The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-20
4tesioent goB4son's 3trcssogc.
CONCLUDED.

begerent rights to the insugen States was unprece
denied and has not been justified by the issue. But
in the systems of neutrality pnrsucd by the powers
which made that concession there was marked differ
The materials Of war for he insurgent States
were furnished in great measure from the workshops
of Great Britain and British ships manned by British
subjects and prepared for receiving British arma-
ments sailed from ports of Great Britain make war
on American commerce uAder the shelter of commits
sion from the insurgeDt States Their ships having
once escaped from British ports afterwards en-
tered them and in every port OF the world to ret and
so to renew their depreGatious The consequences
of this conduct most disastrous to the States
then iE rebellion, increasing their dcsolaton and
misery by the proongatioh Of oar civil contest It
had moreover to drive the American flag from the
/ sea and transfer much of our shipping and COM
MERGE to the very power whose subjects had created
the necessity for the change. These events took
place before was called TO the administration Of the
government. THE sincere desire for peace BY which
/ | am animated lead me to approve the proposal al
ready made to submit tpe question which has thus
arisen between the countries, to arbitration. These
questions are of such moment that they must have
| commanded the attention Of the great powers and
are interviewer with the peace and interests OF every
one Of them as to hagetincurred an impartial deci-
sion. regret to inform you that Great Britain de-
cined the arbrament, bat the other hand invited
us to the formation of Joint commission to settle
mutual claims between tle two countries, from which,
those for the depre datios before mentioned should
be excluded The proposition in thatyery unsatiSac-
tory form has been docliAed. The United States did
present the subject as impeachment OF the good
faith of power which was protesting the most friend
" dispositions, but as inviting questions Of public
law the settlement of which is essential to the peace
of nations; and the reharation would have followed
incidentally decision against Great Britain such
compensation was not their primary object They
had higher motive, and it was in the Interests of
peace and justice to establish Important principles OF
international law. Tie correspondence will be placed
before you Tie ground on which the b itish minis
ter rests his Justification is substantially that the mu
nicpa law OF nations and the domestic intcrprcta-
tons of that law the measures OF It's duty rs q
neutral; and feel bound to declare my opinion be-
fore YOU and all the world that Justification cannot
be sustained by the tribunal of nations. AT the same
time do not advise any present attempt at redress
by acts of legislation; for the future friendship be-
tween the two countresmst rest on the basis OF mu-
tual Justice from the moment Of the establishment OF
our constitution. The civilized world has been con-
vulsed by the revolutions in the interests OF dcmoera
CIV or of monarchy but through all these revolutions
the United States have wisely and firmly refused to
become propagandsts, and rapublicansm is the only
. government suited to condition. but have
never sought to impose it on others; and we have
consistently followed the advice OF Washington, to
commend it only by the careful preservation and prl
dent use of the blessing during all the intervening
period. The policy of European powers and Of the
United States has on tie whole, been harmonious.
Twice indeed rumors of the invasion OF parts
of America in the Interest Of monarchy, have pre-
vailed Twice my predecessors have had occasion to
announce the views of this nation in respect to such
interference Ga both occasions the remonstr4Acc Of
: the United States was respected from deep eonyc-
/ ton on the part of European governments that the
G system of non interference and mutual abstinence
from propagandisn tie true rule Tor the two benz
spheres Between these times they have advanced
p in wealth and honor, but we retain the same purpose
to leave the nations of Europe to choose their own
IS dynasties and form their systems of government
is This consistent moderltion may justly demand
'e responding moderatiGa We should regard it a
great calamity to OURSELVES, to the cause Of good gov
u ernment and the pence Of the world should any
: European power challenge the world people as it
o. were TO the defense Of TepubEcansm.
IN Against foreign interference we foresee ana
e. willing to consider WHAT opportunity might present it
self while combinations might offer to protect our
selves against designs iHmical to our form Of govern
III ment desire uqracU future as thew have
,e ever acted heretofore They VIII be driven from
that course but by the aggression Of European power
ID and we rely the wisdom and justice OF those pow
ers to respect the system of nonintererence which has
N so long been sanctioned by she world with which good
results has approvedjitscf to both continents The
" correspondence between the United States and France
r in reference questions which have become subjects
e of discussion between: the two governments willy
II proper time, be laid before congress. When d
~ organisation Of our government the president of
r United States delivered his inaugural address to \
. two houses of congress, he said to them and to
m country and mankind that the preservation Of IL,
ed sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican
model of government ae justly considered as deeply
IL perhaps finally staEtd the experiment entrusted
to the American people And the house oil represent
IN atives answered Washington by the voice OF Madison:
ne we believe the invisible hand which has led the Amer
ire lean people tTOugI many difficulties, to cherish
he responsibility for he8es1y of republican liberty
an More than seventyeza years have gded away since
M these words were spoken The United States have
passed through divers trials They were fOrcseon and
ot now at the epoah in existence nation
,n with our Union purified by sorrows and strengthened
of by conflict and established by the virtue of the pco
pie the greatness of the occasion invites more
n~l,l n
~ hold ourselves answirabe before fellow maudor
T. the success of the republican form of government Eh-
Derience has proved its sutcieney in peace, and in
,te war has vndcacd its authority through danger and
las afction and sudden and terrible emergencies which
he would have crushed any system that had been less firm
as Iy fixed in the hearts of the people. AT the naugu-
ne ration of Washington the foreign relations of the cOuu
stry few and it; trade repressed by foreign
m regulations Now all the civilized nations Of the globe
ey welcome commerce AID their governments profess
towards amity. Then our government felt its way
besitaugy along untred PATH with States so little
"a bound together by rapid means of commercial inter
course as to be hardly known to each other, and with
re- historic traditions extending very few years
Now intercourse between the States Is solld ana at
es- mate
ke Lands first colonz.d by Spain and France the coun-
IA try has acquired more complex character aud has Tor
NJ its natural limits OF the north the chain of lakes, on
the south the gulf of Mexico and onthe east ana west
led the two great oeeasE.
ext The experience Of centuries has been crowded Into
cd few generations and have created intense indus
trial nationality Then our Jurisdiction did not extend
the beyond the boundarcs Of sessions of prosperity have
zen established for heGl the necessary the territories which
Of had achieved Independence. Now form Of gov
rch eminent is the best ever known to the world and has
enabled us to engage III civil war throughout tue |
DIS four years with complete yiudcaton of the c0ns
ant tion and authority of the federal government and with
ma liberties and State institutions unimpared The
lea throng of cmgran!5 that yearly crowd to shores
asst dlo "iU''9'N0 VI W. Sou e'i'iH0''OS