The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
GREAT BRITAIN.


mencement Of my administration, the two
dangerous questions arising from the Clay
ton and Bulwer treaty, and from the right
of search claimed by the British Govern
ment, have been amicably and honorably adj
justed The dIscordant construction of the
Clayton and BulweT treaty between the two
Governments which, at different periods
of the discussion, bore a threatening as
pect have resulted in a final settlement en-
tirely satisfactory to this Government. In
my last Annual Message | informed Con-
gress that the British Government had not
then completed arranpemen with the Re-
public of Honduras and Nicaragua, in pur-
suance Of the understanding between the
two Governments. 1t is, nevertheless, CON
fdently expected that this good work will
ere long be accomplished. This confidence
has since been fulfilled Her Brittanic Ma
iesty concluded treaty with Honduras on
the 2Sth November, l859 and with Nicara-
qua on the 28th August, 1860, relinquish-
ing the Mosquito Protectorate; besides, by
the former, the Bay Islands are recognized
az a part of the Republic of Honduras. 1t
may he observed that the stipulations of
these treaties conform in every important
particular to the amendments adopted at
London on the 18th of October, 1856, be-
tween the two Governments. 1t will be recol-
British Government, because of its objection
10 the just and important amendment of the
Senate to the article relating to Ruatan and
the other islands in the Bay of Honduras.
1t is Il source of sincere satisfaction to all
classes Of onr fellow citizens, and especially
to those engaged in foreign commerce.
that the claim on the part of Great Britain
torcibly to visit and search American mer-
chant vessels on the high seas, in time of
peace, has been abandoned. This WAS far
the most dangerous question TO the peace of
the two countries which has existed since
the war Of 1872. Whilst it remained Open
they might at amy moment have been pre-
cipitated into n war. This was rendered
manifest by the exnsperatcd state of public
feeling throughout our entire country, pro-
duced by the torcible search Of American
merchant vessels 10y British cruisers on the
coast of Cuba in the spring of 1865
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 detention by the vessels OF war Of
any other nation. These orders might have
produced an immediate collision between
the naval forces Of the TWO countries. This
was most fortunately prevented by an ap-
he law of nations, rs expounded by her
own most eminent jurists. The cnly ques-
ton 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 Territory. As
this question is still under negotiation, it is
not deemed advisable at the present mo-
ment to make any allusou to the subject.
The recent visit of the Prince of Wales
l. sNF
this country, has proved 10 lie a most
auepicioua event, In its consequences it
cannot fail to increase the kindred and
kindly feelings which, | trust may ever ac-
tuate the governments and people of both
countries inther political and social inter
course with each other.
FRANCE.
With France, our ancient and powerful
allv, our relations continue to be of the
most friendly character. A decision has
recently been made by a French judicial
tribunal with the appreciation of the I'm
periaI Government, which cannot fail to
foster the sentiments of mutual regard
that have SO long existed between the
two countries Under the French law no
person can serve in the armies Of France
unless he is a French citizen. The law
of France recognizing the natural right of
expatriaton, it follows aa necessary con-
sennenee that a Frenchman hy the fact of
having become citizen of the { United States,
has changed his allegiance and has lost his
native character He cannot, therefore, be
compelled 10 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 in that two natives OF
France have been discharged from the
French army because they had become
American citizens. To employ the Ian
2uage OF our present Minister to France,
who has rendered Government service on
this occasion: | do not think our French
naturaIized fellow-citizens will hereafter ex-
perlence much annoyance on this subject.
| 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 en-
lightened Government of the Emperor. In
any event, our Government is bound to pro-
tect the rights of our naturaliZed citizens
everywhere to the same extent. Although
they had not drawn their first breath in
this country, we cannot recognize n distinc-
ton between our native and naturalized cit
liens.
RUSSIA.
Between the great Empire of Russia and
the United States, the mutual friendship
and regard which has so long existed still
-, continues to prevail, and if possible to in
crease Indeed our relations with that En-
pire are all that we could desire
SPAIN.
Our relations with Spain are now of a
more complicated, though less dangerous
character than they have been for many
years Our citizens have long held and
continue to hold numerous claims against the
Spanish Government These had been ably
urged for a series of years by our success
sire diplomatic agents at Madrid, but with
out obtaining redress. The Spanish Gov
ernment finally agreed to institute a joint
commission for the adjustment of these
claims and on the 5th day Of March, 1860,