Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-12-13

citizen. The Inv Of France recognis.
ing the natural right of eSpattiatioa. il 1
follows as a necessary consequence that
Q Frenchman. by the fact OF having be-
come citizen Of the United States, has
changed his allegiance and has lost his
native character. He cannot, therefore, Z.
be compelled to serve in the French .
armies in case he should return TO his
native country. These principles were
announced in 1852 by the French Min.
lister 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 becomL American cit
izens. To employ the language OF our
present minister to France, who has
rendered good service on this occasion,
Il do not thinkour French naturaliled
fellow citizens will hereafter experience.
much annoyaece on this subject. |
venture to predict tina, 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 enl ghtened government OF
the Emperor. In any event, our gov
ernment is bound to protect the rights
Of our natufalized citizeos everywhere
TO the same extent as though they had
drawn their FIRST breath in this country.
We can recognize no distinction be
tween eur native and ns,uralized ciIi'
zcns.
RUSSIA.
Between the great empire Of Russia
and the United States the mutual friend
ship and regard which has so long ex-
listed still continues to prevail. and, IL
possible, TO increase. ladeed, our rela'
tions with that empire are all that we
could desire.
Our relations with Spain are now oI
q more complicated though less danger
Gus character than they have been fol
many years. Our citizens have long
held, ana continue to hold, numerou
claims against the Spanish government
These had been ably urgeo Tor serie
Of years by our successive diplomatic
Representatives 1t Madrid; but withou
obtaining redress. The Spanish gov
ernmeAt finally agreed to institute I
joint commission for the adjustment o
these claims, and on the 9th day o
March, 1860, concluded q convention
Tor this purpose with our present min
lister at Madrid. Under this convention
what have been denomi iated she c IbaI
claims, amounting to 5 28,635 AMI D.
sents, IN which more than one hundred
of our fellow citizens are interested ,wer
recognized, and the Spanish governmen
sgreed to pay $4,000 Of this amour
'within three months following the ex
change Of ratihcations.' The paymen
Of the remaining S28635 81 was T.
await the decision Of the commissioner
for or against the the Amis,ad claim
but in any event the balance was to b
paid to the claimants either by Spain o
tbe United States. These terms hav
every reason to know are highly satis'
factory to the holders OF the Cuba
claims. Indeed, they have made forna
Offer authorizing the State Department
10 settle these claims, nndfto deaac. ,h
amount of the Amisiad claim from tn
sums which they are entitled TO recei,
from Spain. This oder, of course, cal
not bs accepted.
All other claims Of citizens Of the U
States against Spain, or OF subjects o
the Queen Of Spain against the Unite
States, including the 'Ainistad clam
were by this convention referred TO
board Of commissioners in the usui
form. Neither the validity of the An
listed claim nor Of any other clai'
against either party, with the sing
exception Of The Cuban claims, wi
recognized by the convention. lndoe,
tho Spanish government did not insi
that the validity Of the AInisted clair
should be thus recognized, Dot~ iths,ai
ding it's payment had been recommends
70 congress by two Of my predecessor
as well as by myself, and an appropris
tion for that purpose had passed u
Senate Of the United States. They we
content that it should he submitted
the busrd for examination and decision
like the other claims. Both govern
mons were bound respectively 10 pa
the amounts awarded TO the sever
claimants at such times and places
may be fixed by and according to Il
tenor OF said ave- rds.' a...
snsnr,ed Ihis convention to q
Senate for their constitutional action
the Sd Nay, 1850, tnd on the eth
the succeeding June they de,ermia
that ibeJ w'uld'not advise and conseI
TO its Ratification. $500.
Thete proceedings place Oar felatio
with Spain In an a aSkward and embn
RAISING position. It is mote than pro
able that the final adjustment OF the
claims viii devolve upon my succes
or.
| rsiterato the endation co
tained IN my annual message OF De
1sbs, and repeated in that Of Decemb
1859, In favor uf the acquisition OF Gu
from Spain by fair purchase. | firm
believe that such an acquisition wou
contribute essentially to the well bel
and prosperity of both countries in
future time, as well as prove tho cerIa
If .n,.pad,utaiu ahalishinY