The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-12-09

nlstratlon OF the Government. The sincere
desire Tor peace by which i am animated.
led me to approve the proposal, already
made, to submit the questions which had
thus arisen between the countries to arbi-
tration: These questions are Of such mo-
ment tha 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. l regret to inform you
ment, but on the other hand, invited US to
the formation of a joint commission to
settle mutual claims between the two
countries, from which those for the depre-
datlons before mentioned should be cx-
cluded. The proposition, in that very un-
satisfactory 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 involv-
ing questions of public law, of which tho
settlement is essential to the peace of
nations; and though pccuniary reparation
to their injured citizens would have follow
ed incidentally on u decision against Great
Britain, such compensation was not their
primary object. They had a higher
motive, and it was in the interests OF
peace and justice to establish important
principles of international law. Tho cor
respondcnce will be placed before you.
The ground on which the British Minister
rests his justihca ton 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 tho 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 coun-
tries 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
arcy; but through all those revolutions
the United States have wisely and firmly
refused to become propaSandsts or rcpub-
hcanism. 1t is the only Government suit
ed to our condition; but we have never
sought to impose it on others; and we
have consistently followed the advice OF
Washington, to recommend it only by tho
careful preservation and prudent use OF
the blessing. During all the intervening
period the policy Of European powers and
OF the Uni ed States has, on the whole,
been harmonious. Twice, indeed, rumors
OF the invasion of some parts of America,
in the interest of monarchy, have prevail
ed; twice my predecessors have had occa-
sion to announce the views of this nation
in respect to such interference. On both
occasions the remonstrance of the United
States was respected, from q deep conyic-
ton, on the part of European Govern
ments, that the system of non-Intcrfcrencc
and mutual abstinence from propaganda
ism was the true rule for the two hemis-
piIcrcs. Since those times we have ad-
vanced in wealth and power; but we retain
the same purpose to leave the nations Of
Europe to choose their own dynasties and
form their own systems of government.
This consistent moderation may Justly de-
mand corresponding moderation. We
should regard it as a great calamity to
ourselves, to the cause of good govern
ment, and to the peace Of the world,
should any European power challenge the
American people, as it were, to the defence
OF rcpubllcanlsm against foreign interfer-
ence. We cannot foresee and are unwil-
ling to consider what opportunities might
present themselves, what combination
might offer to protect ourselves against
designs inimical to our form of govern
ment. 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 reiy.on the wisdom and
justice OF those powers to respect the
system of non-intcrference which has so
long been sanctioned by time, and which,
by its good results, has approved itself to
both continents.
The correspondence between the United
states ana france, IN reference to the
questions which bave become subjects Of
discussion between the two Governments,
will, at a proper time, be laid before Con-
gress. When, on the organization Of our
Government under the Constitution, the
President of the United States delivered
his inaugural address to the two Houses Of
Congress, he said to them, and through
them to the country and to mankind, that
"the preservation Of the sacred fire Of
liberty and the destiny of the republican
model Of Government are justly considered
as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on
the experiment entrusted to the American
people," And the House of Representa-
tives answered Washington by the voice Of
Madison: "Wc adore the invisible hand