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PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. Message of Presi- 

 dent GEANT, at the commencement of the second 

 session of the Forty-second Congress, December 

 4, 1871. 

 To the, Senate and House of Representatives : 



In addressing my third annual message to the law- 

 making branch of the Government, it is gratifying to 

 be able to state that during the past year success has 

 generally attended the effort to execute all laws found 

 upon the statute-books. The policy has been not to 

 inquire into the wisdom of laws already enacted, but 

 to learn their spirit and intent, and to enforce them 

 accordingly. 



The past year has, under a wise Providence, been 

 one of general prosperity to the nation. It has, how- 

 ever, been attended with more than usual chastise- 

 ments in the loss of life and property by storm and 

 fire. These disasters have served to call forth the 

 best elements of human nature in our country and to 

 develop a friendship for us on the part of' foreign 

 nations which goes far toward alleviating the dis- 

 tresses occasioned by these calamities. The benevo- 

 lent who have so generously shared their means with 

 the victims of these misfortunes will reap their re- 

 ward in the consciousness of having performed a 

 noble act, and in receiving the grateful thanks of 

 men, women, and children, whose sufferings they 

 have relieved. 



The relations of the United States with foreign 

 powers continue to be friendly. The year has been 

 an eventful one in witnessing^ two great nations, 

 speaking one language, and having one lineage, set- 

 tling by peaceful arbitration disputes of long stand- 

 ing, and liable at any time to bring those nations 

 into bloody and costly conflict. An example has 

 thus been set which, ir successful in its final issue, 

 may be followed by other civilized nations, and finally 

 be the means of returning to productive industry 

 millions of men now maintained to settle the disputes 

 of nations by the bayonet and the broadside. 



I transmit herewith a copy of the treaty alluded to, 

 which has been concluded, since the adjournment of 

 Congress, with her Britannic Majesty, and a copy of 

 the protocols of the conferences of the commissioners 

 by whom it was negotiated. This treaty provides 

 methods for adjusting the questions pending between 

 the two nations. 



Various questions are to be adjusted by arbitration. 

 I recommend Congress at an early day to make the 

 necessary provision for the tribunal at Geneva, and 

 for the several commissions on the part of the United 

 States called for by the treaty. 



His Majesty the King of Italy, the President of the 

 Swiss Confederation, and his Majesty the Emperor 

 of Brazil, have each consented, on the joint request 

 of the two powers, to name an arbitrator for the 

 tribunal at Geneva. I have caused my; thanks to be 

 suitably expressed for the readiness with which the 

 joint request has been complied with by the appoint- 

 ment of gentlemen of eminence and learning to these 

 important positions. 



His Majesty the Emperor of Germany has been 

 pleased to comply with the joint request of the two 

 Governments, and has consented to act as the arbi- 

 trator of the disputed water-boundary between the 

 United States and Great Britain. 



The contracting parties in the treaty have under- 

 taken to regard, as between themselves, certain 

 principles of public law, for which the United States 

 nave contended from the commencement of their 

 history. They have also agreed to bring those prin- 

 ciples to the knowledge of the other maritime powers, 

 and to invite them to accede to them. Negotiations 

 are going on as to the form of the note by which the 

 invitation is to be extended to the other powers. 



I recommend the legislation necessary on the part 

 of the United States to bring into operation the 

 articles of the treaty relating to the fisheries, and to 



the other matters touching the relations of the United 

 States toward the British North American posses- 

 sions, to become operative so soon as the proper 

 legislation shall be had on the part of Great Britain 

 and its possessions. It is much to be desired that 

 this legislation may become operative before the 

 fishermen of the United States begin to make their 

 arrangements for the coming season. 



I have addressed a communication, of which a copy 

 is transmitted herewith^ to the Governors of New 

 York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illi- 

 nois, and Wisconsin, urging upon the governments 

 of those States, respectively, the necessary action on 

 their part to carry into effect the object of the article 

 of the treaty which contemplates the use of the canals 

 on either side, connected with the navigation of the 

 lakes and rivers forming the boundary, on terms of 

 equality by the inhabitants of both countries. It is 

 hoped that the importance of the object and the 

 benefits to flow therefrom will secure the speedy 

 approval and legislative sanction of the States con- 

 cerned. 



I renew the recommendation for an appropriation 

 for determining the true position of the forty-ninth 

 parallel of latitude where it forms the boundary be- 

 tween the United States and the British North 

 American possessions between the Lake of the 

 Woods and the summit of the Bocky Mountains. 

 The early action of Congress on this recommendation 

 would put it in the power of the War Department to 

 place a force in the field during the next summer. 



The resumption of diplomatic relations between 

 France and Germany has enabled me to give direc- 

 tions for the withdrawal of the protection extended 

 to Germans in France by the diplomatic and consular 

 representatives of the United States in that country. 

 It is just to add that the delicate duty of this pro- 

 tection has been performed by the minister and 

 consul-general at Paris, and the various consuls in 

 France under the supervision of the latter, with great 

 kindness as well as with prudence and tact. Their 

 course has received the commendation of the German 

 Government, and has wounded no susceptibility of 

 the French. 



The Government of the Emperor of Germany con- 

 tinues to manifest a friendly feeling toward the 

 United States, and a desire to harmonize with the 

 moderate and just policy which this Government 

 maintains in its relations with Asiatic powers, as 

 well as with the South American republics. I have 

 given assurances that the friendly feelings of that 

 Government are fully shared by the United States. 



The ratifications of the consular and naturalization 

 conventions with the Austro-Hungarian Empire have 

 been exchanged. 



I have been officially informed of the annexation 

 of the States of the Church to the Kingdom of Italy, 

 and the removal of the capital of that kingdom to 

 Rome. In conformity with the established policy 

 of the United States, I have recognized this change. 



The ratifications of the new treaty of commerce 

 between the United States and Italy have been ex- 

 changed. The two powers have agreed in this treaty 

 that private property at sea shall be exempt from 

 capture in case of war between the two powers. The 

 United States have spared no opportunity of incor- 

 porating 1 this rule into the obligation of nations. 



The Forty-first Congress, at its third session, mado 

 an appropriation for the ^organization of a mixed 

 commission for adjudicating upon the claims of 

 citizens of the United States against Spain, growing 

 out of the insurrection in Cuba. That commission 

 has since been organized. I transmit herewith the 

 correspondence relating to its formation and its juris- 

 diction. It is to be hoped that this commission will 

 afford the claimants a complete remedy for their 

 injuries. 



It has been made the agreeable duty of the United 

 States to preside over a conference at Washington 

 between the plenipotentiaries of Spain and the allied 



