Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-12-15

CQIulCICc, IHc cHtAlCL VI d
sion from the insurgent States. These ships
having once escaped from British ports, ey-
er afterwards entered them in every part OF
the world, toreft, and so to renew their de-
predations. The consequences of this con
duct were most disastrous to the States then
in rebellion, increasing their desolation and
misery by the prolongation Of our civil con-
test 1t had, moreover, the effect, to a great
extent, to drive the American flag from the
sea- and to transfer much Of our shipping
and our commerce TO the very Power whose
subjects had created the necessity for such
change. These events took place before !
was called to the administration OF the Gov
ernment The sincere desire for peace by 4
which / am animated led me TO approve the
proposal, already made, to submit the ques-
tions which had thus arisen between the
countries to arbitrations These questions
are of such moment that they must have
commanded the attention of the great Pow
ers, and are so interviewer with the peace
and interests of every one of them as to have
ensured an impartial decision | regret TO
inform you that Great Britain declined the
arbitrament, but, on the other hand, invited
us to the formation of joint commission to
settle mutual claims between the two coun
tries, from which those for the depredatlons
before mentioned should be excluded The
proposition, in that very unsatisfactory form
has been declined.
The United States did not present the sub
ject as an impeachment of the good faith OF
a Power which was professingthe most friend
ly dispositions, but as involving questions OF
public law, Of which the settlement is essen
tial to the peace Of nations; and, though pc
cuniary reparation to their injured citizens
would have followed incidentally on decl-
sion against Great Britain, such eompensa-
ton was not their primary object. They had
a higher motive, and it was In the interests of
peace and Justice to establish important prin-
ciples of international law. The correspon-
ddnce will be placed before you. The ground
on which the British Minister rests his justif
cation is, substantially, that the municipal
law of nation, and the domestic interpreta-
ton of that law, are the measure OF its duty
as a neutral; and feel bound to declare my
opinion, before you and the world, that that
justification cannot be sustained before the
tribunal of nations. At the same time / do
not advise to any present attempt at redress
by acts Of legislation. For the future, friend
ship between the two countries must rest on
the basis of mutual justice.
From the moment the establishment of our
free Constitution, the civilized world has been
convulsed by revolutions to the interests of
democracy or of monarchy; but through all
those revolutions the United States have wise
ly and firmly refused to become propagandIsts
of repubicanism. 1t is the only government
suited to our condition; but we have never
sought to impose it on others; and we have
consistly followed the advice Of Washington
to recommend it only by the careful preser-
Yation and prudent use of the blessing. Dnr-
ing all the intervening period the policy Of
European Powers, and Of the United States,
has, on the whole been harmonious. Twice,
indeed, rumors of the invasion of some parts
of America, In the interest of monarchy, have
prevailed; twice my predecessors have had
occasion to announce the views of this nation
in respect to such interference. On both oc
casions the remonstrance of the United States
was respected, from deep conviction, on the
part Of European Governments, that the sys-
tenn of non-interference and mutual absti-
nence from propagandism was the true rule
for the two hemispheres. Since those times
we have advanced in wealth and power; but
we retain the same purpose to leave the ma
tons of Europe to choose their own dynasties
and form their own systems of government.
This consistent moderation may Justly demand
a corresponding moderation. We should re-
gard it as a great calamity to ourselves, to the
cause of good government, and to the peace
of the world, should any European power
challenge the American people, as it were, to
the defence of republicanism against foreign
interference. We cannot foresee and are un-
willing to consider what opportunities might
present themselves, what combinations might
offer TO protect ourselves against designs in
imical to our form of government. The Uni
ted States desire to act IN the future as they
have ever acted heretofore; they never will be
driven from that course but by the aggres-
sion of European Powers; and we rely on the
wisdom and justice of these Powers to res
pect the system of non-interference which has
so long been sanctioned by time and which,
byits good results, has approved itself to both
continents.
The correspondence between the United
States and France, in reference to questions
which have become subjects of discussions be-
tween the two Governments, viii, at proper
time, be laid before Congress.
When, on the organization of our Govern
ment, under the Constitution, the President
of the United States delivered his inaugural
address to the two Houses of Congress, he
said to them, and through them to the coun-
try and to mankind, that ''the preservation OF
the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny Of
the republican model of government are just
ly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally
staked on the experiment intrusted TO the
American people," And the House of Rep.
voice of Madison: s'We adore the inyisabl5
hand which has led the American people,
through so many difficulties to cherish a con.
scious responsibility for the destiny of repub-
hcan liberty More than seYenty-six years
have glided away since these words were spo-
ken; Che United States have passed through
severer trials than were foreseen; and now, al
this epoch in our existence as one nation
with our Union purified BY sorrows and
strengthened by conflict, and established by
the virtue of the people, the greatness of tht
occasion invites US once more to repeat, with
solemnity, the pledges of our fathers to hold
ourselves answerable before our fellow men
for the success of the republican form Of Gov.
ernment. Experience has proved Its sufi
cheney in peace and in war; it has vindicated
its authority through dangers and Affections
and sudden and terrible emergencies, which
would have crushed any system that had beer
less firmly fixed in the heart OF the people
at the inauguration of Washington, the for
eign relations of the country were few, anC
its trade repressed by hostile regulations; nov
all the civilized nations of the globe welcome
our commerce, and their Governments pro
fess towards us amity. Then our country fell
its way hesitatingly along an untried path
with States so little bound together by raplC
means of communication as to be hardly
known to one another, and with historic ira
ditions extending over very few years; nov
intercourse between the States is swift ano
intimate; the experience OF centuries has been
crowded into q few generations, and has erea
ted an intense, indestructible nationality
Then our jurisdiction did not reach beyonC
heiu convenient boundaries of the territory
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