The matter is presented for such action as the Congress may deem proper.

I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 24th of September last, a report of the Secretary of State and accompanying correspondence, in relation to the killing of General J. Martine…

The agreement is submitted for the consideration of Congress, as required by law.

The closest scrutiny of Congress is invited to all the methods of administration and to every item of expenditure.

The International Marine Conference, which sat at Washington last winter, reached a very gratifying result.

The vast and increasing business of the Government has been transacted by the several Departments during the year with faithfulness, energy, and success.

I speak of these matters with freedom because the credit of this good work is not mine, but is shared by the heads of the several Departments with the great body of faithful officers and employees who serve under them.

The revenues, amounting to above $450,000,000, have been collected and disbursed without revealing, so far as I can ascertain, a single case of defalcation or embezzlement.

It is confidently believed that the good relations of the two countries will be preserved and that the future will witness an increased intimacy of intercourse and an expansion of their mutual commerce.

The peace of Central America has again been disturbed through a revolutionary change in Salvador.

The killing of General Barrundia on board the Pacific mail steamer Acapulco demanded careful inquiry.

The Conference of Brussels, to devise means for suppressing the slave trade in Africa, afforded an opportunity for a new expression of the interest the American people feel in that great work.

In the tariff act a wrong was done to the Kingdom of Hawaii.

The Nicaragua Canal project, under the control of our citizens, is making most encouraging progress.

It being evident that the minister, Mr. Mizner, had exceeded the bounds of his authority in intervening, I was constrained to disavow Mr. Mizner's act and recall him from his post.

That every master or person in charge of a United States vessel who fails, without reasonable cause, to render such assistance or give such information as aforesaid shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

If he fails so to do, and no reasonable cause for such failure is shown, the collision shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be deemed to have been caused by his wrongful act, neglect, or default.

In every case of collision between two vessels it shall be the duty of the master or person in charge of each vessel, if and so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own vessel, crew, and passengers (if any), to stay by the…