Consuls of the United States appointed to reside in the countries named in Section 1 of this Act, so far as the same can be exercised under the provisions of Treaties between the United States and the several countries mentioned in this section, and in accordance with the usages of the said countries in their intercourse with the Franks or other foreign Christian nations.

$30. And be it further enacted, that the Consuls and Commercial Agents of the United States at islands or in countries not inhabited by any civilized people, or recognized by any Treaty with the United States, be, and the same are hereby, authorized to try, hear, and determine all cases in regard to civil rights, whether of person or property, where the real debt and damages do not exceed the sum of 1,000 dollars, exclusive of costs, and upon full hearing of the allegations and evidence of both parties to give judgment according to the laws of the United States, and according to the equity and right of the matter, in the same manner as justices of the peace are now authorized and empowered where the United States have exclusive jurisdiction. And the said Consuls and Commercial Agents respectively are hereby invested with the powers conferred by the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 of this Act for trial of offences or misdemeanors.

§ 31. And be it further enacted, that all marriages in the presence of any Consular Officer in a foreign country, between persons who would be authorized to marry if residing in the district of Columbia, shall have the same force and effect, and shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as if the said marriage had been solemnized within the United States. And in all cases of marriage before any Consular Officer, the said Consular Officer shall give to each of the parties a certificate of such marriage, and shall also send a certificate thereof to the Department of State, there to be kept; which certificate shall specify the names of the parties, their ages, places of birth, and residence.

§ 32. And be it further enacted, that all Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act shall be, and the same are hereby, repealed.

§ 33. And be it further enacted, that this Act shall take effect on the 1st of July, 1860.

Approved, June 22, 1860.

MESSAGE of the President of Costa Rica, on the Opening of the National Congress.-San José, May 1, 1875.

(Translation.)

HONOURABLE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE,

IF the opening of your ordinary sessions has always been very pleasing to me, to-day I greet it with more enthusiasm than ever, because it affords me the opportunity of depositing in the august bosom of the national representation a faithful account of the principal events that have taken place since your adjournment, a succinct report of the most important affairs of the Administration, and, although a rough drawing, a picture of the actual situation of the Republic.

Your reunion, Honourable Representatives, takes place in the midst of tranquillity and peace. Let us appreciate that immense blessing, to the obtaining of which I have directed all of my resources, because peace is the greatest of all good, the first necessity of these countries for the development of their great resources; and, as for myself, peace is one of the promises contained in the programme that I formed when I was called to direct the destinies of the country.

On the altars of peace everything ought to be sacrificed, except independence and the dignity and honour of the Republic; and an equal obligation rests upon me to labour for the preservation of internal order, because the consequences of anarchy and civil war are immense and disastrous.

During the years that I have passed in the high position that I still occupy, the world has been able to contemplate Costa Rica, free from those revolts that are agitating many countries of this continent, victims of grave disturbances, of which the result is uncertain in reference to obtaining a positive advancement, but the bitter fruits are soon certain, showing themselves in the bloodshed, the tears poured out, the reign of distrust, and consequently in the loss of the social well-being, the paralyzation of the progressive movement of the public wealth.

I do not consider myself as deserving any glory for having maintained interior order; I attribute it principally to the morality, to the pacific and generous character of the Costa Rican people, on good terms with the present situation, that allows the freedman and labourer to use profitably their productive forces, under the protection of a system that has placed them in the most favourable position.

If I have any merit for preserving this inappreciable good, it is only in fulfilling a strict duty imposed upon the Executive Power by the Constitution.

When on the 1st May, 1872, I addressed the national represen

tation, I could not but declare to you that formerly the political situation was distressing, from the revolutionary tendencies that were almost openly manifested, by the facility with which changes could be brought about, resulting from weakened institutions, with a contempt for law, for the progress and prestige that ought to surround authority.

It is exactly one year since I had the pain of making known to you that for the first time I was under the necessity of informing you of different attempts undertaken to subvert public order; I could have repressed them with a strong hand, because the proceedings of those who were trying by every means to change the political situation were not hidden from me.

As I have already said, I firmly believe that the first care of the Executive ought to be the preservation of order; but in the presence of a revolution in embryo, it seemed best to me to continue yielding respect to personal guaranties, entertaining on the other hand a full confidence and an entire faith in the resources that nature has placed in my hands, that I could be able to fulfil my high duties.

So it was that, awaiting the development of the seditious plans, fully resolved to act as circumstances demanded, I accepted the invitation that was given me to be present at a feast that is celebrated every year at Desemparado, a village in which was to take place on that occasion a vile attempt against my person. I went alone, and did not permit that there should be given the guards asked for by the Jéfe Politico of that district, who could see at the last hour the infamous plan of the revolutionists. The people having been made acquainted with what was passing, those vicious plans were wrecked before the general indignation; and then I enjoyed the satisfaction with which a great number of unarmed citizens encompassed me, responding nobly to the confidence of the threatened Governor.

You remember that the above was transpiring, Honourable Representatives, before you closed your last sessions. The intrigues of the conspirators continued germinating, and the revolution broke out at last in Punta Arenas and Liberia: by accidental circumstances they obtained possession of the "cuartels" of that port and of that province.

I flew to quiet the disorder, moving only a small column of the army; the turbulent persons took to flight, only affording an opportunity of showing, in the affair, the resources of defence on which legitimate authority may depend, and the good feeling and enthusiasm of a people who knew how to gather round them only those who, delegated by the Government, bear the majestic flag of their country.

Notwithstanding such events, such proofs, it is satisfactory to

observe that respect for the head of authority, formerly so relaxed, has taken deep root, and that a Government that has for a base the clear approval of the majority preserves an existence before which the impotent and dark machinations, and the seditious cries uttered by those who are striving for power, pass away—a foolish enterprise that has been condemned by a national plebiscitum.

I ought not to conceal that I received spontaneous and popular ovations on returning from Punta Arenas and Liberia, having re-established in a very few days the lawful authorities, and without staining with blood the road that I passed. The councils of war fulfilled their duty in decreeing for the chief criminals capital punishment, but I have commuted it. You know, Honourable Representatives, that during my administration no gallows has been erected, nor a drop of blood spilled on the scaffold, and that I profess the principle that human life is inviolable. I wish, to the last, to sustain the innermost conviction of my heart.

The result of the revolution that broke out in Punta Arenas and Liberia is not the first example of that kind that the history of Costa Rica presents. Men of glorious antecedents, not only in this Republic, but in all Central America, because they struggled manfully and acquired reputation in the only war truly national, also with foreign assistance in 1860, in the same places in which, a few months since, those tried to raise their standard, who, without any merit, and committing a great crime, came to disturb the repose and peace; both suffered a reproof that cannot be fruitless.

The lamentable attempt at invasion that, in that epoch, now somewhat distant, rained blood on the shores at Punta Arenas, destroying two men surrounded by immense popularity, as the only good, produced an example for the future, and a reign of peace during nine years; the attempt that was essayed some months since, without anything to justify it, disclosing the weakness of the revolutionists, and the want of popularity they have in the country, it is natural that it will assure peace for a long time—a prophecy that can be based on acquired experience, and on the logical order that events follow.

Costa Rica is not only at peace, but it is carefully cultivating the relations of friendship that bind it with the principal nations of Europe and America.

In reference to the Republics that, during long ages, in union with this, formed a dependency of the crown of Spain and a united nation in the first years of its independent political existence, I ought to inform you that since the Treaty of Triple Alliance that the Governments of Nicaragua, Salvador, and Guatemala celebrated,*

* August 26, 1873. Vol. LXIII. Page 849.

of which you had opportune information, and since the friendly interposition of the Representatives of Great Britain and of the United States, which interposition was authorized by the Governments of those sister countries, no new event has come to disturb the good relations that we preserve with Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.

The old question of boundaries with Nicaragua has produced a kind of stringency in the relations of the Governments of the two Republics; at present the situation is aggravated from a force having been placed on the frontier to cut off the retreat of those who invaded Guanacaste. However, the last communications exchanged between the two Cabinets seem inspired by a conciliatory spirit, and open a way to obtain a peaceful solution of the pending difficulties. The proper office will inform you of what concerns the foreign relations; the other Secretaries of the State will do the same in their respective branches.

The Republic continues advancing in the path of progress which it commenced since the work of the railroad was initiated. You are aware that since last year the Government had to take in its charge this colossal work; not only has it attended to the preservation and improvement of the part already constructed, but it has increased the number of miles in use in the section which comes from the port of Limon toward the interior.

The 48 miles that the locomotives pass over daily are in such a fine condition that during three years we have not had to lament a single one of those unfortunate accidents that are accustomed to happen in other countries. The transit of passengers has increased so much that during the first quarter of this year 43,255 persons have travelled on the trains. These figures go to prove, again, how defective is the census taken in 1864, which gives to the capitals of the four provinces, including two divisions of Cartago, a population as low as 19,939 inhabitants.

The difficulties that arose with the banking houses have prevented the completion of the railroad. The Government, in the beginning of the work, had to expend in its preservation, repairing, developing, and relieving the debts of the same enterprise, the enormous sum of more than 1,500,000 dollars. The claims in Europe are prosecuted with the energy the national interests. demand. In the midst of obstacles, inseparable to so grand an enterprise, it is consoling to consider that with these same difficulties, nations more rich and powerful have had to struggle and succeed in overcoming them by perseverance and abnegation. One of these countries has been the Republic of Chile, which spent 11 years in the construction of its first railroad, situated in a stretch of country shorter and of more favourable geological conditions than that between this capital and Port Limon.