Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-09
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
ANINPORTANT STATE PAPER.
R,ronchmeni aud Reform-Army and Ma
,y-Silycr- Mormonism--Civils Service Land
Laws-Nationai Library Building, sc.
fBy telegraph to the Dispatch.I

Ny-NnNfF-.u b'h"
Laws-Nationai Library Building, sc.
fBy telegraph to the Dispatch.I
The following is the Presidents mes
sage
10 me Congress oChe Uhied States.
Your assembling IL couded by sense OF
pubic bereavement, 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 devotion TO every duty. ana
his personal virtues will hnd honorable
record I'm his countTy's history.
Ample and repeated proofs OF the esteem
ard confidence in which he was he'd by his
fellow country were manifested by ms
election TO Offices Of the most important
trust and highest dignity: and at length.
fun OF years and hoDors. he has been laid At
rest amid universal sorrow and benedic-
ton.
Inc Constitution. which requires those
chosen To leCislat for the people TO annu-
ally meet in the discharge OF their solemn
trust, also requires the President To give TO
Congress Information Of the state OF the
Iniun. and recommend 10 their cons idera-
ton such measures as he shall deem ueces-
Sary and eXpedient. At the threshold Of "a
compliance with these constitutional direc'
lions II h well for us to bear in mind that
our usefulness to the peoples interests VIII
lie promoted by constant appreciation OF
the scope and character Of our respective
dutiesas they relate 10 Federal leg station
While the Executive may recommend such
measures as be shall deem cXpedient. the
responsibility for legislative action must
and should rest upon those selected by the
people to make their laws.
Contemplation of the grave and respons
bic functions assigned To the respective
branches OF the Government under the
Constitution VIII disclose the partitions of
power between our respective departing ais
ard their necessary Independence. aud also
the need for the exercise of all the power
entrusted 10 each IN that spirit OF comfy
and cooperation which Is essential To the
proper fuiiiiment Of the patriotic obligations
which rest upon Us as faithful servants OF
the people.
The Jealous watchfulhess Of our constltu-
cncies great and small. supplements their
suflTages. and before the tribunal they
establish every public servant should be
Judged.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
1t is gratifying to announce that the rela-
tions Of the United States with all foreign
Powers continue 10 he friendly. Our pos .
ton. after nearly century OF successful
constitutional government. maintenance Of
good faith in all our engagements. the
complications with other nations. and our
consistent and amiCable attitude toward
the strong and weak alike, furnish proof Of
a political disposition which renders pro-
LESSONS Of goodwill unnecessary. There
are no questions Of difficulty pending with
any foreign COY eminent.
The Argentine Government has revived
the iOpg COlmant question Of the Falkland
islands 10y claiming nom the United States
indemnity for Their loss. attributed 10 the
action Of the commander OF the s'ODD-Of.
war Lexington ia breaking mp pirdtical
colony on those Stands I'm 1891. and their
subsequent occupation by Great Britain.
In view Of the ample justification for the act
OF NJ e Lexington, and the dcIeiic' condition
Of the Islands before and after their alleged
occupation by Argentine coiOuisis this
Government nsid0Is tie calm as wholly
GROUND. esS.
Question has arisen with the Government
of Austria Hungary touching the repre-
SeHtatiOn OF the United STATES at vienna.
Having under my constitutional pirroS1-
tINcappOiuted an estlmah.e CltlLcu Ot un-
impcachCd probIty and competence as
Minister az That court. the Government Of
AuNiria-HuuGaIy invoked SGOvcIumout
to take Cogn:lahrc OF c'riHiu exception,
based upon Allegations against tine person
al acct ptaDIl.t, ui Air kelley the appoint
cd cut oy. asking that in view thereof the
appointment shOu.d be Withdrawn. Tin"
reasons F'NaHC, d were such nS could not hr
atguIr>cCd iu without Nlolai ou of mv
oath of office and the prrCept~ al the
Con sti'uiiOu. Siurr they uccc .sarIIy lu-
vowed q Limitation lu FAVOR OF for.
o.gu Government upon the right OF
selection 10y tie Executive, and rei u'rri
such an Application Of a religious test as .
qualification for Office under IA" uiirl
STATES AS WOuld Iatt resulted in iHc prg
teal bi~fiaUci iscmcut u ARE class OF
our ,Itlscus and the abandonment OF "a vita.
principle IA our government The Au~iI'-
Hungarian Government finally dec dri NOT
To TscriN. Nj. Kelley as the envoy OF the
u'ttd states. and that gentleman has
since resigned his commission. leaving tie
Jtst vacant. have made no now uOmin4-
ton, and the interests OF this Government
al vienna are now in the care 81 tnD Score
tuy Of Legation acting rs ctIrg" dpfduN
"a iht.Iftn.
CFSTRALAHEBICA.
Early in March last war broke out u
Central America, caused by the attempt OF
Guatemala tocuusOliiatc the several STATES
into a single government. in these con-
tests between our ncignbOriug States the
United STATES fOrbore 10 interfere actively,
but lent the aid OF their friendly Offices la
GeLroCatlOn Of war and 10 promote peace
and cOnCOrdamOng the bclllgereuts. and by
such counsel contributed importantly To
the restoration Of tranquility IN That To-
cality.
EMERGENCIES growing out Of civil war i'm
the United States Of Colombia demanded
OF the Government at the beginning OF
this Administration the employment OF an
RI med force 10 fulfil rs guarantees under
the thiIty-iifth article OF the treaty Of 1876,
in order 10 keep the transit open across the
lsihmus Of Panama. DESTROYS of eXcrtins
only the powers TX preS,ly reserved to Us by
the treaty and mindful Of the rights 81 Co
lOmbla, the forces sent TO the istnmus were
instructed 10 coniine their action TO "pu-i-
lively and efhcaciousy preventing the
transit and it's accessories from being IN
terrupted or embarrassed.
The execution OF this delicate and re-
spCnsible task necessarily involved police
control where the local authority was tenn
porarily pOWerless. but always IN aid Of the
sovereignty Of Colombia.
Tie prompt and successful iuliilment Of
the duty by this Government was highly
appI &c ted by the Government OF Column
bia. and has been followed by expressions
Of It's satisfaction.
II ign praise is due 10 the officers and
men engaged In this service. The rcstora-
ZION OF peace on the iSthmus by the re-
csiablishmt nj Of the constituted Govern.
ment there being thus accomplished the
forces Of the United States were with
dawn.
COLOMBIA.
Pending these occurrences a question of
much importance was presented hv de-
cTees OF the Colombian Government pro-
claiming the closure OF certain ports then
in the hands OF insurgents. and declaring
vessels held by the Tevolutionsjs TO be-
piraucal and liable 10 capture by any
power. 10 neither OF these propositions
could the United states assent. An eilcG-
tive closure of ports not IN the pOssesslo on
Of the Government, but held by hostile par
uzaDs, could not be recognized: neither
legitimate sovereignty he deemed hos'.s
hUHGHi g'H'rLs within the precepts OF inter-
national law, whatever might be the DELI
milton and penalty Of their acts under the
municipal law OF the state against whose
authority they were In revolt The denial
10y this Government of the Colombian pro-
positions did not. however Imply the al.
mission Of "A belligercnt status on the part
Of the insurgents.
The Colombian Government has ex-
pressed its willingness to negotiate couven-
tiOns for the adjustment by arbitration OF
claims OF foreign citizens arising out Of the
destruct on OF the city Of AspinWal by the
iDsurrectiOnary forces
The interest 81 the United States In
practicable transit for ships across the strip
OF land separating the Atlantic from the Pa.
ciiic has been repeatedly manifested du-
ring the last half century.
NICARAGUA.
My immediate predecessor caused to he
negotiated with Nicaragua treaty for
The construction by and at the sole cost Of
the united States of a canal through Mica
raguan territory. and laid il before the
senate. Pending the action of that body
thereon withdrew the treaty for re-eXami-
nation. Attentive consideration Of It's bro.
visions leads me To withhold II from re
submission 10 the Senate.
Maintaining, as do. the tenets OF line
otPresidcntS from Washington day which
prescribe changing alliances with foreign
states. do not faVOra policy OF ACQUISITION
OF new and distant territory, or the incOr-
poration OF remote Interests with our own.
lhe laws OF progress are vital aud organic
ana we must be conscious OF the irresistt.
Dle zoe OF commercial expansion which. a
Inc cOncOnltant OF our active civilization,
day ny day is being urged onward by those
increasing facilities OF production, trans.
poriauOn, ana communication TO which
steam ana electricity have given birth.