Image provided by: Oregon City Public Library; Oregon City, OR
About Oregon City enterprise. (Oregon City, Or.) 1871-188? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1875)
O o l o O VOL. 10. OREGON CITY, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1875. NO. 8. -o - a .,vrr, mm ,M,,B ,,, rr n '" ,, iLJ- " . -! DEVOTED TO HEWS, LITERATURE, AMD THE BEST INTERESTS OF OREGON. o THE ENTERPRISE. LOCAL NEWS PAPER POU THE O Farmer, Dusincss Man, & Family Circle. o o o ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY. U1. S. DEMENT, PEOPRIETOE AND PUBLISHER. OFFICIAL PAPEB. FOR CLACKAMAS CO. OFKICK In Enterpeise r.uildinpr, one dor south of Masonic Building, Main St. Termi of Subscription! o Single Copy Ono Year, In Advance $2.50 Six Months" ' 1.50 Terms of Advertising Transient advert isoments, including all legal notices, $ square of twelve linos ono week.;'.: $ 2.50 For ach RimMtftMit insertion 1.00 Ono Column, ono year 120.00 n.,.irt.r" 4.lN nnainess Card, 1 square, ono year.. 12.00 PRESIDENTS MESSAGE. To the.Senate and House of R-presentu-llres: In submitting my seventh annual message to Congress, in this centen nial year of our national exisleneo as free ami independent people, it af fords me) great pleasure to recur to tho advancement that has been male from the time of the colony, one hundred years ago. A CKNTLRl'.S GROWTH. O n Wo were then a people numbering only three millions; now wo imiulr more than forty millions. Then our industries were confined almost ex clusively to the tillage- of tho soil; now manufactories absorb much of the labor of tho country. Our lib erties remain unimpaired. Tho bondsmen havo been freed from Slav ery. We have become possessed of tho respect, if not tho friendship, of all civilized nations. Our progress has been great in all tho arts, in (science, in agriculture, in commerce, in navigation, in wining, in mechan ics, iu law, in medicine, etc, and in general education tho progress' has been likewise encouraging. Our thirteen States havo becomo thirty eight, including Colorado, which has taken tho initial steps, to becomo a Stato, and eight Territories, includ ing the Indian Tcrritor' and Alaska, j and excluding Colorado, making a territory extending from tho Atlantic to tho Pacific. On the south wo havo extended to tho (iulf of Mexico, and on the west from tho Mississippi to tho Paeifie. One hundred years ago Uie cotton igin, the railroad, the tele graph, the reaping, sewing and mod ern printing machines, and numer ous other inventions of scarcely less value to our business and happiness, were entirely unknown. INCREASE OF MANLTACTCIiEH. In 177G manufactures scarcely ex isted even in name, in allthii vast territory. Iu 1870 more than 2,0' , 0!() of persons were employed in manufactories, producing more than 2,100,000,000 of produce An amount annually nearly equal to our National debt. From nearly tho wholo population of 177G being en gaged in the ono occupation of-agriculture, in 1870, so numerous and diversified had become thdJoccnpa tion of our people, that less than 1G. 000,000, out of moro than 40,000,000, wero so engaged. The extraordinary effect- produced ivymr country by a resort to such occupations, has built a market for tho products of -our fer tile lauds, distant from the seaboard ami tlio markets of tho world. Tho t A f 1 iviuericau -system ot working various anil extensive manufactories next to tho plow and tho pasture, and ad ding connecting railroads and steam boats, has produced in our distant country results not equalled by tho intelligent parts of other nations. The ingenuity and skill of American mechanics havo been demonstrated at homo and abroad, in a manner most ilattering to their prido. With out tho extraordinary genius and ability of our mechanics, tho achieve ments of our agriculturists, manu facturers and transporters, through out tho country, would havo boen impossiblo of attainment. GROWTH OF OCR MINING INTERESTS. Tho progress of tho miner has also been great. Of coal, our production was ouco small; now many millions of tons are mined annually. So with iron, whilo it formed scarcely an appreciable part of our products half a century ago, wo now prodnco more than tho world consumed at tho beginning of our" national existence Lead zinc, and copper, from being articles of imports, wo may expect to bo largo exporters of, in tho near future. Tho development of gold and silver mines throughout tho States and Territories has not only been remarkable, but has had a large inlluenco upon tho business of all commercial nations. c on; srEuciiAXTS In tho last hundred years have had success, and havo established a rep eputation for enterprise, sagacity, progress and integrity, unsurpassed by tho people of older nationalities. This good namo is not confined to their homes, but goes ont upon every sea, and into every port whero com merce enters. OTHER INTERESTS. With equal pride, we can point to our progress in all of tho loomed professions. A GENERAL RETROSPECT. As we are now about to enter upon our second centennial, commencing A our manhood: a3 a nation, it is well to look bach npen the past, and study what will bo best to preserve, and advance our future greatness. From tho fall of Adam for his trans gressions, to the present day, no na tion has ever been freo from threat cued danger' to its prosperity, and happiness. Wo should look to the dangers threatening us and remedy them, so far as lies in our power. Wo aro a republic wherein ono man is as good as another before tho" law. Under such a form of government, it is of tho utmost importance that all should bo possesssd of EDUCATION AND INTELLIGENCE, Enough to cast a vote with a right understanding of its meaning. A largo association of ignorant men cannot, for any considerable period, oppose a successful resistenco to ac quiescence to tho will of intelligence, whether directed by tho demagogues of by priestcraft. Ilenco tho educa tion of tho masses becomes of tho first necessity for tho preservation of our institutions. They aro worth preserving, because they havo secur ed the greatest good to the greatest proportion of tho population of any form of government devised. All other forms of government artproach it just in proportion to the general diil'usion of education and indepen dence of thought and action. As tho primary step, therefore, to our advancement in all that has marked our progress in tho past cen tury, I suggest for your earnest con sideration and most earnestly recom mond ifc, that a constitutional amend ment bo submitted to the legislatures of tho several States for ratification, making it tho duty of each of the .several States to establish and for ever maintain public schools, ade quate to tho.. education of all tho children in the rudimentary branches, within their respective limits, irre spective of sex, color, birth-place or religion; forbidding tho teaching in said schools of religious, atheistic or pagan; texts, and prohibiting tho granting of any school funds or school taxes, or any part thereof, either by tho legislative, municipal, or any other power, for the benefit of any other object of any other na ture or kind whatever, in connection with this important question. TAXATION OF RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS I would also call your attention to the importanco of correcting an evil that if permitted to continue, will probably lead to great trouble in our land before the closo of tho 19th cen tury. It is tho accumulation of vast amounts of untaxed church property. In 1850, I believe, tho church prop erty of tho United States which paid no tax, municipal or State, amounted to about $83,000,000. In 1SG0 tho amount had doubled. In 1875 it is about 1,000,030,000. By 1900, with out chock, it is safe to say, this prop erty will reach a sum exceeding $3,000,000,000. So vast a sum re ceiving all the protection and bene fits of tho government without bear ing its proportion of the burdens and expenses of the same will not bo looked upo?i acquiescently by those who have paid taxes. In a growing country where real estate enhances so rapidly as in the Tj nited .States, there is scarcely a limit to the wealth that may be acquired by corporations, religious or otherwise, if allowed to retain real estate without taxation. Tho contemplation of so vast a prop erty as. is hero alluded to, without taxation, may lead to sequestration without constitutional authority and through blood. I would suggest taxation of all prop erty equally, whether church or cor poration, exempting only tho last resting place of tho dead, and possi bly, with proper restrictions, church edifices. RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS. Our relations with most of tho foreign powers continue on a friendly and satisfactory footing. Iscreased intercourse, tho extension of com merce and cultivation of mutual in terests havo steadily improved our relations with tho largo majority of tho powers of the world, rendering practicable tlio peaceful solution of questions which from timo to time necessarily arise, leaving few which demand extended or particular no tico. lho correspondence of the Department of Stato with our diplo matic representatives abroad is trans niittcd herewith. WITH PORTUGAL. I am happy to announce tho pass ago of an act by tho cencral Cortes of Portugal proclaimed sinco tho ad journment of Congress for tho aboli tion of servitude in tho Portuguese colonics. It is to bo hoped that such legislation may bo another steo to aici tno great consummation, to bo reached when no man shall be ncr mitted directly or indirectly under ftuy guiso, excuso or form of law to uoicl bis fellowman in bondage am ot tlio opinion also that it is tho duty ol tho United States.as contrib imag toward that end and required by the spirit of tho ago iuSvhich wo live.to provide by suitable legislation mat no oitizen of tho United States snau noid slaves as property in any oLuer country or bo interested there in. Q wiTn chili. emu nas made reparation in the case oi tno wnaio sinp Good Beturn iv-ifi-Ai nnuuui o liiiiuiem cause up wards of forty years aero, though had hitherto denied her accountabil ity. 1 ho denial was never acnuiesc in'by this Government, and the jus tice oi tno ciaim nas ueen so earnestly contended for that it has been gratifying that sho should havo ac knowledged it. COLUMBIAN STATES. Tho arbitration in tho case of tho U. S. steamer Gentigo, for the seiz ure and retention of which tho gov ernment of the United States of Columbia was held accountable, has been decided in favor of tho claim. This decision has settled a question which has been pending for several years, and which, while it continued open, might moro or less disturb the good understanding which it is de sirable should bo maintained be tween tho republics. THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. A reciprocity treaty with tho King of the Hawaiian Islands was conclud ed some months sinco, but as it con tained a stipulation that it shall bo of no effect until Congress shall en act tho proper legislation for the purpose, copies of tho instrument are herewith submitted in order that if such' should bo tho pleasure of Congress, the necessary legislation upon tho subject may bo adopted. QUESTIONS WITH SPAIN. In March last an arrangement was made through Mr. Cushing, our Minister in Madrid, with tho Spanish Government for tho payment by tho latter to tho United States of tho sum of 800,000 in coin for tho pur pose of tho relief of tho families of persons of tho ship's crew and certain passengers of tho Virginius; that tho samo was to have been paid in threo installments at two months each. It is duo to tho Spanisli Government that I should state that tho payments wero fully and speedily anticipated by that government, and that tho wholo amount was paid within but a few days more than two months from tho dato of the agreement, a copy of which is herewith transmitted, and in pursuanco of tho terms of tho ad justment I have directed distribution of tlio amount among tho parties entitled thereto, including the ship's crew and such passengers as wero American citizens. Payments are made accordingly on tho application of tho parties. THE CUBAN QUESTION. As evidence of and approaching somo of the ruinous conilicts which have been raging for seven years in tho neighboring island of Cuba, tho samo disregard of tho laws of civil ized warfare, of tho just demands of humanity, which havo heretoforo called forth expressions of condem nation from tho nations of Christen dom havo continued to blacken tho sad scene. Desolation, ruin and pillage are prevailing in rich fields, once tho most fertile and productive regions of tho earth, and tho incen diaries' torch, burning plantations, valuable factories and buildings, is tho agent marking tho alterrato ad vance and retreat of contending par ties, lho protracted continuance of tho strifo seriously afFects tho in terests of all commercial nations, but thoso of the United States moro than others, by reason of its closo prox imity, its larger trade and inter course with Cuba, and tho friendly and intimate personal social rela tions which havo grown up between its citizens and thoso of tho island. Moreover, tho property of our citi zens in Cuba is largo, and is rendered insecure and depressed in value and m capacity of production by tho contmuanco of strifo and tho un natural modo of its conduct. Tho samo is true, differing only in degrco with respect to tho interests and people of other nations and tho ab sence of any reasonablo assurance of a near termination of tho conflict. must of necessity soon compel tho States thus suffering, to consider what tho interest of their own people and their dutv towards themselves may demand. I havo had hopes sho would bo enabled to establish peaco in her colony, to afford security to tno property ana interests ot our citizens, and allow legitimate scope to tho trado and commerce and natural productions of tho island. Because of this hopo, and from an extreme rcluctanco to interfere in tho affairs of another and a friendly nation, especially of ono whoso sympathy and friendship in tho struggling infancy of our own ex istence, must ever bo remembered with gratitude, I have patiently and anxiously awaited tho progress of events. Our own civil conflict is too recent for us not to consider tho diffi culties wnicn surround a govern ment distracted by a dynastic rebel lion at homo at tho same timo that it has to copo with a separate insurrec tion in a distant colony; but what ever causes may havo produced the situation which so grievously affects our interests, it exists with all its attendant evils, operating directly upon this country and its people Thus far all tho resources of Spain havo proved abortive, and timo has marked no improvement in tho situa tion. The armed bands of either side occupy nearly tho samo grounds as in tho past, with tho dilferenco from timo to timo, of moro lives sacrificed, moro proiertv destroved. and wider extents of fertile and pro ductive fields, and moro property constantly and wantonly sacrificed to tno incendiary s torch. In con tests of this nature, whero a con sulcrabJe body of people who have attempted to freo themselves of tho control of tho superior government. navo reaeneu sucn a point in occupa ii on oi territory, in power, and m general organization to constitute, in fact, a body politic, having a govern ment in substance as well as in name, possessed of tho elements of ability, and equipped with tho machinery for tho administration of an internal policy and tho execution of its laws, and prepared and ablo to administer justico at homo as well as in its dealings writh other powers, it is within tho province of those other powers to recognizo its existenco as a new and independent nation. In such cases other nations simply deal with an actual existing condition of things, and recognizo as ono of tho powers of tho earth that body poli tic which, possessing tho necessary elements, has in fact become a new power. In a word, tho creation of cow state is a fact. To establish tho condition of things essential to recog nition of this fact, there must bo a people occupying a known territory, united under somo known and de fined form of government, acknowl edged by thoso subject to it, through which the functions of .government are administered , . uy tno usual methods, competent to mete out jus tice to citizens and strangers, to af ford remedies for public and for pri vate wrongs, and ablo to assume tho correlative .international obligations, and capable of performing tho cor responding international rights of sovereignty. A power should exist complete in its organization, ready to take and able to maintain its place among the 'nations of the earth. While conscious that tho insurrec tion in Cuba has shown a strength and endurance which makes it at least doubtful whether it will bo in tho power of Spain to subduo it, it seems a questionable subject that no such civil organization exists which may bo recognized as an independent government, capable of performing its obligations and entitled to bo treated as ono of tho powers of tho earth. A recognition under such circumstances would be inconsistent with facts, and would compel tho power which gives it soon to support by force tho government to which it bad really given its own real claim of existence. In the management of this tho United States should adhere to tho policy and principles which have heretoforo been its sure and safe guards in liko contests between revolted colonies and their mother country, and, acting only upon tho clearest evidence, should avoid any popularity of suspicion of imputa tion. The recognition of tho inde pendence of Cuba being, in my opinion, impracticable and indefensi ble, tho question which next presents itself is that of tho recognition of belligerent rights in tho parties to tho contest. In my former message to Congress I had occasion to con sider this question, and reached the conclusion that tho conflict in Cuba, dreadful and devastating as are its incidents, did not riso to tho fearful dignity of war. Kegarding it now, after this lapse of time, I am unable to seo that any notablo success, or any marked or real advance on the part of tho insurgents has essential ly changod its character. As tho con test has acquired greater or moro formidablo proportions, possibly the acts of foreign powers, and oven tho acts of Spain herself, of this very na- turo might bo pointed to in defense of such a recognition; but now, as in its past history, tho United States should carefully avoid falso lights which might lead it into the mazes of doubtful law, and of questionable propriety, and adhcro rigidly and sternly to tho rnlo which has been its guido. And doing only that which is right, and honest, and of good report, the question of accord ing or of withholding tho rights of belligerency must be judged in every way in view of the particular attend ing facts, unless justified by neces sity, it is always and justly regarded as an unfriendly act and a gratuitous demonstration of moral support to tho rebellion. It is necessary, and it is acquired, when tho interests and rights of another government, or of its people, aro so far affected by a pending civil conflict, as to re quire, a definition of its relations to tho parties thereto. IJvt this con flict must ha ono which will be recognized in tho senso of interna tional law as belligerency, not so as to effect the mero existenco of con tending armed bodies, and their oc casional conflicts, does not constitute war in tho senso referred to. Apply ing to tho existing condition of affairs in Cuba tho tests recognized by pub licists and writers on international law, and which havo been observed by nations of honesty and power, when freo from sensitive or selfish, or unworthy motives, I fail to find in tho insurrection tho existenco of such a substantial organization real, palpable, and manifest to tho world, having tho forms, and capable of the ordinary functions of government towards its people and States, with courts for tho administration of just tico, and a local habitation, possess ing such an orgauiiaiion of force, such material, and such an occupa tion of territory as to tako tho con test out of tho category of a mere re bellious insnrrection, or occasional skirmish; and place it on tho terrible footing of war, to which a recom mendation of belligerency would aim to elevate it. If tho movement is on land, tho insurrection, has not pos sessed a singlo port whenco it may send forth its flag, nor has it any means of communication with foreign governments except through the military lines of its adversaries. No ajprehension of any of these sudden and difficult complications which arise on the ocean is apt to precipi tate on the vessels, both commercial and national, and on tho consular officers of other powers, calls for the definition of tho relations to the par ties to tho contest. Considered as a question of expediency, I regard tho accordance of belligerent rights still to bo as unwiso and premature as I regard it to bo at present indefensi ble as a measure of right. Such recognition entails on tho country, according to tho rights which flow from, it, difficult and complicated dutios, and requires tho action from tho contending parties of tho strict observance of their rights and obliga tions. It confers tho right of search upon.tho high seas by vessels of both parties. It would subject tho carry ing of arms and munitions of war, which now may bo transported f reely and without interruption in vessels of tho United States, to detention and possible seizure. It would give rise to countless vexatious questions; it would release tho iarent Govern ment from its responsibility for acts Spain -with tho right to exercise the supervision recognized by the treaty of 17G5, over our commerce on the high seas, a very large part of which in its traffic between the Atlantic and Gulf States, and between all of them and tho States on tho Pacific, passes through tho waters which wash the shores of Cuba. Tho exerciso of this supervision could scarcely fail to lead, if not to abuses, certainly to collisions perilous to tho peacoful relations of tho two states. It would bo unworthy the United States to inaugurate tho possibilities of such result by measures of questionable right or expediency, or by any indi rection apart from any question of theoretical right. I am satisfied that while the accordance of belligerent rights to the insurgents in Cuba might give them hopo and induce ment to protract tho struggle, it would bo a delusive hopo and would not remove tho evils which this Gov ernment and its people aro experi encing, but would draw the United States into complications which it has waited long and already suffered much to avoid. Tho recognition of the independence or of belligerency being thus in my judgment equally inadmissablo, it remains to consider what courso shall bo adopted, should tho conflict not soon bo brought to an end by acts of tho parties them selves, and should tho evils which result therefrom, afflicting all na tions, and particularly tho United States, continue to such event, I am of opinion that other nations will be compelled to assume tho resjonsi bility which devolves upon them, and to seriously consider the only re maining measures possible, media tion and intervention. Owing, per haps, to tho largo expanse of water separating the island from the penin sula, tho want of harmony, of per sonal sympathy between tho inhabi tants of tho colony and thoso sent thither to rnlo them and want of adaptation of tho ancient colonial system of Europo to tho present times and to the ideas which tho events of tho past century have de veloped, tho contending parties ap pear to have within thoaiselves no depository of common confidence. To suggest wisdom when passion and excitement have their sway, and to assume tho part of peacemaker, in this view, in tho early days of the contest the good offices of tho United States as a mediator, wero tendered in good faith, without any selfish purpose, in tho interest of humanity, in sincero mendsnip lor both par ties, but wero refused by tho Spanish government. Mediation or interven tion seem to bo the only alternative whioh must sooner or later be in voked for tho termination of tho strife. At tho same time, Avhile thus impressed, I do not at this timo re commend the adoption of any measure of intervention. I shall bo ready at all times as the equal friend of both parties, to respond to a suggestion that the good offices of tho United States will bo accoptablo to aid in bringing about a peaco honorablo to both. It i3 duo to Spain, so far as this government is concerned, that tho agency of a third power, to which I havo adverted, shall bo adopted only as a last expedient. I lad it been tho desire of tho United States to interfero in tho affairs of Cuba, repeated opportunities for so doing have been presented within tho last few years. But wo havo re mained passivo, and havo performed our wholo duty and all international obligations to Spain with friend ship, fairness and fidelity, and with a spirit of patience and forbearance which negatives every possiblo sug gestion of a desiro to interfero or add to the difficulties with which sho has been surrounded. Tho government of Spain has recently submitted to our minister at Madrid certain pro posals, which may bo found to bo tho basis, if not actual submission of terms to meet tho requirements of tho particular griefs of which this government has felt itself entitled to complain. Theso proposals havo not yet reached mo in their full text. On their arrival they will be con sidered carefully, and may, I hopo, lead to a satisfactory adjustment of tho questions to which they refer and remove the possibility of future occurrences, such as havo given rise to our just complaints. THE MEXICAN BORDER TROUBLES. Depredations by bands from Mex ico on tho people of Texas, near tho frontier, continue. Though the main object of excursions is robbery, thoy frequently result in tho murder of quiet and peaceably disposed per sons, and, in somo cases, even tho United States postoffices and mail communications havo been attacked. llencwcd remonstrances upon this subject havo been addressed to tho Mexican Government, but without much apparent effect. Tho military forco of this Government disposable for servico in that quarter is quite adequate to effectually guard the line even at tho point3 wherein ex cursions aro generally raado. An experiment of an armed vessel on tho llio Grande for that purpose is on trial, and it is hoped that if not thwarted by tho shallowness of tho river, and other natural obstacles, it may contribute to tho protection of herdsmen in Texas. THE FREE ZONE, So called, several years sinco estab lished by Mexico in certain States of that lvepublic, adjacent to our fron tier,' remains in full operation. It is always materially injurious to do mestic traffic, wbilo it operates as an incentivo to traders in Mexico to supply freo of custom charges, tho wants of tho peoplo on both sides of tho line, and prevents tho samo from being supplied by merchants of tho United States, thereby, to a consid erable extent, defrauding our reve nue and checking honest commercial enterprise o XOINGS OF THE MEXICAN CLAIMS COM MISSION. The proceeding of tho joint com mission under tho convention be tween tho United States and Mexico, of tho 4th of July, 18G8, on tho sub ject of claims, will soon bo brought to a closo. Tho result of these pro ceedings will then bo communicated to Congress. o VENEZUELA. I am happy to announco that the government of Venezuela has, upon further consideration, practically abandoned its objections to pay to the United State the share of its revenue, which somo years sinco it allotted toward,, the extinguishment of claims of foreigners generally. In the consideration of its former deter mination, that government has shown a justico and self-respect which can not fail to reflect credit upon it in the eyes of all disinterested persons elsewhere. It is regretted, however, that its payments on account of claims of citizens of the United States are still so meager in amount, and that tho stipulations of the treaty in regard to tho sums to bo paid, and tho periods when thoso payments were to take place, should havo been so signally disregarded. TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS WITH FOR EIGN POWERS. Sinco my last annual messago tho exchange has been made of tho ratifi cations of a treaty of commerco and navigation with Belgium, and of con ventions with tho Mexican Bepublic for tho further extension of the joint commission respecting claims; with the Hawaiian Islands for commercial reciprocity, and Tilth the Ottoman Empire for extradition; all of which havo been duly proclaimed, o o COMMISSIONERS OF ALABAMA CLAIMS. The court of commissioners of Ala bama claims has prosecuted its im portant duties very assiduously and very satisfactory. It convened and was organized on tho 22d day of July, 1874, and by tho terms of the act under which it was created, was. to exist for ono year from that date. Tho act provides, however, that should it be found impracticable to complete lho work of tho court be fore the expiration of tho year, the President might, by proclamation, ex tend the timo of itsj duration to a period not moro than six months be yond tho expiration of tho ono year. Having received satisfactory evidence that it' would bo' impracticable to complete tho work within the timo originally fixed, I issued aproclama tion, a copy of which is-presented herewith, extending tho timo of tho duration of tho court for a period of six months from and after tho 22d day of July last. A report made through tho clerk of tho court, com i i . inuuicaieu nerewitn, snows tno con dition of tho calendar on the first of November last, and tho largo amount of work which has been accom plished. -J Thirteen hundred and eighty-two claims have been presented, of which eight hundred -and sixty-two had been disposed of at tho date of tho report. I am informed that ono hundred and seventy cases wero decided dui' ing the month of November. Argu ments aro being made, and decisions given in tho remaining cases with all tho dispatch consistent with the proper consideration of tho questions submitted. Many of theso claims aro in behalf of mariners, or depend on tho evidenco of mariners, whoso absence has delayed tho taking and tho return of tho necessary evidence. It is represented to ma that it will bo impracticablo for tho court to fin ally dispose of all the cases beforo it, within tho present limit of its dura tion. Justice to 'tho parties claim ants, who had been at largo expenso in preparing their claims, and in obtaining evidence in their support, suggests a short extension to enable tho court ta disposo of all tho claims which havo already been presonted. I recommend tho legislation which may bo deemed proper to enable tho court to complete tho work beforo it. COURT FOB CONSIDERING CLAIMS OF AL IENS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. Also recommend that somo suita ble provision be made by tho creation of a special court, or by conferring tho necessary jurisdiction upon such appropriate tribunal for tho consid eration and determination of claims of aliens against the Government of the United States, which havo arisen within some reasonable limitation of timo, or which may hereafter arise, excluding all claims barrod by treaty provisions, or otherwise, as it has been found impossiblo to give proper consideration to thoso claims by tho Executive Department of tho Gov ernment. Such a tribunal would afford an opportunity to aliens, other than British subjects, to present their claims on account of acts committed against their persons or property during tho rebellion. As also to thoso subjects, of Great Britain, whoso claims having arisen subse quent to tho 9th day of April, 1875, could not bo presented to tho com mission organized pursuant to pro visions of the Treaty of Washington. OCEAN TELEGRAPHS. Tho electric telegraph ha3 become an essential and indispensable agent in tho transmission of business and social messages. Its operation on land, and within tho limits of partic ular States, is necessarily under the control of tho jurisdiction within which it operates. Tho lines on the high seas, however, aro not subject to tho particular control of any one Government. In 1SG9 a concession was granted by the French government to a Com pany which prorosed to lay a cable from tho shores of France to tho United States. At that timo there was a telegraphic connection between tho United State3 and tho continent of Europe, through tho possessiorfl of Great Britain, at either end of tha lino under tho control of an associ ation which had, at tho cost of a great outlay ol capital, and at great risk, demonstrated tho practicability of maintaining such means of com munication. Tho cost of correspon dence, by this agency, was great, although possibly not too large at the timo for a proper remuneration for SO hazardous n.rd ra orst!v o-n enterprise. It was, however, a heavy charge upon a means of communica tion, which the progress in the social and commercial intercourse of the world has found to be a necessity, onJ 41in nlxf n l nin r rt 41Za I.n.L concession showed that other onnifal than that already invested, was ready to enter into competition with assur ances of adequate return for their outlay. Impressed with ttho conviction that tho interests not only of the people of the United States, but of the world at large, demand, or would demand, tho multiplication of such means of communication between separated continents, I was desirous that tho proposed connection should be made. But certain provisions of cthis concession wero deemed by mo .to bo objectionable, particularly one which gave to the company, for a lor term of,, years, the exclusivo right of telegrjqdiic communication, by submarino cablo, between tho shores of Fiance and tho United States. I could not conecdo that any power should claim tho right to land a cabl) on the shores of tho United States, and at the same timo deny tho United States, or to its citizens, equal rights to land a cablo on its shores. Tho right' to control tho condition for the laying of a cablo in waters within tho jurisdic tion of tho united btates to connect our shores with thoso of any foreign State xcrtains exclusively to tho government of tho United States, under such limitations and condi tions as Congress may impose c In theabsenco of legislation by Congress, I was unwilling on tho one hand, to yield to a foreign stato tho right to say that its granteo might land on our shores whilo it denied a similar light to our peoplo to land on its shores; and, on tho other hand, I was reluctant to deny to tho great interests of tho world of civilization tho facilities of such communication as wero proposed; I therefore withheld any resistance to the landing of any cablo, on condi tion that offensive monopoly part of tho concession bo abandoned, and that the rightof any cablo which may be established by authority of this government to land upon French territory and to connect with French land lines, and eujoy all the necessary facilities at present incident to tho uso thereof. Tho company in question renounc ed tho exclusive priYilego and tho representative of Franco was so in formed. Understanding that this relinquishment was rto bo construed as granting tho entire reciprocity ami equal iaciiities which nad been demanded, tho opposition to the lauding of tho cablo was withdrawn. Tho cable, under this French con cession, was landed in tho month of June, 18G9, and has been an efficient and valuable agent of communication between this country and tho con tinent. It soon passed under con trol, however, of thoso who had tho management of tho cablo connecting Great Britain with this continent and thus whatever benefit tho public might havo enjoyed from the com petition betweon tho two lines, -was lost. Tho company having greater facil ities of an additional lino and the additional security, in case of acci dont to ono of thom, of being blo to use tho other gave it great stability. But tho increased facu-r ities and this additional 3 security, together with control of tho com bined capital of tho companies gave also greater power to prevent future constructions and limit tho control of tho telegraphic communication betweon two continents to thoso pos sessing lines already laid. Within a few months past a cablo has been laid known as tho U. S. Direct Cable-Company, connecting the United States directly with Great Britain. As soon as this cable was reported to bo in working order tho rates of the then existing- consol idated companies wero greatly ro duced. Soon however, a break was announced in this cable, and immedi ately tho rates of tho other line, which hal been reduced, wero again raised. ThisiJcablo being now re paired, tho rates appear not to bo reduced by either lino from those0 formerly charged by the other com pany. - Thero is reason to believe thai largo amounts of capital, both at homo and abroad, are ready to seek profitablo investment in the advance ment of this uscfnl and most civiliz ing means of intercourse and corres-poD-dcnco. They await however, tho assurance of Governments for tho safety of tho means and contributions which they may make tributary to tho general good. REGULATIONS.FOr. OCEAN TELEGRAPHS PROPOSED. As theso cablo telegraphs connect tho separate States, thero will bo questions as to their f organization and control, which probably can bo best if not solely settled by conven tions between tho respective States. In tho absence, however, ofJ interna tional conventions on tho subject, national legislation may be secured on many points which to me appear important, if not indispensable, for tho protection of tho public against tho extortions which may result from a monopoly of tho right of (operating Concluded on Fourth Page