The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-12-16
The Annual Document.

Tho reports OF the heads OF the several ex
ecutiye departments, required by law TO be sub
ritted TO me, which are herewith transmitted.
and the reports Of the Secretary OF the Treas
ury and the Attorney General, made directly to
Congress-, furnish n comprehensive view OF the
administrative work of the last fiscal year re-
lating to internal affairs. q would DO OF great
advantage IL these reports could have an at
tentive peiusal by every member Of Congress-.
and by all who take an interest In public affairs.
Such perusal could not fail 10 excite a high
appreciation or the vast labor and conscientious
effort which given TO the conduct OF our civil
administration.
The reports will believe, show that every
question has been approached, considered and
decided from the standpoint OF public duty and
upon considerations affecting the public inter-
ests alone. Again invite TO every branch OF
the service the attention and scrutiny OF con-
gress.
he work of the State Department during the
last year has been characterized by an unusual
number OF important negotiations and by dplo-
matte results of II notable and highly beneficial
character Among these are the reciprocal
frade arrangements which have been concluded,
In the exercise OF the powers conferred by
eection Of the Tariff law, with tho Republ C Of
Brazil, with Spain for its West India posses
pions and with San Domingo. Like nCgotia-
lions with other countries have been much ad-
Vanced, and it is hoped that before the close
OF the year further definite trade arrange nents
OF great value will be conclude J.
In view OF the reports which had boon re-
ceved as to the diminution Of the seal herds in
the Behring Sea. deemed it wise to propose to
her Majesty's Government in February last that
an agreement for closed should be
made, pending the negotiations which then
seemed to be approaching II favo able con-
clusion After much correspondence, and
delays for which this Govern nent was
and signed on the 18th OF June,
by which Great Fritain undertook,
from that date and until May /,
1692, to prohibit the killing by her subjects OF
seals in the Behring SEA. and the Government
OF the United States during the same period to
enforce it's existing prohibition against pelagic
10 Init fha nh hxyfl M Co.
company upon the island To 1000 skins. II
this agreement could have been reached earlier
In response TO the strenuous endeavors Of this
Government, it would have been more effec-
tive but, coming as late az Ii did. 10 unques-
tionably resulted in greatly diminishing the
destruction of the seals by the Canadian
scalers.
In my last annual message 1 stated that the
basis OF arbitration proposed by her Majesty's
Government for the adjustment Of the long
pending controversy as TO the seal fisheries was
mot acceptable. l am glad now TO be able to an
nounce that terms satisfactory to this Govern
ment have been agreed upon and that an agree
ment as to arbitrators is all that is necessary
10 the completion of the convention.
Provision should be o for joint demar-
cation of the frontier line between Canada and
the United states wherever required by the in
creaeing border settlements, aud especially for
the exact location of the water boundary in tho
straits and rivers.
1 should have been glad to announce some
favorable disposition 81 the boundary dispute
between Great Bri tain and Venezuela, touching
Friendly efforts of the United State, in that di-
rection have thus far been unavailing. This
Government will continue 20 express its con-
Germ at any appearance of foreign encroach-
ment on territories long unde rthe Gdminstra-
tive control OF American states
The law of the last ongress providing sys-
tenn OF inspection for our meats intended for
export and clothing the President with power
ITO exclude foreign products from our ma ket in
case the country sending them should perpetu-
ate unjust determinations against any product
States. Government
In position to effectively urge the removal OF
such determinations against our meats. 1t is
denmark, italy, Austria and France, in the or
der named, have opened their ports to inspected
american pork products. The removal
of these restrictions IN every instance
WAS asked fer and given solely upon the ground
fhat we had now provided a meat inspection
that should be accepted as adequate 70 the COM
plete removal or tho dangers, real or fancied,
(which had been previously urged. The State
department, our Ministers abroad and the
becretary OF Agriculture have co:operated with
unfaggtng and int elligent zeal for the accom-
plishmonu OF this great result. The outlines of
an agreement have bean reached with Germany
looking 10 equi able trade concessions in con-
federation OF the continued free Importation of
|her sugars, but the time has not yet arrived
when this correspondence can be submit ted TO
XCongress.
The recent political disturbances In the re-
public of Brazil lave excited regret and solicit
tude The Information. we possessed was too
meager to enable us TO form a satisfactory
Judgment of the CAUSES leading to the tenn orary
assumption OF supreme power by President
Fonseca; but this Government did not fail to
,xpreBs to him its anxious solicitude for the
peace of Brazil and for the maintenance or the
rec political instit utions which had recently
peen establisht there, nor to offer our advice
hat great moderation should be observed in
no clash of parties and the contest for leader
hip These counsels were received in the most
riendly spirit. and the latest information is
hat constitutional government has been re.
Established without bloodshed.
The lynching at New Orleans in March last of
leyen men OF Italian nativity by mob of citi-
ems was most deploraDle and discreditable
lcident IL did not, however, have it's origin
any general animosity to the Italian people.
or In any disrespect 20 the Government of
ally, with which our relations were of the
Post friendly character. The fury of the mob
as directed against these men as tue supposed
srticipants or accessories IN the murder of
ty officer do not alude to this as mitigat-
g In any degree this offense against law and
IA auity, but only as affecting the interna-
pnal questions which grew out of it. 1t was
presented by the Italian Minister that several
those whose lives had been taken by the mob
pre- Italian subjec g. and a demand was made
the punishment of the participants n d
an indemnity TO tho families of those
po were killed. It is TO regretted that the
amer in which these claims presented
ls not such as to promote a cnlm discussion
the questions involved but this may we'll be
ributed To the excitement and indignation
ich the crime naturally evoked The views
this government as 10 its obligations TO for
ners domiciled here were fully stated in he
respondence as we'll as it's purpose to make
investigation OF the affair with a view to de-
mine whether there we're present any cir
distances that could under such rules OF duty
we had Indicated, crea obligation upon
United States. The temporary absence OF q
lister Plenipotentary Of Italy ut this cap
has arded the further correspondence
It is not doubted that friendly conclusion
ttainable.
PINE suggestions growing out of this unhappy
dent are WORT the attention OF Congress-
uId, believe, be entir,ly competent for
|gress TO make tffenses against the treaty
Us of ioreieners domicied in the United
es cognizablo in the Federal courts. This
not however, been done, and the Federal
kers and courts have no power in such cases
ntervene eithor for the protection OF for.
CT izen or for the punishment OF his slay-
IL seems TO me to follow in this state OF
that officers OF the State charged with police
judicial pc yers in such cases must, in the
liberation of International questions, grow
put of such Incidents, DO regarded in such
9 as Federal agents as TO make this Govern
ans werable for their acts I'm cases where It
d be answerable II the United states had
fts constitutional power to define and pun
rmes against treaty rights.
The Gillian Complications.
civil war I'm Chill. which began I'm Janu-
kst was continued, but fortunately with
quent and not i'm portant armed collisions,
40 -. .as.N. - g..