Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-09
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
The Carrying of Cur Mails to Foreign
Lands.
WAsHINa-ow. December s. 1880.

WASHINGTON, December s, 1888.
The following is President Cleveland's
annual message, read in Congress to-day:
To tie Ooagrosa Of the United States: Your as
sembing is clOuded by q sense of public be-
reavement, caused by the recent and sudden
death of Thomas A. Hendricks Vice President
OF the United States His distinguished public
services his complete integrity and devot on to
every duty and his personal virtues will find
honorab e record in his countrys history
Ample and repeated proofs of the esteem and
confidence in which he was held by his fellow
countTymen were manifested by the election to
offices OF the most important trust and highest
dignity, and at length, full of years and honors
he has been laid at rest amidst general sorrow
and benediction.
The Constitution, which requires those chosen
TO legislate for the people to annually meet in
the discharge of their solemn tru t. also requires
the President 10 give to Congress the iniorma-
ton of the state of the Union, and recommend
TO their consideration such measures as he shall
deem necessary to expedite. At the threshold
OF compliance with these constitutional direc-
tions, 1t is well for us to bear in mind that our
usefulness TO the peoples interests will be pro-
NOTED by constant appreciation of the scope
ana character OF our respective duties, as they
relate TO Federal legislation. While the Ex
ecutlvc may recommend such measures as he
snail deem expedient, the responsibility for
legislative action must and should rest upon
those selected by the people TO make their laws
The contemplation of the grave and responsible
aSSlSuee tOt the Executive branches of
the Government under the Constitution will
disclose the partitions of power between our
respective departments and their necessary in
dependence, and also the need for the exercise
OF all the power intrusted to each in that spirit
OF comfy aud cooperation which is essential to
the proper fulhllment of the patriotic obliga-
tlons which rest upon us as faithful servants of
the people. The jealous watchfulness of our
constituencies. great aud small, supplements
their suffrage
OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN NATIONS.
1t is gratifying to announce that the relations
OF the United States with all powers continue 10
be friendly. Our position, after nearly century
of successful constitutional government, main
tenance OF good faith in all our engagements
the avoidance Of complications with other ma
uons and consistent and amicable attitude to-
ward the strong and weak alii., furnish ,roof
OF political disposition which renders profes-
slons of good viii unnecessary There are no
questions of difficulty pending with any foreign
Government
The Argentine Government has revived the
long dormant question Of the Falkland Islands
by claiming from the tinted States indemnity
for their loss attributed to the action of the com
mander OF the sioop oI-war Lexington in break
ing up colony on these islands in 1871 and
their subsequent occupation by Great Britain
In view of the ample Justification for the act of
the Lexington. and the direct condition of the
Islands before aud ait,I their alleged occupation
by Argentine cOlonists, this Government holds
that this claim is wholly groundess
The question has arisen with the Government
OF Austro- hungary touching the representation
OF the United states NJ Vienna Having under
my constitutional prcrogative, appointed an es-
tmable citizen of unimpeacheG probity and
competence as Minister at that court the Gov
eminent of Austro Hungary invited this Gov
ernment to g cOgniZance of certain executions
based upon allegations against the personal
acceptaolllty OF Mr.. Kelly, the appointed EnVOy
asking that, in view thereof. the appointment
should TO Withdrawn. The reasons advanced
were such as could not be acqueseed in with
out violation OF my oath of Office and the pre-
cepts OF the Constitution, since they necessary
nNolved q limitation IN tayor OF q foreign Gov
ernment upon the right of selection by the Ex-
ecutlNe, ana required such an application of Il
religious test as q qualification for Office under
the United states rs would have resulted in the
practical dsfrauchisement of a large class of
our citizens and the abandonment of a vital
principle Of or Government. The AuStrn- HIM
garlan Government finally decided not to re-
celve AR. kelly as the Envoy of the United
states: and that gentleman since resgaed his
commission, leaving the post vacant I have
MADE no new nominal on and the interests of
this Government at Vienna are now in the hands
OF the secretary OF Legation as Charge d Atfaires
ad interim.
As early as March last war broke out in Cen
tral America, caused by the attempt of Cuate-
mala to consolidate the several States into
single Government. In this contest between
our neigh boring States the United States for
bore TO interfere actively, but lent the aid of
their friendly offices in depreciation of war and
10 promote peace und concord among the bellig-
erents, ana by such counsel contributed impor-
locality
The emergencies growing out of the civil war
IN the United states of Colombia demanded of
the Government at the beginning of this admin
istratiou the employment of an armed force to
fulhll its guarantees under the Thirty-ffth Arti-
Gle of the Treaty of 1916 i'll order to keep the
transit open across the lsthmus of Panama
DESTROYS OF exercising only the power expressly
reserved to us by the treaty, and mindful OF the
rights OF Colombia, the forces sent to the 18th
mus were instructed to contine their action to
positively and ethcaciously preventing the tran
SIT and its accessories from being intercepted
and embarrassed" The execution of this deli
~ H.
police control where the local authority was
temporarily poweTleSS, but always in aid of the
sovereignty OF Colombia. The prompt and sue
ceSsiul fmtllment of its duty by this Govern
ment was highly appreciated by the Govern
ment OF Colombia, and has been followed hy an
expression of its satisfaction and high praise ia
the officers and men engaged in this service
The restoration of peace on the Isthmus BY the
re-establishment of the constituted Government
there being thus accomplished, the forces of the
United States were withdrawn.
Pending these occurrences a question of much
Importance was presented by DEGREES of the Co
lombian Government. proclaiming the clos1rr
of certain ports then in the hands of Insurgents
and declaring vessels held by the reyolutionists
20 he Liable to capture by any Power. To neither
Of these propositions could the United States as
sent An effective closure of ports not in the
possession Of the Government but held by the
hostile partisans could not be recognized neither
could the yeSSelSof insurgents against the lcgit-
mate sovereignty be deemed hosts hundRi generis
within the precept of international law, what
ever might be the definition or penalty of their
against whose authority they were in revolt
The denial by this Government of the Colombian
proposition did not however, imply the admis-
SION OF a bellgerent status on the part of the ia-
suTgents- The Colombian Government has ex-
pressed Us Willingness TO negotiation cOnven-
tions Tor the adjustment by arbitration of claims
by foreign citizens, arising out of the destnlc-
ton OF the city Of Aspinwau by the insurrec-
uonary forces
TIE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The interest of the United States in a practi-
cable transit ior ships across the strip OF land
separating the Atlantic nom the Pacific. has
been repeatedly manifested during the last half
century. My immediate predecessor caused 10
be negotiated with Nicaragua treaty for the
construction by, and at the sole cost of the
United States, OF a canal through Nicaracl1an
territory, and'aid it before the Senate Pend
ing the action of that body l withdrew the
treaty for re-eNamination. Attentive consider
alton ot Its provisions leads me so withhold il
from re submission TO the Senate Maintaining
as do, the idea of line of Presidents from
Nashington's days, which prescribe charging
entanghug alliances with foreign States | do
not favor policy of acquisition OF new and dis
tant territory, or the Incorporation of remote in
terests with osr own. The laws of progress are
vital and organic, and must be conscious
that our duty Ill the present instruets US to ad-
dress ourselves mainly to the development of