The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-12-13

reductions, until the whole shall be liaui-
dated; and this, as will be seen from the es-
Inmates of the Secretary Of the Treasury,
may be accomplished by annual payments
even within a period not exceeding thirty
years. have faith that we shall do all
this within reasonable time; that, as we
have amazed the world by the suppression
of civil war Which was thought to be be
yond the control Of any government 50 we
shall equally show the superiority of our
institutions by the prompt and faithful dis
charge Of our national obligations.
The Department of Agriculture, under its
present direction, is accomplishing much in
developing and utilizing the vast agricultu
raj capabilities Of the country, and for in
formation respecting the details of its man
agement reference is made to the annual
report Of the Commissioner.
have dealt thus fully on our domestic
affairs because Of their paramount impor-
lance. Under any circumstances our great
extent Of territory and variety Of climate,
producing almost everything that is neces-
sary for the wants, and even the comforts
OF man, make US singularly independent Of
the varying policy Of foreign powers, and
protect US against every temptation to cen
tangling alliances" while at the present
and the strength that comes from harmony,
will be our best security against g nations
who feel power and forget right" For my
self it has been and will truly be my con-
slant aim to promote peace and amity with
all foreign nations and powers; and have
every reason to believe that they all, with
out exception, are animated by the same
disposition. Our relations with the Empe-
ror OF China, so recent in their origin,
are most friendly. Our commerce,
with his dominions is receiving new
Developments; and it is very pleasing to
and that the government of that great en-
pire manifests great satisfaction with our
policy, and reposes just confidence in the
fairness. which marks our intercourse. The
unbroken harmony between the United
States and the Emperor of Russia is receiv-
ing new support from an enterprise de-
signed to carry telegraphic lines across the
continent Of Asia, through his dominions,
and so to connect us with all Europe by a
new channel of intercourse. Our commerce
with South America is about to receive en-
couragement by direct line of mail steam
ships to the rising empire Of Brazil. The
distinguished party Of men of science who
have recently left our country to make a
scientific exploration of the natural history
ana rivers and mountain ranges of that re-
gion, have received from the Emperor that
generous welcome which was to have been
exp ,Hted from his constant friendship for
the United States, and his well known zeal
IN Promoting the advancement of know
ledge A hope is entertained that our com
IN cree, with the rich and populous coun.
tries that border the Mediterranean Sea,
may be largely increased. Nothing will be
wanting on the part Of this government to
extend the protection Of our flag over the
enterprise of our fellow-citizens. We re-
ceiye from the powers in that region assur-
ances of good will and it is worthy of
note that q special envoy has brought us
messages Of coincidence on the death Of our
late chief magistrate from the Bey 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 maratime powers.
The formal accordance Of belligerent rights
to the insurgent states was unprecedent-
ed, and has not been justified by the issue.
But. in the system of neutrality maintained
by the powers that made that concession,
there was a marked difference. The mate
rails of war for the Confederate States, were
furnished in q great measure from the work
shops of Great Britain: and British ships,
manned by British subjects. and prepared
| for receiving British ornaments, sailed from
| the ports of Great Britain to make war up
I on American commerce, under the shelter Of
commission from the insurgent states.
These ships, having once escaped from Brit
ish ports, ever afterward entered them in
any part of the world to reft and so renew
their depredations. The consequences Of
this conduct were most disastrous to the
states then in rebellion, increasing their
desolation and misery by the prolonging of
{ he civil contest. 1t had moreover the
effect to drive the American flag from the
seas to great extent, and to transfer much
of our shipping and our commerce to the
very power whose subjects had created
necessity for such change. These events
took place before was called to the ad-
ministration of the Government The sim
cere desire for peace by which an ANNA
ted, led me to approve the proposals already
made to submit the question which has thus
arisen between the two countries to arbitra-
ton. These questions are of such moment
that they must have attracted the attention
Of the great Powers, and are so interviewer
with the peace and interests of every one
Of them as to have ensured an impartial de-
cision. | regret to inform you that Great
Britain declined the arbitrament. but on
the contrary, invited US to the formation of
joint commission to settle mutual claims
between the two countries, from which those
for the depredations before mentioned
should be entirely excluded The PROPOSE
ton in that altogether 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 ques-
tons Of public law, Of which the settlement
is essential to the peace Of nations; and.
though pecuniary reparation to their injured
citizens would have followed incidentally on
decision against Great Britain, such COM
pensation 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.
The correspondence will be placed before
you. The ground on which the British min
lister rests his justification is, substantially
that 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
before the world, that that justification can
not be sustained before the tribunal Of ma
tons At the same time do not advise any
present attempt At redress by acts Of legis-
lation. 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 hut