The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-14

t-i dlu DiitiSh SHIPS, iiuit.i ~ i'iltiSil
subjects and prepared for receiving British
arnament:, sailed from the ports of Great
Britain 10 make war on American commerce.
under the shelter of y commission from the
insurgcG; States. These ships, having once
escaped from British ports, ever afterwards
entered them IN every part OF The world, TO
reft, ana 50 TO renew their Expectations
The consequences Of this conduct were NEST
disastrous 20 TIC States then in rebellion. i'll
Creasng their desOlatiOn and misery by the
prciongation OF our civil contest. 1t had,
moreover, the effect. to u great extent, TO
drive the American flag from the sea. ana u
transfer much oi our shipping and our COM
mcrce to every power whose subjects had ere
ated the necessity for such thing. These
events took place before | was called to the
administration Of the government.
The sincere desire for peace by which | am
animated led me ~ approve the proposal al
ready made, 80 submit the question which
had thus arisen between the countries to ar
btration. Those questions are of such mo-
ment that they must have commando, the
attention Of the great powers. and are 81 in
teTwoycn with the peace and interests Of ey-
cry ore oil them as they have ensured an
impartial decision. ! regret 10 inform YOU
that Great Britain declined The arhiiramcrt,
but on the other hand, invited Us to the form
alton ola Joint commission 10 settle mutual
claims between The two countries. from
which those for the deprcdatons before men
toned should be excluded The proposition,
in the very unsatisfactory form, has been de
clinc.i
The Unit cd states did mol present TIC su6-
jet as M impeachment Of the good faith of a
power which WAS protesting the most friend
IL dispositions. but rs Involving questions OF
public law of which the settlement is essen
tial IL the peace 81 nations; aud, through pc
cuniarY reparatOn TO their injured citizens
would have followed Incidentally on decis
SION against Great Britain, such compensation
was rot their primary object They hal
higher motive, and it VAS in the interests OF
peace and Justice 20 establish import ait prin-
cplos of international law The corrcspon-
dence will he placed before you. The ground
on which thc British Minister rests his Just
fieition i, substantially, that The municipal law
al law. are che measures Of lis duty as a ncu-
trail and feel bound to declare my opinion,
before yo1Ian before the world, That that JUS
LITIGATION cann0; be sustained before The tribu-
nal Of nations. Il the same time do not al
wise toany preset attempt II redress he acts Of
legislation. FOR the future, friendship be-
tween the two countries must rest on the basis
ofmutual justice
From IKE moment of the establishment of
ctr free constitution. .hc civilized world has
been coGvulscd hv revolutions in the intcrC =,
ofdemocracy or Of monarchy; iut through ali
those revolutions the United States has wisely
and firmly refused to become pre- "a mandsts of
rcpuhllcanism. il i the only government
suited IL our condition: but we have never
sought TO impose it upon Others; and We have
consistently followed the Advice OF Washing
ton II recommend il Only hv The careful pres
crvation ana prudent use The BLESSING Di;-
ring all the Intervening period the policy of
European powers AMI of the United states
has. on the whole. been harmonious Twice
indeed. ruinur> Oi the Invasion OF some part OF
America iii the interest OF monarchy. have
prevailed; twice ms pre,icc; ssOrs have i,l,l oc-
cdslon 10 announce the views OF this nation in
respect to such Interference. On both coca
slons the rcn0n>trancc of the United States
was respected. from deep conviction. an the
part OF European gov cTIuacntS that tie 50.
ten Il ncD-ii.tcricrcaae a., mutual abs,i-
ncncc from i.ropasIr.iiSm WIS 1.-Two tfue :1llo
ior tn. two htfii.Spii( res. Since those time
thcy have advanced in wcaiti, anil power; but
We retain me same rurpo>" 10 leave he m
tons of Europe choose their own dvnas ie>
aGd form their own system Of rovcrrncnt.-
his consistent moderation NAV .jlsilY demand
4 CORE srondin@ molCri We shoulil re
gard II asa grcai calamity 10 ourselves. 10 the
cause OF @ool government. and 10 The peace 81
the WORT. should any European power c!l;l-
icnGe III" American people. n il were. 10 the
'etence of rcpuliicansm against foreign Il
teriercncc.
We cannot frscc and arc INV Hing to
consider what opportunities might pre,cr:
the1ns Ives. hat combinations might offer IL
rTot"c; ourselves AGAINST designs inimicll -
our form ot government. TIE United states
desire 10 nj in the falurc a they have ever
acted heretofore: they never viii be driven
from tina c0urst hut by the aggrt ssion OF Eu-
roHcan powers. ln We RELY III the VS. ioni ans
Justice al th0~. ioN o. 10 IL SocCt the system
Of non-intcrltrencc which has 80 long been
sanctioned by time. and which. ly is good
results. ba- approved il>e-lt To- both continents
The correspondence between TIE United
States and France in reference. 10 que. lions
which have become subjects of discussion De
tween thetwo governments. viii, al proper
mt be ad before Congress
" hen. on The organization of our govern
nent un;irf the on-'itution. the President oi
;hc united States delivered nj, inaugural a.
lTess 40 the tNo lou>cN OF Congress. Le sai
10 them. and through them 10 The counir, an
{" lnankind that the preservation OF the 81
cred fire of liberty and the destiny uf the re
nubican model OF government are Justly con
idcrc'i a. deeply, fcriIaps as finally akcd on
&C experiment intrd,tci 10 tie American
ocoIl -
And the Housa ofRcprc scntaiiv5s answere7
WASHINGTON h the voice of Madison: ~,
l,inTc the invisible hand which has led IL.
american people through - many diiil"ili
les, 10 cherish n cGnepicuoGS responsibility
for the shy Of republican liberty" More
han seventy * years have glid,d away snc,
these words were spoken; the Uni.e,, states
have passed tnrnu%h srverCr trials than wc-.
inrsecn; anG now AZ this rev epoch in cur cX
SteEcC IS a nation, with our Union pnriic
With sorroys. and strengthen Il by conflict a..
established ty the virtue Of the pcop!c thC
greatness Oithe occasion invites Us once NOR
q repeat, with soicrnnitv. the pledges of uus
';.iiicrS To hold ourselves aESWCrsble hef.r
our fellow men for the success If thc replilli
'an form of govcTuncnt. Experience has
proved It's suili"icncy in peace and in war; il
ms indicated IL authority through danger
an ;ti'ic:ion~ and sudden and terrible cmcr-
genci,S, which would have crushed any sys
tern fiia, had been les firmly fixed in the
hearts Of the people. ~ ~* ~
Where in past history, does Parallel exist
othe public happiness which ! within tl.c
reach OF the people OF the nitcd Statcs?--
Where, in any part OF the globe, can institu-
tons hc found 80 suited to- their labits or 50
entitled 10 their love as Heir own free Consti
tu'iony Every one of them, then, i'm whatever
part OF the land lac has his home, must wish
It's pcrpetuity Who Of them will moi now
acknowledge in The words Of Washington,
tI,at ssoV,.rH ef,, a..