The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-12-13
OLD SERIES, VOL. n, NO. 20
TERMS..sl ,5O,in Advance.

with the appreciation of the Imperial Gov
| ernment, which cannot { il to foster the sem
timents of mutual regard that have SO long
existed between the two countries. Under
/ the French law no person can serve in tine
armies Of France unless he be French citi-
zen.
The law Of France recognizing the natiir-
| al right of expatriation, it follows as neces-
sary consequence, that a French,nan, by tho
fact of having become citizen of the United
States, has changed his allegiance, and has
lost his native character. He cannot, theie-
| fore, be compelled to serve in the French ar
mics, in case he should return to his native
counrv. 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 these. two natives of
\ France have been discharged from the French
! army. because they had become American
citizens. To employ the language of our
Il present Mipister to France, who has rendered
1 good service on this occasion, 81 do not
think our French naturalzed fellow citizens
] will hereafter experience much annoyance on
I .hlS sui ject. j venture TO predict that the
4 time is not far distant when the other conti.
mental powers will adopt the sane wise and
just policy which has done so much honor
to the enlightened government Of the Empe-
rorn In any event, our Government is
bound to protect the rights of her naturalized
citizens everywhere, 10 the same extent as
though they had drawn their first breath in
This country. We can recognize no distinc.
ton between cur native and naturalized cti.
zens. sa st
! f
/ 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 Em-
pire arc all that we could desire. n.7rz 4 - r
spAIN.. :.
Onr relations with Spain are now Of moro
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 Govern
ment. These have been ably urged for
series of years by our successive diplomatic
representatives at Madrid, but without obtain
ing redress. The Spanish government finally
agreed to institute joint commission for the
| adjustment of these claims, and on the fftA
day of March, 1850 concluded . convention
| for that purpose with our present Minister at,
Madrid. Under this Convention, what have
been denominated the Cuban claims, amount
| ing TO SIPS, s,6s554, in which more than one
hundred Of our fellow citizens are interested,
we're recognized, and Spain agreed to pay one
hundred thousand dollars of this amount
within three months following the exchange.
of ratifcations. The payment of the remain
ing S2S, 635, "a was to await the decision of the
commissioners for or against the Amistad
i claim but in any event the balance was to be
paid to the claimants, either BY Spain or the
United States. Those terms, l have every,
! reason to know, are highly satisfactory to the
\ holders Of the Cuban claims. Indeed they
have made formal offer, authorizing the
State Department to settle their claims snd
! to deduct the amount Of the Amistad claims
from the sums which they are entitled to re-
ceive from Spain. This offer, of course, can
not be accepted. All other claims of citizens
Of the United States against Spain, or of the
I Queen of Spain against the United States in
I Guiding the Amistad claim were by this Con-
ventica referred to Board of Commissioners
in the usual form. Neither the validity Of
the Amistad claim, or any other claim against
either party, with the single exception of the
/ Cuban claims, was recognized by the Conven.
tion. Indeed the Spanish Government did.
not insistthat the validity of the Amistsd
claim should be thus recognized, notwithstand-
ing its payment had been recommended to
as by myself, and an approximation had passed
the Senate of the United States. They were
( content that it should be submitted to tho
/ Board for examination like the other claims.
! Both Governments were bound respectively to
| pay the amounts awarded to the several claims
4 ants at snch times and places as may be fired
! by and according to the tenor Of said Awards,
and transmitted by this Convention to the
Senate for their constitutional action. Onthe
4 Sd of Nav, 1860, and on the 9th Of the suc-
! ceeding June, they determined that they would
not advise and consent TO its ratification -
These proceedings placed our relations sith
Spain in an awkward and embarrassing posi-
| ton II is more than probable that q final
adjustment of these claims will devolve upon
/ my successor, l reiterate the recommendation
contained in my annual message of December
/ 1853, and repeated in that Of 1859, in favor
Of the acquisition Of Cuba by fair purchase
| from Spain. firmly believe that such an ac-
QUESTION would contribute essentially to the
| well-being and pros perity Of both countries
in all future time, as we'll as prove the certain
means Of Immediately abolshing the African
slave trade, throughout the world. would
1 not repeat this Recommendation upon the
4 present occasion, If believed that the trans-
/ fer of Cnha TO the United States, upon con-
ditions highly favorable to Spain, could Justly
tarnish the national honor Of the prond and
ancient Spani.h monarchy. Surely no person
ever attributed To the first Napoleon disre-
gard Of the national honor Of France. for
4 transfer, ing Louisiana to the United States
for fair equivalent, both in money and eom>
mere al advantages. Hs tS ta
4 ae AUSTRIA, &c.
With the Empire OF Austria and the remain
/ ing continental powers Of Europe, including
1 that Of the Sultan, onr relations continue &c
4 be Of the most friendly cl aracter. $50 M
!. The friendly and peaceful policy pursued by
the Government of the United States towards
!. the Empire Of China, has produced the most
1 satisfactory results. The treaty of Tisntsin.
of the lSth of.JuAe, 1858. has been faithfully
! observed by the Chinese authorities. Tire Com
! yeution of the Sth of November 1855, supple-
mentary to this treaty for the adjustment and
i satisfaction. of the claims of our citizens to
! China, referred to in my last annual message,
has already been carried into effect, SO far as
this was practical. 20,
i Under this Conve the sum Of 500 900
taels, equal to about 500, 900, WAS stipulated
10 be paid in satisfaction of the claims Of
Y American citizens cut of the one-ffth of the .
receipts, for tonnage, import and export duties
on American vessels. At the por:s Of Canton,
Shanghai aud Fuchou: and il Was agreed that.
this amount shall be in full liquidation Of an
claims of American citizens at the various