Year: 1871

the forts from which the OutrageS had
been committed were gallantly as
saulted and were destroyed. Having
thus punished the criminals and vim
dicated the honor of the flag, the
expedition returned, finding it i'm
practicable under the circumstances
to conclude the desired convention. /
respectfully refer you to the cores
pondence relating thereto herewith
submitted and leave the subject for
such action as Congress may see fit to
take. The


REPUBLIC OF MEXICO


has not yet repealed the very objec-
tiOnable law establishing what is
known as the free zone ON the frontier
OF the United States. It is hoped that
this may be done, and, also, that
more stringent measures may be
taken by that Republic for restrain
ing lawless persons on its frontier.
hope Mexico by its own action, will
soon relieve this government of the
difficulties experienced from these
causes. Our relations with the var
ious republics of


CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
continue with one exception to be
cordial and friendly. | recommend
some action by Congress regarding
the overdue installments under the
award of the


VENEZUELA


claims commission of 1866. The in
ternal dissensions of this government
present no justification for the absence
of effort to meet their solemn treaty
obligations. The ratifcations of an
extradition treaty with


NICARAGUA


have been exchanged, and it is sub
ject for cOngratulation that the great
empire of


has taken the initiatory steps toward
the abolition of slavery; our relations
with that empire having always been
friendly will naturally be made more
so by this act. It is not too much to
hope that the government of Brazil
may hereafter find it to its interest,
as well as intrinsically right, to ad-
vance towards an entire emancipation
more rapidly than the present act
contemplates. The true prosperity
and greatness of nation is to be
found in the elevation and education
of its laborers. 1t is subject for re-
gret that the reforms in this direction,
which were voluntarily promised by
the statesmen of Spain, have not been
carried out in West Indian colonies.
The laws and regulations for the APP
parent abolition of


SLAVERY IN CUBA,


leave most of the laborers in bondage,
with no hope of release until their
lives become burden to their en-
ployers. | desire to direct your at
tention to the fact that the citizens of
the United States are large holders,
in foreign lands, of this species of
property forbidden by the fundamental
law of their adopted country. l re-
commend to Congress to provide, by
stringent legislation, suitable re-
medy against the holding, owning or
dealing in slaves, or being interested
in slave property in foreign lands,
either as owners, heirs or mortgages,
by persons of the United States. 1t is
to be regretted that the disturbed
condition of


THE ISLAND OF CUBA


continues to be source of annoyance
and of anxiety. The existence of
prOtracted struggle in such close
proximity to our territory, without
any apparent prospect of an early
termination, cannot be other than an
object of concern to a people who
while abstaining from interference in
the affairs of other powers, natp-
rally desire to see every country in
the undisturbed enjoyment of peace,
liberty, and the blessings of free in
stitutiOns. Our naval commanders in
Cuban waters have been instructed,
in case it should become necessary,
to spare no effort to protect the lives
and property of bona fde American
citizens, and to maintain the dignity
of the flag. It is hoped that all pend
ing questions with Spain growing
out of the affairs of Cuba may be ad-
justed in that spirit of peace and con-
citation which has hitherto guided
the two powers in their treatment Of
such questions.


To give importance and to add to
the efficiency Of our relations with


JAPAN AND CHINA,


and to further the retaining of the
good opinion of those people, and to
secure to the United States its share
of the commerce destined to flow be-
tween these nations and the balance
of the commercial world, | earnestly
recommend that an appropriation be
made to support at least four Ameri-
can youths in each of these countries,
to serve as 4 part of the official family
of our ministers there. Even then
our representatives would not be
placed upon an equality with the rep.
resentatives of Great Britain and
some other powers. As now situated,
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