The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-12-19
MESSAGE.
wAsHINeroN.D. @, December s


public bereavement, caused by the recent
sudden death Of Thomas A. Hendricks. Vice
President OF the United States. His distin-
guished public services, his complete lnteg-
rity and devotion tO every duty, and his
personal virtues, will find honorable record
in his country's history. Ample and re-
peated proofs OF the esteem and confidence
in which he was held by his fellow coun-
trymen were manifested by his election to
offices OF the most important trust and high.
est dignity, and at length. full of years and
hOnors, he has been laid at rest amid uni
versal sorrow and benedicuon.
The Constitution, which requires those
chosen to legisate for the people to annual.
ly meet In the discharge of their solemn
trust, also requires the President to give to
Congress information of the States of the
Union and recommend to their consldera-
ton such measures which he should deem
necessary and expedent. At the threshold
of q compliance with these constitu-
tional directions, 1t Is well for us to
bear in mind that our usefulness to the
peoples interests will be prompted by q
constant appreciation of the scope and
character Of our respective duties, as they
relate to Federal legislation. While the
Executive may recommend such measures
as ho shall deem exnedient the RESPONSE
bility for Legislative action must and should
rest upon those selected by the people to
make their laws, Contemplation Of grave
and responsible functions assigned to
the executive branches of the Gov
eminent under the Constitution will
disclose the partitions of power between our
respective departments and their neces
sary independence, and also the need for
a. a.-f., .IIa Al a
EACH in that spirit of comfy and coop
GRAFTON which is essential to the proper
fulfllment Of the patriotic obligations
which rest upon us as faithful servants of
the people The Jealous watchfulness of
our constituency as great and small sup
plements their suffrages, and before the
tribunal they establish every public ger.
want should bejudged.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONS OF
DIFFICULTY PENDING WITH ANY
FOREIGN POWER.
1t is gratifying to announce that the rela
tions OF the United States with all foreign
powers continue to be friendly. Our posi-
tlon, after nearly half a century of success
full constitutional government. maintenance
of good faith In all OF our engagements, the
avoidance OF complications with other ma
tions, and consistent and amlcable attitude
toward the strong and weak alike, furnish
proof of political disposition which renders
professions of good will unnecessary.
There are no questions of diff
Guilty pending with any foreign government.
THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT
has revived the long dormant question of
the Falkland Islands by claiming from the
United States indemnity for their loss. at
tributed to the action OF the Commander of
the sloop Lexington in breaking up plrat.
ical colony on those islands In 1881, and
their subsequent occupation by Great Brit
ain. In view Of the ample justification for
the act of the Lexington and the derellct
condition OF the islands before and after
their alleged occupation by Argentine .col.
onisis, this Government considers the claim
as wholly groundless.
THE KELLY CASE.
ACQUISITION has arisen with the Government
of Austro- Hungary touching the represent
alton of the United States at Vienna. Hav-
ing, under my constitutional prerogative,
appointed an estlmable citizen of unim-
peachable pf0bity and competency as Minis
ter to that Court, the Governments of Austro-
Hungary invited this Government to the
cognizance of certain exceptions, based up
on allegations against the personal accepta.
bility of Mr.. Kelly, the appointed Envoy
asking that, in view there Vt, the appoint
meni should be withdrawn The reasons ad
vanced were such as could not be acquiesced
in without violation of my oath of office
and the precepts of the Con.
stitution, since they necessarily involve q
upon the right of selection by the Execu
tive, and required such an application of a
religious test as a qualification for office
under the United States as would have re-
suited in the practical disfranchisement of a
large class ct our citizens, and the abandon
ment OF vital prime pie in our Government
The AustrO Hungarian Government finally
decided not to receive Mr.. Kelly as the envoy
OF the United States, and the gentleman has
since resigned his commission, leaving the
post vacant. have made no new nomina
Cion, and the interests of this Government
at Vienna are now In the care of the Secre-
tary of Legation acting as Charge d'Ahairs
Rd interim
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Early in March last war broke out In Cen
tral America, caused by the attempt of
Guatemala to consolidate the several States
into single government. In these contests
between our neighborlng States the United
States forebore to interfere actively, but
lent the aid of their friendly offices in depre.
cation OF war to promote peace and concord
among the helllgerents and by such counsel
contributed importantly TO the preservation
of tranquility in that locality.
Emergencies growing out of the civil war
IN the United States Of COLOMBIA demanded
of the Government, at the beginning OF this
Administra i1n the employment of an
armed force to fulfill its guarantees under
the Thirty ffth article of the treaty OF 1876.
in order TO keep the transit open across the
Isthmus of Panama.
DESTROYS o. exercising only the powers ex.
pressly reserved to us by the treaty and
mindful of the rights of Colombia, the forces
sent to the Isthmus we're instructed to con-
fine their action to positively and effica-
ciously'' preventing the transit and Its ac'
cessores from being interrupted or embar.
rassed" The execution of this delicate and
respons BILE task necessarily involved police
control 'Snere the local authority was tenn.
porarily powerless, but always in aid of the
sovereignty OF Colombia. The prompt and
successful fulfillment fits duty by this Gov
eminent was highly appreciated by the Gov.
eminent of Colomb a, and has been followed
by expression of its satisfaction. High
praise Is due to the officers and men en-
gagged in Shis service. The restoration of
peace ON the isthmus by the re-establsh-
ment OF the constituted Government there
being thus accomplished, the forces of the
United States were withdrawn
The Colombian Government has expressed
It's willingness to negotiate conventions for
the adjustment by arbitration of claims by
foreign citizens arising out of the destruc-
tion OF the city of Aspinwall by the insurrec.
-tionary forces.
The interest of the United States In prac.
ticable transit for ships across tho strip OF
land separating the Atlantic from the Pacific
has been repeatedly manifested during the
last half century. My immediate predeces-