Huntsville gazette., 1886-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Interesting Synopsis Of a Lengthy
Public Document.

Our Foreign and Domestic Relations Re-
Viewed The Tariff and Silver 0ues-
uons, and Others of Equal Gen-
erai Interest Discussed.
>srs1s Dec President CIeVelands
message opens with the usual survey of for
eiSn relations, and one third OF the document is
devoted tG discussion and review of this i'm
portant topic. Our Government, he says,
has consistently maintained its relations OF
friendship toward all other powers. and a
neighborly interest toward those whose posses
sons are contiguous 10 our own. Few cues
Nons have arisen during the past year with
other governments and none of those are be-
sond the reach Of settlement in friendly
Council.
The cruel treatment of inoffensive Chinese IN
the far West is alluded TO, and in speaking of a
remedy he says the paramount duty of main
tanning public order and defending the interests
OF our own people may require the adoption OF
measures OF restriction, but they should not
tolerate the oppression of individuals OF spe-
eial race.
Discussing the fisheries question. so long
subject OF anxious difference between the
United States and Great Britain, the President
says the questions involved are OF great
consequence, and from time to time,
for nearly three quarters Of a century, have
given rise to earnest international discussions,
not unaccompanied by irritation. Temporary
arrangements by treaties have served to aliay
friction which, however, has revived as each
treaty was terminated. While desirous that
friendly relations should exist between the
people OF the United States and Canada, the
action of Canadian officials during the past
season towards our fishermen has been
such, the President thinks, as to threaten
their continuance; and although disappointed
IN his efforts to secure a satisfactory settlement
of the question, negotiations are still pending
with reasonable hope that before the close OF
the present session of Congress the announce
tnent he made that acceOtaDe cOuclu-
sion has been reached.
Abiding TO our relations with Hawaii, the
President recommends an extension for seven
years OF the reciprocity treaty OF 1879. He ur-
gently renews his recommendation of legiSla-
ton TO carry into effect the American reciprO-
city treaty OF January 1893, and proposes 10
initiate negotiations with Mexico for new and
enlarged treaty OF commerce and legislation.
Referring to the Cutting case. he says the in
cident has disclosed a claim of jurisdiction by
Mexico novel in our history, whereby an oifenSe
committed any where by foreign penal in the
place OF It's commission q nd OF when a Mexl-
can is the object, may, Eke offender be found
in Mexico. be there tried and punished IN con
formity with Mexican laws. This jurisdiction
was sustained by the courts OF Mexico and ap-
proved by the executive branch of that Govern
nent upon the authority OF q Mexican statute.
The Appellate Court, in releasing Mr.. Cutting,
decided that abandonment OF the complaint by
the Mexican citizen aggrieved by the alleged
crime "a libelous publication), removed the
basis OF further prosecution, and also declared
justice to have been satisfied by the enforce
fnent OF :; EMAIL part of the original sentence.
The admission of such pretense, the President
argues. would be attended with serious results,
invasive Of the jurisdiction of this Government,
and highly dangerous TO our citizens in for
eign lands; therefore, he has denied It. ana
protested against its attempted exercise as
unwarranted by the principles OF law and inter-
national usages. A sovereign has jurisdiction
of offenscs. which take effect in his territory,
although concocted or commenced outside OF IL,
but the right is denied of any foreign sovereign
80 punish citizen OF the United States for all
offense consummated on our soil in violation of
our laws, even though the offense be against
n subject or citizen OF such foreign sovereign.
The Mexican statute in question makes the
claim broadly and the principle, il conceded,
would make dual responsibility in the citizen
and lead to inextricable discussion destructive
OF that certainty III the law which is an es-
Eential OF liberty.
larily 20 10 foreign country they must abide
by the laws there in force and must not be pro-
ieclcd by their own government from the conse-
gucnce OF an olfense against those laws com
United in such foreign country. brt watchful
care and interest of this Government over its
citizens are not relnQuished because they have
gone abroad and. il charged with crime COM
mitted in the foreign land, Il fair and open trial,
conducted with decent regard for Justice and
humanity will be demanded Tor them with
less than that the Government Will not be con
tent when The life or liberty Of its citizens is at
stake.
What other degree TO which extra territorial
criminal jurisdiction may have been formerly
allowed BY consent and reciprocal agreement
among certain OF the European states, no
such doctrine OF practice was ever known TO
the laWs of this country nor 10 that from
which our institutions have been mainly de-
in The case or Mexico, there are reasons espe-
cially strong for perfect harmcny in the mutual
exercise OF jurisdiction nature mas mauS us
irrcyocably neighbOrs, and wisdom anu klnd
feeling should make Us friends. the oterhoW
OF capital and enterprise from the Unlted
States is potent factor IN assisting the devel-
4lan n
building UP the prosperity OF both
countries. TO assist this good work al
grounds OF apprehension for the security OF
person and property should be removed ana
The President trusts that in the interests OF
GOOD neirhbprhood the statute referred TO Will
be so modified rs 10 eliminate the present pos
siblities of danger to the peace OF the TWO couh-
tries. ...,.
The President recommends the placing OF the
consular system on u better footing, ana relter-
ates the necessity OF some mode or inspection
and report OF the manner III winch liio tOH-
sulates are conducted
He trusts the subject of an InternatonI
copyright will receive the attention 1t deserYss
by Congress.
ne recommends that provision Ue made for
tile immediate discharge fro.. -dstody OF pen
sons committed Tor cXtr"dltlon Where the
render should not be made, ana re-
news his recommendation OF last year
that legislation concerning citization and
naturalization be revised We have, he says,
sleaties with many States providing FOR the re-
nunciation of eitiZaton by naturalzed anens
but no statute is found 10 give effect to such
engagements nor any which provides needed
control or bureau for registration OF haltrai-
lied citizens.
Reaching domestic affairs, the first subject
discussed is the tariff, and TO this the President
deyotes a great deal of space. arguing that the
necessity for a reduction of the tarl1 IS more
urgent than ever. THE income Of the Govern
fnent.'' he says, by its increased volume ana
thorough economies in its collection, IS now
more than ever in excess OF the puohc neces-
sites. The application OF the surplus 70 ne
payment OF such portion OF the
public debt as IS now at our phon
subject to extnguishnent, If continued at lhe
rate which has lately prevailed woula retire
that class OF Indebtedness within less than ORE
year from this date. Thus continuance OF our our
present revenue system would soon result IN IA the
receipt OF an annual income much greater tllaii
necessary to meet Government expenses.
with no Indebtedness upon Whch !.
could be applied. We shoulu be
then confronted with vast Quanlity OF money,
the circulating medium CT the people. hoaiusu hsa
in The treasury when it should DE IN thelT ntuus'
or we should be drawn into wastelhl plpIic s, 81
travagance- with all the corruptlng Naliohai
generalization which follows in lis track:
But IL Is not the simple existence OF ihis sui
plus and its threatened attendant evlls winch
furnish the strongest argument against ouI
present scale OF Federal taxations; It's worse
phase Is tne eXaction OF such surplus through
. perversion or the relations between lne peo-