Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-12-07

]
! oil rs part OF the republic Of Honduras
n must b, a source of sincere satisfaction
IN All el.ss,. of our iellow-citiIens add es-
pocially to those engaged m foreign com
merce. that the claim, on tho part OF Great
Britain, f,rcibly b. visit and search Amer
lean merchant vessels has been abandoned.
frho san Juan question Is under ncgo-
I tiation. Tho President also refers 10 the
visit Of the Prince Of Wales. as an ausp'-
oious event
TRANCE.
With France. our ancient and powerful
ally, our relations continue 10 be OF q e
7 the most friendly character. \ decision
la. recently been made by French Judicial
tribunal. with the APPRECIATION OF the lmrc-
rial Government which cannot fail % foster
the sentiments Of mutual regard that have
- long existed between tie two countries.
/ under the French law no person can serve
I in the armies Of France unless lao be a
French ci,iren. The law Of France recog'
n,rinr tho natural ri,ht Of expatration, u
follows ~ u necessary consequence that
. rrcn,hman. by the fact Of having become n
citizen Of the United States, has changed
hI. allegiance anil has lost his native char.
ac.or. lls cannot, therefore, DO compelled
10 serve In the French armies m case be
should return % his native country.
Tuese PRINCIPLES were announced ~ $50.
by the French Minister Of War, and in two
ease. have been confirmed by the French
Judiciary In ihc.s. two natives oi France
have been discharged from the French ar
nv because they had become American CIT
irsn.. 10 employ the language Of our pro-
cent Minister 10 France, who has rendered
good service on thi, OCCASION, D." ! do not
think our French na,uraliTcd fellow eiti'
zen, will hereafter experience much annoy
nncs on this subject" venturc 20 pre-.
dict that the time !. not far distant when
the other Continental Powers will adop,
the same wiss and just policy which has
. dons ~ much homo, to the enlightened gov
ernmsn, Of tho Emperor. In any event.
our government u bound - protect the
rights ol oar naturalgcd citizens every
where g. the same cXtnt ne though they
had drawn their fret breath m this country
We can rccp,niY, No distinction between
our native and naiurhluei cititrn'.
Russt,.
Between the great empire 81 Ru.-ia and
the Unitrl States tho mutual friendship and
rc-ard which has - long existed It'll con-
,inurs a. rrcmil. and. II pus'lhl'. o. IN
increase. lndsri. our relations with that
cmpiro arc oil that w. cpuld desire.
frAIN.
oar relation. with spain arc now OF a
more complicated though lcs' dangerous
nature than ihoy have been Tor many year'.
our citizen, have long held. aud continue
10 hold. nnmernu. claim. against the Span.
in government. Thc., had been ably urc'
"a Tor ser.s. Of year. by our successive ~
plom,,e representatives at Madrid, but
without obtaining redress. The Spanish
government finally agreed % institute n
Gint commission Tor the adjustment otthc'e
claims. and on the ith day Of March. lSGO,
concluded a convention Tor the purpose with
our present minister ~ Madrid.
Under tbi. convention what have been de-
nominated " the Cuban claims amount
inc 10 SO, .G3i -, IN which more than on'
hundred ofuu fellow citizens arc interested,
were recognized. and. and tho spanish gov
eminent agreed u rAy SlOOWO OF thi'
amount vithin thrr, months Ut the chang
~ Qualifications Tho payment u The -
naming SOS .6i3 - ~. % await the de-
ci.iin 1T tho Commissioners for or asaln'
tho Ami.ial claim, hut IN any event To
balance was a. be paid % The claimants, o.
ther hy Spain Or the United States. The.
term. | have every reason % know ar high
ly satisfactory O. the holder. 1T the Cuban
claim. Indeed. they have made forma
offer authorizing the state department. q
settle these claims, and u deduct th'
amour, u tho Ami''ld claim from the sum
which they aro cnitlcl 10 receive from
the Spanish government. THIS offer, o.
course. ciuno, b. accepted.
All other claims ~ cititcus ~ :he Unite,
State. against spain, or subjects OF ihO
Queen OF Sglin u.,ius, the United states
including the " Ami.iad claim, were b!
thi. convention referred o. = b1Nrl u com
Z missioner. In the usual form. Neither th
validity Of the Amsiad claim, nor any 9th
cr clam against either party, with the SIN
Gle exception ct tbs Cuban claims, was rec
u.ulrl iy th. conyculiun. Indeed Oh
Spam.h government dol not INSIST that th
. validity 0i tho Amlsiad claim should be thu
, recognized. notwithstanding its plymcn
{ had been recommended % Congress BY tw
OF nv predecessor, a. we'll as by myself. an
an appropriation lur that purpose had ra-
seI the Ssuair of the United States. The
4, were content that u should bo submitted &
the hoard Tor examination aud decision
. Ike the other claims Both government
werr bound respectively e. pay the amount
awarded o. the several claimants % at sue
time aud places as mas b. fixed by aud &C
, curthnr % the tenor Of said awards ~
| transmitted this contention o. The Sen
Q ate COZ their constitutional action on the 3
{ Of May. lsiO, and On the 9Th Of the sue
cc,ding June they determined that the
would /" not advise and consent - 10 Us Tat
iGcation.
r These proceeding. place our relations " ID
4 Spain ia an awkward and emhArrtssin
. position. II b. mere than probable tha
. ihe inal adjustment Of these claims will Dc
yOlyc upon ms successor.
!, rcileratc the recommendation containe
in my annual Message Of December, 1855
, and repeated In that II 1859. IL favor OF a.
d. acquisition of Cuha from Spain by fair puT
!. chase. firmly believe that such an acqui
sitiun would coniribute essentially 10 n
well.being and prosperity OF both countrle
in all future tune. rs we'll as prove the GET
tain means Of Immediately aholishlng ih
African slave trade throughout the world
i | would not repeatthe recommendation az
: on the present occasion, II believed tia
70 the transfer Of Cuba 60 the United States
upon conditions highly favorable % Spai
could justly tarnish the national honor q
, the proud and ancient Spanish monarchy
Surely no person ever attributed 10 the frs
! Napoleon disregard Of the national homo
a of France. for transferring Louisiana 10 th
I. United States for iair equivalen. both il
money and commercial advantages.
fThe Chinese are faithfully fulfilling thei
obligations TO tho citizens Of this govern
ment
With Austria, and the other powers O