CONGRESS, UNITED STATES. (PBESIDENT'S MESSAGE.) 



157 



name must be associated with those of Dr. 

 Wilkes and Mr. Roaf in the pioneer work of 

 Congregationalism in the old Canadas. 



Congregationalism has proved itself in Can- 

 ada more powerful as a principle permeating 

 other bodies than as a distinct organization. 

 It can only claim, in a population of 4,250,000, 

 a following of 27,000. Many considerations 

 may tend toward explaining its comparatively 

 small following in an Anglo-Saxon colony, see- 

 ing that it is truly the preponderating power 

 in English nonconformity, and has a large place 

 in the churches of the United States. Scotch 

 emigration (700,000 in Canada claim Scottish 

 descent) would represent Presbyterianism, Eng- 

 lish emigration the Anglican and Methodist 

 churches; the well-to-do class, representing 

 English independence, having hitherto supplied 

 little toward the stream of emigration. Con- 

 sequent on this, the few who did emigrate 

 would seldom find churches of their own order, 

 and finding no overshadowing establishment 

 in this land of liberty, would, with their catho- 

 lic spirit, find a home in sister denominations. 



CONGRESS, UNITED STATES. The second ses- 

 sion of the Forty- seventh Congress began on 

 Monday, Dec. 4, 1882 ; and the second annual 

 message of the President was submitted, as 

 follows: 

 To the Senate and Home of Representatives of the 



United States : 



It is provided by the Constitution that the President 

 shall from time to time give to the Congress informa- 

 tion of the state of the Union, and recommend to their 

 consideration such measures as he shall judge neces- 

 sary and expedient. 



In reviewing the events of the year which has 

 elapsed since the commencement of your sessions, I 

 first call your attention to the gratifying condition of 

 our foreign affairs. Our intercourse with other powers 

 has continued to be of the most friendly character. 



Such slight differences as have arisen during the 

 year have been already settled or are likely to reach an 

 early adjustment. The arrest of citizens of the United 

 States in Ireland under recent laws which owe their 

 origin to the disturbed condition of that country has 

 led to a somewhat extended correspondence with the 

 Government of Great Britain. A disposition to re- 

 spect our rights has been practically manifested by 

 the release of the arrested parties. 



The claim of this nation in regard to the super- 

 vision and control of any interoceanic canal across the 

 American Isthmus has continued to be the subject of 

 conference. 



It is likely that time will be more powerful than 

 discussion in removing the ^ divergence between the 

 two nations, whose friendship is so closely cemented 

 by the intimacy of their relation and the community 

 or their interests. 



Our long-established friendliness with Eussia has 

 remained unshaken. It has prompted me to proffer 

 the earnest counsels of this Government that measures 

 be adopted for suppressing the proscription which the 

 Hebrew race in that country has lately suffered. It 

 . has not transpired that any American citizen has been 

 subjected to arrest or injury, but our courteous re- 

 monstrance has nevertheless been courteously re- 

 ceived. There is reason to believe that the time is 

 not far distant when Kussia will be able to secure 

 toleration to all faiths within her borders. 



At an international convention held at Paris in 1880, 

 and attended by representatives of the United States, 

 an agreement was reached in respect to the protection 



of trade-marks, patented articles, and the rights of 

 manufacturing firms and corporations. The formu- 

 lating into treaties of the recommendations thus 

 adopted is receiving the attention which it merits. 



The protection of submarine cables is a subject 

 now under consideration by an international confer- 

 ence at Paris. Believing that it is clearly the true 

 policy of this Government to favor the neutralization 

 of this means of intercourse, I requested our minister 

 to France to attend the convention as a delegate. I 

 also designated two of our eminent scientists to attend 

 as our representatives at the meeting of an interna- 

 tional committee at Paris, for considering the adoption 

 of a common unit to measure electric force. 



In view of the frequent occurrence of conferences for 

 the consideration of important matters of common in- 

 terest to civilized nations, I respectfully suggest that 

 the Executive be invested by Congress with discre- 

 tionary powers to send delegates to such conventions, 

 and that provision be made to 'defray the expenses 

 incident thereto. 



The difference between the United States and Spain 

 as to the effect of a judgment and certificate of natu- 

 ralization has not yet been adjusted ; but it is hoped 

 and believed that negotiations now in progress will 

 result in the establishment of the position which 

 seems to this Government so reasonable and just. 



I have already called the attention of Congress to 

 the fact that in the ports of Spain and its colonies 

 onerous fines have latelv been imposed upon vessels 

 of the United States for trivial technical offenses 

 against local regulations. Efforts for the abatement 

 ot these exactions have thus far proved unsuccessful. 



I regret to inform you also that the fees demanded 

 by Spanish consuls in American ports are in some 

 cases so large, when compared with the value of the 

 cargo, as to amount in effect to a considerable export 

 duty, and that our remonstrances in this regard have 

 not as yet received the attention which they eem to 

 deserve. 



The German Government has invited the United 

 States to participate in an international exhibition of 

 domestic cattle to be held at Hamburg in July, 1883. 

 If this country is to be represented, it is important 

 that in the early days of this session Congress should 

 make a suitable appropriation for that purpose. 



The death of Mr. Marsh, our late minister to Italy, 

 has evoked from that Government expressions of 

 profound respect for his exalted character and for his 

 honorable career in the diplomatic service of his coun- 

 try. The Italian Government has raised a question 

 as to the propriety of recognizing in his dual capacity 

 the representative of. this country recently accredited 

 both as secretary of legation and as consul-general at 

 Koine. He has been received as secretary, but his 

 exequatur as consul-general has thus far been with- 

 held. 



The extradition convention with Belgium, which 

 has been in operation since 1874, has been lately sup- 

 planted by another. The Senate has signified its 

 approval, and ratifications have been duly exchanged 

 between the contracting countries. To the list of ex- 

 traditable crimes has been added that of the assassi- 

 nation or attempted assassination of the chief of the 

 state. 



Negotiations have been opened with Switzerland 

 looking to a settlement by treaty of the question 

 whether its citizens can renounce their allegiance and 

 become citizens of the United States without obtaining- 

 the consent of the Swiss Government. 



I am glad to inform you that the immigration of 

 paupers and criminals from certain of the cantons of 

 Switzerland has substantially ceased and is no longer 

 sanctioned by the authorities. 



The consideration of this subject prompts the sug- 

 gestion that the act of Aug. 3, 1882, which has for 

 its object the return of foreign convicts to their own 

 country, should be so modified as not to be open to 

 the interpretation that it affects the extradition of 

 criminals on preferred charges of crime. 



