Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-12-07

itself, womb De feceived with favor Dy all
the States of the Confederacy. In any
event it ought to be tried in q spirit of con-
ciliation, before any of these States shall
separate themselves from the Union.
When / entered upon the duties OF the
Presidential Office, the aspect neither of our
| foreign nor domestic affairs was at all salts
| factory. We were involved iu dangerous
complications with several nations aud two
of our territories were ia a state of revolution
| against our Government; a restoration of the
| African slave trade had numerous and power
| ful advocates; unlawful military expeditions
were countenanced by many of our citizens,
| and were suffered, in defiance of the efforts
| of our Government, to escape from our shores
| for the purpose of making war upon the in
| offending people Of neighboring Republics
with whom we were at peace.
Iu addition to these and other di faculties,
we experienced a Revision in monetary af-
fairs. soon after my advent, proving of IN
| eXampied severity. and ruinous consequences
to the country. When we take a retrospect
/ of what was then our condition, and con-
/ trast this with its material prosperity at the
| time of the late Presidential election. we
! have abundant reason to return our CRATE
| full thanks to that merciful Providence which
! has never forsaken US as nation in all our
| trials.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIoNs-GREAT BRITAIN.
Our relations with Great Britain are of
| the most friendly character. Since the COM
mencement of my administration the two
! dangerous questions arising from the Clayton
and Bulwer treaty, and from the right of
| search claimed by the British Government.
have been amicably aud honorably adjusted.
| The discordant constructions of the Clayton
and Bulwer treaty between the two Govern
| ments, which at different periods of the dis
cussidn bore threatening aspect, have re-
suited in final settlement. entirely satisfac-
tory to this Government. In my last annual
message, informed Congress thst the British
| Government had not then completed ar
engagements with the Republics of Honduras
| and Nicaragua, in pursuance of the under
standing between the two Governments. 1t
was nevertheless confidently anticipated that
| the good work would ere long be accom-
| plished. This confidence has since been full
filled. Her Brittanic Majesty concluded a
treaty with Honduras on the 2Sth of Novem-
Der, 1859, and with Nicaragua on the 18th of
August, 1860, relinquishiDg the Mosquito
Rrotectorate. Besides, by the former, the
Bay Islands are recognized as part of the
Republic of Honduras.
1t may be obser wed that the stipulations Of
these treaties conform in every important
| particular to t. amendments adopted at
London on the Il n October. 1856, between
the two governments. 1t will be recollected
that this treaty was rejected by the British
Government because of its objection to the
just and important amendment of the Senate
to the article relating to Ruatan and the 9TH
er islands in the Bay of Honduras. 1t is a
source of sincere satisfaction to all classes of
our fellOw-cilizens, and especially to those
engaged in foreign commerce. that the claim
on the part of Great Britain forcibly to visit
and search Anne lean vessels on the high
seas, in time of peace, has been abandoned.
This was, by far, the most dangerous ques-
ton to the peace of the two countries, which
has existed since the war of 1872. Whilst it
remained open they might, at any moment.
have been precipitated into war. This was
rendered manifest by the exasperated state of
public feeling through out our entire country,
produced by the fOrcible search of American
merchant vessels by British cruisers on the
coast of Cuba, in the spring of 1858. The
American people hailed with general acclaim
the orders of the Secretary OF the Navy to
our naval force in the Gulf OF Mexico, to
protect all vessels OF the United States on
the high seas from search or detention by
the vessels of war of any other nation. These
orders might have produced an unfortunate
collision between the naval forces of the two
countries This was most fortunately PIE
vented by an appeal to the justice of Great
Britain, and to the law of nations, as eXpoun-
ded by her own most eminent jurists. The
only question of any Importance which still
remains open is the disputed title between
the two governments to the island of San
JUAN in the vicinity of Washington Terri
tory. As this question is still under negoti-
ations, it is not deemed advisable at the pres
ent moment 10 make any other allusion 10
the subject.
The recent visit of the Prince of Wales 10
appropriate character, to the people of this
country, has proved to be most suspicious
event in its consequences. 1t cannot fail to
increase the kindred and kindly feelings of
both counties in their political and social in
tercourse with each other.
FRANCE.
With France our ancient and powerful al
ly, our relations continue to be of the most
friendly character. decision has recently
been made by French Judicial Tribunal,
with the appreciation of the Imperial Govern
ment which cannot fail to foster the senti-
ments of mutual regard that have so long eX-
listed between the two countries. Under the
French law no person can serve in the armies
of France unless he be French citizen.
The law Of France recognizes the natural
right of expatriation, it follows as a necessary
consequence that aFrenchman, by the fact of
having become a citizen of the U. s., has
changed his allegiance and has lost his ma
tive character. He cannot therefore be COM
PEELED to serve in the French armies, in case
he should return to his native country. These
principles were announced in 1852 by the
French Minister of War, and in two late cases
have been confirmed by the French judiciary.
Ia these, two natives of France have been
discharged from the French army, because
they had become American citizens. To en-
plOy the language of our present Minister TO
Frence, who has rendered good service on this
occasion, II do not think our French natural
lied fellow-citzens will hereafter experience
much annoyance on this subject. L venture
to predict that the time is not far distant when
the other continental powers will adopt the
same wise and just policy which has done so
much honor to the enlightened government of
the Emperor" In any event, our govern
ment is bound to protect the rights of her
naturalized citizens everywhere, to the same
extent as though they had drawn their first
breath in this country. We can recognize no
distinction between our native and natural
lied citizens.
Between the great Empire of Russia and
theUnited States, the mutual friendship and
regard which has so long existed, still con-
tinues to prevail, and. possible, to in
crease. Indeed, our relations with that
Empire are all that we could desire.
SPAIN.
Our relations with Spain are now of a
more complicated, though less dang erous
character, than they have been for many
years. Our citizens have long held and
continue to hold, numerous claims against
the Spanish government. These have been
ably urged for series of years by our sue
cessve diplomatic representatives at Mad
rid, but without obtaining redress The
Spanish government finally agreed to insti-
tute a Joint commission for the adjustment
of these claims, and on the 9Th day of March
1860, concluded a convention for that pur-
pose, with our present Minister at Madrid
Under this Convention, what have been