Year: 1869




and not an inference could be drawn from
it, to remove the sense of the unfriendli-
ness of the course of Great Britain in our
struggle for existence, which had so deep
ly and universally impressed itself upon
the people of this country. Believing
that convention thus miscOnstrued in its
scope and made quite different in its pro-
visions would not have produced the
hearty, cordial settlement of the, pending
questions which alone is consistent with
the relations which desire to have estab-
lishcd between the United States and
Great Britain, regarded the action Of the
Senate, in rejecting the treaty, to have
been wisely taken in the interest of peace,
and as a necessary step in the direction
of a perfect and cordial friendship be-
tween the two countries. A sem
sitive people, conscious Of their power,
are more at ease under a great wrong
wholly unatoned than under the restraint
of settlement which satisfies neither their
ideas of justice nor their grave sense of
the grievance they have sustained. The
rejection of the treaty was followed by q
state of public feeling on both sides, which
I thought not favorable to an immediate
attempt at renewing negotiation. I ac-
cordingly so instructed the Minister of
the United States to Great Britain, and
found that my views in this regard were
shared by her Majesty's Minister. | hope
that the time may soon arrive when the
two Governments can approach the solu-
ton of this momentous question with an
assurance of what is due to the rights, dig
nifty and honor of each, and with the de-
termination, not only to remove the causes
of complaint in the past, but to lay the
foundation of broad principle of public
law, which will prevent future differ
ences, and tend to a firm and continued
peace and friendship. This is now the
only grave question which the United
States have with any foreign nation.


The question Of a treaty for Reciprocity
between the United States and the British
Provinces on this continent has
not been favorably considered by the
Administration. The advantage of such
a treaty would be wholly in favor of the
British producer, except possiblya few en-
gagged in the trade between the two sec
tions. No citizen of the United States
would be benefited by reciprocity. Our
internal taxation would prove protection
to the British producer almost equal to
the protection which our manufacturers
now receive from the tariff Some ar
rangement, however, for the regulation of
commercial intercourse between the
United States and the Dominion of Canada
may be desirable.


The commission for adjusting the claims
of the Hudson Bay and Puget's Sound
Agricultural Company upon the United
States has terminated its labors. The
award of $650,000 has been made and all
the rights and titles Of the company on
the territory of the United States have
been extinguished The deeds for the
property of the company have been re-
ceived. An appropriation by Congress to
meet this sum is asked.


The Commissioners for determining the
Northwestern land boundary between the
United States and the British Possessions,
under the treaty of 1856, have completed
their labors, and the Commission has dis
solved. In conformity with the recon-
mendatioh of Congress, proposition was
early made to the British Government to
abolish the mixed courts created under
the treaty of April 7, 1862, for the sup
preston of the slave trade. The subject
is still under negotiation.


1t having come to my knowledge that a
corporate company, organized under Brit
isb laws, proposed to land upon the shores
of the United States, and to operate there,
a submarine cable, under a concession
from His Majesty, the Emperor of the
French, of an exclusive right for 20 years
of telegraphic communication between
the shores of France and the United States,
with the very Objectionable feature of sub
iecting all messages conveyed thereby to
the sovereignty and control of the French
Government, I caused the French and
British Legations at Washington to be
made aouainted with the probable policy
ed by the bill which passed the Senate in
March last. This drew from the repre-
sentatives of the company an agreement
to accept, as the basis of their operations,
the provisions of the bill, or of such other
enactment of the subject as might be
passed during the approaching session of
Congress; also, to use their influence to
secure from the French Government a
modification of their concession, SO as to
permit the landing upon French soil of
any cable belonging to any company in
corporated by the authority of the United
States, or of any State in the Union, and
on their part not to oppose the establish
ment of any such cable. In consideration
of this agreement, 1 directed the with
drawal of all opposition by the United
States authorities to the landing of the
cable and to the working Of it until the
meeting of Congress. | regret to say that
there has been no modification made in
the company's concession, nor, so far as
can learn, have they attempted to secure
one. Their concession excludes the capi
tai and the citizens of the United States
from competition upon the shores of
France. recommend legislation to pro-
tect the rights of the citizens of the United
States, as well as the dignity and sover-
eighty of the nation, against such an as
sumption. It should also endeavorto secure,
by negotiation, an abandonment of the
principle of monopolies in ocean tele-
graphic cables. Copies of this cores
pondence is herewith furnished.


The unsettled political condition of
other countries less fortunate than our
own sometimes induces their citizens to
come to the United States for the sole
purpose of becoming naturalized. Hav-
ing secured this they return to their ma
tive country and reside there without dis
closing their change of allegiance. They
accept official positions of trust or honor
which can only be held by citizens of their
native land They journey under pass
ports describing them as such citizens,
and it is only when civil discord, after,
perhaps, years quiet, threatens them, or
threatens their persons or their property,
or when their native State drafts
them into its military service, that
the fact of their change of ale


giance is made known. They reside
permanently from the United States.
They contribute nothing to its resources
They avoid the duties of its citizenship
| and they only make themselves known