Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-14


4 portancc. Under any circumstances, our
great extent OF territory and variety of elm
ate, producing almost every thing that is
necessary for the wants, and even comforts
ofman, make us singularly independent of
the varying policy Of Foreign Powers, and
protect us against every temptation TO zen.
tansling alliances while at the present
moment the establishment of harmony,
anu me strength that comes from harmony,
VIII be our best security against nations
who feel power and forget right" For my
self, 1t has been and it will be my constant
aim to promote peace and amity with all
foreign nations aud Powers; and have CIV.
cry reason to believe that they all, without
exception, are animated by the same dispo-
stion. Our relations with the Emperor of
China, SO recent in their origin, are most
friendly. Our commerce with his domin-
ions is receiving new developments and it
is very pleasing to find that the Govern
ment OF that great Empire manifests salts
faction with our policy, and reposcs just con-
| iidence in the fairness which marks our in.
/ tercourse. The unbroken harmony between
the United States aud the Emperor of Rus
STA Is receiving a new support from an enter
prise designed to carry teegraphic lines
across the Continent of Asia, through his
/ dominions, and so to connect us with all
Europe 10y a new channel of intercourse. -
/ Our commerce with South America is about
to receive encouragement by Il direct line of
mail steamships to the rising Empire of
/ Brazil. The distinguished party of men of
science who have recently left our country
to make scientific exploration of the natur-
al history and rivers and mountain ranges
Of that region, have received from the En-
neror that generous welcome which was to
have been expected from his constant friend
ship for the United States, and his we'll
known zeal in promoting the advancement
ofknowlodge. a hope is entertained that
our commerce with the rich and populous
countries that border the Mediterranean sea
may be largely increased Nothing will be
wanting, on the part of this Government,
to extend the protection ofour flag over the
enterprise of our ellow-citizens We re.
celvc from the Powers in that region as
surances of good will; and it is worthy of
note that special envoy has brought us
messages Of coincidence on the death of our
Chief Magistrate from the Bcy of Tunis,
whose rule includes the old domnions Of
Carthage, on the African coast.
Our domestic contest, now happily ended,
has left some traces in our relations with one
at least Of the great maritime powers. The
formal accordance Of bcligerent rights to
the inSurgent States was unprecedented,
and has not been justified by the issue
But in the system Of neutrality pursued by
the power which made that concession,
there was "A marked difference. The mate
rlals Of war for the insurgcnt States were
furnished, IN great measure, from the
workshops Of Great Britain; and British
ships, manned by British subjects and pre-
pared for receiving British armament, sali-
pI from tlp ni { ,ront IS,it,ir "a n,,l, ~
war on American commerce, under the
shelter of commission from the insurgent
States. These ships having once escaped
from British ports, ever afterwards entered
them in every part Of the world to rctit, and
so to renew their deprcdations. The conse-
vucnccs OF this conduct were most disastrous
to the States then in rebellion, increasing
their dcsolation and misery by the prolon-
CATION OF our civil contest. 1t had more
over, the effect, to Il great extent, to drive
tho American flag from the sea, and to
transfer much Of our shipping and our com
mcrcc to the very power whose subjects had
created the necessity for such change
These events took place before | was called
to the administration of the Government.
The sincere desire for peace by which am
animated led me to approve the proposal,
already made, to submit the questions which
had thus arisen between the countries to ar
bitratlnn. The questions are of such mo-
mcnt that they must have command ID the
attention of the great Powers, and are so
interviewer with the peace and interests of
every one ofthem as to have insured an i'm
! partial decision. | regret to inform you
that Great Britain declined the arbitramcnt,
but, on the other hand, invited US to the
formation of Il Joint commission to settle
mutual claims between the two countries,
| from which those for the depredations before
mentioned should be excluded. The pro-
position, in that very Unsatisfactory form,
has been declined
| The United States did not present the
subject rs an impeachment of the good faith
ofa Power which was protesting the most
! friendly dispositions, but aS involving qucs-
tons Of public law, Of which the settlement
Is essential to the peace of nations; and,
| though pecuniary reparation to their iniur-
ed citizens would have followed incidentally
on decision against Great Britain, sucn
compensation was not their primary object.
They had n higher motive, and it was in the
interests Of peace and usticc to establish
important principles of international law. -
The correspondence will be placed before
you. The ground on which the British
Minister rests his justification is, substanti-
ally, that the municipal law of nation, and
the domestic interpretations Of that law, are
the measure of its duty as neutral; and |
feel bound to declare my opinion, before you
and before the world, that justification can
not be sustained before the tribunal of na-
tions. At the same time | do not advise to
any present attempt at redress by acts of
legislation For the future, friendship be-
tween the two countries must rest on 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 monarchy; but
through all those revolutions the United
States have wisely and firmly refused to be-
come propagandists ofrepubicanism. 1t is
the only government suited to our condi-
ton; but we have never sought to impose
it on Others; and we have consistently fol,
lowed the advice Of Washington to recon-
mend it only by the careful preservation
and prudent use of the blessings. During
all the intervening period the policy of Eu.
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