Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-03

upon doubtful ground. We have undertaken to
discover and proclaim the richest blessings of a
free government, with the constitution as our
guide. Let Us follow the way it points out. II
will not mislead Us. And surely no one who
has taken upon himself the solemn obligation
to support and preserve the constitution can
find justification or solace for disloyalty in the
excuse that he wandered and disobeyed in
search of a better way to reach the public well
fare than the constitution offers. What has
been said is deemed not inappropriate at q
time when, from century's height, we view
the way already trod by the American people,
and attempt to discover their future path.
JACKSON on THE CONSTITUTION.
. The seventh President of the United States
the soldier and statesman, and at all times the
firm and brave friend of the people-in vindi-
cation Of his course as the protector of popular
rights and the champion Of true American citi-
zenship, declared:
THE ambition which leads me on il an
anxious desire and fixed determination to
trust they have confded to my charge; to heal
the wounds of the constitution and to preserve
1t from further violation; to persuade my
countrymen, SO far as may, that it is not in
splendid government supported by powerful
that they will find happiness, or their liberties
protection, but in plain system, void Of
pomp-protecting all and granting favors to
dispensing its blessings like the dews Of
heaven, unseen and unfelt save in the fresh
ness and beauty they contribute to produce.
1t is such government that the genius Of our
people requires-such an one only under which
our states may remain, for ages to come,
united, prosperous, and free"
PEACE AT HOME AND ABROAD.
In pursuance Of constitutional provision
requiring the President from time to time. to
give to the Congress information of the state
OF the Union, have the satisfaction to an
nounce that the close of the year finds the
United States in the enjoyment of domestic
tranquility and at peace with all the nations.
Since my last annual message our foreign re-
lations have been strengthened and improved
by performance of international good offices
and by new and renewed treaties of amity,
commerce, and reciprocal extradition of crimi-
mails.
Those international questions which still
await settlement are all reasonably within the
domain of amicable negotiation, and there is
no existing subject of dispute between the
United States and any foreign power that is
not susceptible of satisfactory adjustment by
frank diplomatic treatment
OUR RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN
The questions between Great Britain and the
United States relating to the rights of American
fishermen, under treaty and international COM
ity, in the territorial waters of Canada and
Newfoundland, regret to say are not yet sat-
isfactorily adjusted. These matters were fully
treated in my message to the Senate of Febru-
airy 20. 1888, together with which a convention,
concluded under my authority with her majes-
tvs government on the 18th of February last,
for the removal of all causes of misunderstand-
ing, was submitted by me for the approval Of
the Senate. This treaty having been rejected
by the Senate. transmitted a message to the
Congress. on the 23d of August last, reviewing
the transactions and submitting for considera-
ton certain recommendations for legislation
concerning the important questions involved.
Afterwards, on the 18th of September in re-
Spouse to resolution of the Senate, again
communicated fully all the information in my
possession as to the action of the government
of Canada affecting the commercial relations
between the Dominion and the United States,
including the treatment of American fishing
vessels in the ports and waters of British North
America. These communications have all been
published, and therefore opened to the know
ledse of both houses of Congress, although
two were addressed to the Senate alone.
Comment upon or repetition of their con-
tents would be superhuous, and ain not aware
that anything has since occurred which should
be added to the facts therein stated. There
fore, L merely repeat, as applicable to the
present time. the statement which will be
found in my message to the Senate of Septem-
Der 18th last that since March 8, 1887, no case
wherein complaint has been made of unfriend-
ly or unlawful treatment of American fishing
vessels on the part of the Canadian authorities
in which reparation was not promptly and sat
isfactorily obtained by the United States con-
sul-general at Halifax"
THE REJECTED TREATY.
Having assayed, in the discharge of my duty,
to procure by negotiation the settlement of a
long-standing cause of dispute, and to remove
a constant menace to the good relations of the
two countries, end continuing to be of opinion
that the treaty Of February last, which failed
to receive the approval of the Senate, did sup
ply IA satlsfae tory. practical, and final adjust
ment upon basis honorable and lust to both
parties of the difficult and vexed question to
which it related" and having subsequently and
unavailingly recommended other legislation to
Congress which hoped would suffice to meet
the exigency created by the rejection of the
treaty, now again invoke the earnest and i'm
mediate attention of the Congress to the con-
dition Of this important question as it now
stands before them and the country, and for
the settlement of which am deeply solicitous
THE sAcKvILLE EPISODE.
Near the close Of the month of October last
occurrences OF deeply regretable nature
were brought to my knowledge, which made it
my painful but imperative duty to obtain, with
as little delay as possible, new personal chan
mel of diplomatic intercourse in this country
with the government of Great Britain. The
correspondence in relation to this incident will
in due course be laid before you, and will dis
close the objectionable conduct of the official
referred to in his interference by advice and
counsel with the SURFACES of American citi-
zens in the very cri1is of the presidential cleo
ton then near at hand, and also in his subse-
quent public declarations to justify his action,
superadding impugnment of the Executive and
Senate of the United States, in connection
with important questions now pending in con-
troversy between the two governments.
The Offense thus committed was most grave,
involving disastrous possibilities to the good
relations of the United States and Great
Britain, constituting a gross breach of diplo-
matte privilege, and an invasion Of the purely
domestic affairs and essential sovereignty Of
the government to which the envoy was ac-
credited. Having first fulfilled the Just de-
mands ofinternational comfy, by affording full
opportunity for her majesty's government to
act in relief of the situation, considered pro-
longation of discussion to be unwarranted, and
thereupon declined to further recognize the
diplomatic character of the person, whose con-
tinuance in such function would destroy that
mutual confidence which is essential to the
good understanding Of the two governments.
and was inconsistent with the welfare and self
respect OF the government of the United States
The usual interchange of communication has
since continued through her majesty's legation
in this CITY,
My endeavors to establish by international
cooperation measures for the prevention of
the determination of fur-seals in Behring sea
have not been relaxed, and have hopes Of be-
ing enabled shortly to submit an effective and