The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1860-12-13

who las escaped from one State to another, to b
restored and delivered up to him; and the validit
T of the Fugitive Slave Law, enacted for this pur
pose, together with decara ton that all Stat
laws impairing or decreasing this light are viola
tions of the Constitution, and consequently null
and void.
1t may be objected, that this construction of tn,
| Constitution has already been settled by the Su
preme Court of the United States and what more
ought to be required? The answer is that very
large proportion of the people othe United States
still doubt the correctness of this decision, and new
er will cease from agitation and admit its binding
force until clearly established by the people Of the
several States in their sovereign apacity,
Such an explanatory amendment would, 1t Is be-
leved, forever terminate the existing discussions
and restore peace and harmony among tht States
1t oughtnot to be doubted that such an appeal to
the arbitrament established by the Constitution
itself, would be received with favor by all the
States ofthe Conrederacy. in any event 1t ought
to be tried in spirit of Cancellation before any OF
these States shall separate themselves from the
Union.
When I entered upon the duties of the Presi-
Dental Office neither the aspect ofour foreign nor
domestic affairs was at all satisfactory. e were
involved in dangerous complications with several
nations. and two of our territories we're In state
of revolution against our Government restora.
ton OF the African Slave Trade had numerous
and powerful advocates unlawful military eXpe-
ditiOns were countenanced by many of onr citizens
and were suffered, in defiance OF the efforts OF our
purpose of making war upon the unoffending peo-
pie of the neghboring Republics, with whom we
were at peace
In addition to these and other difficulties we
experienced revulslon III monetary affairs, soon
after my advent into Office proving of unexampled
severity and ruinous consequences to allthe great
interests of the country When we take retro
spect of what was then our condition, and con
trast this with its material prosperity at the time
of the late Presidential election, we have album
IN Ell tO
merciful providence which has never forsaKen us
as nation, in all our trials.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIoNs--GREAT BRITAIN.
| Our relations with Great Britain are of the mos
| friendly character. Since the commencement o.
my administration, the two dangerous questions
arising from the Clayton and Butwer treaty, anC
from the right of search claimed by the Britsl
Government, have been amicably and honorabll
| adjusted The discordant constructions of the
Clayton and Bulwer treaty between the two Gov
ernments, which, at different periods of the dis
cussion, bore threatening aspect, have resulted
in a final settlement, entirely satisfactory to thi
| government.
In my last annual message, informed Congress
| that the British Government had not then com
pleted arrangements with the Republics of Hondu
ras and Nicaragua in pursuance of tbs underta
| king between the two Governments 1t never
theless confidently expected that the good worl
will Gre long be accomplished This confidence
has since been fulfilled Her Brtanc Majest,
November, 1859, and with Nicaragua, on the 2Stl
of August, 1861 relinquishing the Mosqueto Pro
tectirate. Besides, by the former, the Bay Island
are recognized as part OF the Republic of IIondu
ras.
1t may be observed that the stipulatons of thes
treaties conform III every important particular t.
the amendments adopted at London, on the It'll
October, 1856, between the two governments /
will be recollected that this trea rejected b.
the British government because of objection f
just and important amendment Of the Senate f.
the article relating to Ruatan and the other Is
lands in the Bay Of Honduras 1t is a source q
sincere satisfaction to all classes of our fellow Gil
izens and especially to those engaged in foreio
commerce, that the claim on the pant of Grea
Britain forcibly to visit and search American mel
chant vessels on the high seas III time of reacc
has been abandoned This was by far, the mos
: dangerous question to the peace of the two cour
tries, which has existed since the war of 1912
Whilst it renamed open, they might at an
moment have been percipitated into q war; Tbi
was rendered manifest, by the exaspe, ated state
puohc feeling throughout our entire country prt
= duced by the forcible search of American me-
chant vessels by British cruisers on the coast
Cubas in the spring of 1858. Tho American pc
. PIE hailed with general acclaim The orders of II
Secretary OF the Navy to our navy force in Ii
Gulf of Mexico, to protect all vessels OF the I'm
ted States on the high seas from search or dete,
! ton by the vessels OF war of any other nation.
These orders might have produced an unfort,
nate collision between the naval forces ct the Jy
9 countries. This was most fortunately prevente
f by an appeal TO the justice of Great Britain an
the law of nations, as eXpounded by hermost en-
inent jurlsts. The only question of any imno
lance which still remains open is the disputed
lie between the two Governments TO the Island
San Juan, in the vicinity of w Washington Territor
As this question is still under negotiation it is M
i deemed advisable at the present moment to max
any other alusion to the subject.
| The recent visit of the Prince of Wales in n
, proprae character, to the people of this countr
f,.1. fol =
= consequences it cannot fail to ncra ase the XII
bred and kindly feelings of both countries in tic
political and social intercourse with each other.
FRANCE
t With France, our ancient and powerful suo,
our relations continue to be ofthe most fr;aji
character. A decision has recently been 49,
by q French Judicial Tribunal. with the en-
ton OF the Imperial Government, which cam,
fail to foster the sentiments OF mutual rerorJ ti
have so long existed between fhe two co,,+ sii
] Under the French law, no person can SCR
the armies in France unless he be French cit
zen. VI
+ The law of France rocogniziDo tbo ro.,..
right of x2atration, it follows az nona,tn
consequence, that Frenchmtn by the fa"f !,
having become a citizen of the United STATE l. y
! changed his allegiance and has lost bis ,ot Ia
character. He cannot, therefore, be COMMODITY '
, serve in the French armies, III CAGE he sbo,,ij -
: turn TO his native country.
These principles were ammo Inced in 1870 i
the French minister OF War and in two Ia ia ca.
SEES have beeAconhrmed by the French Judicio ~,
! In these, Two natives OF France have been d.
charged from The French army, because thew La
become American Citizens. To employ tbe' In
guage OF Cur present MInISter 10 France who bn
rendered good service on this occasion ii do mo
think our rteucn uHturallbed FELLOW citi Zens vi
hereafter experience much 6uBo, aDce nm RI;
subject. / venture to predict that the time il No.
tar distant wnen tic Uther Continental nnr,ar
VIII adopt the same wise ana just policy which
mas done so much honor 10 the enlightened GOV,
eInment vi Inc Emperor. - In any event on
government Is bound 10 protec. the rights of he
Hturalzed citizens eVeryWiIere TO the same ex
tent, Lnough they had drawn til cir first breath il
Inns country. we can recognize no distinction
between our native and natUralized citizens
RUSSIA
Between the great Empire O. Russia and tht
United States, the mutual friendship and regurC
which has SO long existed, still continues to pre-
vail, and, if possible to ncrea G. Indeed, our re
ations with the Empire are all that we could de
| sire.
Our relations with Spain are now Of a compli
Gated, though less dangerous character, than the
have been for many years, t)nr citizens hay
long held, and continue to held numerous claim
! against the Spanish government. These baV
been ably urged tor series OF years by our sue
cessive diplomatic representa- yes al Madrid, bu
i without obtaining redress. Ibe Spanish govern
ment finally agreed to institute JOINT commission
for the adjustment of these claims and on the 5u
day Of March, 1867 concluded convention TO
that purpose with our present Minister at Mad
rid.
Under this convention, what has been demon
mated tne Cuba Claims, amounting to $l2o, 49,
Ia which more than one hundred OF our fellow cit
liens are interested, were recognized, and thu
Spanish government agreed to pay one hundred
thousand dollars of this amount within three
months following the exchange Of Publications -
The payment of the remaining sc, "a was t
wait the decision Of the commissioners for OF
against the Amistad claim, but in any event, th
balance was to be paid to the claimants, eithe
by Spain or the United States. These terms, have
every reason 10 know, are highly satisfactory t.
the holders of the Cuban Claims Indeed, the,
! have made a formal offer, autL orzing the Stat
department to settle their claims, and 10 deduc
the amount of the Amistad claims from the SUM
which they are entitled to receive from Spain.
This offer, of course, cannot be accepted. AL
2 other claims of citizens Of tie United States
against Spain, or Of subjects of the Queen o
SPAIN against the United states, including th
aI,,,istaG claim were by this C4unention referred