The Osceola times., 1886-12-18
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S
Last Message to the Forty-Ninth
Congress.
Interesting synopsis OF Lengthy and
Carefully Prepared Document-Ths
Various Public Interests
Passed in Review.


WASHINGTON, Dee G.-President Cieyelands
message opens with the usual survey OF lot
eign relations, and one-third of the document Is
devoted TO discussion and review OF TINS I'M
portant topic. Our Government ne says,
has consistently maintained lts relatons oi
friendship toward all other powers, ana
neghboriy interest toward those whose posses
tions are contiguous 10 our own. Few ques-
ti1ns have arisen during the past year WIN
other governments and none OF those are pc
yond the reach Of settlement in friendly
council.
The cruel treatment OF inofensyc Chinese in
the far West is alluded to- aud in speaking OF
remedy he says the paramount duty OF nam
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 o spe-
eial race.
Discussing the fisheries question, SO long
subject OF anxious difference between the
United States and Great Britain, tho President
says the questions involved arc OF s%res' %
for nearly thrce-Quarters OF century, nave
given rise TO earnest international discussions,
not unaccompanied by irritation. Temporary
Arrangements by treaties have served 10 allay
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
season towards our fishermen has been
such, the President thinks, as 20 threaten
their continuance and although tisappointcd
In his Efforts TO secure satisfactory settlement
of the question, negotiations arc still pending
with reasonable hope that before the close of
- ~. nresent session OF Congress the announce
ment may be rr-a- s.,... ah acceplap!e eohclu-
son has been reached. =, -,
Abiding 10 our relations with Hawai- We
President recommend al extension for seven
years OF ihe reciprocity freatv of 1915. lie ur-
gently rcnews his RECOMMENDATION OF lb6lSlG-
tion TO carry into eject the American rccpro-
city treaty OF January, 1873, ana proposes 70
initiate negotiations with Mexico Tor new ana
enlarged treaty Of commerce and legislation
Referring ic the Cutting case, NJ says the m
tdent has ritclosef e'sim Of Jurisdiction by
Mexico novel Ia our history, whereby an prepse
committed any where by foreign penai ~ N"
place OF its commission. and OF which MeNi-
can is the object, may, II the offender ne Iound
IN Mexico, be there tried and punished IN con
formity with Mexican laws. TINS jurisdiction
was sustained by the courts Of Mexico and APP
proved by tho executive branch OF that Govern
ment Upon the authority Of MeXlcan stJtute.
The Appellate Court, Ia ieicGslng VT frttn&f
oecided that abandonment Of the complaint ~
The Mexican citizen agprieyed by the alleged
crime ta lihclOus publicationly removed the
basis Of further prosecution, and also declared
justice 10 navs been satisfied by the enforce
ment OF a small part Of the original s7ntence,
The admission OF such pretcnSe, the President
argues, would be attended with serious results,
invasive OF the jurisdiction OF this Government,
and highly dangerous TO our clti1cns N iof-
eign lands. Uefrf1rc he has denied Il, and
protested against its attcmp'sr exercise as
unwarranted by the principles OF law ana i.tcr-
national usages. A sovereign has jurisdiction
of offCnscs, which take eIect in his territory,
although concocted or commenced outside OF 81,
but the right is denied of any foreign sovereign
10 punish a citizen OF the United States FOR an
onense consummated on our soil IN violation OF
our la~s even though the uffense be against
q subject or citizen u such foreign sovereign.
The Mexican statute in question W0Fes the
claim broadly, and the principle, If conceded,
would make dual responsibility IN the cluZen
and lead to inextricable discussion destructive
OF that certainty in the law which is an es-
seutial OF liberty.
When citizens of the United States volun-
tarily 90 TO "A foreign country they must abide
by the laws there Ia force and must not be pro
tected by their own government from the consc-
quencc OF az oden3o against those laws com
mitted in such foreign country, but Watchlui
care and interest OF this Government over its
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 that the Government will not be CON
tent when the life or liberty of its citizens is at
stake.
What other degree TO which extraterritorial
criminal Jurisdiction may have been formerly
allowed by consent aud reciprocal agreement
among certain Of the European States, no
such doctrine or practice was ever known 10
the laws Of this country nor TO that from
which cur institutions have been mainly de-
rived, ...y.
rially strong for perfect harmony in the mutual
exercise OF Jurisdiction. Nature has made us
irreyocaby ncighbors, 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 devel-
ppment Of the recources OF Mexico and IN
building up the prosperity OF both
grounds OF apprehension for the security Of
person and property should be removed, and
The President trusts that IN the interests OF
good neighhorhood the statute referred 10 Will
be so modified as to eliminate the present pos
sibilities OF danger TO the peace OF the two coun-
tries
The President recommends the placing OF the
consular system on better footing, and rCiler
atos the necessity OF some mode OF inspection
and report OF the manner in which the con
sulates are conducted
He trusts the subject of an International
copyright win receive the attention II deserves
by Congress.
thc immediate discharge from custody OF per-
sons committed for extradition where the
President is OF opinion that sur
render shuuld not be made, ana re-
news his recommendation OF last year
that legislation concerning citization and
naturalization be revised. We have, he says,
srcaties with many States providing for the re-
but no statute is found to give effect TO such
engagements, nor any which provides o needed
control or a bureau for registration OF natural
lied citizens.
Reaching domestic affairs, the first subject
discussed is tine tarin, and 10 this the President
deyotes a great deal OF space arguing that the
necessity for q reduction Of the tprir is more
urgent than ever "The income o. the Govern
ment,N hc says. by its increased volume and
thorough economies IN is collection, is now
more than ever in excess OF the public neces-
Sites. The application VI the surplus 70 the
payment Of such portion Of the
subject TO eXtnguishmont, II continued at the
rate which has lately prevailed, would retire
thar class OF Indebtedness within less than one
year from this date Thus u continuance Of our
present revenue system would soon result In the
receipt OF an annual income much greater than
necessary 10 meet Government expenses,
win, no Indebtedness ygpon which it
then confronted with vast quantity OF money,
tho circulating medium Of the people, boarded
IN tho treasury whcnit should he In their hands,
or we should be drawn into wasteful public cx-
trayngance, with an the corruptlng National
demoralizaiion which follows in It's track.
But 10 IS not the simple existence Of this sur
plus and its threatened attendant evils which
Furnish the strongest argument against our
present scale Of Federal taXations It's worst
phase Is the cxaction cf such a surplus through
q pervCrsion Of the relations between tho peo-
pie and their government, md dangerous dc
parture from the rules which limit the
fight OF Federal taxation. Good gov
ernmont and especially the govern
ment of which every American citizen
boasts, has for its objects the protection Of
every person within us care In the create Il
liberty consistent with the good order OF So
ciety and his perfect security IN the enjoy
ment Of his earnings with the least possible
diminution for public needs. When more OF
the people's substance is eXacted through the
forms OF taxation than Is necessary 70
meet the just obligations of the Government
and the expense OF its economical administra-
tion, such eXaction becomes ruthless eXtortion
and a violation OF the fundamental principles OF
free Government
The indirect manner in which these exactions
are made has tendency to conceal their true
character and extent, but we have arrived al a
stage of supeiluous revenue which has aroused
the people TO realization OF the fact