The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-06

ma8ins1nec IfOin Inc Dey " Aunl8, whose rufe =
includes the old dominica of Carthage. On
the African coast. Our domestic contest. now
happily ended has left some traces in our rela-
tticns with one at least Of the great maritime
powerG The formal aoeordance of
helhgetcnt rights to The insurgents
Ates vas unprecedented, sid has not been
justified by the issue. But in the system of
neutrality pursued by the powers which made
that CONCESSION there was marked difference.
The materials Of war for the insurgent States
were furnished In great measure from work.
shops of Great Britain, and British ships
manned by British subjects, and prepared for
.receiying British armaments, sailed from the
ports of Great Britain to make war on Ameri-
can commerce. under the shelter of commits
sion from the insurgent States.
These ships having once escaped from
British ports, ever afterwards entered them
IN every part of the world to refit and so to
renew their depredations. The consequences
OF this conduct were most disastrous to the
States then in rebellion, increasing their des-
bnistiOn and misery by the prolongstion of
our civil contest. II had. moreover, the
effect, to great extent, to drive the American
Gag from the sea- and 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 l was called to the administration Of
the Government. The sincere desire for peace
| by which | am animated, led me 10 approve
| the proposal already made, to submit the
questions which had thus risen between the
countries to arbitration. These questions are
| of such moment that they must have COM
manded the attention of the great powers,
land are so interviewer with the peace
interests of every one of them as to have
insured an impartial decision. | regret TO
INFORM you that Great Britain declined the
arbltrament, 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 10 that very unsatisfactory form,
has been declined. The United States did
present the subject, and an impeachment Of
the good faith Of power which was profess
| ing the most friendly dispositions. but as
Involving questions oil public law. of which
the settlement is essential TO the peace Of
nations. and though peeuniary PREPARATION to
these injured citizens would have followed
incidentally in decision against Great
Britain. such compensation was not their
primary object. They had q higher motive.
and IT was in the interests Of peace and Justice
10 establish important principles II information
/ al law. The Correspondence will be placed
before you. The ground on which the British
+ Minister rests his justification, is substantially
/ thAt the municipal Laws OF a nation. and the
domestic interpretations ct that law are the
measure Of rs duty negtral. and | feel
bcand TO declare my opinion before you and
before The world that that Justification can.
/ aot be sustained before the tribunal of
nations 81 the same time do not
advise to any present attempt a.
trx h. pf i.af Natf on III. -,
ture. friendship between the two countries
nusi rest GA the basis OF mutual justice
FROM the moment of the establishment Of
/ our free constitution. the civilized world has
been couYelsed by revolutions III the iu-
terests Of democracy, or OF monarchy. bat
/. through al those revolutions the United
States has wisely ana firmly refused TO be-
come propo-andists Oh repabi.canism. Ii i
! the only Government suited - our condition,
/ BAT Nc have never sought To impose il =.
others and we have consistently folioyed tie
afy.ce u Washington 70 recommend Il only
4 b. the careful preservation and free use Of
\ ill., blessings. During all the intervening
period the policy of European powers and 81
/ the uited States has On the Whole been har-
moniou-. Twice indeed, minors OF the in
yA,oa oil some parts Of America in the In
+ icreSts 81 MOT arcly have prevailed. Twice
my predecessors have had occasion ~ an
nounce the views of this nation in respect to
such interference. On both occasions the re-
monstrance Of the | uited States was respect
/ ed from deep CONVICTION on the part OF Eu
ropean Governments that the system Of
non-iutcrference and mutual abstinence from
| propagandism was the true rule for the two
| hemispheres. Since those times We have ad-
yaueed in wealth and power, but We retain
! the same purpose to leave the nations of Eu-
rope 10 choose their own dynasties and form
| their own sytem of government ! his con
! sistent moderation may justly, demand cor
responding moderation. We should regard
il as great calamity to ourselves. to the
canse OF good government. and to the peace
OF the world, should any European power
challenge the American people as il were TO
| The defence of repnblicanism against foreign
(; interference. We cannot ioresee, and are
unwilling 10 consider what opportunities
might present themselves, what combinations
might offer TO protect ourselves against de-
signs inimical TO our form of government.
The uited States desire to act IN the future
as they have ever acted hefetofofe They
never will be driven from that course but bv
the aggression Of European powers, aud we
rely on the wisdom and justice OF those pow
ers to respect the system of Northumberland
which has so long been sanctioned by time,
and which by its good results has approved
itseltt to both continents. The correspondence
between the two governments, will at a proper
time be laid before Congress.
When on the organization of our govern
ment, the President of the United States, de-
ivered his inaugural address to the two
houses he said TO them, and through them to
the country and to mankind that the preser-
vation of the sacred fire of liberty and the des
tiny OF the republican model OF government
are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as
finally staked On the experiment intrusted to
the American people. and the House of Rep
n sentatiAes answered Washington = We
adore the invisible hand which has led the
American people through so many difficulties
TO cherish a conscious responsibility for the
destiny of republican liberties.
More than Seventysix years have glidcd
away since these words were spoken. The
United States have passed through severer
trials than We're foreseen, and now AZ this new
epoch IN our existence, as one nation, with
our Union purified by sorrows, and strength
ened by conflict, and ertabshed by the yir-
tue of the people, the greatness of the occa-
sion invites US once more to repeat with Sc
lemnity the pledges of our fathers. TO hold
ourselves answerable before our fellow men
for the success of the Republican form of
government. Experience has proved its suf
ficiency in peace and in war. II has vindica-
ted its authority through dangers and afilc
tons and sudden and terrible emergencies |
vh, nh svnull haya Shed any S,ctep, IA ,f