Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-12-14


amty with all foreign nations and Powers,
and l have every reason to believe that they
all, without exception. are animated by the
same disposition. Our relations with the
Emperor Of China, so recent in their origin,
are most friendly, Our commerce with bis
dominions is receiving new developments; and
it is very pleasing to find that the Government
of that great empire manifests satisfaction with
our policy, and reposcs just confidence in the
fairness which marks our intercourse. The
unbroken harmony Between the United States
and the Emperor of Russia is receiving a
new support from an enterprise designed to
carry Geographic lines across the continent of
Asia, through his dominions, and so to con-
meet US with all Europe BY a new channel of
of intercourse Our commerce with South
America is about 10 receive encouragement
by direct line of mail steamships to the
rising Empire of Brazil. The distinguished
party of men of science who have recently
left our country to make n scientific explora-
ton of the natural history and rivers and
mountains ranges of that region have received
from the Emperor that generous welcome
which was to have been expected from his
constant friendship for the United States, and
HIS Wcll-hHpWH Hcdt III pipHiptihS WV "N
vaucemcnt of knowledge. A hope is enter
tanned that our commerce with the rich and
and populous countries that border the Mcdi
terrancan sea may be largely increased Moth
ing will be wanting, on the part of this Gov
eminent, to extend the protection of our flag
over the enterprise of our fellow citizens. We
receive from the Powers in that region as
suranccs of good will; and it is worthy of note
that special envoy has brought us messages
of confidence on the death of our late Chief
Magistrate from the Bay of Tunis, whose rule
| includes the old dominions of Carthage, on
| the African coast.
Our domestic contest, now happily ended,
has left some traces in our relations with one
at least of the great maritime powers The
formal accordance of bcligerent rights to the
insurgent State was unprecedented and has
not been justified by the issue But in the
systems of neutrality pursued by the Powers
which made that concession there was n
marked difference. The materials of war for
the insurgent States were furnished, in u
great measure, from the workshops of Great
Britain; and British ships. manned by British
subjects, and prepared for receiving British
armaments, sailed from the ports Of Great
| Britain to make war on American commerce,
under the shelter of commission from the
insurgent States. These ships, having once
escaped fron British ports, ever afterwards
entered then in every part of the world, to
rcGt, and so to renew their dcpredatlons. The
consequences of this conduct were most disas-
trous to the States then in rebellion, incrcas-
ing their desolation and misery by the pro-
longation of our contest. 1t had, moreover,
the effect, to 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 admins
tration of the Government, The sincere de-
sire for peace by which am animated led me
to approve the proposal already made, 10 sub
nit the questions which had thus arisen be-
tween the countries to arbitration. The ques-
tons are of such moment that they must
have commanded the attention of the Great
Powers, and are so interviewer with the peace
and interests of every one of them as to have
insured 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 depredations
before mentioned should be excluded. The
proposition in that very unsatisfactory form
has been declined.
The United States did not present the sub
ioct as an impeachment Of the good faith OF a
Power which was protesting the most friendly
dispositions. but as involving questions of
public law. of which the settlement is essen
tial to the peace of nations; and, though nccu-
mary repatriation to their injured citizens
would have followed incidentally on decis-
ion against Great Britain. such compensation
was not their primary object. They had Il
higher motive, and it was the interests of peace
and justice to establish important principles
Of international law. The correspondence
will be placed before you. The ground on
which the British Minister rests his justfca-
ton is substantially that the municipal law of
a nation, and the l::aes::c interpretations of
that law, are the measure Of its duty as a
Neutral and feel bound to declare my opin-
ion, before you and before 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 friendship
between the two countries must rest on the
basis of mutual justice.
From the moment Of the establishment of
our free Constitution, the civilized world has
been convulsed by revolutions in 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 republicanism. 1t is the only government
suited to our condition; but we have never
sought to impose it on others; and we have
consistently followed the advice of Washing
ton, to recommend it only by the careful pre-
servation and prudent use of the blessing. -
During 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 interests of monarchy, have
prevailed; twice my predecessors have had oc-
casion to announce the views of this nation
in respect to such Interference. GA both &C.
casions the remonstrance of the United Srates
was respected, from deep conviction on the
part Of European governments that the system
of non interference and mutual abstinence
from probagandism was the true rule for the
two hemispheres. Since those times we have
advanced in wealth aid power; but we retain
the same purpose to leave the nations of Eu-
IN ,hooea tnoir own dvn,st;,u ava for,,