West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-12-09
CONGRESS MEETS.
THE PRESIDENTS ANNUAL MEs,
SAGE.
An Extended Rev lew az the Anairs
of tho Uhitcd States. Forcigu
aud Domestic.

day. Ia both house, most of the tune was
eonsun, Vi by the. reading OF ths Presidents
message Three new members were sworn
in the II use, and several important papers
were presented ia the Senate.
President Clevelaud's message opens with
the usual survey OF foreign relations, aud
one>third OF the massage is devoted TO dis
cussion and review OF foreign relation.
Our Government, no says has consistently
mantlined its relations of friendship toward
all other Powers and of neiShborly interest
toward those whose possessions are contigti~
Gus to our own. Few questions have arisen
during the past year with other Governments
aud none of those arc beyond the reach of
settlement in friendly council. The cruel
treatment of inoiransive Chinese ir the far
Vest is alluded TO, and in speaking OF a renf>
edy hesiys the paramount duty of maintains
ing public order AMI defending the interests
OF our own people may require the adoption
OF measures Of restriction but they should
not tolerate the oppression of indlvldu ala of
n special race
Discussing to fisheries question tho Presi-
dent says ths questions involved are OF grave
consequence, aud from time TO time for
nearly three-luarters OF century have
givin rise TO earnest international discus,
sion, not unaccompained by irritation. Tenn
porary arrangements 10y troat!es have served
10 alay friction, which, however, has revived
as each treaty was terminated. While do,
sirous that friendly relations shouil exist
between the people OF the United States and
Canada, the aci)n OF Canadian officials dur,
ing the pIst seafon toward our fi,h,rmen has
been such, the.Presidont thinks, as to threaten
their continuance; and although disappointed
n his efforts 70 secure satnfIc Ictory settle.
tnent OF the question, negotiations are still
pending and with reasonable hope that before
the close OF the present session of Congress
announcement may be made that an accept.
able conclusion has been reached
Abiding 10 our relations with Hawaii the
President recommends an extention for
seven years OF the reciprocity treaty OF 1875.
lie urgently renews his rec ommendation Of
legisll alton 90 carry into effect the Mexican re-
cprocity treaty Of January, 1888, and pro-
poies TO initiate negotiations with Mexico
for new and enlarged treaty of commerce
aud legislation.
THE DISPUTE WITH MEXICO.
Referring 10 the Cutting case, he says the
incident has disclosed claim OF Jurisdiction
by Mexico, novel In our history whereby any
offsnse. committei anywhere by foreigner,
penal IN the place OF It's commission and OF
VIII ch Mexican IS the obj sct, may, IL the
fender be found in NJ .xico, be tried and
punished in conformity with Mexican laws
This jurisd'ctio was sustained by the courts
| Of Mexico and approved by the executive
branch OF the Government upon the au-
| thority OF a Mexican statute. The appellate
court In releasing Mr.. Cutting decided that
che abandonment Of the complaint by the
Mex c41citizen aggrisved by the alleged Grim,
"a libelou publication removed the basis of
further prosecution, and also declared justice
TO have been satisfied by the enforcement Of
a small part OF the original sentence.
The admission of such "A pre- ontiou, the
President argues, would b, attended with
serou, results, Invasive of the Jurisdiction OF
this Government an1 highly dqngerou, 20
our citizsns In foreign la1dI; therefore he
has deniel It and protested against It's A..
| temptod exercise as unwarranted by the
principles of law and international u3ages,
| A sovereign has jurisdiction OF Off snses watch
takD effect within his territory, although
/ concocted or commenced outside OF it but
! ths right is denied of any 10 -eign sovereign
! 10 punish a citzsn OF the United States for
an offsnse consummate1 on our soil I'm vlola-
tlon Of our laws, even though the off snss be
against subj set or citiz m OF su IA sovereign.
The Mexican statute IN question makes the
| claim broadly, and the principle II conceded,
would make dual responsibility in the cit
kizsn aud lead to exiricabe confusion, de.
structiye Of that certainty ia the law which
is an essential OF liberty.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
Reaching dome,tic affairs, the FIRST sub.
ject discus1i Is the tariff aud 10 this tn
President devo,es great deal os space ar
| gulng that t.e nece3sity for reduction Of
tho tariff is more urgent than ever.
"The income Of the G)yernm ent,r he says,
"by its increased volume and through ec)n-
omles in It's collection Is now more than ever
ia excess OF public necessities. The fp2lic1
I tion OF tho surplus 30 tbs payment OF such
| portion Of the public debt as is now at our OPP
| tiOn subj scttJ ex inguIshmsnt, II continu ID
! at tho rate watch has lately prevailed would
retire that elias OF in1ebts1ne3s within les
than one year from this its Thus con
tiuuation OF our present revoou5 system
would soon result in the recsips Of an annu-
al income much greiter thln necessary 10
meet goyernm 3nt expenses, with no indebt-
edness up)n whica it c)uld bs applied We
should then be- con nironted with a vast quqn-
! tity Of money, the circulating med um
Of The people hoardei IN the
treasury when IL should be in
their hsnds. or we should b. drawn into
was.eful public extravoRance with all the
! corruptng national denoraliz itiox with fol-
/ lows ia is train But IL is not the simple
existence Of this surplus and rs threatened
! attendant evils which furnish the strongest
! orgument,against our present scile Of Fed
/ oral toxition. The worst phase Is the ex-
4, action = such n surplus through a
/ pervsrsion Of tho relations between IN,
/ people AMI their Government, and danger.
. Gus departure from the rules which limit IN,
/ right cf Federal taxation.
When more Of the peoples substances IS OK
& acted through tho form.of toxation than Il
necessary b meet the just obligations Of tbr
I Government ami the expenses Of its economf
I cal administration, such exaction become
! ruthiea extatlon and a violation Of tn,
] fundamental principles of free govern