St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-15
President Message.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 4.

Shortly after one o CLOCK tHls alteIhooL VIZ
Presidents annual messass was read IN Con
aress. TAu fail text of the document is as lot
lows:
To the Congress of the United States:
At the threshold of your deliberations :on
graduate you upon the favorable aspect OF the
domestic and foreign affairs of this Govern
ment. Our relations with other countries con
tfnue to be upon a friendly footing with the
Argentine Republic, Austria, Belgium, Bra
I'll, Denmark, Hayti, Italy, santo Domingo
and Sweden and Norway no incident has oc'
CURED which calls for special comment Inc
recent opening of new lines OF telegraphle
Brazil permitted the interchange of messages
OF friendship with the Governments of those
countries. During the year there have been
perfected and proclaimed consular ana com
mercial treaties with Servia and a consular
treaty with Roumania, thus extending our III
tercourse
WITH THE DANUBIAN COUNTRIES,
while our Eastern relations have been placed
Madagascar. The new boundary survey trea-
ties with Mexico, trade mark conyentlon ana
supplementary treaty OF extradltlon with
Spain, and the convention extending the dllra-
ton OF the Franco-American Claims Commas
sion have also been proclaimed. Notice OF the
termination of the fisheries articles of the
treaty of Washington was duly given to the
British Government. Privileges and exemp-
tons of the British Government and the re-
ciprocal privileges and exemptions OF the
treaty will accordingly close on July l, 1855.
THE FISHERIES INDUSTRY,
pursued by a numerous class of our citizens
on the northern coasts, both of the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans. are worthy of the foster
ing of Congress. Whenever brought into COM
petition with like industries OF other countries
our fishermen, as well as our manufacturers
of fishing appliances and preparers OF fish
products, have maintained a foremost place.
/ suggest that Congress create a commission
to consider the question of our rights in the
fisheries and the means of opening to our citi-
zens, under lust and enduring conditions, the
richly stocked fishing waters and sealing
grounds of British North America.
PAUpER IMMIGRATION
A question has arisen touching deportation
to the United States from the British islands
by governmental or municipal aid of persons
unable there to gain a living, and equally
burden on the community here. Such of
these persons as come under the pauper class,
as defined by the law, have been sent back in
accordance with the provisions of our stat
utes. Her Majesty's Government has insisted
that precautions have been taken before ship
ment. This has. however. in so many cases
proven Intellectual, and especially SO in GER
tain recent instances of needy emigrants
reaching our territory through Canada, that
revision OF our legislation upon this subject
may be deemed advisable. Correspondence
relative to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty has been
continued and will be laid before Congress.
AMERICAN PORK.
The legislation of France against the i'm
portation of prepared swine products from
IL.
result has been due no less to the friendly
representation of this Government than to q
growing conviction in France that the reStric-
ton is not demanded by any real danger to
health. Germany still prohibits the introduce
ton 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. I have believed it of
such importance, however, that the, exact
facts should be ascertained and promulgated,
that have appointed u competent commission
to make thorough investigation of the SUBJ
ject. Its members have shown their public
spirit by accepting their trust without pledge
of compensation; but [ trust Congress will
see in the National and international bearings
of the matter a sufficient motive of providing
at least for the reimbursement of such expen-
SEES as they may necessarily incur.
THE CORONATION OF THE GEAR
at Moscow afforded to the Government an
occasion for testifying its continued friend
ship by sending a special envoy and repre-
sentative 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 convic-
tons that the rights OF its citizens abroad
should be in no way affected by their religious
belief
CUBA AND PORTO RICO.
tits understood that measures for the re-
moval of the restrictions which now burden
our trade with Cuba and Porto Rico are under
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 insu-
lar authorities. regret to say that the just
protests of this Government have not as yet
produced a satisfactory result. The commits
sion appointedto decide certain claimsof our
citizens against the Spanish Government,
after the recognition of O satisfactory rule as
to the validity and force of naturalization in
the United States, has, finally adjourned.
than two years ago, have not yet been paid.
The specie payment is expected. Claims to
large amount, which were held by the late
without its jurisdiction. have been
presented to the Spanish Gov
as the action of the Colonial authori-
ties, which has given rise to those claims, was
admitted to be illegal. Full PREPARATION for the
longer delayed. The case of the Masonic has
Manila Court has found that the the
has Complained were unauthorized. and
it is hoped that the Government of Spain will
not withhold the speedy reparation which it's
sense OF justice should impei it to offer for the
unusual severity and unjust action of its subor-
dinate colonial officers in the case of this YES
INTERNATIONAL TREATIES.
The Helvetian Confederation has proposed
treaties for,the retirement to arbitration of
grave questions between nations. This gov
err ment has assented to the proposed negoti-
alton of such treaty with Switzerland. Tn
der the treaty of Berlin, liberty of conscience
and civil rights are assured to all strangers in
Bulgaria. As the United States have no dis |
tinct conventional relations with that country,
and are not party to the treaty, they should,
In my opinion, maintain diplomatic represent
tation at Sofia for the Improvement OF the in
tercourse and the proper protection Of the
many American citizens who resort to that
country as missionaries and teachers. I sug-
gest that he given authority to establish an
agency and consulate-general at the Bull
garian capital. II
8 TURKEY.
Z The United States are now participating in
4 revision of the tariffs OF the Ottoman EN-
pire. They have assented to the application
Of license tax OF foreigners doing business
in Turkey, but have opposed the oppressive
storage tax upon petroleum entering the
khedive has nrnnuSed that the nl,fhnritv Of