666 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



1868 should now be extended BO as to apply equally 

 to all the states of the Empire of Germany. 



The invitation of the Government of France to 

 participate in the exposition of the products of agri- 

 culture, industry, and the tine arts, to be held at Par- 

 is during the coming year, was submitted for your 

 consideration at the extra session. It is not doubt- 

 ed that its acceptance by the United States, and a 

 well-selected exhibition of the products of Amer- 

 ican industry on that occasion, will tend to stimulate 

 international commerce and emigration, as well as to 

 promote the traditional friendship between the two 

 countries. 



A question arose some time since as to the proper 

 meaning of the extradition articles of the treaty of 

 1842 between the United States and Great Britain. 

 Both governments, however, are now in accord in 

 the belief that the question is not one that should 

 be allowed to frustrate the ends of justice, or to dis- 

 turb the friendship between the two nations. No 

 serious difficulty has arisen in accomplishing the ex- 

 tradition of criminals when necessary. It is prob- 

 able that all points of disagreement will, in due time, 

 be settled, and, if need be, more explicit declarations 

 be made in a new treaty. 



The fishery commission, under articles 18 to 25 

 of the treaty of Washington, has concluded its ses- 

 sion at Halifax. The result of the deliberations of 

 the commission, as made public by the commission- 

 ers, will be communicated to Congress. 



A treaty for the protection ot trade-marks has 

 been negotiated with Great Britain : which has been 

 submitted to the Senate for its consideration. 



The revolution which recently occurred in Mex- 

 ico was followed by the accession of the successful 

 party to power and the installation of its chief. Gen- 

 eral Porfirio Diaz, in the Presidential office. It has 

 been the custom of the United States, when such 

 changes of government have heretofore occurred in 

 Mexico, to recognize and enter into official relations 

 with the de facto government as soon as it should ap- 

 pear to have the approval of the Mexican people, and 

 should manifest a disposition to adhere to the obli- 

 gations of treaties and international friendship. In 

 the present case such official recognition has been 

 deferred by the occurrences on the Kio Grande bor- 

 der, the records of which have already been commu- 

 nicated to each House of Congress, in answer to their 

 respective resolutions ofinquiry. Assurances have 

 been received that the authorities at the seat of the 

 Mexican Government have both the disposition and 

 the power to prevent and punish such unlawful in- 

 vasions and depredations. It is earnestly to be 

 hoped that events may prove these assurances to be 

 well founded. The best interests of both countries 

 require the maintenance of peace upon the border, 

 and the development of commerce between the two 

 republics. 



It is gratifying to add that this temporary inter- 

 ruption of official relations has not prevented due at- 

 tention by the representatives of the United States 

 in Mexico to the protection of American citi- 

 zens, so far as practicable. Nor has it interfered with 

 the prompt payment of the amounts due from Mex- 

 ico to the United States under the treaty of July 

 4, 1868, and the awards of the joint commission. 

 "While I do not anticipate an interruption of friendly 

 relations with Mexico, yet I cannot but look with 

 some solicitude upon a continuance of border disor- 

 ders as exposing the two countries to initiations of 

 popular feeling and mischances of action which are 

 naturally unfavorable to complete amity. Firmly 

 determined that nothing shall be wanting on my 

 part to promote a good understanding between the 

 two nations, I yet must ask the attention of Congress 

 to the actual occurrences on the border, that the lives 

 and property of our citizens may be adequately pro- 

 tected and peace preserved. 



Another year has passed without bringing to a close 

 the protracted contest between the Spanish Govern- 



ment and the insurrection in the island of Cuba. 

 While the United States have sedulously abstained 

 from any intervention in this contest, it is impos- 

 sible not to feel that it is attended with incidents af- 

 fecting the rights and interests of American citizens. 

 Apart from the effect of the hostilities upon trade 

 between the United States and Cuba, their progress 

 is inevitably accompanied by complaints, having 

 more or less foundation, of searches, arrests, embar- 

 goes, and oppressive taxes upon the property of 

 American residents, and of unprovoked interference 

 with American vessels and commerce. It is due to 

 the Government of Spain to say that during the past 

 year it has promptly disavowed and offered repa- 

 ration for any unauthorized acts of unduly zealous 

 subordinates whenever such acts have been brought 

 to its attention. Nevertheless, such occurrences can- 

 not but tend to excite feelings of annoyance, suspi- 

 cion, and resentment, which are greatly to be depre- 

 cated, between the respective subjects and citizens 

 of two friendly powers. 



Much delay (consequent upon accusations of fraud 

 in some of the awards) has occurred in respect to 

 the distribution of the limited amounts received 

 from Venezuela under the treaty of April 25, 1866, 

 applicable to the awards of the joint commission 

 created by that treaty. So long as these matters are 

 pending in Congress the Executive cannot assume 

 either to pass upon the questions presented, or to 

 distribute the fund received. It is eminently desir- 

 able that definite legislative action should be taken, 

 either affirming the awards to be final, or providing 

 some method for reexami nation of the claims. Our 

 relations with the republics of Central and South 

 America, and with the empire of Brazil, have con- 

 tinued without serious change, further than the tem- 

 porary interruption of diplomatic intercourse with 

 Venezuela and with Guatemala. Amicable relations 

 have already been fully restored with Venezuela, and 

 it is not doubted that all grounds of misunderstand- 

 ing with Guatemala will speedily be removed. From 

 all these countries there are favorable indications of 

 a disposition on the part of their governments and 

 people to reciprocate our efforts in the direction of 

 increased commercial intercourse. 



The Government of the Samoan Islands has sent 

 an envoy, in the person of its Secretary of State, to 

 invite the Government of the United States to rec- 

 ognize and protect their independence, to establish 

 commercial relations with their people, and to assist 

 them in their steps toward regulated and responsible 

 government. The inhabitants of these islands, hav- 

 ing made considerable progress in Christian civiliza- 

 tion and the development of trade, are doubtful of 

 their ability to maintain peace and independence 

 without the aid of some stronger power. The sub- 

 ject is deemed worthy of respectful attention, and 

 the claims upon our assistance by this distant com- 

 munity will be carefully considered. 



The long commercial depression in the United 

 States has directed attention to the subject of the 

 possible increase of our foreign trade, and the meth- 

 ods for its development, not only with Europe but 

 with other countries, and especially with the states 

 and sovereignties ot the western hemisphere. In- 

 structions from the Department of State were issued 

 to the various diplomatic and consular officers of the 

 government, asking them to devote attention to the 

 question of methods by which trade between the re- 

 spective countries of their official residence and the 

 United States could be most judiciously fostered. 

 In obedience to these instructions, examinations and 

 reports upon this subject have been made by many 

 of these officers and transmitted to the departmentj 

 and the same are submitted to the consideration or 

 Congress. 



The annual report of the Secretary of the Treas- 

 ury on the state of the finances presents important 

 questions for the action of Congress, upon some of 

 which I have already remarked. 



