The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-12-07

Mhich still remains open is the disputed
| title between the two governments to the
fislaAd of San Joan, in the vicinity OF Wash
ington Territory. As the question is still
under negotiation, il 10 not deemed advisable
at the present moment to make any other
allusion to the subject.
The recent visit OF the Prince OF Wales,
in Q private character, to he people Of this
country, has proved to be a most suspicious
event. In Its consequences it cannot fail
to increase the kindred and friendly feeling
which trust may ever actuate the govern
ment and people of both countries in their
political and social intercourse with each
other.
With Frsnce, our sncient and powerful
ally, our relations continue to be Of the mosi
friendly character. A decision has recently
been made by French judicial tribunal
with the appreciation OF the imperial gov.
ernment, which cannot fail to foster the
sentiments of mutual regard 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 recog.
nizing the natural right Of expatriaticn, II
follows as necessary consequence that a
Frenchman, by the fact OF having become a
citizen of the United States, has changed
bis allegiance and has lost his native char.
acter. He cannot, therefore, be compelled
to serve in the French armies in case he
should return to his native country. These
principles were announced in 1862 by the
French Ministers 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 citiz ens.
To employ the language of our present
Minister to France, who has rendered good
service on this occasion. 81 do not think
our French naturalzed .citizens will
hereafter experience much annoyance on
this subject" Iventure to predict that the
time is not far distant when the other Con
tinental powers will adopt the same wise
and just policy which has done so muct
honor TO tho enlightened government Of tht
Emperor. In any event our government il
bound to protect the rights OF our natural
lied citizens everywhere to the same exten
as though they had drawn their first breAtl
in this country. We can recognize no dis
tinction between our native and natur alize
citizens.
Between the great empire Of Russia an
the U. S. the mutual friendship and regar
hich has 80 long existed still continues t
prevail, and, il possible, to increase. Ia
deed, cur relations with that empire are a.
that we could desire.
Our relations with Spain are now of
more complicated though less dangerou
character than they have been for man
years. Our citizens have long held, an
, continue to hold, numerous claims agOins
, the s Spanish Government. These had bee
ably urged tor a series of years by our sue
cessive diplomatic representatives. at Madrlt
but without obtaining redress. The SPANS
government finally agreed to institute jor
| commission for the adjustment OF thes
, claims, and on the fifth day of March, 1861
concluded convention for the purpose wit
( our present minister at Madrid. Under tn
convention, what have been denominate
"the Cuban claims" amounting to $l2i
635 and 81 cents, in which more than On
hundred of our fellow citizens are interested
were recognized, and the Spanish govern
ment egreed to pay 100000 of this amour
"Witbin three months OF the exchange @
ratifications," The payment Of the remain
ing $2s,536 81 was to await the decision o
the Commissioners for, or against, "th
Amistud claim" but in any event the bal
lance was to be paid to the claimants, eithe
by Spain or the United States. These term
have every reason to know ore high
satisfactory to the holders of the Cuba
cloims. Indeed, they have made formal ol
fer authorising the State Department to settl
these claims, and to deduct the amount Q
the Amistad claim from the sums which the
are entitled to receive from Spain. Thi
offer, of course, cannot he accepted.
; All other claims of the citizens Of th
United States against Spain, or of subject
Of the Queen of Spain against the Unite
States, including the "Amistad Claim,
were by this convention referred to boar
Of commissioners in the usual form. Ne
ther the validity of the AmistHd claim nc
any other claim against either plrty, wit
the single exception of the Cuban cluim;
was recognised by the convention. Indeed
the Spanish government did not insist tha
the validity of the Amistad claim should b
thus recognized, Notwithstanding its pay
ment had been recommended to Congress
by two Of my predecessors as we'll as b!
myself, and an appropriation for that purpos
had passed the Senate of the United States
They were content that it should be submit
ted TO the board for examination and decs
ion, like the other claims. Both govern
ments were bound respectively TO pay tn
amounts awarded to the several claima nj
sat such times and places as may be fxe,
by and according TO the tenor ofsad awards.
transmitted this convention to the Senat'
for their constitutional action on the Sd o
May, 1860, and on the 27tb of the succeed.
ing June they determined that they woul
not "advise and consent" to its ratification
These proceedings place our relation
with Spain in on awkward and embarrass.
ing position. 1t lie more than probable tina
the final adjustment of these claims will de-
volve upon my successor.
! reiterate the recommendation containe
in my annual Message OF December, 1855
and repeated in that of 1859, in favor of tn
az quisition Of Cuba from Spain by fair pur
chase. firmly believe that such an aCqui
si.ion would contribute essentially to tn
we'll being and prosperity of both countrie
in all future time, as well as prove the GER
tain means OF Immediately abolisbing th
African Slave trade throughout the world
| would not repeat this recommendatio
upon the present occasion, if | believed th'
The transfer of Cuba to the United State!
upon conditions highly favorable to Spair
uould justly tarnish the national honor &
he proud and ancient Spanish monarchy
Surely no person never attributed to th
first Napoleon disregard of the nation
: honor OF France, for transferring Louisian