Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-01-03

ges of dreadful pestlence, yet, the Almighty
has at length deigned to stay his hand, and to re-
store the inestimable blessing of general health
to people who nave acknowledged his power
deprecated his wrath, and implored his merciful
protection.
While enjoying the benefits of amicable inter-
course with foreign nations, we have not been
insensible to the distractions and wars which
huve prevailed in other quarters of the world. u
is proper theme of thanksgiving to in who
rules the destnes of nations, that we have been
able to maintain, amidst all these contests, an in
dependent and neutral position towards all bellIg-
Crent powers.
Our relations with Great Britain are of the
most friendly character. In consequence of the
recent alteration of the British navigation acts,
British vessels, from British and other foreign
ports, WILL (undor our existing laws. after the LIST
| day of January next be admitted to entry in our
ports, with cargoes of the growth. manufacture,
or production of any part of the world, on the
same terms. as to duties. impostS and charges,
as vessels of the United States with their car
goes and orr vessels will be admitted to the
same advantages in British ports, entering there
in on the me terms as British vessels. Should
no order in council disturb this legislative ar
rlngemnnt the late act of the British Parliament,
by which Great Britain is brought within the
terms proposed by the act of Congress of the lst
of Mrch, 1917, it is hoped, will be productive OF
benefit to both countries.
A slight interruption of diplomatic intercourse,
which occurred between this Government and
France, am happy to say, HIS been terminated,
md orr Minister there has been received. 1t is
therefore unnecessary to refer, now, to the cir
Cumstances which led to that interruption |
need not express to Won the sincere satisfaction
with which we shall welcome the arrival of an
other Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potenti}ry from a sister republic, to which we
nave so long been, and still remain, bound by the
strongest ties of amty.
Shortly after had entered upon the discharge
Of the Executive duties, | was apprlzod that u
war-steamer, belonging to the German Empire,
rs being fitted out in the harbor of New York,
III the aid of some of our naval officers, rem
dered under the permission of the late Secretary
of the Navy This permission was granted du-
ring an armistce between that Empire and the
Kingdom of Denmark, which had been engaged
in the Scheswig- Holsten war. Apprchensive
that this act of intervention, on our part, might
tons, incurred by the treaty with Denmark, and
of the provisions of the act of congress of the
2vth of April, 1913, | directed that no further
aid should be rendered by any agent or officer OF
the Navy and instructed the Secretary of State
to apprize the Minister of the German Empire
accredited to this Government, of my determine
ton to execute the law Of the United States, and
to maintlin the faith of treaties with all nations.
Tho norrocnon1nroo which opsua1 hntwoan tho
Department of State and the mister of the
German Empire, is herewith laid before you. The
execution of the law and the observance of the
treaty were deemed by me to be due to the honor
Of the country, as well as to the sacred obliga-
tions of the Constitution. Il shall not fail to pur
sue the same course, should similar case arise
with any other nation. Having avowed the opin-
ion, on takng the oath of office, that, in disputes
between conflicting foreign governments, it is our
interest, not less than our duty, to remain strictly
utral, | shnll not abandon it. You will per-
ceive, fon the correspondence submitted to you,
in connection with this subject, that the course
adopted in this case has been properly regarded
by tine belllgerent powers interested in the matter.
Although Minister of the United States to
the German Empire was appointed by my prede-
cessor, in August 1913, and has, for long time,
UtGl Ill
and although Minister, appointed to represent
THAT Empire. WAS received and accredited hero.
vet no such Government as that OF tle HERMAN
| Empire has bee II de6u'tvcly constituted. Mr. DO
nelson our representative at Frankfort, remained
there several months, in the expectation that a
union of the German States, under one constltu-
ton or form Of government might, at length, be
organized. 1t is believed, by those well acquain-
ted with the existing relations between Prussia
and the States of Germany, that 20 such union
can be, permanently, established without her CO.
operation. In the event of the formation ofsuch
a unon and the orr tnzltlOn of a central power
in Germany, of which she should form part, it
would become necessary to withdraw our Minis
ter at Berlin; but while Prussia exists as an in
dependent kingdom, and diplomatic relations are
maintained with her there can be no necessity
| for the continuance of the mission to Frankfort.
| have, therefore, rec HE'D Mr. Donclson, and dl-
rected the archives of the legation, at Frankfort,
to be transferred to the American legation at
Berlin
Having been apprized That considerable num-
Der Of adventures were engaged IN fitting out a
military expedition. within the United States,
against foreign county; and believing, from
the best inform1tion could obtain that it was
destined to invade the isllnd of Cuba, deemed
it due to the friendly relations existing between
the United States and Spain; to the treaty be-
tween the two nations; to the laws of the Uni
ted States, and, above all, to the American hon
or, to exert the lawful authority Of this Govern
ment in suppresslng the expedition and prevent
ing the invasion. To this cnl, | lssn-d proc
llnatlon, enlolnlng it upon the officers of the
United States, civil and military, to use all law
full means within their power A copy of that
proclamation is herewith submitted. The eXpe-
dtlon has been suppressed 50 long as the act OF
Congress Of the Goth of April, 1918, which owes
its existence to the law of nations and to the pol
icy of Washington himself, shall remain on our
statute book hold 1t to be the duty of the Exc
cutive faithfully to obey its iniunctons.
While this expedition was in progress, | was
informed that foreigner, who claimed our pro-
lection, had been clandestineiy, and, as was sup
posed, torclbly, carried off in a vessel from New
Orleans to the island of Cuba. | Immediately
caused such steps to hetaEon as thought neces-
sary, in case the information | had received
should prove correct, to vindicate the honor OF
the country, and the right of every person seek
ing an asylum on our soil to the protection of our
laws. The person alledged to have been alb
Quoted was promptly restored, and the circum-
stances of the case are now about to undergo in
vestlgaton before a judicial tribunal. | would
respectfully suggest, that although the crime
charged to have been committed in this case is
held odiou5 as being in conflict with our opinions
on the subject of national sovereignty and per
sonal freedom, there Is no prohibition of it, or
punishment for it, provided in any act of Con-
gress. The eXpedicncy of supplying this defect
in our criminal code is therefore recommended to
your consideration.
| have scmpulously avoided any interference
in the wars and contentious which have recently
distracted Europe.
During the late conflict between Austria and
Hungary, there seemed to be u prospect that the
latter might become an Independent nation
loweVer faint that prospect at the time appeared,
thought it my duty in accordance with the gen.
eral sentiment OF the American people, who
deeply sympathized with the Magyar patriots, to
stand nroporod ,np,, no rpntiuuaprv al tbo %