Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-12-06

States, has changed his allegianee and has
lost his native character. He cannot,
therefore be compelled TO serve in tbs
FreneA armies, In case he should return to
his Iatiye country. These. principles
were announced IN 1879, b. the French
Minister of War, and in tvs, late cases
/ have been confirmed by the French Judi
eiary in that two natives of France have
been discharged from the French army
because they had become american citi-
zens. To employ the language OF oar
present Minister to France, who has rem
aered Government service on this occasion,
I do not think our French naturasized Tel.
low-cItizens wiz hereafter experience much
annoyance ON this subject. venture to
predict that ere long the other continental
powers viii adopt the same wise and inst
policy. in any event, our Government is
bOundfo protect the rights Of our natu-
rallied citizens everywhere to the same
extent We can recognize no distinction
between our native and natursiized eiti.
zens. $50 - - t-tAs
Between The great Empire of Russia and
the United States, the mutual friendship and
regard which has so long existed, still con
tinues to prevail, and if possible to increase.
Indeed our relations with that Empire are
all that We conId desire.
SPAIN 20
Our relations with Spain are now of a
more complicated though less dangerous
character than they have been for many
years Our citizens heVe long held and con
iinue to hold numerous claims against the
Spanish Government. These hT q been ably
urged for serieaof years BY our successive
diplomatic Representatives at Madrid; but
without obtaining redress. The Spanish
Government finally agreed TO institute aioint
commissionforthe adjustment ofthese claims,
and on the 5ih day of March, 1880,
concluded convention for that purpose
With our present Minister at Madrid. I'm
der this Convention, what have beer de-
nominated the cnban claims, amounting
ito $128, 6S5 "a, In which more than one
hundred of our feilo1-citizens are interest
ed, were recognized, and the Spanish Gov
eminent agreed to pay one hundred thous.
and dollars of this amount within three
months following the exchange Of Tatifica-
tiOns. The payment of tie remaining
$e8, 635 81 was t0await the decision of the
Commissioners for or against the Armis-
teRd claim, but in any event the balance
was to be paid 20 the claimants either BY
Spain orthe United States. There terms
have every reason to know are highly
satisfactory 10 the holders of the Cuban
claims. Indeed, they have made formal
offer, authorizing the State Depart
ment 10 settle these claims, and TO
deduct the amount of the Armistead
claim from the sums which they are
entitled to receive from Spain. This offer,
of course, cannot be accepted. All other
claims of citizens of the United States
against Spain, or of subjects of the Queen
Of Spain against the United States, in
GLIDING the Armistead claim, were by the
Convention referred tOa Board of Commits
sioners in the usual form. Neither the va
hdity Of the Armistead claim, nor any
| other claim against either party, with tine
single exception Of the Cuban claims, was
recognized by the Convention. Indeed, the
Spanish Government did not insist that the
validity of the Armistead claim should be
thus recognized, notwithstanding it's paw
ment had been recommended to Congress
by two of my predecessors, as well as
BY myself, and an appropriation for
that purpose had passed the Senate of the
United States They were content that il
should be submitted to the Board for ex-
animation and decision, like other claims.
Both Governments were bound, respective
", to pay the amounts awarded to the sew
/ eral claimants at such times and places as
may be fixed by and according to the tenor
of said awards, and transmitted this con-
Vention to the Senate for, their Constitu-
tiopal action on the Sd of May, 1860, and on
the 9th ofthe succeeding June, they de-
termined that they would not advise and
consent to its ratification. These proceed
ings placed cur relations with Spain In an
awkward and embarrassing position. 1t
| is more than probable that the final
adjustment of these claims will de-
vOlve upon my successor. ! reiterate the
recommendation contained in my Annual
Message of December, 1858, and repeat
that of December, 1859, In favor of the ac-
| QUESTION OF CuDa from Spain by fair pur-
| chase. / firmly believe that such on ae-
QUESTION would contribute essentially to
the well-being and prosperity of both
countries in all future time, as well as
prove the certain means of Immediately
abolishing the African slave trade through
out the world. l would not repeat this
recommendation upon the present oeca-
sion If believed that the transfer Of Cuba
20 the United States-upOn conditions
highly favorable to Spain--cOuld Justly tar
nish the national honor of the proud and
| ancient Spanish monarchy Surely no
person eyerattribatedtot the first Napoleon
a disregard of the national honor of France
for transferring Louisiana to the United
States for a fair equivalent, both in money
and commercial advantages.
.. AUSTRIA, &C.
With the Emperor of Astria, and the
remaining continental powers of Europe,
our relations continue to be of the most
friendly character.
CHINA
The friendlyand peaceful policy pursued
by the Government Of the United States
towards the Empire of China, has produced
lie most satisfactoryresulIs. The treaty
of Tientsin, Of the 18th of June, 1858, has
been faithfully observed by the Chinese
| authorities. The Convention of the 9Th
November, 1855, supplementary TO this
treaty for the adjustment and satisfaction
| Of The claims Of our citizens in China,
referred to in my last annual message,
has already been carried into effect
81 far as this was practicable. Under
this convention, the sum of SOC, 1000 taels.
equal to about 100000 was stipulated to
he paid IN satisfaction of the claims Of
american citizens, 0utiof the one-fifth of
,hc receipts for tonnage, import and ex-
port duties on American vessels at the ports
| Of Canton, Shanghai and Fuehow, and IL
was agreed that this amount shall be in full
liquidation of all claims Of American citi-
zens at the various ports to this date De
5entures for this amount, to-wit S00, 900
teaies for Canton, loo, GOO for Shanghai, and
10000 for FuchOw, were delivered accord
ing 10 the terms of the Convention, by abe
toms Of these ports, to the agent selected
10y our Minister to receive the same. Since
that time the claims of our citizens have
been adjusted by the Board of Commits
aioners appointed for that purpose, under
thr act of March 3, 1859; and their awards,
which proved satisfactory TO the claim
ants, have been approved by our Min
lister. In the aggregate they amount
to he sum of S49,SS9,41S. The
claimants have already received large
proportion Of the Sums awarded to them
out of the fund provided, and it Is conf
IDENTIFY expected that the remainder win
ere long be entirely paid. After the
awards shall have been satisfied, there will
remain a surplus Of more than 100000 at
the disposition of Congress. As this will
in equity belong to the Chinese Govern
ment, would not justice require its appro-
priatiOn to some benevolent object in
which the Chinese may be especially inter
ested. Our Minister TO China, in 0bedi-
ence to his instructions, has remained per-
fectly neutral in the war between Great
Britain and France and the Chinese En-
pire, although, Ia conjunction with the
Russian Minister, he was ever ready and
willing, had the opportunity offered, to
employ his good offices In restoring peace
between the parties. 1t Is but an act of
simple justice, both to our present Minis
ter and his predecessor, TO state that they
have both proved fully equal to the deli
cate, trying, and responsible positions in
which they have on different occasions
been placed.
JAPAN.
The Publications of the treaty with ia
pan, concluded at Yeddo, on the Goth July,
1858, were exchanged at Washington on
the 22d May last, and the treaty itself was
proclaimed on the succeeding day. There
is good reason TO expect that under its
protection and influence, our trade and in
tercourse with that distant and interesting
people viii rapidly increase. The ratifca-
lions Of the treaty were exchanged with
unusual solemnity. For this purpose the
Tycoon had accredited three of his most
distinguished Ministers Plenipotentiary,
who were received and treated with mark
ed distinction and kindness by by the Gov
eminent and people Of the United States.
There is every reason TO believe that they
have returned to their native land entire
IL satisfied with their visit and inspired by