TOO FOREIGN RELATIONS.

the President, there can be assigned to an American citizen no more
pleasant duty than that of speaking of President Grant; that since his
elevation to the Presidency of the United States his administration has
evidenced one fixed object, viz, the utilization of every national ca-
pacity to the advancement, prosperity, and amelioration of the great —
American masses. In this connection ireferred to the thriving con-
dition of American agriculture, the restoration of American commerce,
the rapid payment of our national debt, and general sufficiency of the
system of finance adopted by the Government of the United States ; the
success of the Government’s policy toward the Indians; and especially
to the impetus given to that palladium of American institutions of gov-
ernment, the public-school system. In alluding to our relations with
other powers, I made mention of the increased respect and preference
throughout the world for American institutions of government. In con-
clusion, I spoke of the great desire evinced by both the people and the
Government of the United States for the prosperous development of
Liberia, and alluded to the fact deduced from the experience of the
United States, that it is impossible to perpetuate democratic institu-
tions of government without the general diffusion among the masses of
at least a common-school education. I also expressed thanks for this
extension of courtesy to the President of the United States. |
I have, &c., NS ce |
7 J. MILTON TURNER. |

wed No. 446. 7
Mr. Turner to Mr. Fish. ;

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,

No. 110.) : Monrovia, February 16, 1874, (Received May 11.)

Sir: I have the honor herein to set forth a summary of the more im-
portant doings of the Liberian legislature at the late session thereof,
just ended. The first business of significance that en gaged attention
was the consideration of certain propositions for mining, extracting ores,
&e. (See inclosure.) re

These propositions were made by English capitalists through their
agent, a Mr. Forbes, civil engineer, who was present in person, and has

since died of African fever. The propositions were accepted without

modification by the senate; but on the ground that monopolies of any
kind, especially those sustained by foreign capital, are imperiling to
the well-being of the independence, if not to the lite of the government.
itself, and therefore should not be introduced during the present pros.
trate condition of the national finance, the house tabled the propositions
indefinitely. During the discussion the house manifested a disposition to
have all foreign enterprise that may hereafter-be introduced into Liberia
enter the country under the auspices and control of citizens of the United
States, in preference to those of any other country. The senate, seeing
the action of the house, tried to sustain its own’ acceptance of the origi-
nal propositions by attempting to consider them in the light of a treaty.
Whereupon the house immediately applied to the supreme court, then
in session, for an opinion, as to whether ‘or not the senate was consti-
tutionally empowered to consider the propositions cf individuals or _
minor corporations in the light of treaties. (See inclosures 2 and 3.)
I have noted that in all such matters the preferences of the people are
evidently American, not English. eS |