The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Congress Of the United States.

American people, in the exercise of their
highest right of suffrage, have chosen their
Chief Magistrate for the four years ensuing
When it is remembered that at no period in
the country's history has the long poit-
ical contest which customarily pre-
cedes the day of the national cleo
lion been waged with greater
fervor and intensity, it is a subject of gem
eral congratulation that, after the contro-
versy at the polls was over and while the
slight preponderance by which the issue had
been determined was as yet llhascertained,
the public peace suffered no disturbance, but
the people everywhere patiently and quietly
awaited the result. Nothing could more
strikingly illustrate the temper of the Ameri-
can citizen, his love Of order, and his loyalty
to law; nothing could more signaly demon
strate the strength and wisdom of our politi-
cal institutions.
THE ELECTORAL COUNT.
Eight years have passed since a contro-
versy concerning the result of a national
election sharply called the attention of the
congress to the necessity of providing more
precise and definite regulations for counting
the electoral vote. 1t Is of the graveSt i'm.
portance that this question be solved before
conflicting claims to the presidency shall
again distract the country, and | am per-
the measures of relief thus far proposed
would be preferred to continued inaction.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with all foreign powers con-
tinue to he amlCable. With Belgium a con-
vention has been signed whereby the scope of
present treaties has been so enlarged as to
secure to citizens OF either country within the
jurisdiction of the other equal rights and
privileges i'll the acquisition and alienation of
property. A trademarks treaty has also
been concluded. The war between Chill and
Peru is at an end. For the arbitration of
the claims of American citizens who during its
continuance suffered through the acts of the
Chilian authorities, a convention will soon be
negotiated. The state of hostilities between
France and China continues to be an embar-
RAISING feature of our Eastern relations. The
Chinese government has promptly adiusted
and paid the claims of American citizens
whose property was destroyed in the recent
riots at Canton. l renew the recommended
ton of my last annual message that the Can
ton indemnity fund be returned
to China The true Interpretation
of the recent treaty with that
country permitting the restriction of Chinese
immigration is likely to be again the subject
of your deliberations. 1t may be seriously
questioned whether the statute passed at the
last session does not violate the treaty rights
of certain Chinese who left this country with
return certificates valid under the old law
and now seem to be debarred from landing
from lack of certificates required by the new
The recent purchase by the United States Of
a large trading fleet heretofore under the
Chinese flag has considerably enhanced our
commercial Importance i'll the East
In view of the large number of vessels built
or purchased by American citizens in other
countries and exclusively employed in legiti-
mate traffic between foreign ports under the
recognized protection of our flag, it might be
well to provide a uniform rule for their regis
Il a.
fide property rights of our citizens therein
shall be duly evidenced and properly guarded
Pursuant TO the advice of the Senate at the
last session, lrccognized the flag of the In
ternatonal Association of the the Congo as
that of a friendly government, avoiding in
SO doing any prejudgment of conflicting ter
ritorial claims i'll that region. subsequently
in execution of the expressed wish of the
Congress, | appointed a commercial
agent for the Congo Basin.
The importance of the rich prospective
trade of the Congo Valley has led to the gem
eral conviction that it should he open to all
nations on equal terms AT an international
conference for the consideration of this sub.
ject called by the Emperor of Germany, and
now in session at Berlin, delegates are in at
tendance on behalf of the United States OF
the result of the Conference you will be duly
advised
With France the traditional cordial rela-
tionship continues The colossal Statue of
Gus gift of the people of France, is expected
to reach New York in May next. | suggest
that Congress ional action be taken in recog-
milton of the spirit which has prompted this
gift, and in aid of the timely completion of
the pedestal upon which it is to be placed
Our relations with Germany, a country
which contributes t. our own some of the
best elements of citizenship, continue to be
cordial The United States has extradition
treaties with several of the German States,
but by reason of the confederation of those
states under the imperial rule the application
of such treaties is not as uniform and COM
prehcnSive as the interests of the two coun-
tries require. propose, therefore, to open
negotiations for a single convention of extra
dltion to embrace all the territory of the
empire
1t affords me pleasure to say that our in
tercourse with Great Britain continues to be
of most friendly character.
Much anxiety has lately been displayed bv
various European governments, and especi-
ally by the Government of Italy for the abo-
lition of our import duties upon works of art
1t Is well to consider whether the present dis
elimination in favor of the productions of
the American artists abroad is
not likely to result rs they themselves seem
very generally to believe it may, in the prac-
tlcal exclusion of our painters and sculDtors
from the rich fields for observation, t ldy
and labor which they have hitherto en-
joyed.
lnere Is prospect that the long-pendin~ re-
vision OF the foreign treaties of japan NAV
be concluded at new conference to be held
at IpElo While this government fully recog-
nlzeS the equal and independent station of
Japan IN the community of nat ons it would
not oppose the general adoption of such
terms OF compromise as Japan may be dis
posed To offer in turtherance of a uniform
Pohcy OF intercourse with western nations
during the past year the increasing good
vii between our own government and that
9I Mexico has been variously manifested.
The treaty of commercial reciprocity CON
cluded January 20, 1883, has been ratified.
ana awaits the necessary tariff legislation of
congress to become effective This legisla-
tlon will, doubt not, be among the first
measures to claim your attention
full treaty of commerce navigation and
consular rights is much TO be desired. and
such treaty have reason to believe that
the Mexican Government stands ready to
coincide. Some embarrassment has been oc-
casioned by the failure of Congress at its last
session to provide means for the due execu
ton of the treaty of July 20, 1SS2, for the re.
survey of the Mexican boundary and the re-
location of boundary monuments.