The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-11-15
THE MESSAGE.

To THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
The constitutional duty which requires the
president from time to time to give TO the
congress information of the state of the
Union, and to their consideration
such measures as he shall judge necessary
and expedient, is fittingly entered upon by
commencing to the congress a careful exam
ination of the detailed statements and well
support ed recommendations contained in the
reports of the heads of departments who are
chiefly charged with the executive work of
the government.
In an effort to abridge this communication
as much as is consistent with its purpose, /
Shall supplement a brief reference to the con-
tents of these departmental reports by the
mention of such executive business and incl
dents as are not embraced therein, and by
such recommendations as appear to be at this
particular time appropriate.
Our Foreign Relations.
v lille our foreign relations have not at all
times during the past year been entirely free
from perpleXity. no embarrassing situation
femains that will not yield to the spirit of
fairness and love of justice, which, Joined
with consistent frmness, characterize a truly
American foreign policy.
My predecessor, having accepted the office
of arbitrator of the long standing missions
boundary dispute, rendered TO the president
by the Argentine Republic and Brazil, it has
been my agreeable duty to receive the special
ENJOYS commissioned by those states to lay
before me evidence and arguments in behalf
of their respective governments.
The outbreak of domestic hostilities in the re-
public of Brazil found the United States alert
TO watch the interests of our citizens in that
country, with which we carry on important
com merce. Several vessels of our new navy
are now. and for some time have been, sta
toned at Rio de Janeiro.
The struggle being between the established
government, which controls the machinery of
administration, and with which we maintain
friendly relations, and certain officers of the
navy employing the vessels of their III
in an attack upon the national capital and
chief seaport, and lacking, as il does, the ele-
ments of divided administration, l have
failed to see that the insurgents can reason
ably claim recognition as belligerents.
Thus far the position Of our government has
been that of an attentive but impartial OBJ
server of the unfortunate conflict. Empha-
sizing our fixed policy of impartial neutrality
In such u cond ,tion of affairs as now exists, |
deemed it necessary to disavow. in a manner
not to be misunderstood, the unauthorized
action of our late naval C mmander in those
waters in saluting the revolving Brazilian
admiral, being indisposed to countenance an
act calculated to give gratuitous sanction to
the insurrection.
The convention between our government
and Chilli, having for its object the settlement
and adjustment of the demands of the two
countries against each other, has been made
effective by the organization of the claims
commission provided for. The two govern
ments failing to agree upon the third member
of the commission, the good offices of the
president of the swiss republic were invoked,
us provided In the treaty, and the selection of
the Swiss representative in this country to
complete the organization, was gratifying
alike to the United States and Chilli.
The veXatious question of so-called legation
asylum for offenders against the state and its
laws was presented anew in Chill by the I'M
authorized action of the LATE l'nitpl States
minister in receiving into his official residence
two persons who had just failed in an attempt
at revolution and against whom criminal
Charges were pending, growing out of Il former
abOrtive disturbance.
The doctrine of asylum as applied to this
case is not sanctioned by the best presidents,
and, when allowed, tends to encourage sedi-
ton and strife. Under no circumstances can
the representatives of this government be per-
mitted under the ill-defined fiction of extra
territoriality to interrupt the administration
of criminal justice in the countries to which
they are accredited. A temperate demand
having been made by the CHILEAN government
Tor the correction of this conduct in the in
stance mentioned, the minister was instructed
no longer to harbor the offenders.
The Geary Law.
The legislation of last year, known as the
Geary law, requiring the registration of all
Chinese laborers entitled to reside in the
United States, and the deportation of all not
complying with the provisions of this act
within the time prescribed, met with much
opposition from Cinnamon in this country.
Acting upon the advice of eminent counsel
that the law was unconstitutional, the great
mass of Chinese labOrers, pending judicial in
quiry as to its validity, in good faith declined
to apply for the certificates required by its
provisions. A test case, upon proceeding by
habeas corpus, was brought before the SUI
preme court, and on May 10, 1893, a decision
was made by that tribunal sustaining the law.
1t is believed that under the recent amend
ment of the act extending the time for regis
~tration, the Chinese laborers thereto entitled,
who desire TO reside in this country, will now
avail themselves of the rene wed privilege
thus afforded of establishing by lawful pro-
cedure their right to remain, and that thereby
the necessity of enforced deportation may to
a great degree be avoided. 1t has devolved
upon the United States minister at Picking, as
dean of the diplomatic body, and in the alb
sence of a representative of Sweden and Nor
way, to press upon the Chinese government
reparatioD for the recent murder of Swedish
missionaries at Sung-Pu. This question is
of vital interest to all countries whose citi-
Zens engage in missionary work in the interior.
Extradition.
Costa RIGA has lately testified its friendli-
ness by surrendering to the United States. in
the absence of a convention o. eXtradition.
but upon duly submitted evidence of crimi-
nality, a noted fugitive from Justice. 1t ia
trusted lnat tne negotiation or Il treaty with
that country to meet recurring cases of this
kind will soon be accomplished. In my opinion
treaties for reciprocal eXtradition should be
concluded with all those countries with which
the United States has not already conven-
tional arrangements of that character.
have deemed it fitting to express to the
governments of Costa Rica and Colombia the
kindly desire of the United States to see their
pending boundary dispute finally closed by
arbitration in conformity with the spirit of
the treaty concluded between them some
years ago.
Our relations with the French republic con-
tinue to be intimate and cordial. | sincerely
hope that the eXtradition treaty with that
country, as amended by the senate, will soon
be operative.
While occasional questions affecting our
naturalized citizens returning to the land of
their birth have arisen in our intercourse
with Germany, our relations with that coun-
try continue satisfactory.
Friendly with Great Britain.
The questions affecting our relations with
Great Britain have been treated in a spirit Of
friendliness. Negotiations are In progress be-
tween the two governments with "A view to
such concurrent action as will make the
award and regulations agreed upon by the
Behring sea tribunal of arbitration practically
effective, and it is not doubted that Great
Rptfa In will an-nnggata fpaslN with thsg ,a,a,