The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-12-14

tlement is essential to the peace of ma
tions and though pecuniary reparation
to their injured citizens would have fol
lowed incidentally on decision against
Great Britain, such compensation was not
their primary object They had high
er motive, aud it was in the interest of
peace and justice to establish important
principles Of international law The cor
respondence will be placed before you
The ground on which the British minis
ter rests his justification is, substantially,
that the municipal law of nation and
the domestic interpretations of that law,
are the measures Of duty as neutral; and
| feel bound to declare my opinion, be-
fore you and before the world, that that
justification cannot be sustained before
the tribunal of nations. At the same
time | do not advise to any present at
tempt at redress by acts Of Legislation
For the future friendship between the
two countries must rest Oh 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 mon
archy but through all these revolutions
the United States have wisely and firmly
refused to become propagandists of repub
licanism. It's 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 on ly by the
careful preservation and prudent use of
the blessing. During all the interven
ing period the policy of European Powers
and of the United 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 oc
casion to announce the views of this Da-
ton in respect to such interference. On
occasions the remonstrance of the United
States was respected, from deep convic-
ton, on the part of European Govern
ments, that the system of noninterference
and mutual abstinence from propagandism
was the true rule of the two hemispheres
Since those times we have advanced in
wealth,and power; but we retain the same
purpose to leave the nations OF Europe to
choose their own ynasties and form their
own systems of government. This con-
sistant moderation may justly demand
corresponding moderation We should re-
gard it as a 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, as
it were, to the defence Of republicanism
against foreign interference We cannot
foresee and are unwilling to consider what
opportunities might present themselves,
what combinations might offer to protect
ourselves agsiust designs inmical to our
form of government. The United States
desire to act in the future as they have
ever acted heretofore they will be driven
from that course but by the aggression Of
European Powers; and we rely on the
wisdom and justice of those Powers to re-
spect the system Of interference
which has so long been sanctioned by
time, and which, by its good results, has
approved itself to both continents.
The correspondence between the Uni
ted States and France, in reference to
questions which have become subjects of
discussion between the two Governments,
Will, at proper time, be laid before Con-
gress.
When, on the organization of our Govern
ment 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 coun-
try and to mankind, that "the preservation
Of the sacrei fire of liberty and the destiny
of the republican mode of government are
justly considered as deeply, perha ps as finally
staked on the experiment entrusted ia Amer
lean people," And the House of Represen-
tatlves answered Washington by the voice
OF Madison: We adore the invisible hand
which has led the American people through
so many difficulties, to cherish a conscious
responsibility for the destiny of republican
Liberty. More than seyeniy-six years have
gi!ded away since these words were spoken;
the United States have passed through sever
or trials than were foreseen; and now, in
this new epoch in our existence, as one ma.
ton, with our Union purified by sorrows,
and strengthened by conflict, and established
by The virtue of the people, the greatness
OF the occasion invites us once more to re.
peat with solemm;ty the pledges of onr
fathers to hold ourselves answerable before
our fellow men for the success of the repub-
Iican form of government. Experience has
proved ITS sufficiency in peace and in war
It has vlndcated Its authority through dam
gers and Affections, and through sudden and
terrible emergencies, which would have
crushed my system that had been less firm
y fixed in the heart of the people. At the
Inauguration of Washington The foreign re-
atoms of the country were few, and its trade
vas repressed by hostile regulations; now
III the civilized nations of the glob, welcome
'ur commerce, and their governments pro-
ess towards US amity. Then our country
cit It's way hesiia,ingly along an untried
'ath, with States so little bound together by
apid means of communication are hardly