The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1865-12-15

70 DC beyond the control Of anyGovernment
SO we shall equallyShow the superiority Of
our institutions BY the promptsnd fhithfal
discharge of our national obligations.
The Department Of Agriculttc, under III
present direction, Is accomplishing much ia
developing and utilizing the vas agricultural
capabilities of the country, aue for informa-
uon respecting the details Of its management
reference Is made to the nnualreport Of the
Commissioner.
have dwelt thus fully on on, domestic af-
fairs because of their transecndVt import
ance. Under any circumstances, or great
extent of territory and variety oil, climate
producing almost everything that Is neces-
sary for the wants, and even the comforts Of
man, make US singularly independent Of the
varying policy Of foreign Powers, and protect
us against every temptation to "entanglne
alliance" Wills q. the present moment the
re-establishment Of harmony, will beour best
security against "nations who feel power and
forget right" Fer myself, 1t has been and
will be ifpconstan. aim to promote peace and
amits With all foreign nations and Powers
and have every reason TO believe that they
all, without exception, are animated by the
same disposition. Our relations with the
Emperor of China so recent in their origin
arc most friendly. Our commerce with his
dominions is receiving new developments
and it is very pleasing to find thai the Gov
ernment Of that Great Empire malfests salts
faction with our policy, ondrepos just con-
iidence in the fairness which mfNks our in
tctcoursc. The unbroken harmony between
the United States and the Empcroy of Russia
is receiving new support from al enterprise
designed to carry tclegraphic lheSaeross the
continent Of Asia, through his dominions,
and so TO connect us with all Europe by q
new channel of intercourse. Our commerce
with South America is about to receive en-
couragement 10y direct line of mail steam
ships to the rising Empire of Brazl. The
distinguished party Of men Of science who
! have recently left our country to make q
scientific exploration Of the natural history
and rivers and mountain ranges ofthat re-
| gion, have received from the Emperor that
generous welcome which was to have been
expected from his constant friendship for the
! United StateJ, and his well-known zeal in
! promoting the advancement of knowledge
4 hope is entertained that our commerce with
the rich and populous countries that border
| the Mediterranean sea may be largely incrcas-
ed. Nothing will be wanting, on the part of
this Government, to extend the protection Of
our flag over the enterprise of our fellows
citizens. We receive from the Powers in that
region assurances Of good will; anil it is
worthy of note that special envoy has
brought US messages of coincidence on the
death of our late Chief Magistrate from the
Bey of Tunis, whose rule includes the old
dominioas of Carthage on the African coast.
Oar domestic contest, now happily ended,
hoo loft !,
at least of the great maritime Powers. The
formal accordance of belligerent rights TO the
insurgcnt States was unprecedented, and has
not been justified by the Issue. But in che
systems of neutrality pursued by the Powers
which made that concession, there was a
marked difference. The materials of war for
the insurgent States were furnished, in
great measure, from the work shops of Great
Britain ;~and British ships, manned by Brit
ish subjects, and prepared for receiving Brit
ISL ornaments, sailed from the ports of Great
Britain to make war on American commerce,
uuder the shelter OF A commission from the
insurgcnt States, These slips, having cncc
escaped from the British port raiterwards
entered them in every part of the world, to
rett, and SO to renew their expectations
The consequences Of this conduct were most
disastrous to the States then in rebellion, in
creaSing their dcsolation and misery by the
prolongation Of our civil contest. II had,
moreover, The euect, TO great extent, to
drive the American flag from the sea, and to
transfer much Of our shipping and our COM
merce to the very Power whose subjects had
created the necessity for such n change
These events took place before | was called
to decentralization of the Government
The sincere desire for peace by which am
animated led me to approve the proposal al
ready made, to submit the questions which
had thus Nrsen between the countries to
arbitration. These questi ms are Of such
moment that they must have commanded the
attention Of the great Powers, and are so in
tcrwoycn with the peace and interests OF cv-
cry one OF them rs to have ensured an i'm
partial decision. regret to inform you that
Great Britain declined the arbtrament 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 Expectations before mentioned sh0nli
he eEcIuded. The proposition, in that very
unsatisfactory form, has been declined.
The United States did not present the sub
Jet as an impeachment OF the good faith of q
Power which was protesting the most friend
ly dispositions, butes involving questions Of
public law, Of which the settlement is essen
tial to the peace Of nations; and, though Pc
cuniary separation to their injured citizens
would have followed incidentally on deci-
sion against Great Britain, such compcnsa-
ton was not their primary object. They had
higher motive, aud it was in the interests
of peace aud justice to establish important
principles Of international law. The cores
respondence will be placed before you. The
ground on which the British Minister rests
his Justification is, substantially, that the mu-
nicipal law Of n nation, and the domestic in
probation Of that law, are the measure Of its
duty as n neutral aud | fcc bound to declare
my opinion before YOU and before the world,
thu, that Justification cannot be sustained be-
fore the tribunal Of nations. At tho same
time do not advise to any present attempt
at redress by acts Of legislation. For the fu-
turc, friendship between the two countries
must rest on the basis Of mutual justice.
From the moment of the establishment Of
our Constitution, tho civilized world has
been coDyulsed by revolutions in the inter-
est of democracy or oImonarchy but through
all those revolutions the United States have
wisely aud firmly refused to become propa-
gandist Of rcpublicanisn. 1t is the only gov
eminent suited to our condition but we have
never sought TO impose II on others and wo
have consistently followed tho advice Of
Washinton,to recommend tonly by the careful
preservation aud prudent use Of The blessing.
During all the intervening 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