Huntsville gazette., 1885-12-12
President MESSAGE.
wAsHrveroN,D. @, December 4

WASHINGTON D. G., December g.
TO the Congress Of the United States:
Your assembling Is clouded by sense Of
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 integ-
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-
fryn1sn 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 benediction
The Constitution, which requires those
chosen to legislate 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 considera-
ton such measures which he should deem
necessary and expedient. At the threshold
of compliance with these constitu-
tional directions, it is well for us to
bear in mind that our usefulness to the
peoples interests will be prompted by a
constant appreciation of the scope and
character of our respective duties, as they
relate to Federal leg station. While the
Executive may recommend such measures
as he shah deem expedient, the RESPONSE
bilty 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
| ernment under the Constitution will
disclose the partitions of power between our
| u Al H.
sary Independence, and also the need for
the exercise of all the power intrusted to
each, in that spirit of comfy and coop
GRAFTON which is essential to the proper
fulfillment OF the patriotic obligations
which rest upon us as faithful servants of
the people The jealous watchfuness of
| our constituency as great and small sup
piements their sufcage5, and before the
tribunal they establish every public ser
want should be judged.
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-
ton, 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
tons, and consistent and amicable attitude
toward the strong and weak alike, furnish
proof Of political disposition which renders
There are no questions Of diff
uulty 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 sioop lexington, I'M breaking up & pirat
their subsequent occupation by Great Brit
ain. In view of the ample justification for
the act Of the Lexington and the derelct
condition OF the islands before and after
their alleged occupation by Argentine col
ons SITS, this Government considers the claim
as wholly groundless.
THE Kelly CASE.
Aquestion 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 estimable citizen of unim-
peachabe probity and competency as Minis.
ter to that Court the Government of Austro-
Hungary invited this Government to the
cognfzance of certain exceptions, based up
on allegations against the personal accepta-
bility Of Mr.. Kelly, the appointed Envoy,
asking that. in view there #, the appoint
ment should be withdrawn. The reasons al.
vanced were such as could not be acquiesced
in without u violation of my oath OF oihce
and the precepts of the Con-
limitation in favor OF a foreign Government
upon the right of selection by the Execu-
| tive, and required such an application of
religious test as a qualification for Office
under the United States as would have re-
suited in the practical disfranchisement OF
large class of 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-
Iion, and the interests of this Government
at Vienna are now in the care of the Secre-
tary of Legation acting as Charge dAfairs
ad interim.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Early in March last war broke out in Cen.
trail America, caused by the attempt OF
Guatemala to consolidate the several states
into single government In these contests
between our neighbOring States the united
States foreb ore to interfere actively, but
lent the aid Of their friendly offices IN depre,
cation of war to promote peace and concord
am ing the belligerent5. and Dy such counsei
contributed Importantly to the preservation
of tranquility in that locality:
Emergencies growing out or the civil war
in the United States of Colombia demanded
OF the Government, at the beginning OF TINS
Administra ion the smployme,nt pyan,aes OF mndsr an
the Thirty fifth article of the treaty OF lsfo,
in order to keep the transit open across the
Isthmus of Panama.
Oesrous of exercising only the powers ex-
pre5sly reserved to us by the treaty ana
mindful of the rights of Colombia, the forces
sent TO tne lstnm1s were and 'e eioa
ciously' preventing the transit and IT'S ac-
cessories from being interrupted or emoar,
rassed" The execution OF this delicate anu
responsible task necessarily involved polce
control where the local authority was tsin-
porarily powerless, but always in ald Q. rhs
sovereignty OF Colombia. The Prompi tnu
successful fulfliment of its duty by tnis aov ,,
ernment was highly appreciated oy Ine o'1sa Uus
eminent of Colomb a. and has peen ioii9Eeu I'VE,
by expression of its satisfaction. hlg"
praise Is due to the officers ana men en-
gagged In this service The restoraIon "
peace on the isthmu5 by the re-estaoiisn,
ment OF the constituted Government IhsIe
being thus accomplished, the FORCES OF tne
United States we're withdrawn
Pending these occurrences quesslou -
much Importance was presented oy u@ecsses @
| of the Colombian Government. proclainils
the closure of certain ports In the hanus ~ ~
insurgents and declaring vessels neiu ~ s1o .o
revoiu ionists to be piraticn ana IaotS a tt S W
capture by any power. To neither OF tneSe
propositions could the United otates ssaone' IN
An effective closure of ports not IN tne ne PIE es-
session of the Government. but heiu py ;od ,,o
I tiles, partisans could not be reco sIiiIou t
Neither could the vessels OF lnsuIs ons'
against the legitimate sovereignty ne ra.s aeern
ed hosteS human gen,-rfS WITHIN tne prprcop,, - ~
o: International law, whatever mlgnt oe .nr IL
definition and penalty Of their acts nr;sr, nnJe.
the municipal law against whose authSii.y
they were in revolt. The denial Dy tns " 5;,
ernInent of the Colombian proposition u.u