Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-12-05
The Presidents Message.

10 the Compress ~ the Cnitcd States:
since the close Of your last session the American
peope 10 the highest exercise Of their suhrage have
chosen their Chief Magistrate for the four years ensu
inc when II is remembered that az no period In the
coupirys history has the long political contest which
customariy precedes the day Of the national election
been waRed with greater fervor and intensity, II il
vbject of general congratulatlon that after the
royersy at the polls over, and while the slight
preponderauce by which the issue had been determ-
med was as yet unascertained the pubc peace suf-
fered no disturbance but the people everywhere pa
tieutly and quietly awaited the result. Nothing
couid more atrikngly Illustrate the temper Of the
American citizen bis love Of order and his loyalty to
law Nothing could more slgnally demonstrate the
strength and wisdom Of our political institutions
Eight years have passed since controversy con-
cerninp the result Of national election sharply
called the attention of the Congress 10 the necessity
for counting the Electoral vote II s OF the grayest
Importance that this question be solved before con.
Alctng claims to the Presidency shall again distract
the country, and am persuaded toat ny Tue peopIe
AT large any Of the Of relief thus far pro-
posed would be preferred to continued inacton.
Dun FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The President devotes a considerable space to a
discussion Of our relations with foreign countries,
but tho whole matter is happily summed up iu his
opeuing sentence, "Our relations with all foreign
powers continue TO be amcabc.' lie states that tue
international Association Of the Congo has been re.
organized aud that a commercial agent for the great
Congo basin, (Which ought to be kept open to all ma
lions on equal terms has been appointed. The
to aid in building the pedestal for the Bartholdi stat
ue so that place for that generous gift from the
people Of France" may be ready on it's arrival next
May The two paragraphs below from this part OF th'
| message, aae Of special interest j
with the republic Of Nicaragua q treaty has beer
concluded which authorizes the construction by the
United States Of a canal, railway and telegraph line
| across the Nicaraguan territory By the terms o.
this treaty GO miles Of the river San juan as well
Lake Nicaragua inland sea 40 miles in width, arr
to constitute part of the projected enterprise Th
leaves for actual canal construction II miles on ~
! Pacific side and &c miles on the Atlantic To tn
United States whose rich territory on the Pacihc s
| for the ordinary purposes of commerce, practcal!
| cut of from communication by water with the Allan
tic ports, the political and commercial advantages
such a treaty project scarcely be overestimated
IL is believed that when the treaty is laid before yo
the Justice and liberaity of it's provisions will com
| mand universal attention at home and abroad.
The International Conference 10 decide upon
! prime meridian, lately convened In Washington upo
the invitation of the government Of the United State
I was composed of representatives from % nations
! The conference concluded it's abors on the first o
! November having with substantial unanimity agree
| upou the meridian Of Greenwich as the startin
| point, whence longitude is TO be computed throug
| $50 degrees eastward aud westward, aud upon adop
ton for all purposes for which it may be found cor
yenient of universal day which shall begin at mic
night on the initial meridian, whose hours shall b
| computed from zero mp totwenty-iour
THE NATIONAL FINANCES.
The condition of our finances and the operations
the various branches of the public service which
{ I'D With the treasury departmeut yer