 Section 8 of State of the Union Addresses by United States Presidents, 1877-1884 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Colleen McMahon Chester A. Arthur, December 4, 1883 To the Congress of the United States At the threshold of your deliberations, I congratulate you upon the favorable aspect of the domestic and foreign affairs of this government. Our relations with other countries continue to be upon a friendly footing. With the Argentine Republic, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Haiti, Italy, Santo Domingo, and Sweden and Norway, no incident has occurred which calls for special comment. The recent opening of new lines of telegraphic communication with Central America and Brazil permitted the interchange of messages of friendship with the governments of those countries. During the year, there have been perfected and proclaimed consular and commercial treaties with Serbia and a consular treaty with Romania, thus extending our intercourse with the Danubian countries while our eastern relations have been put upon a wider basis by treaties with Korea and Madagascar. The new Boundary Survey Treaty with Mexico, a trademarks convention and a supplementary treaty of extradition with Spain and conventions extending the duration of the Franco-American Claims Commission have also been proclaimed. Notice of the termination of the Fisheries article of the Treaty of Washington was duly given to the British government and the reciprocal privileges and exemptions of the treaty will accordingly cease on July 1, 1885. The fisheries industries pursued by a numerous class of our citizens on the northern coasts, both of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, are worthy of the fostering care of Congress. Whenever brought into competition with the like industries of other countries, our fishermen as well as our manufacturers of fishing appliances and preparers of fish products have maintained a foremost place. I suggest that Congress create a commission to consider the general question of our rights in the fisheries and the means of opening to our citizens under just and enduring conditions the richly stocked fishing waters and sealing grounds of British North America. Question has arisen touching the deportation to the United States from the British islands by governmental or municipal aid of persons unable there to gain a living and equally a burden on the community here. Such of these persons as fall under the pauper class as defined by law have been sent back in accordance with the provisions of our statutes. Her Majesty's government has insisted that precautions have been taken before shipment to prevent these objectionable visitors from coming hither without guarantee of support by their relatives in this country. The action of the British authorities in applying measures for relief has, however, in so many cases proved ineffectual and especially so in certain recent instances of needy immigrants reaching our territory through Canada that a revision of our legislation upon this subject may be deemed advisable. Correspondence relative to the Clayton-Boward Treaty has been continued and will be laid before Congress. The legislation of France against the importation of prepared swine products from the United States has been repealed. That result is due no less to the friendly representations of this government than to a growing conviction in France that the restriction was not demanded by any real danger to health. Germany still prohibits the introduction of all swine products from America. I extended to the Imperial Government a friendly invitation to send experts to the United States to inquire whether the use of those products was dangerous to health. This invitation was declined. I believed it of such importance, however, that the exact facts should be ascertained and promulgated that I have appointed a competent commission to make a thorough investigation of the subject. Its members have shown their public spirit by accepting their trust without pledge of compensation. But I trust that Congress will see in the national and international bearings of the matter a sufficient motive for providing at least for reimbursement of such expenses as they may necessarily incur. The coronation of the Tsar at Moscow afforded to this government an occasion for testifying its continued friendship by sending a special envoy and a representative of the Navy to attend the ceremony. While there have arisen during the year no grave questions affecting the status in the Russian Empire of American citizens of other faith than that held by the National Church, this government remains firm in its conviction that the rights of its citizens abroad should be in no wise affected by their religious belief. It is understood that measures for the removal of the restrictions which now burden our trade with Cuba and Puerto Rico are under consideration by the Spanish government. The proximity of Cuba to the United States and the peculiar methods of administration which there prevail necessitate constant discussion and appeal on our part from the proceedings of the insular authorities. I regret to say that the just protests of this government have not as yet produced satisfactory results. The commission appointed to decide certain claims of our citizens against the Spanish government after the recognition of a satisfactory rule as to the validity and force of naturalization in the United States has finally adjourned. Some of its awards, though made more than two years ago, have not yet been paid. Their speedy payment is expected. Claims to a large amount which were held by the late commission to be without its jurisdiction have been diplomatically presented to the Spanish government. As the action of the colonial authorities which has given rise to these claims was admittedly illegal, full reparation for the injury sustained by our citizens should be no longer delayed. The case of the Masonic has not yet reached a settlement. Manila Court has found that the proceedings of which this government has complained were unauthorized and it is hoped that the government of Spain will not withhold the speedy reparation which its sense of justice should impel it to offer for the unusual severity and unjust action of its subordinate colonial officers in the case of this vessel. The Helvetian Confederation has proposed the inauguration of a class of international treaties for the referment to arbitration of grave questions between nations. This government has assented the proposed negotiation of such a treaty with Switzerland. Under the Treaty of Berlin, liberty of conscience and civil rights are assured to all strangers in Bulgaria. As the United States have no distinct conventional relations with that country and are not a party to the treaty, they should, in my opinion, maintain diplomatic representation at Sofia for the improvement of intercourse and the proper protection of the many American citizens who resort to that country as missionaries and teachers. I suggest that I be given authority to establish an agency and consulate general at the Bulgarian capital. The United States are now participating in a revision of the tariffs of the Ottoman Empire. They have assented to the application of a license tax to foreigners doing business in Turkey but have opposed the oppressive storage tax upon petroleum entering the ports of that country. The government of the Kediv has proposed that the authority of the mixed judicial tribunals in Egypt be extended so as to cover citizens of the United States accused of crime who are now triable before consular courts. This government is not indisposed to accept the change but believes that its terms should be submitted for criticism to the commission appointed to revise the whole subject. At no time in our national history has there been more manifest need of close and lasting relations with a neighboring state than now exists with respect to Mexico. The rapid influx of our capital and enterprise into that country shows, by what has already been accomplished, the vast reciprocal advantages which must attend the progress of its internal development. The Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of 1848 has been terminated by the Mexican government and in the absence of conventional engagements, the rights of our citizens in Mexico now depend upon the domestic statutes of that republic. There have been instances of harsh enforcement of the laws against our vessels and citizens in Mexico and of denial of the diplomatic resort for their protection. The initial step toward a better understanding has been taken in the negotiation by the commission authorized by Congress of a treaty which is still before the Senate awaiting its approval. The provisions for the reciprocal crossing of the frontier by the troops in pursuit of hostile Indians has been prolonged for another year. The operations of the forces of both governments against these savages have been successful and several of their most dangerous bands have been captured or dispersed by the skill and valor of United States and Mexican soldiers fighting in a common cause. The convention for the resurvey of the boundary from the Rio Grande to the Pacific having been ratified and exchanged, the preliminary reconnaissance therein stipulated has been affected. It now rests with Congress to make provision for completing the survey and relocating the boundary monuments. A convention was signed with Mexico on July 13, 1882 providing for the re-hearing of the cases of Benjamin Well and the Abra Silver Mining Company in whose favor awards were made by the late American and Mexican Claims Commission. That convention still awaits the consent of the Senate. Meanwhile, because of those charges of fraudulent awards which have made a new commission necessary, the executive has directed the suspension of payments of the distributive quota received from Mexico. Our geographical proximity to Central America and our political and commercial relations with the states of that country justify, in my judgment, such a material increase of our consular core as will place at each capital a consul general. The contest between Bolivia, Chile, and Peru has passed from the stage of strategic hostilities to that of negotiation in which the councils of this government have been exercised. The demands of Chile for absolute session of territory have been maintained and accepted by the party of General Iglesias to the extent of concluding a treaty of peace with the government of Chile in general conformity with the terms of the protocol signed in May last between the Chilean commander and General Iglesias. As a result of the conclusion of this treaty, General Iglesias has been formally recognized by Chile as president of Peru and his government installed at Lima, which has been evacuated by the Chileans. A call has been issued by General Iglesias for a representative assembly to be elected on the 13th of January and to meet at Lima on the 1st of March next. Meanwhile, the provisional government of General Iglesias has applied for recognition to the principal powers of America and Europe. When the will of the Peruvian people shall be manifested, I shall not hesitate to recognize the government approved by them. Diplomatic and naval representatives of this government attended at Caracas the centennial celebration of the birth of the illustrious Bolivar. At the same time, the inauguration of the Statue of Washington in the Venezuelan capital testified to the veneration in which his memory is there held. Congress at its last session authorized the executive to propose to Venezuela a reopening of the awards of the mixed commission of Caracas. The departure from this country of the Venezuelan minister has delayed the opening of negotiations for reviving the commission. This government holds that until the establishment of a treaty upon this subject, the Venezuelan government must continue to make the payments provided for in the convention of 1866. There is ground for believing that the dispute growing out of the unpaid obligations due from Venezuela to France will be satisfactorily adjusted. The French cabinet has proposed a basis of settlement which meets my approval, but as it involves a recasting of the annual quotas of the foreign debt, it has been deemed advisable to submit the proposal to the judgment of the cabinets of Berlin, Copenhagen, The Hague, London and Madrid. At the recent coronation of His Majesty King Kalakaua, this government was represented both diplomatically and by the formal visit of a vessel of war. The question of terminating or modifying the existing reciprocity treaty with Hawaii is now before Congress. I am convinced that the charges of abuses and frauds under that treaty have been exaggerated, and I renew the suggestion of last year's message that the treaty be modified wherever its provisions have proved onerous to legitimate trade between the two countries. I am not disposed to favor the entire cessation of the treaty relations, which have fostered goodwill between the countries and contributed toward the equality of Hawaii in the family of nations. In pursuance of the policy declared by this government of extending our intercourse with the eastern nations, legations have during the past year been established in Persia, Siam and Korea. It is probable that permanent missions of those countries will earlong be maintained in the United States. A special embassy from Siam is now on its way hither. Treaty relations with Korea were perfected by the exchange itself on the 19th of May last of the ratifications of the lately concluded convention, and envoys from the King of Chosun have visited this country and received a cordial welcome. Korea, as yet unacquainted with the methods of Western civilization, now invites the attention of those interested in the advancement of our foreign trade, as it needs the implements and products which the United States are ready to supply. We seek no monopoly of its commerce and no advantages over other nations, but as the Chosunese in reaching for higher civilization have confided in this Republic, we cannot regard with indifference any encroachment on their rights. China, by the payment of a money indemnity, has settled certain of the long-pending claims of our citizens, and I have strong hopes that the remainder will soon be adjusted. Questions have arisen touching the rights of American and other foreign manufacturers in China under the provisions of treaties which permit aliens to exercise their industries in that country. On this specific point, our own treaty is silent, but under the operation of the most favored nation clause, we have like privileges with those of other powers. While it is the duty of the government to see that our citizens have the full enjoyment of every benefit secured by treaty, I doubt the expediency of leading in a movement to constrain China to admit an interpretation which we have only an indirect treaty right to exact. The transference to China of American capital for the employment there of Chinese labor would in effect inaugurate a competition for the control of markets now supplied by our home industries. There is good reason to believe that the law restricting the immigration of Chinese has been violated, intentionally or otherwise, by the officials of China upon whom it is devolved the duty of certifying that the immigrants belong to the accepted classes. Measures have been taken to ascertain the facts incident to the supposed infraction, and it is believed that the government of China will cooperate with the United States in securing the faithful observance of the law. The same considerations which prompted Congress at its last session to return to Japan, the Shimonoseki Indemnity, seemed to me to require at its hands like action in respect to the Kanten Indemnity Fund, now amounting to $300,000. The question of the general revision of the foreign treaties of Japan has been considered in an international conference held at Tokyo, but without definite result as yet. This government is disposed to concede the requests of Japan to determine its own tariff duties, to provide such proper judicial tribunals as may commend themselves to the Western powers for the trial of causes to which foreigners are parties, and to assimilate the terms and duration of its treaties to those of other civilized states. Through our ministers at London and at Monrovia, this government has endeavored to aid Liberia in its differences with Great Britain, touching the northwestern boundary of that republic. There is a prospective adjustment of the dispute by the adoption of the Manaw River as the line. This arrangement is a compromise of the conflicting territorial claims and takes from Liberia no country over which it is maintained effective jurisdiction. The rich and populous valley of the Congo is being opened to commerce by a society called the International African Association, of which the king of the Belgians is the president, and a citizen of the United States, the chief executive officer. Large tracts of territory have been ceded to the association by native chiefs. Roads have been opened, steamboats placed on the river, and the nuclei of states established at 22 stations under one flag, which offers freedom to commerce and prohibits the slave trade. The objects of the society are philanthropic. It does not aim at permanent political control, but seeks the neutrality of the valley. The United States cannot be indifferent to this work, nor to the interests of their citizens involved in it. It may become advisable for us to cooperate with other commercial powers in promoting the rights of trade and residence in the Congo Valley, free from the interference or political control of any one nation. In view of the frequency of invitations from foreign governments to participate in social and scientific congresses for the discussion of important matters of general concern, I repeat the suggestion of my last message that provision be made for the exercise of discretionary power by the executive in appointing delegates to such convocations. Able specialists are ready to serve the national interests in such capacity without personal profit or other compensation than the deframing of expenses actually incurred, and this a comparatively small annual appropriation would suffice to meet. I have alluded in my previous messages to the injurious and vexatious restrictions suffered by our trade in the Spanish West Indies. Brazil, whose natural outlet for its great national staple, coffee, is in and through the United States, imposes a heavy export duty upon that product. Our petroleum exports are hampered in Turkey and in other eastern ports by restrictions as to storage and by onerous taxation. For these mischiefs, adequate relief is not always afforded by reciprocity treaties like that with Hawaii or that lately negotiated with Mexico and now awaiting the action of the Senate. Is it not advisable to provide some measure of equitable retaliation in our relations with governments which discriminate against our own? If, for example, the executive were empowered to apply to Spanish vessels and cargos from Cuba and Puerto Rico, the same rules of treatment and scale of penalties for technical faults which are applied to our vessels and cargos in the Antilles, a resort to that course might not be barren of good results. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury gives a full and interesting exhibit of the financial condition of the country. It shows that the ordinary revenues from all sources for the fiscal year and did June 30, 1883 amounted to $398,287,581.95, whereof there was received from customs $214,706,496.93, from internal revenue $144,720,368.98, from sales of public lands $7,955,864.42, from tax on circulation and deposits of national banks $9,111,085, from profits on coinage, bullion deposits and assays $4,460,205.17, from other sources $17,333,637.60, total $398,287,581.95. For the same period the ordinary expenditures were, for civil expenses $22,343,285.76, for foreign intercourse $2,419,275.24, for Indians $7,362,590.34, for pensions $66,12,573.64, for the military establishment including river and harbor improvements and arsenals $48,911,382.93, for the naval establishment including vessels machinery and improvements and navy yards $15,283,437.17, for miscellaneous expenditures including public buildings, lighthouses and collecting the revenue $40,098,432.73, for expenditures on account of the District of Columbia $3,817,028.48, for interest on the public debt $59,160,131.25, total $265,408,137.54, leaving a surplus revenue of $132,879,444.41, which with an amount drawn from the cash balance in the Treasury of $1,299,312.55, making $134,178,756.96 was applied to the redemption of bonds for the sinking fund $44,850,700, of fractional currency for the sinking fund $46,556.96, of funded loan of 1881 continued at 3.5%, $65,380,250, of loan of July and August 1861 continued at 3.5%, $20,594,600, of funded loan of 1863, $1,418,850, of funded loan of 1881, $719,150, of loan of February 1861, $18,000, of loan of July and August 1861, $266,600, of loan of March 1863, $116,850, of loan of July 1882, $47,650, of 520s of 1862, $10,300, of 520s of 1864, $7,050, of 520s of 1865, $9,600, of 1040s of 1864, $133,550, of consoles of 1865, $40,800, of consoles of 1867, $235,700, of consoles of 1868, $154,650, of Oregon War Debt, $5,450, of refunding certificates, $109,150, of old demand, compound interest, and other notes, $13,300, total $134,178,756.96. The revenue for the present fiscal year actual and estimated is as follows. Source, for the quarter-ended September 30, 1883 actual, for the remaining three-quarters of the year estimated. From Customs, $57,402,975.67. $137,597,24.33. From Internal Revenue, $29,662,078.60. $90,337,921.40. From Sales of Public Lands, $2,932,635.17. $5,067,634.83. From Tax on Circulation and Deposits of National Banks, $1,557,800.88. $1,542,199.12. From Repayment of Interest and Sinking Fund, Pacific Railway Companies, $521,059.51. $1,478,940.49. From Customs Fees, Fines, Penalties, etc. $298,696.78. $901,303.22. From Fees, Consular, Letters Patent and Lands, $863,209.80. $2,436,790.20. From Proceeds of Sales of Government Property, $112,562.23. $167,437.77. From Profits on Coinage, etc. $950,229.46. $3,149,770.54. From Deposits for Surveying Public Lands, $172,461.31. $327,538.69. From Revenues of the District of Columbia, $256,17.99. $1,643,982.01. From Miscellaneous Sources, $1,237,189.63. $2,382,810.37. Total Receipts, $95,966,917.03. $247,338.97. The actual and estimated expenses for the same period are Object for the Quarter-Ended September 30, 1883. Actual for the remaining three-quarters of the year estimated. For Civil and Miscellaneous Expenses, including Public Buildings, Light Houses, and Collecting the Revenue, $15,385,799.42. $51,114,200.58. For Indians, $2,623,390.54. $4,126,609.46. For Pensions, $16,285,261.98. $53,714,738.00 For Military Establishment, including Fortifications, River and Harbor Improvements, and Arsenal's, $13,512,204.33. $26,487,795.67. For Naval Establishment, including Vessels and Machinery, and Improvements at Navy Yards, $4,199,299.69. $12,300,700.31. For Expenditures on Account of the District of Columbia, $1,138,836.41. $2,611,163.59. For Interest on the Public Debt, $14,797,297.96. $39,702,702.04. Total Ordinary Expenditures, $67,942,90.33. $190,057,909.67. Total Receipts, Actual and Estimated, $343,000.00 Total Expenditures, Actual and Estimated, $258,000.00 End of Section 8, Recording by Colleen McMahon. Section 9 of State of the Union Addresses by United States Presidents, 1877-1884. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. State of the Union Address, Chester A. Author, December 1, 1884, Part 1. 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 chosen their Chief Magistrate for the four years in suing. 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 controversy at the polls was over, and while the slight preponderance by which the issue has been determined was as yet unassertained, 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 loyalty to law. Nothing could more signally demonstrate the strength and wisdom of our political institutions. Eight years have passed since a controversy concerning the result of a national election sharply called the attention of the Congress to the necessity of providing more precise and definite regulations for counting the electoral vote. It is of the gravest 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 continued inaction. Our relations with all foreign powers continue to be amicable with Belgium, a convention has been signed whereby 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 the acquisition and alienation of property. A trademark's treaty has also been concluded. The war between Chile 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 Chilean authorities a convention will soon be negotiated. 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 knew the recommendation of my last annual message that the Canton Indemnity Fund be returned 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 re-landing for 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 is considerably enhanced to commercial importance in the East in view of the large number of vessels built or purchased by American citizens in other countries and exclusively employed in legitimate traffic between foreign ports under the recognized protection of our flag. It might be well to provide a uniform rule for their registration and documentation so that the bonafide property rights of our citizens therein shall be duly properly guarded. Pursuant to the advice of the Senate at the last session I recognize the flag of the International Association of the Congo as that of a friendly government avoiding and doing any pre-judgment of conflicting territorial claims in that region. Subsequently, in execution of the expressed wish of 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 of 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 Korea has generously aided the efforts of the United States Minister to secure suitable premises for the use of the Legation. As the conditions 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 government. The United States already possesses valuable premises at Tangier as a gift from the Sultan of Morocco. As is stated here after they have lately received a similar gift from the Siamese government. The government of Japan stands ready to present to us extensive grounds at Tokyo, whereon to erect a suitable building for the Legation. Courthouse and jail and similar privileges can probably be secured in China and Persia. The owing of such premises would not only affect a large saving of the present rentals but would permit of the due assertion of extraterritorial rights in those countries and would 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 Kediv has proved a serious embarrassment in our intercourse with Egypt and in view of the necessary intimacy of diplomatic relationship due to the participation 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 Akira 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 Kediv or that citizens of this Republic residing or so journeying in Egypt should hereafter be without the aid and protection of a competent representative. With France, the traditional cordial relationship continues. The colossal Statue of Liberty enlightening 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 recognition 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 contributes to our own some of the best elements of citizenship 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 convention 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 willingness 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 Haiti against the established government has terminated. While it was in progress, it became necessary to enforce our neutrality laws by instituting proceedings against individuals and vessels charged with their infringement. These prosecutions were in all cases successful. Much anxiety has lately been displayed by various European governments and especially by the government of Italy for the abolition of our import duties upon works of art. It is well to consider whether the present discrimination in favor of the productions of American artists abroad is not likely to result as they themselves seem very generally to believe it may in the practical exclusion of our painters and sculptors from the rich fields for observation, study, and labor which they have hitherto enjoyed. There is prospect that the long pending revision of the foreign treaties of Japan may be concluded at a new conference to be held at Tokyo, while this government fully recognizes the equal and independent station of Japan in the community of nations it would not oppose the general adoption of such terms of compromise as Japan may be disposed to offer in furtherance of a uniform policy of intercourse with western nations. During the past year, the increasing good between our government and that of Mexico has been variously manifested. The Treaty of Commercial Reciprocity concluded January 20, 1883 has been ratified and awaits the necessary tariff legislation of Congress to become effective. This legislation will, I doubt not, be among the first measures to claim your attention. A full Treaty of Commerce, Navigation, and Consular Rights is much to be desired and such a treaty I have reason to believe in stands ready to conclude. Some embarrassment has been occasioned by the failure of Congress at its last session to provide means for the due execution of the Treaty of July 29, 1882 for the re-survey of the Mexican boundary and the relocation of boundary monuments. With the Republic of Nicaragua a treaty has been concluded and comprises the construction by the United States of a canal, railway, and telegraph line across the Nicaraguan territory. By the terms of this treaty 60 miles of the river San Juan as well as Lake Nicaragua and inland sea 40 miles in width are to constitute a part of the projected enterprise. This leaves for actual canal construction 17 miles on the Pacific side and 36 miles on the Atlantic. To the United States whose rich territory on the Pacific is for the ordinary purposes of commerce practically cut off from the communications by water with the Atlantic ports. The political and commercial advantages of such a project can scarcely be overestimated. It is believed that when the treaty is laid before you the justice and liberality of its provisions will command universal approval at home and abroad. The death of our representative at Russia while at his post at St. Petersburg afforded to the imperial government a renewed opportunity to testify its sympathy in a manner befitting the intimate friendliness which has ever marked the intercourse of the two countries. The course of this government in raising its representation at Bangkok to the diplomatic rank has evoked from Siam evidences of warm friendship and augurs well for our enlarged intercourse. The Siamese government has presented to the United States a commodious mansion and grounds for the occupancy of the legation and I suggest that by joint resolution Congress attest its appreciation of this generous gift. This government has more than once been called upon of late to take action in fulfillment of its international obligations towards Spain. Agitation in the island of Cuba hostile to the Spanish crown having been fomented by persons abusing the sacred rights of hospitality which our territory affords. The officers of this government have been instructed to exercise vigilance to prevent infractions of our neutrality laws at Key West and other points near the Cuban coast. I am happy to say that in the only instance where these precautionary measures were successfully eluded the offenders when found in our territory were subsequently tried and convicted. The growing need of close relationship of intercourse and traffic between the Spanish Antilles and their natural market in the United States led to the adoption in January last of a commercial agreement looking to that end. This agreement has since been superseded by a more carefully framed and comprehensive convention which I shall submit to the Senate for approval. It has been the aim of this negotiation that opens such a favored reciprocal exchange of productions carried under the flag of either country as to make the intercourse between Cuba and Puerto Rico and ourselves scarcely less intimate than the commercial movement between our domestic ports and to ensure a removal of the burdens on shipping in the Spanish Indies of which in the past our ship owners and ship masters have so often had cause to complain. The negotiation of this convention has for a time postponed the prosecution of certain claims of our citizens which were declared to be without the jurisdiction of the late Spanish-American Claims Commission and which are therefore remitted to diplomatic channels for adjustment. The speedy settlement of these claims will now be urged by this government. Negotiations for a treaty of commercial reciprocity with the Dominican Republic have been successfully concluded and the result will shortly be laid before the Senate. Certain questions between the United States and the Ottoman Empire still remain unsolved. Complaints on behalf of our citizens are not satisfactorily adjusted. The Porta has sought to withhold from our commerce the right of favored treatment to which we are entitled by existing conventional stipulations and the revision of the tariffs is unaccomplished. The final disposition of pending questions with Venezuela has not as yet been reached but I have good reason to expect an early settlement which will provide the means of re-examining the Caracas awards in conformity with the expressed desire of Congress and which will recognize the justice of certain claims preferred against Venezuela. The Central and South American Commission appointed by authority of the Act of July 7, 1884 will soon proceed to Mexico. It has been furnished with instructions which will be laid before you. They contain a statement of the general policy of the government for enlarging its commercial intercourse with American states. The commissioners have been actively preparing for their responsible task by holding conferences in the principal cities with merchants and other interested in Central and South American trade. The International Meridian Conference, lately convened in Washington upon the invitation of the government of the United States, was composed of representatives from twenty-five nations. The conference concluded its labors on the first of November having a substantial unanimity agreed upon the Meridian of Greenwich as the starting point when its longitude is to be computed through one hundred and eighty degrees eastward and westward and upon the adoption for all purposes for which it may be found convenient of the universal day which shall be midnight on the initial Meridian and whose hours shall be counted from zero up to twenty-four. A formal report of the transactions of this conference will be hereafter transmitted to the Congress. The government is in frequent receipt of invitations from foreign states to participate in international exhibitions, often of great interest and importance, occupying as we do an advanced position in the world's production and aiming to secure a profitable share for our industries in the general competitive markets. It is a matter of serious concern that the want of means for participation in these exhibitions should so often exclude our producers from advantages enjoyed by those of other countries. During the past year the attention of Congress was drawn to the formal invitations in this regard tendered by the governments of England, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria. The executive as in some instances appointed honorary commissioners. This is however a most unsatisfactory expedient. For without some provision to meet the necessary working expenses of a commission it can affect little or nothing in behalf of exhibitors. An international inventions exhibition is to be held in London next May. This will cover a field of special importance in which our country holds a foremost rank. But the executive is at present powerless to organize a proper representation of our vast national interests in this direction. I have in several previous messages referred to this subject. It seems to me that a statute giving to the executive general discretionary authority to accept such invitations and to appoint honorary commissioners without salary and placing at the disposal of the Secretary of State a small fund for defraying their reasonable expenses would be of great public utility. This government has received official notice that the revised international regulations for preventing collisions at sea have been adopted by all the leading maritime powers except the United States and came into force on the 1st of September last. For the due protection of our shipping interests the provisions of our statutes should at once be brought into conformity with these regulations. The question of securing to authors, composers and artists copyright privileges in this country in return for reciprocal rights abroad is one that may justly challenge your attention. It is true that conventions will be necessary for fully accomplishing this result but until Congress shall by statute fix the extent to which foreign holders of copyright shall be here privileged it has been deemed inadvisable to negotiate such conventions. For this reason the United States were not represented at the recent conference at Bern. I recommend that the scope of the neutrality laws of the United States be so enlarged as to cover all patent acts of hostility committed in our territory and aimed against the peace of a friendly nation. Existing statutes prohibit the fitting of an armed expedition and restrict the shipment of explosives though the enactments in the latter respect were not framed with regard to international obligations but simply for the protection of passenger travel. All these statutes were intended to meet special emergencies that had already arisen. Other emergencies have arisen since and modern ingenuity supplies means for the organization of hostilities without open resort to armed vessels or to filibustering parties. I see no reason why overt preparations in this country for the commission of criminal acts such as are here under consideration should not be alike punishable whether such acts are intended to be committed in our own country or in a foreign country with which we are at peace. The prompt and thorough treatment of this question is one which intimately concerns the national honor. Our existing naturalization laws also need revision. Those sections relating to persons residing within the limits of the United States in 1795 and 1798 have now only a historical interest. Section 2172 recognizing the citizenship of the children of naturalized parents is ambiguous in its terms and partly obsolete. There are special provisions of law favoring the naturalization of those who serve in the army or in merchant vessels while no similar privileges are granted those who serve in the navy or the marine corps. A uniform rule of naturalization such as the constitution contemplates should among other things clearly define the status of persons born within the United States subject to a foreign power. Section 1992 and of minor children of fathers who have declared their intention to become citizens but have failed to perfect their naturalization. It might be wise to provide for a central bureau of registry wherein should be filed authenticated transcripts of every record of naturalization in the several federal and state courts and to make provision also for the vacation or cancellation of such record in cases where fraud had been practiced upon the court by the applicant himself or where he had renounced or forfeited his acquired citizenship. A just and uniform law in this respect would strengthen the hands of the government in protecting its citizens abroad and would pave the way for the conclusion of treaties of naturalization with foreign countries. The legislation of the last session effected in the diplomatic and consular service certain changes and reductions which have been productive of embarrassment. The population and commercial activity of our country are steadily on the increase and are giving rise to new, varying and often delicate relationships with other countries. Our foreign establishment now embraces nearly double the area of operations that it occupied twenty years ago. A confinement of such a service within the limits of expenditure then established is not, it seems to me, in accordance with true economy. A community of sixty million people should be adequately represented in its intercourse with foreign nations. A project for the reorganization of the consular service and for recasting the scheme of extraterritorial jurisdiction is now before you. If the limits of a short session will not allow of its full consideration I trust that you will not fail to make suitable provision for the present needs of the service. It has been customary to define in the appropriation acts the rank of each diplomatic office to which a salary is attached. I suggest that this course be abandoned and that it be left to the president with the advice and consent of the senate to fix from time to time the diplomatic grade of the representatives of this government abroad as may seem advisable. Provision being definitely made however as for now for the amount of salary attached to the respective stations. The condition of our finances and the operations of the various branches of the public service which are connected with the treasury department are very fully discussed in the report of the secretary. It appears that the ordinary revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1884 were from customs 195,067,489.76 from internal revenue 121,586,072.51 from all other sources 31,866,307.65 total ordinary revenues 348,519,869.92 the public expenditures during the same period were for civil expenses 22,312,907.71 for foreign intercourse $2,260,766.37 for Indians $6,475,999.29 for pensions $55,429,228.06 for the military establishment including river and harbor improvements and arsenals $39,429,603.36 for the naval establishment including vessels, machinery and improvements at Navy Yards $17,292,601.44 for miscellaneous expenditures including public buildings lighthouses and collecting the revenue $43,939,710 for expenditures on account of the District of Columbia $3,407,049.62 for interest on the public debt $54,578,378.48 for the sinking fund $46,790,229.50 total ordinary expenditures $290,926,473.83 and leaving a surplus of $57,603,396.09 As compared with the preceding fiscal year there was a net decrease of over $21,000,000 in the amount of expenditures the aggregate receipts were less than those of the year previous by about $54,000,000 the falling off in revenue from customs made up nearly $20,000,000 of this deficiency and about $23,000,000 of the remainder was due to the diminished receipts from internal taxation the secretary estimates the total receipts for the fiscal year which will end June 30th, 1885 at $330,000,000 and the total expenditures at $290,620,201.16 in which some are included the interest on the debt and the amount payable to the sinking fund this would leave a surplus for the entire year of about $39,000,000 the value of exports from the United States to foreign countries during the year ending June 30th, 1884 was as follows domestic merchandise $724,964,852 foreign merchandise $15,548,757 total merchandise $740,513,609 specie $67,133,383 total exports of merchandise and specie $807,646,992 the cotton and cotton manufacturers included in this statement were valued at $208,900,415 the breadstuffs at $162,544,715 the provisions at $114,416,547 and the mineral oils at $47,103,248 during the same period the imports were as follows merchandise $667,697,693 gold and silver $37,426,262 totaling $705,123,900 $955 more than 63% of the entire value of imported merchandise consisted of the following articles sugar and molasses $103,884,274 wool and woolen manufacturers $53,842,292 silk and its manufacturers $49,949,128 coffee, $49,686,705 iron and steel and manufacturers thereof $41,464,599 chemicals, $38,464,992 flax, hemp, jute and like substances and manufacturers thereof $33,463,398 cotton and manufacturers of cotton $30,454,476 hides and skins other than fur skins $22,350,906 I concur with the secretary of the treasury in recommending the immediate suspension of the coinage of silver dollars and of the issuance of silver certificates this is a matter to which in former communications I have more than once invoked the attention of the national legislature it appears that annually for the past six years there have been coins in compliance with the requirements of the act of February 28, 1878 more than 27 million silver dollars the number now outstanding is reported by the secretary to be nearly 185 million whereof but little more than 40 million or less than 22% are in actual circulation the mere existence of this fact seems to me to furnish of itself a cogent argument for the repeal of the statute which has made such fact possible but there are other and graver considerations that tend in the same direction the secretary avows his conviction that unless this coinage and the issuance of silver certificates be suspended silver is likely at no distant day to become our sole metallic standard the commercial disturbance and the impairment of national credit that would be thus occasioned can scarcely be overestimated I hope that the secretary's suggestions respecting the withdrawal from circulation of the one dollar and two dollar notes will receive your approval it is likely that a considerable portion of the silver now encumbering the vaults of the treasury might thus find its way into the currency while trade dollars have seized for the present at least to be an element of active disturbance in our currency system some provision should be made for their surrender to the government in view of the circumstances under which they were coined and of the fact that they have never had a legal tender quality or should be offered for them only a slight advance over their bullion value the secretary in the course of his report considers the propriety of beautifying the designs of our subsidiary silver coins and of so increasing their weight that they may bear their due ratio of value to the standard dollar his conclusions in this regard are cordially approved in my annual message of 1882 I recommended the abolition of all excise taxes except those relating to distilled spirits this recommendation is now renewed in case these taxes shall be abolished the revenues that will still remain to the government will in my opinion not only suffice to meet its reasonable expenditures but will afford a surplus large enough to permit such tariff reduction as may seem to be advisable when the results of recent revenue laws and commercial treaties shall have shown in what quarters those reductions can be most judiciously effected one of the gravest of the problems which appeal to the wisdom of congress for solution is the ascertainment of the most effective means for increasing our foreign trade and thus relieving the depression under which our industries are now languishing the secretary of the treasury advises that the duty of investigating this subject be entrusted in the first instance to a competent commission while fully recognizing the considerations that may be urged against this course I am nevertheless of the opinion that upon the whole no other would be likely to effect speedier or better results the portion of the secretary's report which concerns the condition of our shipping interests cannot fail to command your attention he emphatically recommends that as an incentive to the investment of American capital in American steamships the government shall buy liberal payments for mail transportation or otherwise lend its active assistance to individual enterprise and declares his belief that unless the course be pursued our foreign-carrying trade must remain as it is today almost exclusively in the hands of foreigners End of Part 1 End of Section 9 Section 10 of State of the Union Addresses by United States Presidents 1877-1884 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org State of the Union Address Chester A. Author December 1, 1884, Part 2 One phase of this subject is now especially prominent in view of the repeal by the Act of June 26, 1884 of all statutory provisions arbitrarily compelling American vessels to carry the mails to and from the United States As it is necessary to make provision to compensate the owners of such vessels for performing that service after April 1885 it is hoped that the whole subject will receive early consideration that will lead to the enactment of such measures with a revival of our merchant marine as the wisdom of Congress may devise The 3% bonds of the government to the amount of more than $100 million have since my last annual message been redeemed by the Treasury The bonds of that issue still outstanding amount to little over $200 million About one fourth of which will be retired through the operations of the sinking fund during the coming year As these bonds still constitute the chief basis for the circulation of the national banks the question how to avert the contraction of the currency caused by their retirement is one of constantly increasing importance It seems to be generally conceded that the law governing this matter exacts from the banks excessive security and that upon their present bond deposits a larger circulation than is now allowed may be granted with safety I hope that the bill which passed the Senate at the last session permitting the issue of notes equal to the face value of the deposited bonds will commend itself to the approval of the House of Representatives In the expenses of the War Department the Secretary reports a decrease of more than $9 million of this reduction $5,600,000 was effected in the expenditures for rivers and harbors and $2,700,000 in expenditures for the quartermasters department Outside of that department the annual expenses of all the Army Bureau's proper except possibly the Ordinance Bureau are substantially fixed charges which cannot be materially diminished without a change in the numerical strength of the Army The expenditures in the quartermasters department can readily be subjected to administrative discretion and it is reported by the Secretary of War that as a result of exercising such discretion in reducing the number of draft and pack animals in the Army the annual cost of supplying and caring for such animals is now $1,108,085 and 90 cents less than it was in 1881 The reports of military commanders show that the last year has been notable for its entire freedom from Indian outbreaks in defiance of the President's proclamation of July 1, 1884 Certain intruders sought to make settlements in the Indian Territory They were promptly removed by aid attachment of troops During the past session of Congress a bill to provide a suitable fireproof building for the Army Medical Museum and the Library of the Surgeon General's Office received the approval of Senate A similar bill reported favorably to the House of Representatives by one of its committees is still pending before that body It is hoped that during the coming session the measure may become a law and that thereafter immediate steps may be taken to secure a place of safe deposit for these valuable collections now in a state of insecurity The funds with which the works for the improvement of rivers and harbors were prosecuted during the past year were derived from the appropriations of the Act of August 2, 1882 Together with such few balances as were on hand from previous appropriations The balance in the Treasury subject to requisition July 1, 1883 was $10 million $21,649.55 The amount appropriated during the fiscal year 1884 was $1 million $319,634.62 and the amount drawn from the Treasury during the fiscal year was $8 million $228,703.54 leaving a balance of $3 million $112,580.63 in the Treasury subject to requisition July 1, 1884 The Secretary of War submits the report of the Chief of Engineers as to the practicability of protecting our important cities on the seaboard by fortifications and other defenses able to repel modern methods of attack The time has now come when such defenses can be prepared with confidence that they will not prove abortive and when the possible result of delay in making such preparation is seriously considered delay seems inexcusable for the most important cities those whose destruction or capture would be a national humiliation adequate defenses inclusive of guns may be made by the gradual expenditure of $60 million a sum much less than a victorious enemy could levy as a contribution an appropriation of about one tenth of that amount is asked to begin the work and I concur with the Secretary of War in urging that it be granted the War Department is proceeding with the conversion of 10-inch smoothbore guns into 8-inch rifles by lining the former with tubes of forged steel or of coil wrought iron 50 guns will be thus converted within the year this however does not obviate the necessity of providing means for the construction of guns of the highest power both for the purposes of coast defense and for the armament of war vessels the report of the gun found re-bored appointed April 2, 1883 in pursuance of the act of March 3, 1883 was transmitted to Congress in a special message of February 18, 1884 in my message of March 26, 1884 I called attention to the recommendation of the board that the government should encourage the production at private steel works of the required material for heavy cannon and that two government factories one for the army and one for the navy should be established for the fabrication of guns from such material no action having been taken the board was quickly reconvened to determine more fully the plans and estimates necessary for carrying out its recommendation it has received information which indicates that there are responsible steel manufacturers in this country who although not provided at present with the necessary plan are willing to construct the same and to make bids for contracts with the government for the supply of the material for the heaviest guns adapted to modern warfare if they guaranteed order of sufficient magnitude accompanied by a positive appropriation extending over a series of years shall be made by Congress all doubts as to the feasibility of the plan being thus removed I renew my recommendation that such action be taken by Congress as will enable the government to construct its own ordinance upon its own territory and so to provide the armaments demanded by considerations of national safety and honor the report of the secretary of the navy exhibits the progress which has been made on the new steel cruisers authorized by the acts of August 5 1882 and March 3rd 1883 of the four vessels under contract one the Chicago of 4500 tons is more than half finished the Atlanta of 3000 tons has been successfully launched and her machinery is now fitting the Boston also of 3000 tons is ready for launching and the dolphin a dispatch steamer of 1500 tons is ready for delivery certain adverse criticisms upon the designs of these cruisers are discussed by the secretary who insists that the correctness of the conclusions reached by the advisory board and by the department has been demonstrated by recent developments in shipbuilding abroad the machinery of the double pirated monitors Puritan terror and amphitrite contracted for under the act of March 3 1883 is in process of construction no work has been done during the past year on their armor for lack of the necessary appropriations a fourth monitor still remains unfinished at the Navy Art in California it is recommended that early steps be taken to complete these vessels and to provide also an armament for Lian Tonomo the recommendations of the naval advisory board approved by the department comprise the construction of one steel cruiser of 4500 tons one cruiser of 3000 tons two heavily armed gunboats one light cruising gunboat one dispatch vessel armed with hotchkiss cannon one armored ram and three torpedo boats designs all of which are calculated to meet the existing wants of the service are now well advanced and the construction of the vessels can be undertaken as soon as you shall grant the necessary authority the act of Congress approved August 7 1882 authorized the removal to the United States of the bodies of Lieutenant Commander George W. DeLonge and his companions of the Jeanette expedition this removal has been successfully accomplished by Lieutenant's Harbor and Schutze the remains were taken from their grave in the Lena Delta in March 1883 and were retained at Yakutsk until the following winter the season being too far advanced to admit of their immediate transportation arrived at New York February 20th 1884 where they were received with suitable honors in pursuance of the joint resolution of Congress approved February 13 1884 a naval expedition was fitted out for the relief of Lieutenant A. W. Greeley United States Army and of the party who had been engaged under his command in scientific observations at Lady Franklin Bay the fleet consisted of the steam-sealer Thetis purchased in England the Bayer purchased at St. John's New Finland and the alert which was generously provided by the British Government preparations for the expedition were promptly made by the Secretary of the Navy in cooperation of the Secretary of War Commander George W. Coffin was placed in command of the alert and Lieutenant William H. Emory in command of the Bayer the Thetis was entrusted to Commander Winfield S. Schlay to whom also was assigned the superintendents of the entire expedition immediately upon its arrival at Upper Navec the fleet began the dangerous navigation of Melville Bay and in spite of every obstacle reached Littleton Island on June 22nd a fortnight earlier than any vessel had before retained that point on the same day it crossed over to Cape Sabine where Lieutenant Greeley and the other survivors of his party were discovered after taking on board the living and the bodies of the dead the relief ships sailed for St. John's where they arrived on July 17 they were appropriately received at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on August 1 and at New York on August 8 one of the bodies was landed at the former place the others were put on shore at Governors Island and with the exception of one which was interred in the National Military were forwarded thence to the destinations indicated by friends the organization and conduct of this relief expedition reflects great credit upon all who contributed to its success in this the last of the stated messages that I shall have the honor to transmit to the Congress of the United States I cannot too strongly urge upon its attention the duty of restoring our Navy as rapidly as possible to the high state of efficiency which formally characterized it as the long piece that has lulled us into a sense of fancied security may at any time be disturbed it is plain that the policy of strengthening this arm of the service is dictated by considerations of wise economy of just regard for our future tranquility and of true appreciation of the dignity and honor of the Republic the report of the Post Master General acquaints you with the present condition and needs of the Postal Service it discloses the gratifying fact that the loss of revenue from the rate of letter postage recommended in my message of December 4, 1882 and effected by the act of March 3 1883 has been much less than was generally anticipated my recommendation of this reduction was based upon the belief that the actual falling off in receipts from letter postages for the year immediately succeeding the change of rate would be three million dollars it has proved to be only two million two hundred and seventy five thousand dollars this is a trustworthy indication that the revenue will soon be restored to its former volume by the natural increase of sealed correspondence I confidently repeat therefore the recommendation of my last annual message that the single rate postage upon drop letters be reduced to one cent wherever the payment of two cents is now required by law the double rate is only exacted at offices where the carrier system is in operation and it appears that at those offices the increase in the tax upon local letters defrains the cost not only of its own collection and delivery but of the collection and delivery of all other mail that matter this is an inequality that ought to no longer exist I approve the recommendation of the postmaster general that the unit of weight in the rating of first class matter should be one ounce instead of one half ounce as it now is in view of the statistics furnished by the department it may well be doubted whether in any loss of revenue that it would greatly promote the convenience of the public is beyond dispute the free delivery system has been lately applied to five cities and the total number of offices in which it is now in operation is one hundred and fifty nine experience shows that its adoption under proper conditions is equally in accommodation to the public and an advantage to the postal service it is more than self-sustaining and for the reasons urged by the postmaster general may properly be extended in the opinion of that officer it is important to provide means whereby exceptional dispatch in dealing with letters in free delivery offices may be secured by payment of extraordinary postage this scheme might be made effective by employment of a special stamp whose cost should be commensurate with the expense of the extra service in some of the large cities private express companies have undertaken to outstrip the government mail carriers by affording for the prompt transmission of letters better facilities than have hitherto been at the command of the post office it has always been the policy of the government to discourage such enterprises and in no better mode can that policy be maintained than in supplying the public with the most efficient mail service that with due regard to its own best interests can be furnished for its accommodation the attorney general renews the recommendation contained in his report of last year touching the fees of witnesses and jurors he favors radical changes in the fee bill the adoption of a system by which attorneys and marshals of the United States shall be compensated solely by salaries and the erection by the government of a penitentiary for the confinement of offenders against its laws over the varied governmental concerns in charge of the interior department the report of its secretary presents an interesting summary among the topics deserving particular attention I refer you to his observations respecting our Indian affairs the preemption and timber culture acts the failure of railroad companies to take title to lands granted by the government and the operations of the pension office the patent office the census bureau and the Bureau of Education allusion has been made already to the circumstances that both as between the different Indian tribes and as between the Indians and the whites the past year has been one of unbroken peace in this circumstance the president is glad to find justifications for the policy and the government in its dealing with the Indian question and confirmation of the views which were fully expressed in his first communication to the 47th Congress the secretary urges anew the enactment of a statute for the punishment of crimes committed on the Indian reservations and recommends the passage of a bill now pending in the House of Representatives for the purchase of a tract of wire miles from the Sue reservation both these measures are worthy of approval I concur with him also in advising the repeal of the preemption law the enactment of statutes resolving the present legal complications touching lapsed grants to railroad companies and the funding of the debt of the several pacific railroads under such guarantee this shall effectively secure the state the report of the Utah commission will be read with interest it discloses the results of recent legislation looking to the prevention and punishment of polygamy in that territory I still believe that if that abominable practice can be suppressed by law it can only be by the most radical legislation consistent with the restraints of the constitution I again recommend therefore that Congress assume absolute political control of the territory of Utah and provide for the appointment of commissioners with such governmental powers as in its judgment may justly and wisely be put into their hands in the course of this communication reference has more than once been made to the policy of this government as regards the intention of our foreign trade it seems proper to declare the general principles that should in my opinion underlie our national efforts in this direction the main conditions of the problem may be thus stated we are a people apt in mechanical pursuits and fertile in invention we cover a vast extent of territory rich in agricultural products and in nearly all the raw materials necessary for successful manufacture we have a system of productive establishments more than sufficient to supply our own demands the wages of labor are nowhere else so great the scale of living of our artisan classes is such as tends to secure their personal comfort and the development of those higher moral and intellectual qualities that go to the making of good citizens our system of tax and tariff legislation is yielding a revenue which is in excess of the present needs of the government these are the elements from which it is sought to devise a scheme by which without unfavorably changing the condition of the working man our merchant marine shall be raised from its enfeebled condition and new markets provided for the sale beyond our borders of the manifold fruits of our industrial enterprises the problem is complex and can be solved by no single measure of innovation or reform the countries of the American continent and the adjacent islands are for the United States the natural marts of supply and demand it is from them that we should obtain what we do not produce or do not produce in sufficiency and it is to them that the surplus productions of our fields our mills and our workshops should flow under conditions that will equalize or favor them in comparison with foreign competition four paths of policy seem to point to this end first a series of reciprocal commercial treaties with the countries of America which shall foster between us and them an unhampered movement of trade the conditions of these treaties should be the free admission of such merchandise as this country does not produce even for the admission free or under a favored scheme of duties of our own products the benefit of such exchange to apply only to goods carried under the flag of the parties to the contract the removal on both sides from the vessels so privileged of all tonnage dues and national imposts so that those vessels may ply unhindered between our ports and those of the other contracting parties though without infringing on the reserved home-coasting trade the removal of reduction of burdens on the exported products of those countries coming within the benefits of those treaties and the avoidance of the technical restrictions and penalties by which our intercourse with those countries is at present hampered secondly the establishment of the consular service of the United States on a salaried footing thus permitting the relinquishment of consular fees not only as respects vessels under the national flag but also as respects vessels of the treaty nations carrying goods entitled to the benefits of the treaties thirdly the enactment of measures to favor the construction and maintenance of a steam-carrying marine under the flag of the United States fourthly the establishment of a uniform currency basis for the countries of America so that the coined products of our minds may circulate on equal terms throughout the whole system of commonwealths this would require a monetary union of America whereby the output of the bullion producing countries and the circulation of those which yield neither gold nor silver could be adjusted in conformity with the population, wealth and commercial needs of each as many of the countries furnish no bullion to the common stock the surplus production of our minds and mince might thus be utilized and a step taken toward the general re-monetization of silver to the accomplishment of these ends so far as they can be attained by separate treaties the negotiations already concluded and now in progress have been directed and the favor which this enlarged policy has thus far received warrants the belief that its operations will air long embrace all or nearly all the countries of this hemisphere it is by no means desirable however that the policy under consideration should be applied to these countries alone the healthful enlargement of our trade with Europe, Asia and Africa should be sought by reducing tariff burdens on such of their wares as neither we nor the other American states are fitted to produce and thus enabling ourselves to obtain in return a better market for our supplies of food materials and of the manufacturers in which we excel it seems to me that many of the embarrassing elements in the great national conflict between protection and free trade may thus be turned to good account that the revenue may be reduced so as no longer to over-tax the people that protective duties may be retained without becoming burdensome that our shipping interests may be judiciously encouraged the currency fixed on firm bases and above all such an unity of interests established among the states of the American system as will be of great and ever increasing advantage to them all all treaties in the line of this policy which have been negotiated or are in process of negotiation contain a decision deemed to be requisite under the clause of the constitution limiting to the house of representatives the authority to originate bills for raising revenue on the 29th of February last I transmitted to the Congress the first annual report of the civil service commission together with communications from the heads of the several executive departments of the government law under which the commission had been acting the good results therein foreshadowed have been more than realized the system has fully answered the expectations of its friends in securing competent and faithful public servants and in protecting the appointing officers of the government from the pressure of personal importunity and from the labor of examining the claims and pretensions of the candidates for public employment the law has had the unqualified support of the president and of the heads of the several departments and the members of the commission have performed their duties with zeal and fidelity their report will shortly be submitted and will be accompanied by such recommendations for enlarging the scope of the existing statute as shall commend themselves to the commissioners and the commissioners charged with its administration in view of the general and persistent demand throughout the commercial community for a national bankrupt law I hope that the differences of sentiment which have hitherto prevented its enactment may not outlast the present session the pestilence which for the past two years has been raging in the countries of the east with the interference in European ports with which we are in constant communication the then secretary of the treasury in pursuance of a proclamation of the president issued certain regulations restricting and for a time prohibiting the importation of rags and the admission of baggage of immigrants and of travelers arriving from infected quarters lest this course may have been without strict warrant of law I approve the recommendation of the present secretary that the congress take action in the premises and I also recommend the immediate adoption of such measures as will be likely to ward off the dreaded epidemic and to mitigate its severity in case it shall unhappily extend to our shores the annual report of the commissioners of the district of columbia reviews the operation of the several departments of its municipal government I ask your careful consideration of its suggestions in respect to legislation especially commending such as relate to a revision of the civil and criminal code the performance of labor by persons sentenced to imprisonment in the jail and occupation of wharves along the riverfront and the erection of a suitable building for district offices I recommend that in recognition of the eminent services of Ulysses S. Grant the late general of the armies of the United States and twice president of this nation the congress confer upon him a suitable pension certain of the measures that seem to me necessary and expedient I have now in obedience to the constitution recommended for your adoption as respects others of no less importance I shall content myself with renewing the recommendations already made to the congress without restating the grounds upon which such recommendations were based the preservation of forests on the public domain the granting of government aid for popular education the amendment of the federal constitution so as to make effective the disapproval by the president of particular items and appropriation bills the enactment of statutes in regards to the filling of vacancies in the presidential office and the determining of vexed questions respecting presidential inability are measures which may justly receive your serious consideration as the time draws nigh when I am to retire from the public service I cannot refrain from expressing to the members of the national legislature with whom I have been brought into their personal and official intercourse my sincere appreciation of their unfailing courtesy and of their harmonious cooperation with the executive in so many measures calculated to promote the best interests of the nation and to my fellow citizens generally I acknowledge a deep sense of obligation for the support which they have accorded me in my administration of the executive department of this government Chester A. author December 1 1884 end of section 10 end of State of the Union addresses by United States Presidents 1877 to 1884