682 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



While thoroughly impressed with the wisdom of 

 sound economy in the foreign service as in other 

 branches of the Government, I cannot escape the 

 conclusion that in some instances the withholding 

 of appropriations will prove an expensive econo- 

 my, and that the small retrenchment secured by a 

 change of grade in certain diplomatic posts is not 

 an adequate consideration for the loss of influence 

 and importance wliich will attend our foreign repre- 

 sentatives under this reduction. I am of the opin- 

 ion that a reexamiriation of the subject will cause a 

 change in some instances in the conclusions reached 

 on these subjects at the last session of Congress.^ 



The Court of Commissioners of Alabama Claims, 

 whose functions were continued by an act of the last 

 session of Congress until the 1st day of January. 

 1877, has carried on its labors with diligence and 

 general satisfaction. By a report from the clerk 

 of the court, transmitted herewith, bearing date 

 November 14, 1876, it appears that within the time 

 now allowed by law the court will have disposed of 

 all the claims presented for adjudication. This re- 

 port also contains a statement of the general results 

 of the labors of the court to the date thereof. It is a 

 cause of satisfaction that the method adopted for 

 the satisfaction of the classes of claims submitted 

 to the court, which are of long standing and justly 

 entitled to early consideration, should have proved 

 successful and acceptable. 



It is with satis (action that I am enabled to state 

 that the work of the joint commission for determin- 

 ing the boundary-line between the United Status 

 and British possessions from the northwest angle 

 of the Lake of the Woods to the Eocky Mountains, 

 commenced in 1872, has been completed. The final 

 agreements of the commissioners, with the maps, 

 have been duly signed, and the work of the com- 

 mission is complete. 



The fixing of the boundary upon the Pacific coast 

 by the protocol of March 10, 1873, pursuant to the 

 award of the Emperor of Germany by Article 

 XXXIV. of the Treaty of Washington, with the ter- 

 mination of the work of this comniission, adjusts 

 and fixes the entire boundary between the United 

 States and the British possessions, except as to the 

 portion of territory ceded by Bussia to the United 

 States under the treaty of 1867. The work intrusted 

 to the commissioner and the officers of the Army 

 attached to the commission has been well and sat- 

 isfactorily performed. The original of the final 

 agreement of the commissioners, signed upon the 

 29th_ of May, 1876. with the original" list of astro- 

 nomical stations observed," the original official "list 

 of monuments marking the international boundary- 

 line," and the maps ; records, and general reports 

 relating to the commission, have been deposited in 

 the Department of State. The official report of the 

 commissioner on the part of the United States, with 

 the report of the chief astronomer of the United 

 States, will be submitted to Congress within a short 

 time. 



I reserve for a separate communication to Congress 

 a statement of the condition of the questions which 

 lately arose with Great Britain respecting the sur- 

 render of fugitive criminals under the treaty of 1842. 



The Ottoman Government srave notice, under date 

 of January 15, 1874, of its desire to terminate the 

 treaty of 1862, concerning commerce and navigation, 

 pursuant to the provisions of the twenty-second ar- 

 ticle thereof. Under this notice the treaty termi- 

 nated upon the 5th day of June, 1876. That Gov- 

 ernment has invited negotiations toward the conclu- 

 sion of a new treaty. 



By the act of Congress of March 23, 1874, the 

 President was authorized, when he should receive 

 satisfactory information that the Ottoman Govern- 

 ment or that of Egypt had organized new tribunals 

 likely to secure to citizens of the United States the 

 same impartial justice enjoyed under the exercise of 

 judicial functions by diplomatic and consular officers 



of the United States, to suspend the operation of the 

 act of June 22, 1860, and to accept for citizens of the 

 United States the jurisdiction of the new tribunals. 

 Satisfactory information having been received of the 

 organization of such new tribunals in Egypt, I caused 

 a proclamation to be issued upon the 27th of March 

 last, suspending the operation of the act of June 22, 

 1860, in Egypt, according to the provisions of the 

 act. A copy of the proclamation accompanies this 

 message. The United States has united with the 

 other powers in the organization of these courts. It 

 is hoped that the jurisaictional questions which have 

 arisen may be readily adjusted, and that this ad- 

 vance in judicial reform may be hindered by no ob- 

 stacles. 



The necessary legislation to carry into effect the 

 convention respecting commercial reciprocity con- 

 cluded with the Hawaiian Islands in 1875 having 

 been had, the proclamation to carry into effect the 

 convention as provided by the act approved August 

 15, 1876, was duly issued upon the 9th day of Sep- 

 tember last. A copy thereof accompanies this mes- 

 sage. 



The commotions which have been prevalent in 

 Mexico for some time past, and winch unhappily 

 seem to be not yet wholly quieted, have led to com- 

 plaints of citizens of the United States of injuries 

 by persons in authority. It is hoped, however, thut 

 these will ultimately be adjusted to the satisfaction 

 of both Governments. The frontier of the United 

 States in that quarter has not been exempt from acts 

 of violence by citizens of one republic on those of 

 the other. The frequency of these is supposed to be 

 increased and their adjustment made more difficult 

 by the considerable changes in the course of the 

 lower part of the Eio Grande Eiver, which river is 

 a part of the boundary between the two countries. 

 These changes have placed on either side of that 

 river portions of land which by existing conventions 

 belong to the jurisdiction of the Government on the 

 opposite side of the river. The subject of adjust- 

 ment of this cause of difficulty is under consideration 

 between the two republics. 



The Government of the United States of Colombia 

 has paid the award in the case of the steamer Mon- 

 tijo, seized by authorities of that Government some 

 years since, and the amount has been transferred to 

 the claimants. 



It is with satisfaction that I am able to announce 

 that the joint commission for the adjustment of 

 claims between the United States and Mexico, under 

 the convention of 18G8, the duration of which has 

 been several times extended, has brought its hibors 

 to a close. From the report of the agent of the 

 United States, which accompanies the papers trans- 

 mitted herewith, it will be seen that within the time 

 limited by the commission one thousand and seven- 

 teen claims on the part of citizens of the United 

 States against Mexico were referred to the comniis- 

 sion. Of these claims, eight hundred and thirty-one 

 were dismissed or disallowed, and in one hundred 

 and eighty-six cases awards were made in favor of 

 the claimants against the Mexican Eepublic, amount- 

 ing in the aggregate to four million one hundred 

 and twenty-five thousand six hundred and twenty- 

 two dollars and twenty cents. Within the same 

 period nine hundred and ninety-eight claims on the 

 part of the citizens of the Mexican Eepublic against 

 the United States were referred to the commission. 

 Of these claims eight hundred and thirty- one were 

 dismissed or disallowed ; and in one hundred and 

 sixty-seven cases awards were made in favor of the 

 claimants against the United States, amounting in 

 the aggregate to one hundred and fifty thousand four 

 hundred and ninety-eight dollars and forty -one cents. 



By the terms of the convention the amount of 

 these awards is to be deducted from the amount 

 awarded in favor of our citizens against Mexico, and 

 the balance only to be paid by Mexico to the United 

 States, leaving the United States to make provision 



