CONGRESS. (PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.) 



197 



CONGRESS. The second session of the Forty- 

 eighth Congress began Monday, December 1, 

 1881. After the usual notification from both 

 houses to the President of their readiness for 

 business, the Chief Magistrate sent in his an- 

 nual message as follows : 



To the Congress of the United States : 



Since the close of your last session the American 

 people, in the exercise of their highest right of suffrage, 

 have cnosen their Chief Magistrate for the four years 

 ensuing. 



When it is remembered that at no period in the 

 country's history has the long political contest which 

 customarily precedes the day of the national election 

 been waged with greater fervor and intensity, it is a 

 subject of general congratulation that after the con- 

 troversy at the polls was over, and while the slight 

 preponderance by which the issue had been deter- 

 mined was as yet unascertained, the public peace 

 suffered no disturbance, but the people everywhere 

 patiently and quietly awaited the result. 



Nothing could more strikingly illustrate the temper 

 of the American citizen, his love of order, and his loy- 

 alty to law nothing could more signally demonstrate 

 the strength and wisdom of our political institutions. 



Eight years have passed since a controversy con- 

 cerning the result of a national election sharply called 

 the attention of the Congress to the necessity of pro- 

 viding more precise and definite regulations for count- 

 ing the electoral vote. 



It is of the greatest importance that this question 

 be solved before conflicting claims to the Presidency 

 shall again distract the country, and I am persuaded 

 that, by the people at large, any of the measures of 

 relief thus far proposed would be preferred to contin- 

 ued inaction. 



Our relations with all foreign powers continue to be 

 amicable. 



With Belgium a convention has been signed where- 

 by the scope of present treaties has been so enlarged 

 as to secure to citizens of either country within the 

 jurisdiction of the other equal rights and privileges in 

 tne acquisition and alienation of property. A trade- 

 marks treaty has also been concluded. 



The war between Chili and Peru is at an end. For 

 the arbitration of the claims of American citizens who 

 during its continuance suffered through the acts of the 

 Chilian authorities a convention will soon be nego- 

 tiated. 



The state of hostilities between France and China 

 continues to be an embarrassing feature of our Eastern 

 relations. The Chinese Government has promptly 

 adjusted and paid the claims of American citizens 

 whose property was destroyed in the recent riots at 

 Canton. I renew the recommendation of my last an- 

 nual message, that the Canton indemnity fund be re- 

 turned to China. 



The true interpretation of the recent treaty with 

 that country, permitting the restriction of Chinese 

 immigration, is likely to be again the subject of your 

 deliberations. It may be seriously questioned whether 

 the statute passed at the last session does not violate 

 the treaty rights of certain Chinese who left this 

 Country with return certificates valid under the old 

 law, and who now seem to be debarred from relanding 

 lor lack of the certificates required by the new. 



The recent purchase by citizens of the United States 

 of a large trading fleet heretofore under the Chinese 

 flag has considerably enhanced our commercial im- 

 portance in the East. In view of the large number of 

 vessels built or purchased by American citizens in 

 other countries and exclusively employed in legiti- 

 mate traffic between foreign ports under the recog- 

 nized protection of our flag, it might, be well to 

 provide a uniform rule for their registration and docu- 

 mentation, so that the bonafide property rights of our 

 citizens therein shall be duly evidenced and properly 

 guarded. 



Pursuant to the advice of the Senate at the last 

 session, I recognized the flag of the international 

 Association of the Congo as that of a friendly govern- 

 ment, avoiding in so doing any prejudgment of con- 

 flicting territorial claims in that region. Subsequently, 

 in execution of the expressed wish of the Congress, I 

 appointed a commercial agent for the Congo Basin. 



The importance of the rich prospective trade of the 

 Congo Valley has led to the general conviction that it 

 should be open to all nations upon equal terms. At 

 an international conference for the consideration ot' 

 this subject called by the Emperor of Germany, and 

 now in session at Berlin, delegates are in attendance 

 on behalf of the United States. Of the results of the 

 conference you will be duly advised. 



The Government of Corea has generously aided the 

 efforts of the United States minister to secure suitable 

 premises for the use of the legation. As the condi- 

 tions of diplomatic intercourse with Eastern nations 

 demand that the legation premises be owned by the 

 represented power, I advise that an appropriation be 

 made for the acquisition of this property by the Gov- 

 ernment. The United States already possess valuable 

 premises at Tangier as a gift from the Sultan of Moroc- 

 co. As is stated hereafter, they have lately received 

 a similar gift from the Siamese Government. The 

 Government of Japan stands ready to present to us 

 extensive grounds at Tokio whereon to erect a suit- 

 able building for the legation, court-house, and jail, 

 and similar privileges can probably be secured in 

 China and Persia. The owning of such premises 

 would not only effect a large saving of the present 

 rentals, but would permit of the due assertion of 

 extra-territorial rights in those countries, and would 

 the better serve to maintain the dignity of the United 

 States. 



The failure of Congress to make appropriation for 

 our representation at the autonomous court of the 

 Khedive has proved a serious embarrassment in our 

 intercourse with Egypt ; and in view of the necessary 

 intimacy of diplomatic relationship due to the partici- 

 pation of this Government, as one of the treaty powers 

 in all matters of administration there affecting the 

 rights of foreigners, I advise the restoration of the 

 agency and consulate-general at Cairo on its former 

 basis. I do not conceive it to be the wish of Congress 

 that the United States should withdraw altogether 

 from the honorable position they have hitherto held 

 with respect to the Khedive, or that citizens of this 

 republic residing or sojourning in Egypt should here- 

 after be without the aid and protection of a competent 

 representative. 



With France the traditional cordial relationship 

 continues. The colossal statue of Liberty enlighten- 

 ing the World, the generous gift of the people of 

 France, is expected to reach New York in May next. 

 I suggest that congressional action be taken in rec- 

 ognition of the spirit which has prompted this gift, 

 and in aid of the timely completion of the pedestal 

 upon which it is to be placed. 



Our relations with Germany, a country which con- 

 tributes to our own some of the best elements of citi- 

 zenship, continue to be cordial. The United States 

 have extradition treaties with several of the German 

 states, but by reason of the confederation of those 

 states under the imperial rule the application of such 

 treaties is not as uniform and comprehensive as the 

 interests of the two countries require. I propose, 

 therefore, to open negotiations for a single conven- 

 tion of extradition, to embrace all the territory of the 

 empire. 



It affords me pleasure to say that our intercourse 

 with Great Britain continues to be of a most friendly 

 character. 



The Government of Hawaii has indicated its willing- 

 ness to continue for seven years the provisions of the 

 existing reciprocity treaty. Such continuance, in view 

 of the relations of ^that country to the American system 

 of states, should, in my judgment, be favored. 



The revolution in Hay'ti against the established gov- 



