needy emigrants reaching our
territory through Canada, that revision of
our legislation upon the subject may be
deemed advisable.
correspondence EGldllhS W lAlS NAdl lOil-
Bulwer treaty has been continued and will
be laid before Congress.
EXPECTATION OF SWINE PRODUCTS.
The legislation of France against the i'm
portation of prepared swine products from
the United States has been repealed. That
result has been due no less to the friendly
representations of this government, than to
a growing conviction in France that the re-
striction is not demanded by any real danger
to health. Germany still prohibits the in
PRODUCTION of all swine products from
America.
Extended to the imperial government a
| friendly invitation to send experts to the
| United States to inquire whether the use of
these products was dangerous to health. This
| invitation was declined. l have believed it of
such importance, however, that the exact
| facts should be ascertained and promulgated
| that have appointed competent commits
| sion to make thorough investigation of the
subject. Its members have shown their pub
| lie spirit by accepting their trust without
pledge of compensation, but l trust that
Congress will see in the national and inter-
national bearings of the matter sufficient
motive for providing at least for reimburse
ment of such expenses as they may neces-
sarily incur
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The coronation of the Gar at Moscow
| afforded to this government an occasion for
! testifying its continued friendship by send
| ing special envoy and representative OF
the navy to attend the ceremony. While
there have arisen during the year no grave
questions affecting the status in the Russian
empire of American citizens OF other faith
than that held by the national church, this
government remains firm in its convictions
| that the rights of its citizens abroad should
be in no way affected by their religious be-
lief
1t is understood that measures for the re-
moval of the restrictions which now burden
our trade with Cuba and Porto Rico are un-
der consideration by the Spanish govern
ment. The proximity of Cuba and the
peculiar methods of administration which
there prevail necessitate constant discussion
and appeal on our part from the proceedings
of the insular authorities. / regret to say
that the Just protests of this government
have not as yet produced satisfactory re-
suits.
The commission appointed to decide GER
tain claims of our citizens against the Span
ish government after the recognition of a
satisfactory rule as the validity and force of
naturalization in the United States. has
finally adjourned Some of its awards, though
made more than two years ago, have not yet
been paid Their speedy payment is ex-
pected. Claims to large amount which
were held by the late commission to be
without its jurisdiction have been diplo-
ernment. As the action of the
colonial authorities which has given rise to
those claims was admittedly illegal, full
reparation for the injury sustained by our
citizens should be no longer delayed. The
case of the Masonic has not yet reached q
settlement. The Manila court has found
that the proceedings of which this govern
ment has complained were unauthorized
and it is hoped that the government of Spain
will not withhold the speedy reparation
which its sense of justice should impel it to
offer for the unusual severity and unjust
action of its subordinate colonial officers in
the case of this vessel
The Helvetian confederation has proposed
the Inauguration of acts of international
treaties for the referment to arbitration of
grave questions between nations. This gov
ernment has assented to the proposed nego-
tiations of such treaty with Switzerland.
Under the treaty of Berlin liberty of con- |
science and civil rights are assured to all |
strangers in Bulgaria. As the United States |
have no distinct conventional relations with |
that country and are not a party to the |
treaty they should, in my opinion, maintain |
diplomatic representation at Sofia for the i'm |
provement of intercourse and the proper pro-
lection of the many American citizens who !
resort to that country as missionaries and |
teachers. l suggest that be given authority |
to establish an agency and consul general at |
the Bulgarian capital.
The United States are now participating |
in revision of the tariffs of the Ottoman |
empire. They have assented to the applica-
tion of license tax to foreigners doing bust |
ness in Turkey, but have opposed the op-
pressive storage tax upon petroleum enter |
ing the ports of that country. The govern |
ment of the Khedive has proposed that the |
authority of the mixed judicial tribunals in
Egypt be extended so as to cover citizens of |
the United States accused of crime who are |
now tried before consular courts. This gov
ernment is not indisposed to accept the |
change, but believes that its terms should be |
submitted for criticism TO the commission |
appointed to revise the whole subject.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
At no time in our national history has |
there been a more manifest feeling of close |
and lasting relations with a neighboring |
state than now exists with respect to Mexico. |
The rapid influx of our capital and enter |
prise into that country shows by what has |
already been accomplished the vast recipro- |
cal advantages which must attend the prog
ress of its internal development. The treaty |
of commerce and navigation of 1S4S has been |
terminated by the Mexican government, and |
in the absence of conventional engagements