Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-12-06


ment 70 essential 70 the peace or nations; and
though pecuniary retOrati0ns to their injured
citizens, would have followed indemnity
On ehe part o. Great Bdtaln. eqGA eOqpcn.
ees!oo VS. not tlSeif pecaniefy 6hj60ef they
had higher motive, and Il was In the H.
tcrcst OF peace and justice, to establish i'm
poseans principles Of MISUNDERSTANDING. The
correspondence win be ibid before you. Tho
eroeh On which thu British Minister; rgsts
ms justification s,suhetantially ,thas the tAu.
nicipal law OF 4 nation, and the domestic il
terpretaai0ss Of that Aw,are ~ measure Of
duty ofa neutral, and feel bound 10 de-
clare my opinion, before you and before the
world that that justification cannot he sus-
tanned before the tribunal Of nations
Al the same time / do rot advisc to any per-
slstent attempt at redress by acts Of legisla.
ton, for the future friendship between the
TWO countries must rest on the basis Ut mu
tna! justice. From the moment Of the e.
tablishment Of our free Constitution the civ.
ilized world has been cOnvulsed by revo;u.
tions IN the interests Of democracy, or Of
monarchy but through oil those rcvolu-
tons the United States has wisely and firm
ly refused 70 become propagandists of Re-
publicanism il Is the only government suit
ed to our condition, but We have never
sought to impose Il ON OthefA, and we have
consistently followed the advice Of Wash.
ington to consider only the careful pre-
servation Of the blessing. During ali the
intervening period the policy Of European
powers and Of the United States has, on the
whole, been harmonious; twice, indeed.
rumOrs Of the invasions Of some points Oi
America, In the interests Of monarchy, have
prevailed; twice my predecessors have had
occasion to announce the views Of this Ma.
ton in respect 10 such interference; q, both
occasions these demonstrations Of the Unit
ed States were expected, from deep convic
ton on the part Of European governments,
that the system of non interference and mu-
tual abstinence from propagandsm was the
true rule for the two hemisphercs. Sine
those times we hive advanced in wealth
and power, but we still retain the same pur
pose to leave the nations Of Europe to
choose their own dyhastics and form their
avn system Of government. This con.
slstent moderation may justly de-
mand corresponding moderation
We should regard 1t as great calamity to
ourselves, to the cause of good government
and to the peace Of the world, should any
European power challenge the American
people, rs il were, To the defense OF republi-
canism against foreign interference We
cannot fOresee and are unwilling TO consider
what opportunities might present them
selves, what combinations might offer to
protect ourselves against designs inimical to
our form Of government. The United States
desires to act in the future as they have ever
acted heretofore. They never will be driv-
en- from that course but by the aggression Of
European powers, and We rely on the wisdom
and justice OF those powers to respect the
system Of non interference which has so
long been sanctioned by time and which by
its good result has approved itself to both
continents.
The correspondence between the United
States and France in reference to questions
which have become subjects Of discussion
between the two Governments will at .
proper time be laid before Congress.
OUR PAST AND PRESENT.
When on the organization Of our Govern.
ment under the Constitution, the President
Of the Tnited States delivered his inaugu
raj address to the two Houses Of Congress.
he said to them, and through them do the
country and to mankind. that the pereserva
ton OF the sacred fires Of Liberty and the
destiny Of the republican model Of Govern.
ment were justly considered as deeply, per-
hsps as finally staked on the experiment in
trusted tn the American people; and the
House of Representatives answered Wash
ingt0n by the voice of Madison, 1--WE adore
the invisible hand which has led the Amer
lean people through SO many difficulties to
cherish conscious responsibility for the
destiny Of republican liberty" More than
seven,y-six years have glided away Sire
these words were spoken. The United
States have passed through scverer
trials than were forescen and now ut
this new epoch in our existence as one ma
ton, with our Union purified by sorro
strengthened by conflict, and established ov
the virtue Of the people, the greatness 81
the occasion invites us once more to repeat
with solennity the pledges Of our fathers to
hold ourselves answerable before our fel~
low men for the success Of the Republican
form Of government. Experience has prov
ed its suticieney in peace and in war;
it has vind,cated its authority tn. ough dan
gers and Affections, and sudden ard terrible
emergencies which would have crushed any
system that had been less firmly fixed in
the heart Of the people. At the inaugura-
ton Of Washington the foreign relations Of
the country were few, and its T. AIDE was
the civilized nations Of the globe welcome
our commerce, and their governments pro-
fess towards Us amity. Then our country
felt its way hesitatingly along an untried
path, with States SO little bound together
by rapid means Of communities, on Is TO BE-
hardly known to one another, with historic
traditions extending over very few years.
Now intercourse between the States is swift
aud intimate, the experience of centuries
has been crowded int y lew generations
and has created an intense indestructibe
nationality. Then our Jurisdiction did no,
reach beyond the announcement boundries of
the territory which had achieved independ
ence now through ccssions Of lands first
colonizcd by Spain and France, the country
has acquired more complex char ctcr and
has for its natural limits the chain Of lakes,
the Gulf Of Mexico, and on the east and the
west the two great oceans. Other natiors
we're wasted by civil wars for ages before
they could establish for themselves the nee.
essary degree Of unity. The latent con,ic
tion that our form OF Government is the
best ever known to the world, has enabled
Us to emerge from civil war within four
years with complete vind,cation
" Tic CoIstuuttOnal authority
Ut the General Cover, ment. and
with our local liberties and State
institutions unimpaired. The throngs Of
eMigrants tGat crowd to our shores. ave
witnesses Of the confidence Of all people in
our permanence. Here is the great land Of
free labor, where industry is blessed with
nnexampled reward, and the bread Of the
working man is sweetened by the conscious
ness that the cause of the country IL his
3wn cause, his own safety, his o.n gritty.
Here every one enjoys the free use Of bis
faculties, and the choice of activity ~ 4
natural right. Here, under the combined
influence Of fruitful SOIL genial climate
md happy institutions, the population has
mere Used fifteen fold within century.
Here, through the easy Development Of un-
bounded resources, wealth has increased
Tith,two fold greater rapidity than numbers.
70 We have become secure against financial
'icisitudes Of Other countries, and alike in
and in opinion, and self control,
md truly independent. Here, more and
more care is given to provide education