Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-06

on which the British Minister rests his Jurisdiction
is substantially that the municinal law of nation
and the domestic interpretations OF that law are tn
measure of its duty as neutral; and feel bound t.
declare opinion before you and before the world
that the jurisdiction cannot be sustained before tn
! tribunal of nations. At the same time Go not ad
vise to any present attempt ut redress by acts o
legislation. For the future. friendship between thu
two countries must rest on the basis of mutual justice
/ From the moment oS the establishment of our fret
Constitution, the civilized world has been cOnyulseC
| by revolutions III the interests I'll democracy or o
! monarchy; but through all those revolutions tho
United States have wisely and FIRMLY refused to be
come pr0pagandiSts Of republicansm 1t is the only
| government suited to our condition; but we have
never sought to impose 1T on Others; and we have
consistently followed the advice of Washington to
recommend it only by the careful preservation and
prudent of tho blessing. During all the interyen-
ing period the policy OF European Powers and of the
United States has, on the whole, been harmonious
Twice, indeed, of the invasion OF parts
Of America, in the interest of monarchy, have pre-
vailed twice my predecessors have had occasion to
announce the view, of this nation in respect to such
interference. On both occasions the remonstrGnce #
the United States respected, from deep conylc-
ton, on the part of European Governments that the
system of non-interteronce and mutual abstinence
from prOpagandiSm the true rule for the two
hemspheres Since those times we have advanced
in wealth and power; but retain the same purpose
to leave tho nations OF Europe TO choose their own
dynaStlcS and form then own syst ems OF government
This consistent moderation may justly demand a
corresponding moderation. We should regret il Il
great calamity to ourselves TO the cause OF good gov
eminent, and to the peace of the world, should any
European Power challenge the American people, p
1t were. TO the defence Oh repubiIcanlSm against
foreign interference. Ne cannot torcsec and are I'M
willing 10 consider what opportunities might present
Themselves, what combinations might offer to protect
ourselves against designs inimicgl to our form of
government. The United states desire to act iii the
future they have acted heretofore; they never
will be driven from that but by the aggression
of Furopcan Powers: and we rely on the wisdom and
Justice of those Powers to respect the system of
interference which has 50 long been sanctioned by
time. and which, by its good results, has approved
itself to both continents.
The correspondence between the United States and
France. in reference questions y Inch have become
subjects OF discussion between the two Governments,
will, at proper time, be laid before Congress.
der 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 pre-
seryatiOn of the sacred fire OF liberty and the destiny
of the republican model of government are justly
Experiment. Ss ntrmod to The American Peo ' inc
And the House of Representatives answered Wash
ingt0n by the voice of Madison: We adore the in
visible hand which has led the American people,
through so manv difficulties, to cherish conscious
responsibility for the destiny Of republican liberty"
More than seventy six years have glidcd away since
these words We're spoken, the United States have
passed through everer trials than were foresecn; and
now, AT this new epoch in our existence as onenaion,
with our Union purified by sorrows. and strengthen
ed by conflict, and established by the virtue of the
peOp!" the greatness of the occasion invites Us once
more TO repeat with solomnity. the pledges Of our
fathers to hold ourselves answcrable before iel
lOw-nen for the success Of the Republican form of
Government. Experience has proved its sufliciency
III peace ana IN Nai: II mas ts auInOfltN
through dangers and aftil tons and sudden and ter
rible emergencies, which would havecrushed any sys-
TEN that had been less firmly fixed in the heart of the
people At the inauguration of Washington the for
egn relations 81 the country few and its trade
repressed by hostile regulations; all the civil
lied nations Of the globe welcome our commerce and
their Governments profess towards amity.
Then country felt its way hestatingly along an
untried path with States little bound together by
rapid means accommodation as to be hardly known
to one another, and with historic traditions extend
ing over very few years now intcscourse between
centuries has been crowded into few generations,
and has created an intense, indestrucuble nation
atv.
Then our jurisdiction did not reach beyond the in
convenient boundaries Of the territory which had
achieved independence: now, through cessions Of
lands first coloni7cd by Spain and France the conn
try has acquired more complex character, and has
for its natural limits the chain OF lakes the Gulf
OF Mexico, and ON the east and the west the two
wars for ages before they could establish for
themselves the necessary degree Of unity; the
latent C"nV ictlon 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 COM
nctc vindcation Of the constitutional authority of
the General Government. and with our local liberties
and State institutions unimpaired. Tbs thronss of
cmiglauts hat crowd to shores witnesses Of
the coniidenbe of all peoples in our pcfnancnce
Iere is the great land VI free labor where industry
Is blessed with uncEamried rewards and the bread
Of the workingman is Sweetcned by the consciousness
that the cause OF the country Is his cause, his
own safety his own dignity.
Here every enjoys the free of his acuIt les
under the combined influence of fruitful soil, Rc-
NAL chimes. and happy institutions, population has
increased fifteen fold within century. Here,
through the easy development OF h0undless resources
wealth has increased with two fold greater rapdiy
than numbers, that we have become against
the financial yic;Ssitudcs of other countries and,
alike in business and in opinion seif-cenred and
truly independent. Here more and more care is
given to provide education for every one born
soil.
Here religion released from political connection
With the civil government refuses to suhserye the
craft Of stat and becomes in ITS Independence
the spiritual LIE OF the people. Here liberation l.
extended to every opinion, in the quiet certainty
that truth needs only fair field to he victory
Here the human mind goes forth uushackled i'll the
pursuit Of science to collect stores Of knowledge and
acquire an cycrnCreasing mastery the forces of
nature. Here the national domain is offered and
held in millions OF separate freehOlds. 80 that our
fellow -citizens beyond the occupants Of any other
Part Of the GS2y and t6a
form Of government, by the confession of European
gives power OF which no other form is
capable because 1t Incorporates every man with the
State, and arouses everything that belongs to the
soul.
Where, in past history, docs parallel exist to the
pubic hanmnesS which is within the reach OF the
the globe, institutions be found suited to their
habits 50 entitled to their love as their free
Constitution? Every one of them, then, in whatever
part Of the land he has his home, must wish its per
petuity. Who OF them will not now acknowledge in
the words of ashngton, that 'eyery step by which
the people of the United States have advanced to the
character Of an INDEPENDENT nation, seems to have
been distinguished By some token of Providential
agency?''
VIII will not join with me in the prayer, that the
invisible hand which has led us through the clouds
that glOomed around path, will so guide on to
perfect restoration Of frat ernal affection, that of
this day may be able TO transmit our great inherit
of State Governments in all their rights of the
General Government in it. whole constitutional
vgOr, to cur pOsterity ana they to theirs through
countless generations?
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington. December !, 1865,