Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-12-10
THE MESSAGE.
President Clevelands Annual Mos
sage to Congress.
Our Foreign Relations Discussed at Groat
Lcngth-irope That the Fisheries oucs-
tion VII, be settled Acccptabiy Bo-
fore the Close of Congress.


message opens with tho usual survey OF forci
relations, and onothird OF tho message is q
voted TO discussion and review OF foreign rel
tions. Our government he says, has co
sistcntly maintained Its relations Of frion
ship toward all other powers and OF ncighbor
interest toward those whose possessions n
contiguous TO our own. Few questions ha'
arisen during the past year with other COVER
ments, and none OF these arc beyond the rent
OF settlement in friendly council. Tho cru
treatment OF inoiIcnsivc Chinese In the far We
Is alluded TO and In speaking OF n remedy |
says the paramount duty of maintaining publ
order and defending the interests OF our ow
people may require the adoption OF measures
restriction but they should not tolerate n
oppression of individuals OF n special race.
Much OF this violence can be traced to rae
prejudice and competition Of labor, which cni
not, however, Justify the oppression of stranl
crs whose safety is guaranteed by our treat
tons.
in opening our vast domain TO alien elements
The purpose OF our lnw.givers was TO invite n
Summation ana not TO provide an arena for enc
less antugonism.
am not without assurance that the govern
ment OF Chinn, whose friendly disposition I,
wards us am most happy to recognize, viii mcC
us hat way in devising comprehensive rem,
ely Dy which an effective limitation of Chimes
emigration, joined TO protection OF those Chimes
SUBJECTS who remain In this country, may be s,
cured Legislation is needed TO execute tn
provisions OF our Chinese convention of 1SSt
touching the opium traffic
While the good will of the Columbian govern
mcnt toward our own country IL manifest, tn
situation OF American interests on the Isthmu
ot Panama has at times excited concern and in
vited friendly action looking TO the perGormanc,
OF the engagements of the two nations concern
ing the territory embraced in the inter.ocean
transit, With the substance OF the Isthmial
disturbance and the erection OF the State o
Panama into n Federal district under the direc
government of the constitutional administration
ut Bogota new order of things has been in
auguratcd which. although as yet somewhat cx
perimental and nfTording scope for arbitrary cx
erctsc Of power by the delegates of the nationa
authority promises much.
Tho sympathy between tho people of the
United States and France, born during our Co
loninl struggle for independence and continuing
today, have received n fresh impulse in the sue
cesstul completion and dedication of the colos
sal statue OF Liberty Enlightoning the World
Americans.
A convention between tho United States ant
certain other powers for the protection of sub
marine cables was signed at Paris on March II
iSSi, ana has been duly ratified and proclaimed
by THIS government. BY agreement between
tne nigh contracting parties this convention 4.
70 60 Into effect the list of January next, but the
leRisiHtion required for its execution in the
United States has not yet been adopted earn
estly recommend It's adoption.
Gases have continued to occur In Germany
giving rise TO much correspondence in relation
TO the privilege of soiourn of our naturalizcd
Sluzcns oil Germnn origin revsiting the land OF
,hclr oirth; yet am happy to state that our re-
accustomed cordaity. The claims for inter.
cst upon the amount of tonnage dues Illegally
eNacted from certain German steamship lines
We're iavprably reported in both houses of Con
Eress gt the last session, and 1 trust will re
celve iinal md favorable action nj an early day
discussing the fisheries question, so long o
subject OF anxious difference between tho
United States and Great Britain, the President
says the questions involved are of grave consc
Quencr, and from time to time for nearly three
quarters of n century have given rise to earnest
international discussions. not unnCComDanied
oy irritation. Temporary arrangements by
srehtles have served to allay friction, which
however, has revived us each treaty was
terminated. While desirous that friendly rc
lations should exist between the people of the
United states and Canada, the action of Cana
dian officials during the past season toward on
fishermen has been such. the President thinks
as to threaten their continuance, and, although
disappointed in his efforts to secure n salts
factory settlement of the question, negotiation.
are still pending, with reasonable hope that be
lore the close of the present session OF Congress
announcement may he made that an acceptable
conclusion has been reached
The weakness of Liberia and the difficulty ol
maintaining effective sovereignty over its out
lying districts have exposed that government to
cncronchments 1t cannot be forgotten that
this distant community is an onshoot of our
own system, owing its origin to the associated
bencvolence of American citizens whose praise,
worthy efforts to create n nucleus of ciyiliZu.
ton in the dark continent have commanded re.
Spect and sympathy everywhere, especially in
this country. Although formal protectorate
pNcI ~ cDnlTuTN 10 our IrtUltlOnnl Doll
cy, the moral right and duty of the United
states TO assist in all proper ways in the main
tenance of its integrity is obvious and has been
consistently announced during nearly half q
century. recommend that in the reorganiZa
tion OF our navy small vessel, no longer found
adequate TO our needs, be presented TO LiNerin,
10 be employed by II in the protection of it,
coastwise revenues.
The encouraging development OF beneficial
md intimate relations between the United
States and Mexico which has been so marked
Il nf ono gl fl,.a.a
casion of congratulation and OF friendly solici
tude. urgently renew my former representa-
ton OF the need of speedy legislation by Con
gress to carry into effect the reciprocity com
mercinl convention of January -, 1881. OuI
commercial treaty OF 1881 with Mexico was ter
minated according TO its provisions in 1881, upon
notification given by Mexico in pursuance her
announced policy OF recasting all her CONNER
cial treaties. Mexico has since concluded with
several foreign governments new treaties OF
commerce and navigation, defining alien rights
OF trade property and residence, treatment OF
shipping, consular privileges and the like. Our
yet unexecuted reciprocity convention of 1885
covers none of the points the settlement OF
which are so necessary 10 good relationship.
propose to initiate with Mexico negotiations for
u new and enlarged treaty OF commerce and
navigation.
Referring TO the Cutting case, he SAYS the in
cident has disclosed a claim of Jurisdiction by
Mexico, novel in our history whereby any of
tense, committed anywhere by foreigner, penal
IN the place OF its commission, and OF which II
Mexican is the object, may, IL the offender be
found In Mexico, be there tried and punished in
conformity with Mexican laws. This jurisdic-
tion was sustained by the courts of Mexico and
approved by the executive branch of that gov
ernment, upon the authority of n Mexican stat
ute. The appellate court, In releasing Cutting,
decided that the abandonment OF the complaint
by the Mexican citizen nggrlevcd by the alleged
crime "a libelous publication, removed the
basis of further prosecution and also declared
Justice TO have been satisfied by the enforce.
ment of a small part of the original sentence.
The admission OF such pretenson the Pres-
l.f..a \.
suits, invasive of the Jurisdiction of this gov
ernment and highly dangerous TO our citizens
In foreign lands; therefore, he has denied ii and
protested against Its attempted exercise rs un
warranted by the principles OF law and interna-
tional usages.
A sovereign has Jurisdiction OF oIcnses which
take effect within his territory, although con-
cocted or commenced outside OF 1t, hut the right
Is denied OF any foreign sovereign to punish
citizen OF the United States for an offense con
summated on our soil, in violation OF our laws,
even though the offense be against subject OF
such sovereign. The Mexican statute in aues-
ton makes the claim broadly. and the principle,
II conceded, would make dual responsibility
in the citizen and lead to inextrieabe confusion,
destructive of that certainty in the law which Is
AN essential of liberty.
When citizens of the United States volun-
tarily go into foreign country they must abide
by the laws there In force, and will not be pro-
tected by their own government from the con
sequences OF an offense against those laws com
mittcd in such foreign country; but watchful
care and interest of this government over It's
citizens are not relinquished because they have
gone abroad, and II charged with crime com
mittcd in the foreign land fair and open trial,
conducted with decent regard for justice and
humanity, will be demanded for them. With
less than this, this government will not be con.
tent when the life or liberty OF its citizens Is al
stake.
Whatever the degree to which cxtra.territor-
ial criminal jurisdiction may have been formerly
allowed by consent and reciprocal agreement
among certain OF the European States, no such
doctrine or practice was ever known To the laws
OF this country, or of that from which our insti.
tutlons have mainly been derived.
In the case OF Mexico, there are reasons cs.
pecinlly strong for perfect harmony IN the mil-
tual exercise Of jurisdiction. Nature has made
no rrcvocably neighbors, and wisdom and kind
feeling should make US friends The overflow
OF capital and enterprise from the United States
Is potent factor In assisting the development
OF the resources OF Mexico, and in building the
prosperity OF both countries. To assist this
good work all grounds OF apprehension for the
security OF persons and property should be re-
moved, and the President trusts that, In the in
terests OF good neighborhood, the statute re.
fcrred TO Will be so modified as TO eliminate the
present possibilities Of danger TO the peace OF
the two countries
The President recommends placing the con
sular service on Il better footing and reiterates
the necessity OF some mode OF inspection and re-
port OF the manner In which tho cOnsulates are
NaA Ila svaa.. -.