Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-16


nnder the shelter of commission from the in
surgent States. These ships, having once es-
capped from British ports. ever afterwards en-
tered them in every part of the world, to refit,
and SO to renew her depredations. The con-
sequences of this conduct were most disas-
tous to the States then In rebellion, increasing
their desolatIon and misery by the prolonga-
ton of our civil contest. 1t had, moreover,
the effect. to a great extent, to drive the
American flag from the sea, and to transfer
much of our shipping aud our commerce. to
the very Power whose object has created the
necessity for such a change. These e"ents
took place before was called to the admins
iration of the Government The sincere de-
sire for peace by which am animated led me
to apprOye the proposal, already made, To
submit the questions which had thus arisen
countries to arbitration. The ques-
tiOns are of such moment that they must have
the attention of the great Powers,
aud are so interviewer with the peace and in
terest 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 form
alton of a Joint commission to settle mutual
claims between the two countries, from which
those for the de predations before mentioned
should be excluded. The proposition, IN that
very unsatisfactory form, has been declined.
The United States did not present the sub
iect as an impeachment ofthe good faith OF
dispositions but involving questions of
public law of which the settlement Ii essen-
tial to the peace ofnations; and, though pc
cuniary PREPARATION to their injured citizens
would have followed in :ident on a decision
against Great Britain, such compensation was
not their primary object. They had higher
motive, and it vas in the interests of peace
and Justice to establish important principles of
international law. The correspondence will
be placed before You. The ground on whirh
-
substantially, that the municipal law of ma
ton and the domestic interpretations of that
law are the measure of it's duty neutral;
and feel bound to declare my opinion. before
you and before the wOrl that hat justification
cannot be sustained before the tribunal OF ma
tions. At the same time do not advise any
present attempt at redress by acts of legisla-
ton. For the future, friendship between the
two countries must rest on the basis OF mutual
justice.s -sC f-e a@sea e--t
From the moment of the establishment of
our free Constitution, the civilized world has
been convul sed by revolutions in the interest
of democracy or of monarchy; but through all
those revolutions the United States have Wise
ly and firmly refused to become pr"pagandists
of republicanism. 1t is the only Government
suited to our condition; but We have never
sought to impose it on others; but We have
consistently followed the advice of Washing
ton to recommend it only by the careful pres
ervatiOn and prudent use of the blessing.
During all the intervening period the policy
of European Powers aud of the U United States
has, on the whole. been harmonious. Twice,
indeed rumoTs of the invasion of some parts
of America, in the intere't of monarchy, have
prevailed; twice my predecessor have Ina. Oc-
casiOn to announce the views OF this nation IN
respect to such interference. On both oeca-
Sions the remOnstTance of the United States
was repeated, from deep conviction, on the
part of European Governments, that the sys-
TEN of nOn-int Inference and mutual prOpa-
gandism was the true rule for two hemlspheres.
Since these times we have advanced III wealth
and power; but we retain the same purpose
to leave the nations of Europe 10 choose their
own dynasties and form their own systems Of
government. This consistent moderation may
Justly demand corresponding moderation.
We should regard 1t as a great calamity to
ourselves, to the cause of good government,
and to the peace of the void, should any Eu
ropean Power challenge the American people,
as il were, to the defence of icpubcanlSm
against foreign interference. We cannot
f1resee, and are unwilling to consider what
opportunities might present themselves, what
combinations might offer to protect ourselves
against the designs inimical TO our form of
government. The United States desire to act
In the future as they have ever acted hereto
fore; they never will be driven from that
course but by the aggression OF European
Powers; and We rely On the wisdom and JUS
tice of those Powers to aspect the system of
non-interference which has so long been sane
toned by time and which, by its 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 discussion be-
tween the two Governments, will, at the pro-
ner time, be laid before Congress.
When on the organization of our Government.
under the con titnton, the Pre- ideIt of the United
states d. lvered his inaugural dress to the two
Houses of Congress, he said to them and through
IN m 10 the country and to mankind, that 1.-The
a.. fsva .,ft1 ~ a.a1N E,a
destiny of the republican model of government are
Justly considered as deeply, perhaps as ii ally
.ked on the experiment entrusted to the American
people" And the House OF Representatives an
swarrd Washington by the voice of Madison: "We
adore the invisible hand viii h has lei the Ameri-
can penpIs through SO many difficulties TO cherish
Conscious responsibility for the destiny CT repub
lican liberty - More than seventy-slx years have
elided away since those words were spoken; the
United States have ass d thIousl seyerer trials
than ware fore cen; and now, at this new epoch in
our existence as one nation, with our Union puTi-
hed by SORROWS, and strengthened by conflict, and
established by virtue OF the people the greatness
of the Cccasinn invites as ones more to repeat,
with solempty tue Pledges of our fathers to hold
ourselves auswerabe before Our fellow men TO. tie
success of the republican form of government. Ex-
terence has PROV its snff ;iency in peace ami in
war: il has vindicated its authority through dan
gers 1d Affections and sudd aud terrible emer-
eenciss which would have crushe any system that
had bean less firmly fixed in the heart OfIhe people
At the naugursti ton ef Washington the foreign re-
Iatous of the country were few, and its trade was
repressed by hostile relations; now ali the cIvh
ICED nations of the globe We come our commerce,
and their Governments profess towards us amity
Then our country felt its way unhesitatlnPly along
an untried path with tates so little bound 10
gether by rapid means OF communication as TO be
hardly known 10 one another, and with historic ira
ditions extending over very few years; nov inter-
course betw, the States Is swift aud 1ntma'e /;
the exper enee of centuries has been crowded into
few Generation aid has created an intense. in
drscribahle nationality. Then our jurisdiction did
not reach beyond the incopvenient boundaries OF
the territory which had achieved independence;
now through cessiOns OF lands, FIRST coioniZed by
spain and France the untTy has acquired a more
complex character, and for Its natural limits tha
chain of Lakes the Cult of Mexico, and on the east
aud west the two gIe eat other nat ona were
wa sted by civil for ages before they couid es
tablish then selves the necessary degree OF unity
the lat Mt conviction that our form of government is
the best ever known in the world has enabled Us TO
emerge from civil war within four years, with a
complete vindicatiOn of the constitutional author
ity of the General Government, and with our local
liberties and state institutions unimpared The
throngs of emigraLts that crowd to our shores are
witnesses of the confidence of all peoples IN our
permanence. Here is tine gre land OF free labor.
where industry is blessed with uneNampied rewards
and the breal of the W rking man is sweeiened b
the consciousness that the cause OF tue county rs
his own cause, his oSn safety. his own dignity
Here every one enjoys the nee use oil ms lAenie-
and the choice of activity as natural right He e,
I1nder the combined influence of fruitful soil,
genial ines. aud happy institutions, population
has increased fifteen told wlehlo century: mere.
sources wealth. has increased with two Told
greater rapidity tn n numbers, SO that We have
become secure against the nnancla siclssitudes OF
other countries, ami. alike ia business and in
opinion are SELF entered and truly independent.
Here, more and more care is given to provide edu-
cation for every one born ON our soil Here, re-
lipion released fIom political connection with the
civil government, refuses to sn5sorve the craft of
statesmen aud becomes in its 'ndepea renee. the
spiritual life OF the people. Here. toeration is sx-
tended To every apinioa, in IN quiet certainty
that trutl, is only fair field secure the vic