Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-12-14

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0 petitions were countenanced by many Of o
7 citizens, and were suffered, in defiance Of t
: efforts of the Government, to escape fro
our shores, for the purpose of making "
upon the unoffending people Of neighbour,
republics with whom we were at peace. !.
!, addition to these and other difficulties, /,
experienced revulsion in monetary affair
soon after my advent to power, of unexar
pied severity and of ruinous consequenc
to all the great interests. of the country
When we take retrospect of what was the
our condition, and contrast this with its m
terial prosperity at the time of the la
Presidential election, we. have abundal
reason to return our grateful thanks to th,
merciful Providence which hasnever forsake
US as q nation in all our past trials.
| Our Foreign Relations.
| GREAT BRITAIN. g'
| Our relations with Great Britain are !,
the most friendly character. Since the cou
men cement Of my administration, the tw
dangerous questions, arising from the Clay
ton and Bulwer Treaty and from the righ
OF search claimed by the British Government
have been amicably and honorably adjusted
The discordant constructions of the Olay
ton and Bulwer Treaty between the tw
Governments, which, at different periods o
the discussion, bore q. threatening aspect
have resulted in final settlement entirely
satisfactory to t! is Govesnment. In my las
annual message Uniformed Congress that th,
British Government had not then "complst
ed treaty arrangements with the Republic,
of Honduras and Nicaragua, in pursuance
of the understanding between the two Gov
ernments. 1t Is nevertheless confidently ex
pected that this good work will ere long be
accomplished" This confident expectation
has since been fulfilled. Her Britanric
Majesty concluded treaty with Honduras
on the 28th November, 1859, and with Mic
araugua on the 28th August, 1860, relin-
gushing the Mosquito Protectorate. Besides,
by the former, the Bay Islands are recogni z
ed as part of the Republic of Honduras. l.
may be observed that the stipulations of
these treaties conform in every important
particular to the amendments adopted by the
Senate of the United States to the treaty
concluded at London on the Eth October,
1858, between the two Governments. twill
be recolected that this treaty was rejected
by the British Government because of its
objection to the just and important amend.
ment of the Senate to the article relating to
Ruatan and the other islands in the Bay of
Honduras.
1t must be a source of sincere satisfaction
to all classes of our fellow.citizens, and espe-
cially to those engaged in forei yn commerce,
that the claim, on the part of Great Britain,
forcibly TO visit and search American mer-
chant vessels on the high seas in time of
peace, has been abandoned. This was BY far
the most dangerous question to the peace of
the two countries which has existed sincethe
war of 1912. While it remained open, they
might at any moment have been precipitated
into war; This was rendered manifest by
the exasperated state of public feeling
throughout our entire country, produced by
the forcible search of American merchant
vessels by British cruisers on the coast of
Cuba, in the Spring of 1853. The American
people hailed with general acclaim the orders
Of the Secretary of the Navy to our naval
'orce in the Gulf OF Mexico, s'to protect all
vessels of the United States on the high seas
rom search or detention by the vessels-of-
war of any other nation" These orders
night have produced an immediate collision
between the naval forces of the two coun-
ries This WAS most fortunately prevented
BY an appeal to the justice of Great Britain
md to the law of cations as expounded by
ler own most eminent jurists.
The only question of any importance
which still remains openis the disputed title
between the two governments to the Island
If San Juan, in the vicinity Of Washington
Territory. As this question is still under
1egotiation, it is not deemed advisable at
lie present moment to make any other allu-
sion to the subject.
The recent visit of the Prince of Wales, in
! private character, to the people of this
has proved to be 4 most auspicious
svent. In its consequences, it cannot fail to
Increase the kindred and kindly feelings
which l trust may ever actuate the govern
nent and people of both countries in their
political and social intercourse with each
)sher.
FRANCE.
With France, our ancient and powerful
ally, our relations continue to be of the most
friendly character. A decision has recently
been uade by French judicial tribunal,
with the appreciation of the Imperial Gov.
which cannot tail to foster the
sentiments of mutual regard that have SO
ong existed between the two countries
Under the French law no person can serve
ia the armies of France unless he bel French
,itizen. The law of France recognizing the
natural right of expa.riation, it follows as a
necessary consequence that a aFrenchman, by
the fact of having become a citizen of the
United States, has changed his allegiance
and has lost his native character. He can
not, therefore, be compelled to serve in the
French armies in case he should return to
his native country. These principles were
in 1852 by the French Minister
# War, and in two lste cases have been
confirmed by the French judiciary. In these,
two natives of France have been discharged
from the French army because they had be.
come American citizens. To employ the
LAT guage of our present Minister to France,
who has rendered good service on this occa-
sion. Il do not think our French naturalized
fellow citizens will hereafter experience
much annoyance on this subject" l ven
ture to predict that the time is not far distant
when the other Continental Powers will
adopt the same wise aud just policy which
has done so much honor to the enlightened
Government of the Emperor. In any event,
our OOVerHIuCHb Is OUuuu lO pEOtoCC JEc
rights ofeur 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 naturalized citizens.
AUSTRIA, &c.
With the Emperor of Austria and the re-
naming Continental Powers of Europe, inclu-
ng that of the Sultan, our relations continue
to be OF the most friendly character.
RUSSIA.
Between the great empire of Russia and
the United States the mutual friendship and
regard which has 80 long existed still contin
ues to prevail, and, if possible, to increase
Indeed, cur relations with that Empire are
al that we could desire.
BRAZIL.
With the wise, conservative, and libera
government of the Empire of Brazil oul
relations continue to be ofthe mcst smicabl'
character. -......-.--..
...- ada. NEW-GRANADA.