The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-22 00:00:00

BE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Nitw Tong, Dec. 4th.
-President Johnson has delivered his Annual Address
to Congress, which is to. long for our columns ; we
therefore make the following extracts from it, on those
übjects which more inmiediately concern no It is a matter of regret that no constderable advam e has
been made towards an adjustment of the differences between
Urn United States and Great Britain arising out of the de,
predations upon our national commerce and other trespasses
committed during our civil war by British subjects, In viola.
torn of international law and treaty obligations. The delay,
however, may be believed to have resulted in no small degree
from the domestic situation of Great Britain. Nrhatever
might be the wishes °I the two Governments, it Is manifest
that goodwill and friendship between the two countries can-
not be established until a reciprocity In the practice of good
faith and neutrality shall be reatored between the respective :
bethink
Relative to the Fenian invasion of Canada, he says
that
Citizens were warned against taking part in or aiding such
unlawful proceedings, and the proper officers were directed
to take all necessary meaaures for the enforcement of the
laws. The expedition failed, but it has not been without its
painful consequences Some of our citizens who, it was
alleged, were engaged in the expedition, were captured, and
have been brought to trial as for a capital offence in the pro-
vince of Canada

Believing
''''' the severity of civil punishment for mis-
guided persons who have engaged in revolutionary attentpts,
which have disastrously failed, is unsound and unwise, such
representations have been made to the British Gove-nment
In behalf of the convicted persons as, being sustained by an
enlightened and humane judgment, will, it is hoped, induce
In their caws an exercise of clemency and a judicious am-
nesty to all who were engaged in the movement. Counsel
has been emplo)ed oy the Government to defend the citizens
of the United States on trial for capital offences in Canada,
anil a discontinuance of the prosecutions instituted in the
courts of the United States against those who took part in
the expedition has been directed.
I have regarded the expedition as not only political in its
nature, but also as. in a great measure, foreign front the
Betted States In its redieea character, and objects. The at-
tempt was understood to be wade In sympathy with an in-
Sargent party in Ireland, and, by striking • British province
on this continent, designed to aid in obtaining redeem for
political grievances which it was assumed the people of Ire-
land had suffered at the hands of the British Government
during a period of several centuries. The persona engaged in
It were chiefly natives of that country, some of whom had.
while others had hot, become citizens of the United States
Complaints of misgovernment in Ireland continually engage
the attention of the British nation, and so great an agitation j
Is now prevailing in Ireland that the British Government
have deemed it necessary to suspend the writ of Habeas tor-
pus In that country These circumstances must necessarily
modify the opinion which we might otherwise have enter-
tained in regard to an expedition expressly prohibited by our
neutrality laws. So long as these laws remain upon our •
Statute book they should be faithfully executed.
--•• • - - - -

With regard to Mexico, he says that repeated
assurances have been made that the evacuation of
Mexico by the French expeditionary forces will take
place next spring, and that the French Gevernment
would then assume the attitude of non-intervention in
Mexico as is held by the Government of the United
States. It is believed that with the evacuation of
Mexico no subject for serious differences between
France and the United States would remain. Speak-
ing of his reconstruction policy, the President says :
Upon this question, so vitally affecting the restoration of
the Union and the permanency of our present torso of govern-
ment, my convictions heretofore expressed have undergo, e
no change, but, on the contrary, their correctness has been
Confirmed by. reflection and time

It the admission of loyal members to seats in the respective
houses of Congress was wise and expedient a year ago, it is
no less wise and expedient now.
I know of no measure more imperatively demanded by
every consideration of national interest, sound policy, and
equal justice than the admission of loyal members from the
now unrepresented States. This w ould consummate the
work of restoration, and exert a most salutary influence in
the reostaldislunent of peace, harmony, and fraternal feel-
ing It would tend greatly to renew the confidence of the
American people In the vigour and stability of their institu-
tions.
The President, in conclusion, says

Our f:overnrnent is now undergoing its most trytng ordeal.
and my earnest prayer is that the peril may be successfully
and finally passed without impairing its original strength
and symmetry. The interests nt the nation are hest to be
promoted by the revival of fraternal relations, the complete
obliteration of our past differences, and the reinauguration
of all the pursuits of peace.

The Journal des debate of Sunday makes the follow.
ing remarks on the President's Message :-
--

- -
The message of th, President of the United States Is not
very conspknous for the qualities • f tact aid moderation.
It Is the prodoctios not of a statesman penetrated with the
grave reeponsibilitie which his high odic. shook! Impose
Upon him, Mit CI • •ulsar art trait who thatins mere of kin
own poeition than of the Interests of his cesetry for Mr.
Johnson'. aim seems to he to flatter the popular passions, in
order to regain that inane", which is nlioving from hm.
For example. he spe•Ss ot the relati as of the United States
With Ehitlanit tat matter Matti ca'cuLted rather to revive
Ohtj• • mutes than to allay them Ele nes not hesitate, for
'sample, In alltPlon to the inbatna clajms, to say that,
whatever might be the wishes of the two governments. it
ts manifest that good will and friendship between the two
Countries cannot be estahlished until • reciprocity in the
precrize of good faith and neutrality shall he restored
Miami, the respective natiota" Is this the lansume which
the Plisident of the United States should use as • moment
when the Alabama agate is the snnj.ct of hegotlation with
the English government? Mr. Johnson even soes eo far alto
eaTirem hi. stmlmihr with renianien With resard to
bnernal politics, the pro-Southern tendencies of the Presi-
dent are manifested as they were In the previous menage
We cannot mI. Lise tt e passes— reliving to Mexico, ',came
they have not been sent to us hy tie telegraph fr. m an idea,
Ito doubt, that they would be of little Intern et to French
'Wen.