Year: 1872

TO The Senate and House Of Representa-.


tees:


In transmitting to you this, my fourth
annual message, IL is with thankfulness
to the giver of all good that, as q ma.
tion, we have been blessed for the last
year with peace at home and abroad,
and a general prosperity vouchsafed to
but few people. With the exception of
the recent devastating fire, which swept
from the earth with breath, az 1t were,
millions of accumulated wealth In the
City of Boston, there has been no over
shadowing calamity within the year to
record. 1t Is gratifying to note how,
like their fellow citizens of the City
of Chicago under similar circumstances
year earlier, the citizens of Boston are
raIlying under their misfortunes, and
the prospect that their euergy and per-
severance will overcome all obstacles
and show the same prosperity that they
would have shown had no disaster be-
fallen them. Otherwise we have been
free from pestilence, war, and calami-
ties which often overtake nations and,
as far as human Judgment can penetrate
the future, no cause seems to exist to
threaten our present peace.


THE ALABAMA TREATY.


When Congress adjourned in June
last, question had been raised by Great
Britain, and was then pending, which
for time seriously imperilled the set
tlement by friendly arbitration of the
grave differences between this Govern.
ment and that of Her Britannia Ma.
jesty which by the Treaty of Washing
ton had been referred to the Tribunal
of Arbitration which had met at Ge-
neva, in Switzerland. The arbtratOrs,
however, disposed of the question
which had jeoparded the whole of the
treaty, and threatened to involve the
two nations in most unhappy relations
towards each other, in manner entire
ly satisfactory to this Government, and
in accordance with the views aud the
policy which it had maintained. The
Tribunal, which had convened in Gene.
va in December. concluded its labOri-
Gus session on the fourteenth day of
September last, on which day, having
availed itselfof the discretionary power
given to it by the treaty TO award a
sum in gross, il made its decision,
whereby it awarded the sum of SIS, ,500,.
600 in gold as the indemnity to be paid
by Great Britain to the United States
for the satisfaction of all claims refer
red TO its consideration. The decision
happily dispOses of long standing diff
ference between the two Governments,
and, in connection with another award
made by the the German Emperor un'
der reference to him by the same
treaty, leaves these two Governments
without shadow upon the friendly re-
lations which it ismy sincere hope may
forever remain equally unclouded The
report of the agent Of the United States
appointed to attend the Geneva Tribu-
nal, accompanied by the protocols of
the proceedings of the arbitrators, the
arguments of the counsel of both Gov
ernments, the award of the Tribunal,
and the opinion given by the several
arbitratOrs, is transmitted herewith. L
have caused to be communicated to the
heads of the friendly powers who COM
piled with the joint request made TO
them under the treaty the thanks of
this Government for the appointment
of arbitratOrs made by them respective.
ly, and also my thanks to the eminent
peisonages named by them, aud my ap
probation of the dignity, patience, i'm
partiality, and great ability with which
they discharged their arduOus and high
functions. Il er NJ jesty's Governn ent
has communicated to me its apprecia
ton by Her Msjesty of the ability and
indeiatigabe INDUSTRY displayed by MIR.
Adams and the arbitratOrs named on
the part of this Government during the
protracted inquiries and discussions of
The Tribunal. / cordially unite with
Her Majesty in this appreciation. 1t is
due to the agent of the United States
before the Tribunal to record my hign
appreciation of the marked ability,
unwearied patience, and the prudence
and discretion with which he has
conducted the very responsible and
delicate duties committed to him, as 1t
is also due to the learned and eminent
counsel who attended the Tribunal on
the part of this Government to express
my sense of the talent and wisdom
which they brought to bear on the at
tainment of the result so happily reach
ed. 1t will be the province of Congress
to provide for the distribution among
those who may be entitled to it of theil
respective shares of the money to bt
paid. Although the sun awarded is
not payable until year from the date
of the award, it is deemed advisable
that no time be lost in making proper
examination of the several cases In


which indemnification may be due.
consequently recommend the creation
of board Of commissioners for the pur
| pose.


THE SAN JUAN BOUNDARY.


By the thirty fourth article Of the
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