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State of the Union Address
Ulysses S. Grant
December 1, 1873

To the Senate and House of Representatives: 

The year that has passed since the submission of my last message to Congress has, especially during the latter part of it, been an eventful one to the country.  In the midst of great national prosperity a financial crisis has occurred that has brought low fortunes of gigantic proportions; political partisanship has almost ceased to exist, especially in the agricultural regions; and, finally, the capture upon the high seas of a vessel bearing our flag has for a time threatened the most serious consequences, and has agitated the public mind from one end of the country to the other.  But this, happily, now is in the course of satisfactory adjustment, honorable to both nations concerned.

The relations of the United States, however, with most of the other powers continue to be friendly and cordial.  With France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and the minor European powers; with Brazil and most of the South American Republics, and with Japan, nothing has occurred during the year to demand special notice.  The correspondence between the Department of State and various diplomatic representatives in or from those countries is transmitted herewith.

In executing the will of Congress, as expressed in its joint resolution of the 14th of February last, and in accordance with the provisions of the resolution, a number of “practical artisans,” of “scientific men,” and of “honorary commissioners” were authorized to attend the exposition at Vienna as commissioners on the part of the United States.  It is believed that we have obtained the object which Congress had in view when it passed the joint resolution—­“in order to enable the people of the United States to participate in the advantages of the International Exhibition of the Products of Agriculture, Manufactures, and the Fine Arts to be held at Vienna.”  I take pleasure in adding that the American exhibitors have received a gratifying number of diplomas and of medals.

During the exposition a conference was held at Vienna for the purpose of consultation on the systems prevailing in different countries for the protection of inventions.  I authorized a representative from the Patent Office to be present at Vienna at the time when this conference was to take place, in order to aid as far as he might in securing any possible additional protection to American inventors in Europe.  The report of this agent will be laid before Congress.

It is my pleasant duty to announce to Congress that the Emperor of China, on attaining his majority, received the diplomatic representatives of the Western powers in person.  An account of these ceremonies and of the interesting discussions which preceded them will be found in the documents transmitted herewith.  The accompanying papers show that some advance, although slight, has been made during the past year toward the suppression of the infamous Chinese cooly trade.  I recommend Congress to inquire whether additional legislation be not needed on this subject.