conviction is rapidly gaining ground in the American mind that, with the increased facilities for intercommunication between all portions of the earth, the principles of free government, as embraced in our Constitution, if faithfully maintained and carried out, would prove of sufficient strength and breadth to comprehend within their sphere and influence the civilized nations of the world.

The attention of the Senate and of Congress is again respectfully invited to the treaty for the establishment of commercial reciprocity with the Hawaiian kingdom, entered into last year, and already ratified by that government. The attitude of the United States towards these islands is not very different from that in which they stand towards the West Indies. It is known and felt by the Hawaiian government and people that their government and institutions are feeble and precarious; that the United States, being so near a neighbor, would be unwilling to see the islands pass under foreign control. Their prosperity is continually disturbed by expectations and alarms of unfriendly political proceedings, as well from the United States as from other foreign powers. A reciprocity treaty, while it could not materially diminish the revenues of the United States, would be a guarantee of the good will and forbearance of all nations until the people of the islands shall of themselves, at no distant day, voluntarily apply for admission into the Union.

The Emperor of Russia has acceded to the treaty negotiated here in January last for the security of trade-marks in the interest of manufacturers and commerce. I have invited his attention to the importance of establishing, now while it seems easy and practicable, a fair and equal regulation of the vast fisheries belonging to the two nations in the waters of the North Pacific ocean.

The two treaties between the United States and Italy for the regulation of consular powers and the extradition of criminals, negotiated and ratified here during the last session of Congress, have been accepted and confirmed by the Italian government. A liberal consular convention which has been negotiated with Belgium will be submitted to the Senate. The very important treaties which were negotiated between the United States and North Germany and Bavaria, for the regulation of the rights of naturalized citizens, have been duly ratified and exchanged, and similar treaties have been entered into with the kingdoms of Belgium and Wurtemberg, and with the grand duchies of Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt. I hope soon to be able to submit equally satisfactory conventions of the same character now in the course of negotiation with the respective governments of Spain, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire.

Examination of claims against the United States by the Hudson's Bay Company and the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, on account of certain possessory rights in the State of Oregon and Territory of Washington, alleged by those companies in virtue of provisions of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain of June 15, 1846, has been diligently prosecuted, under the direction of the joint international commission to which they were submitted for adjudication by treaty between the two goverruments of July 1, 1863, and will, it is expected, be concluded at an early day.

No practical regulation concerning colonial trade and the fisheries can be accomplished by treaty between the United States and Great Britain until Congress shall have expressed their judgment concerning the principles involved. Three other questions, however, between the United States and Great Britain remain open for adjustment. These are the mutual rights of naturalized citizens, the boundary question involving the title to the island of San Juan, on the Pacific coast, and mutual

claims arising since the year 1853 of the citizens and subjects of the two countries for injuries and depredations committed under the authority of their respective governments. Negotiations upon these subjects are pending, and I am not without hope of being able to lay before the Senate, for its consideration during the present session, protocols calculated to bring to an end these justly-exciting and long-existing controversies. We are not advised of the action of the Chinese government upon the liberal and auspicious treaty which was recently celebrated with its plenipotentiaries at this capital.

Japan remains a theatre of civil war, marked by religious incidents and political severities peculiar to that long-isolated empire. The Executive has hitherto maintained strict neutrality among the belligerents, and acknowledges with pleasure that it has been frankly and fully sustained in that course by the enlightened concurrence and co-operation of the other treaty powers, namely, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, North Germany, and Italy.

Spain having recently undergone a revolution marked by extraordi nary unanimity and preservation of order, the provisional government established at Madrid has been recognized, and the friendly intercourse which has so long happily existed between the two countries remains unchanged.

I renew the recommendation contained in my communication to Congress dated the 18th July last-a copy of which accompanies this message that the judgment of the people should be taken on the propriety of so amending the federal Constitution that it shall provide

1st. For an election of President and Vice-President by a direct vote of the people, instead of through the agency of electors, and making them ineligible for re-election to a second term.

2d. For a distinct designation of the person who shall discharge the duties of President, in the event of a vacancy in that office by the death, resignation, or removal of both the President and Vice-President.

3d. For the election of senators of the United States directly by the people of the several States, instead of by the legislatures; and

4th. For the limitation to a period of years of the terms of federal judges.

Profoundly impressed with the propriety of making these important modifications in the Constitution, I respectfully submit them for the early and mature consideration of Congress. We should, as far as possible, remove all pretext for violations of the organic law, by remedying such imperfections as time and experience may develop, ever remembering that "the Constitution which at any time exists, until changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all."

In the performance of a duty imposed upon me by the Constitution, I have thus communicated to Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommended for their consideration such measures as have seemed to me necessary and expedient. If carried into effect, they will hasten the accomplishment of the great and beneficent purposes for which the Constitution was ordained, and which it comprehensively states were "to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity." In Congress are vested all legislative powers, and upon them devolves the responsibility as well for framing unwise and excessive laws, as for neglecting to devise and adopt measures absolutely demanded by the wants of the country. Let us earnestly hope that before the expiration of our

respective terms of service, now rapidly drawing to a close, an all-wise Providence will so guide our counsels as to strengthen and preserve the federal Union, inspire reverence for the Constitution, restore prosperity and happiness to our whole people, and promote "on earth peace, good will toward men.”

WASHINGTON, December 9, 1868.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne moved that the same be printed, together with the accompanying documents.

Mr. Washburne moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the motion to print was agreed to.

Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne then moved that the said message be laid on the table.

The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are

Mr. Grenville M. Dodge
J. S. Golladay
Joseph J. Gravely
John A. Griswold
Asa P. Grover
Charles Haight
George A. Halsey
Charles M. Hamilton
Abner C. Harding
Isaac R. Hawkins

William S. Holman

Mr. Benjamin F. Hopkins Mr. John Morrissey

Asahel W. Hubbard
Richard D. Hubbard
James M. Humphrey
James A. Johnson
J. Proctor Knott
John A. Logan
Rufus Mallory
Samuel S. Marshall
James M. Marvin
Hiram McCullough

Carman A. Newcomb

David A. Nunn
William A. Pile
Luke P. Poland
John V. L. Pruyn
Green B. Raum
Logan H. Roots
Philetus Sawyer
Lewis Selye

Samuel Shellabarger

So the motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. Worthington C. Smith
Thomas E. Stewart
Frederick Stone

J. H. Sypher

Caleb N. Taylor
Robert T. Van Horn
Michael Vidal

Hamilton Ward

Thomas Williams

John T. Wilson.

Mr. Washburne moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Robinson, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to inform this house what correspondence, if any, in addition to the despatch of the Secretary of State to Mr. Moran, our acting chargé d'affaires in London, furnished by him June 22, 1868, in answer to the resolution of this house of June 15, 1868, has taken place; and to furnish to this house copies of any such correspondence for the immediate action of Congress.

On motion of Mr. Paine, by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 658) to relieve from disabilities Franklin J. Moses, a citizen of South Carolina, was taken from the Speaker's table, read three times, and passed, two-thirds voting in favor thereof.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

The House then resumed, as the regular order of business, the consideration of the bill of the House (H. R. 1485) providing for an election. in Virginia, the pending question being on the amendment submitted thereto by Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne.

After debate,

Mr. Bingham moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the said amendment was agreed to, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time;

When,

On motion of Mr. Washburne, the vote last taken was reconsidered. The question again recurring on the engrossment of the bill,

Mr. Washburne submitted a further amendment to the same; which was agreed to.

The bill was then ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Bingham moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, submitting a communication from the Commissioner of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, asking the appointment of a committee to investigate the administration of that bureau; which was referred to the Committee on Freedmen's Affairs.

On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, he was excused from further service as chairman of the Committee on Commerce.

The following additional members appeared during the sitting of the House to day, viz:

From the State of Iowa.-Grenville M. Dodge.

From the State of Vermont.-Frederick E. Woodbridge.

From the State of Pennsylvania.-J. Lawrence Getz.

From the State of Michigan.-Rowland E. Trowbridge.
From the State of Illinois.-Henry P. H. Bromwell.
From the State of Alabama.--Charles W. Pierce.

On motion of Mr. Allison, at 3 o'clock and 35 minutes p. m., the House adjourned.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1868.

The following petitions and other papers were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the rules:

By Mr. O'Neill: The petition and affidavit of Edward W. White, praying for a pension.

By Mr. Gravely: The petition of Rebecca Barton, praying for a pension;

Also, the petition of Annie Buckland, praying for a pension.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Whittemore: The petition of B. F. Whittemore, praying for the establishment of a post route in North Carolina; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

By Mr. Tift: The petition of William Duncan, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. George V. Lawrence: The petition of Mrs. Catharine Bourshett, praying for extension of patent; which was referred to the Committee on Patents.

By the Speaker: The petition of C. G. Thomas, of the State of Virginia, praying for the removal of disabilities; which was referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.

By Mr. —: The petition of Jane Dulaney, widow of Colonel William Dulaney, praying for a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Taylor: The petition of James Smith and one hundred and thirty letter carriers of Philadelphia, praying for an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

By Mr. Taffe: The petition of Julius E. Coffey and Adolph Cune, praying for relief;

By Mr. Morrell: The claim of F. A. Gibbons;

Ordered, That the said petition and claim be referred to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Moorhead: The petition of the letter carriers of the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, post office, praying for an increase of their compensation; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Beaman, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1486) to enable the Holly, Wayne and Monroe Railway Company, in the State of Michigan, to have the subscriptions to its capital stock stamped, and the stamps already affixed and to be affixed to be duly cancelled; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the committees for reports,