The loyal States should not be paid the large sums of money promised them by this bill because they were loyal and other States were not.

I herewith transmit a report from the Secretary of State, in further response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 22d (21st) of December last, touching affairs in Madagascar.

A government is not only kind, but performs its highest duty when it restores to the citizen taxes unlawfully collected.

Any other theory cheapens and in a measure discredits a process which more than any other is a manifestation of sovereign authority.

I believe that this appropriation of the public funds is not within the constitutional power of the Congress.

The existence of a surplus in the Treasury is no answer to these objections.

I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, concerning the expenses of the representation of the United States at the Brussels Exhibition of 1888.

In coming to this decision the expedition desired by Germany in the work of the conference would in my judgment be promoted.

I herewith transmit, for the consideration of the Senate with a view to its ratification, a convention signed at Washington.

Although the present convention fully explains the reasons for its negotiation, it may not be improper here to add that Article VII of the convention of July 29, 1882, stipulated that the said convention should continue in force until the…

As there was no further provision extending the said treaty of July 29, 1882, beyond that date, it expired by limitation.

I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 21st of December last, a report of the Secretary of State and accompanying documents, touching affairs in Madagascar.

Another difficulty in the case is found in the fact that when the soldier was injured he was clearly not engaged in any military duty nor was his injury in any degree attributable to military service.

This soldier drew a pension from January, 1882, to January 16, 1886, when he died.

Nothing appears which satisfactorily connects this injury, which was received in November, 1864, with death from consumption in 1876.

This increased disability appears plainly to be the result of the strain or injury to the knee, and in no way connected with the bite for which he was pensioned.

This, upon all the facts, does not appear to be a proper case for allowing a pension for an injury suffered in the line of military duty.

It can hardly be supposed that the trouble with his ears caused the soldier to fall a victim to pneumonia.