The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-12-18

SouHty' IhCoe piluCiplSS were duHouu-
ced in 1859 by the French Minister O
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, be.
cause they had become American citi.
zens. To employ the language of oul
present Minister to France, who has rem
dered good service on this occasion, 81
do not think our French naturaized fell
low citizens will hereafter experience
much annoyance OH this subject. l ven.
ture to predict that the time is not fal
distant when the other continental pow
ers will adopt the same wise and just
policy which has done so much honor to
the enlightened government Of the En-
peror." In any event, our government
is bound to protect the rights of her nat
uralized citizens everywhere, to the same
extent as though they had drawn their
first breath in this country. We can
recognize no distinction between our ma
tive and naturalized citizens.
Between the great Empire of Russia
and the us, the mutual friendship and
regard which has SO long existed, still
continues to prevail, and, if possible, TO
increase Indeed, our relations with
that Empire are all that we could de-
sire.
Our relations with Spain are now of a
more complicated, though less danger
Gus, character than they have been for
many years. Our citizens have long
held, and continue to hold, numerous
claims against the Spanish government.
These have been ably urged for series
of years by our successive diplomatic
representatives at Madrid, but without
obtaining redress. The Spanish gov
ernment finally agreed to institute ajoint
commission for the adjustment of these
claims, and on the 9th day of March, g.
GO, concluded a convention for that pur-
pose with our present Minister at Mad
rid. Under this Convention, what have
been denominated the Cuban claims,
amounting 10 S128, 635 "a, in which
more than one hundred of our fellow
citizens are interested, were recognized,
and the Spanish Government agreed to
pay one hundred thousand dollars Of this
amount within three months following
the exchange of Publications. The pay
ment of the remaining S28,635 54 was
to wait the decision of the commission
ers for or against the Amistad claim, but
in any event the balance was to be paid
to the claimant either by Spain or the
United States. Those terms have ev-
cry reason to know are highly satisfac-
tory to the holders of the Cuban claims.
Indeed, they have made formal offer,
authorizing the State Department to set
tie their claims, and to deduct the
amount of the Amistad claims from the
sums which they are entitled 10 receive
from Spain. This offer, of course, can
not 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, inclu-
ding the Amistad claim, were by this
Convention referred TO Board of Com
missioners in the usual form. Neither
the validity of the Amistad claim, nor
any other claim against either party, with
the single exception of the Cuban claims,
was recognized by the Convention. In
deed, the Spanish Government did not
insist t1at the validity of the Amistad
claim should be thus recognized, not
withstanding its payment had been rec.
commended to Congress by two of my
predecessors, as we'll as by myself, and
an appropriation for that purpose had
passed the Senate of the United States
They were content that it should be sub
mitted TO the Board for examination and
decision like the other claims. Both
Governments were bound respectively 10
pay the amounts awarded to the several
claimants, at such times and places as
may be fixed by and according TO the ten
or of said awards, and transmitted by
this Convention to the Senate for their
constitutional action. On the 81 OF May
1860, and on the eth of the succeeding
June, they determined that they would
not advise and consent to its ratification.
These proceedings place our relations
with Spain in an awkward and embar
rassing position. Ii is more than prob.
able that final adjustment of these
claims will devolye upon my successor.
! reiterate the recommendation contain
ed in my annual message of Dec. 1858,
and repeated in that OF December, 1889,
in favor Of the acquisition of Cuba from
Spain by fair purchase. firmly believe
that such an acquisition would contribute
essentially TO the well-being and pros
perity of both countries, in all future
time, rs well as prove the certain means
of Immediately abolishing the African
slave trade, throughout the world.
would not repeat this recommendation
upon the present occasion, if | believed
that the transfer OF Cuba 10 the United
States. upon conditions highly favorable
TO Spain, could Justly tarnlsh the nation
al honor of the proud aud ancient Span
ish monarchy. Surely no person ever
attributed to the first Napoleon a disre
gard of the national honor of France. fol
transferring louisiana TO the United
States for fair equivalent, both in mon
ey and commercial advantages.
AUSTRIA, &c.
With the Empire of Austria and The
remaining continental powers pf Europe
including that Of the Sultan, our rela
tons continue to be of the most friendly