North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-12-20

eminent. The sincere desire for peace by
which am animated led me TO approve the
proposal, already made, to submit the ques
tions which had thus arisen between the
countries 10 arbitration. These questions
are of such moment that they must have
commanded the attention Of the great
Powers. and are so interviewer with the
reace 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 mutual claims between
the two countries, from which these for
the depredations before mentioned should
be excluded The prop sition, in that very
unsatisfactory form, has been declined.
The United States did not present the
subject As an impeachment of the good
faith of Power which was protesting The
most friendly dispositions but as involving
questions of pnblc Law, of which the settle
ment is essential to the peace OF nations;
and. though pecuniary reparatlon to their
citizens would have followed incidentally
on 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 pinci Piles OF international law
The correspondence will be placed before
you. The ground on which the British
Minister rests his justification is substantial
". TINT the municipal law of a nation, and
the domestic interpretations of that law,are
the measure of its duty as a neutral; and
feel bound to declare my opinion, before you
and tefore the world, that the justification
cannot be sustained before tie tribunal of
all nations At the same time do not adj
wise 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 of the establishment
Of our free constitution, the civilized world
has been convulsed by revolutions in the
interest of democracy or of monarchy 4; but
through all those revolutions the United
States have wisely 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 consis-
tentiy followed the advice of WASHINGTON
to recommend it only bv the careful preser
vation and prudent use of the blessing
During all the intervening period the poll
cy of European Powers and of the United
States has, on the whole, been harmonious.
Twice, indeed, rumors of invasion of some
parts of America, in the interest of mon
archy,have prevailed twice my predeces-
sors have ha! occasion to announce the
views OF tnis nation in respect to such in
reference. On both occasions the remon-
STRANGE of the United States was respect
ed, from deep conviction, on the part OF
European Governments, that the system of
not-inlerference and mutual abstinence
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 nations of Europe to choose their own
dynastles and form their own systems of
government This consistent moderation
may justly demand corresponding mod
Grafton. We should regard it as great
caldmity TO ourselves, to the cause of good
government, and to the peace of the world,
should any European Power challenge til
Amer can people, as it were,to the efence
OF repubicanism against foreign intcrfer
ence. We cannot forsee and are unwilling
to considder what opportunities might pre-
sent themselves, what combinations might
otter to protect ourselves against desi igns in
imical to our form of government. The
United States desire to act in the future aS
hor al h.,
never will be driven from th at course but
by the aggression of European Powers =
and we rely on the wisdom and justice of
those Powers to respect the system of nom
interference which has so long been sane
toned by time, and which; by its good re
suits has approved itself to both conti-
nents.
The correspondence between the United
States and France,in reference to questions
which have become subjects of discussion
between the two governments, will at a
proper time, be laid before Congress-
When, on the organization of our gov
ernment, under the constitution, the Presi-
dent of United States delivered his inauour
al address to the two Houses of Congress.
he slid to them, and through them to the
country AID to mankind, that "the preser-
walton Of the sacred fire of liberty and the
dest ny of the republican form of govern
ment are jnstly considered as deeply, per-
haps as 6ually. staked on the experiment
intrusted to the American people" And
the House of Representatives answered
WASHINGTON, bv the voice of MADISON
AVE adore the invisible hand which has
led 4he American people, through so many
difficulties, to cherish conscious responsi
bii,y for the destiny ofrepublican liberty !"
More than seyenty-six years have gliied
away since there words were spoken; the
United States have passed through severer
trials than were foseseen and now, at this
new epoch in our existence as one nation,
,.,:,L .,,,n H., IL H. rnu.O.. j