National Republican., 1886-12-07

Department Of State IN relation TO this i'm
poftant subject, so that the history OF the
past fishing season may be fully disclosed,
and the action and the attitude OF tho ad-
ministration clearly comprehended, more
extended reference Is not deemed necessary
In this communication.
The recommendation, submitted last
year, that provision be made for prelimi-
nary Reconnaissance Of the conventional
boundary line between Alaska and British
Columbia is renewed.
express my unhesitating conviction
that the intimacy Of our relations with
Hawaii should be emphasized Asa result
OF the reciprocity treaty OF 1875, those ISL
ands, on the highway Of Oriental and Aus.
tralasian traffic, are virtually an outpost Of
American commerce and stepping stone
to the growing trade OF the Pacific. The
Polyneslan island groups have been so ab-
sorbed by other and more powerful gov
ernmente, that the Hawaiian Islands are left
almost alone In the enjoyment OF their
autonomy, which II is important for us
should be preserved. Our treaty Is now
terminable on one years notice, but prop.
ositions to abrogate IL would be, in my
judgment, most ll.advised. The paramount
influence we have there acquired, once re-
llnqushed, could only with difficulty be re-
gained, and valuable ground Of vantage
for ourselves might be converted into a
stronghold for our commercial competitors.
/ earnestly recommend that the existing
treaty stipulations be extended for further
term Of seven years. A recently signed
treaty to this end is now before the Sen
ate.
The importance of telegraphic communi-
cation between those Islands and the
United States should not be overlooked.
The question of general revision Of the
treaties Of Japan ls again under discussion
- uHNNrI 10 NI...n naaaN a.. -.
with that empire, and as the nation In most
direct commercial relation with Japan, the
United States have lost no opportunity TO
testify their consistent friendship by sup
porting the Just claims OF Japan TO auton-
omy and Independence among nations.
A treaty Of extradition between the Uni
ted States and Japan, the first concluded
by that empire, has been lately proclaimed.
The weakness OF Liberia and the difficulty
Of maintaining effective sovereignty over
its outlying districts, have exposed that
republic TO encroachment. 1t cannot be
forgotten that this distant community Is an
offshcot Of our own system, owing its origin
to the associated benevolence Of American
citizens, whose praseworthy efforts to cre-
ate q nucleus OF civilization in the dark con-
tinent have commanded respect and sympa-
thy everywhere, especially In this country.
Although formal protectorate over Libe-
ria is contrary to our traditional policy, the
moral right and duty Of tho United States
to assist In all proper ways in the mainten-
ance OF Its integrity is obvious, and has been
consistently announced during nearly half
a century. i recommend that, in the reor-
ganization Of our navy, small vessel, no
longer found adequate to our needs, be
presented to Liberia, to be employed by IL
In the protection Of Its coastwise revenues.
The encouraging development OF bene-
fetal and intimate relations between the
United States and Mexico, which has been
so marked within the past few years, is at
once the occasion of congratulatou and OF
friendly solicitude. l urgently renew my
former representation Of the need Of speedy
legislation by Congress to carry into effecI
the reciprocity commercial convention Of
Jan. 90, 1883.
our commercial treaty OF 1881 with
Mexico was terminated, according to It's
provisions, in 1881, upon notification given
by Mexico In pursuance OF her announced
policy Of recasting all her commercial
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 reci-
these points, the settlement Of which is so
necessary to good relationship. propose
to initiate with Mexico negotiations for q
new and enlarged treaty of commerce and
navigation.
In compliance with resolution Of the
Senate, communicated to that body on
August 2 last, and also to the House Of
Representatives, the correspondence in the
case OF A. X. Cutting, an American citizen,
then imprisoned in Mexico, charged with
the commission of penal ofrense In Texas,
Of which a Mexican citizen was the object.
After demand had been made for his re-
lease the charge against him was amended
so as TO include vic alton Of Mexican law
within Mexican territory.
This joinder Of alleged offenses, one
within and the other exterior to Mexico,
induced me to order special investigation
Of the case--pending which Mr.. Cutting
was released.
The incident has, however, disclosed q
claim OF Jurisdiction by Mexico, novel In
our history, whereby any offense, commit
ted anywhere by a foreigner, penal In the
place OF its commission, and Of which a
Mexican is the object, may, II the offender
be found in Mexico, be there tried and pun
Isbed in conformity with Mexican laws.
This Jurisdiction was sustained by the
courts OF Mexico in the Cutting case, and
approved by the executive branch Of that
government, upon the authority OF n Mexi-
can statute. The appellate court, in roleas.
ing Mr.. Cutting, decided that the abandon
ment Of the complaint by the Mexican citl-
zen agrleved by the alleged crime Ia libel
Gus publication), removed the basis OF fur
ther prosecution, and also declared justice
TO have been satisfied by the enforcement
OF small part of the original sentence.
The admission OF such pretension would
be attended with serious results, invasive
Of the jurisdiction Of this government, and
highly dangerous TO our citizens in foreigr
land; therefore have denied it, and pro
tested against its attempted exercise, as un
warranted by the principles of law and in
ternational usages.
A sovereign has jurisdiction OF offensei
which take effect within his territory
although coneocted or commenced outsid,
OF IT.; but the right is denied of any foreigI
sovereign to punish citizen of the United
States for an offense consummated on oul
soil In violation Of our laws, even though
the offense be against subject or either
| Of such sovereign. The Mexican statute II
question makes the, claim broadly, and th'
| principle, IL conceded, would create dua
responsibility in the citizen, and lead to In
| extrcable confusion,I destructive OF tha
certainty in the law which is an essential O.
| liberty.
When citizens of the United States vol
unfairly go into foreign country they mus
abide by the laws there In force, and will
not be protected by their own government
| from the consequences of an offense against
those laws committed In such foreign coun
try, but watchful care and interest Of thii
| government over its citizens are not relin
| qulshed because they have gone abroad
| and III charged with crime committed In thl
foreign land fair and open trial, con
| Quoted with decent regard for justice and
humanity, will be demanded for them
With lees than that this government vii
not be content when the life or liberty o
| It's citizens is at stake.
Whatever the degree to which extraterrl
torial criminal Jurisdiction may have beeI
formerly allowed by consent and reciprocal
| agreement among certain OF the European
states, no such doctrine or practice wa
| ever known to the laws of this country o
Of that from which our institutions hav
| mainly been derived.
/ In, tlo -