It is entirely certain that the special act now presented to me would give the claimant no new rights or additional benefits.

To the Senate of the United States: In response to the resolution of the Senate of the 21st ultimo, calling for certain correspondence touching the construction of a ship canal through Nicaragua, I transmit herewith a report from the…

I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, in answer to the resolution of the Senate of December 8, 1886, relative to the claims of Antonio Pelletier and A. H. Lazare against the Republic of Hayti.

I transmit herewith, with a view to its ratification, a draft of declaration explanatory of Articles II and IV of the convention for the protection of submarine cables.

I transmit herewith a communication of the 7th ultimo from the Secretary of the Interior.

The matter is presented for the consideration of Congress.

To the House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a letter from the Secretary of State, inclosing statement of customs duties levied by foreign nations upon the produce and manufactures of the United States.

I have ventured, therefore, in view of the demonstrated fitness of this nominee, to again submit this nomination to the Senate for confirmation.

Mr. Matthews has now been in occupancy of the office to which he was nominated for more than four months.

I nominate James C. Matthews, of New York, to be recorder of deeds in the District of Columbia, in the place of Frederick Douglass, resigned.

I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State, in relation to the invitation from Her Britannic Majesty to this Government to participate in an international exhibition which is to be held at Adelaide, South Australia, in 1887.

Nothing can be accomplished, however, in the direction of this much-needed reform unless the subject is approached in a patriotic spirit of devotion to the interests of the entire country.