Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-07

visit and search American merchant vessels OF
the high seas in time Of peace, has been aban
doned. This was by far the most dangerous
question to the peace Of the two countrle:
which has existed since the war Of lSl2-
Whilst 1t remained open, they might at any
moment have been precipitated into Il war
This was rendered manifest by the exasperateC
state Of public feeling throughout our entr,
country, produced by the forcible search O
American merchant vessels by British cruiser:
on the coast Of Cuba, in the spring OF 1855
The American people hailed with general &C
claim the orders Of the Secretary Of the Nav,
to our naval force in the Gulf Of Mexico, 1T
protect ill vessels Of the United States On thu
high seas from search or detention by the yes
sells. s.of.war of any other nation" These order:
might have produced immediate collision be
tween the naval forces of the two countries
This was most fortunately prevented by an ap
peal to the justice Of Great Britain and to the
law of nations as expounded by her own mos
eminent jurlStS
The only question Of any Importance which
still remains open is the disputed title between
the two governments to the island of San Juan
in the vicinity OF Washington Territory. 4:
this question is still under negotiation, it is moi
|
make any other allusion to the subject
The recent visit Of the Prince of Wales, ir
private character, to the people Of this coru.
try has proved to be most ausplcious event
In its consequences, it cannot fail TO increase
the kindred and kindly feelings which trust
may ever actuate the government and people
OF both countries in their political and social
intercourse with each other.
FRANCE
With France, our ancient and powerful ally,
onr relations continue to be Of the most friendly
character 4 decision has recently been madc
by 4 French judicial tribunal, with the nppro.
! baton Of the Imperial Government, which can.
not fail TO foster the sentiments Of mutual re.
gard that have so long existed between the two
countries. Under the French law no person
can serve in the armies of France unless he be
q French citizen. The law Of France recogni.
sing the natural right of cXpatria;on, it follows
as 4 necessary consequence that 4 Frenchman,
by the fact Of having become citizen Of the
United States, has changed his allegiance and
has lost his native character. He cannot, there
fore, 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 Minister Of War, and in two late
cases have been confirmed by the French judi
| ciary In these, two natives Of France have
been discharged from the French army because
they had become American citizens To en-
| ploy the language OF our present minister to
France who has rendered good service on this
occasion, Il do not think our French naturali-
zed lcllow-citizcns will hereafter experience
much annoyance on this subject" | venture
to predict that the time is not far distant when
the other continental powers will adopt the
same wise and just policy which has done so
much honor to the enlightened government Of
the Emperor. In any event, our Government
is bound to protect tho rights Of our natural-
zcd citizens everywhere to the same extent as
though they had drawn their first breath in
| this country We can recogriZe no distinction
between our native and naturslized citizens.
RUSSIA.
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 increase Indeed,
our relations with that Empire are all that
we sould desire.
SPAIN.
Our relations with Spain arc now Of \ more
complicated, though less dangerous. character
than they have been for many years. Our clti.
&c 5 have long held, and continue to hold, nn.
mcro,ls claims against the Spanish Govern,
ment These had been ably urged for Il series
oil years by our successive diplomatic rep:cscn-
tatives n: Madrid, but without obtaining re-
dress. The Spanish Government finally agreed
TO institute joint commission for the adjust
ment Of these claims, and on the 9th day OF
March, 1860, concluded convention for this
purpose with our present minister at Madrid.
| Under this convention, what have been dcnom
mated "the Cuban claims" amounting 10
Sl2S, So and 5+ cents, in which more than
one hundred of our fellow citizens are interest
ed, were recognised, and the Spanish Govern
mcnt agreed to pay 100000 of this amount
''wi,hin three months following the exchange
Of ratlfcations" The payment Of the remain
ing S2S, ,635 54 was to await the decision Of the
commissioners for or against "the Amstad
claim" but in any event the balance was to
be paid to the claimants either by Spain or the
| United States These terms have every rea
son to know are nightly satisfactory to the
holders Of the Cuban claims. Indeed, they
have made n formal offer authorizing the State
Department to settle these claims, and 10 de
duct the amount Of the AniStad claim from the
sums which they are entitled to receive from
Spain This Offer Of course cannot be nc
cepted.
| All other claims of citizens Of the United
States against Spain, or Of subjects of The
Queen of Spain against the United States, IN
cludns the ''Anistad claim" were by this
convention referred to Il board Of commission
ers in the usual FORM Neither the validity o
the AmiStad claim nor Of any other claim
against either party, with the single exception
of the Cuban claims, was recognized by the
convention. Indeed. the Spanish government
did not insist that the validity Of the AIniStaC
claim should be thus recognized, notwlthstand
ing its payment had .been recommended tt
Congress by two of my predecessors as well as
by myself, and an appropriation for that pur
pose had passed the Senate OF the United
States. They were content That 1t should hi
submitted to the board loi ANIMATION AM
decision, like the other clain:~ Both govern
mcnts were bound respectfully to pay the
amounts awarded to the sew Il claimants "a
such times and places as ma! pc fixed by nno
according to the tenor of sai'i awards.
transmitted this convention TO the Senate
! for their constitutional action on the Sd May
! 1850, and OH the 27th Of the succeeding june
they determined that they would mot advise
and consent" to its ratification.
These proceedings place "uv relations will
Spain in an awkward and eu 'arrassing position
1t is more than probable That the Jnal adjust
ment Of these claims will LcTolvc upon my sue
ceSsor.
rciterate the recommendation contained r
my" Annual Message of december, 1858, anc
repeated in that Of December, 1859, in IA
vor Of the acquisition Of Cuba from Spain by
fair purchase. firmly believe that such al
ACQUISITION would contribute essentially to The
well,being and prosperity of both countries r
all future time, as well as prove the certain
means Of Immediately aboliShing the African
slave trade throughout the world. | would
not repeat this recommendation upon the pre-;
sent OCCASION if believed that the transfer
of Cuba to the United States, upon conditions
highly favorable to Spain, could justly tarnlsi
the national honor OF the proud and ancient
Spanish monarchy. Surely no person ever at
trbuted to the first Napoleon disregard o