The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-12-15

Ic Iudu6 10 the edIlnudI1cEyOIb VI tiiS NNh-
missioner.
Ihave dwelt thus fully on our domes-
tic affairs because Of their transcendent
importance. Under any circumstances,
our great extent of territory and variety
Ofclimate, producing almosteverythlng
that is necessary for the wants, and even
the comforts of man, make us singular
Iy independent of the varying policy of
foreign Powers, and protect Us against
every temptation to "entangling allan
ces," while at the present moment the
re-establishment of harmony, and the
strength that comes from harmony, Will
be our best security against 'nations
who feel power and forget right" For
myself, it has been and it Will be my
constant aim to promote peace and ami
ty with all foreign nations and Powers,
and / have every reason to believe that
they all, without exception, are anima-
ted by the same disposition. Our rela-
tions with the Emperor of China, so
recent in their origin, are most friend
w.. Our commerce with his dOminiOns
is receiving new developments; and 1t
is very pleasing to find that the Govern
ment of that great empire manifeSts sat
ISldGL1Oi1 VIII OuL pOAA1y tAAiN ANBS,'c'
lust confidence in the fairness which
marks our intercourse. The unbroken
harmony between the United States sand
the Emperor of Russia Is receiving a
new support from an enterprise design
ed to carry telegraphic lines across the
continent of Asia, through his d0mln-
ions, and so to connect us with all Eu-
rope by new channel Of intercourse.
Our commerce with South America Is
about to receive encouragement by a
direct line of mail steamships TO the
rising Empire of Brazil. The distln-
guished party of men of science who
have recently left our country to make
scientific exploration OF the natural
history and rivers and mountain ranges
of that region, have received from the
Emperor that generous welcome winch
was to have been expected from his
constant friendship for the L. States,
and his Well-knoWn zeal in promoting
the advancement of knowledge. a
hope is entertained that Onr commerce
with the rich and populOus countries
that border the Mediterranean sea may
be largely increased. Nothing will be
wanting ON the part 0fthis Government,
to extend the protection of our flag over
the enterprise of our felloW-citizens.-
We receive from the Powers in that re-
gion assurances Of good will; and 1t Is
worthy Of note that q special envoy has
brought US messages of coincidence or
the death of our late Chief Magistrate
from the Bey Of Tunis, whose rule in
cludes the old dominiOns of Carthage,
on the African coast.
(1nr domestic contest now naDnll Y
ended, has left some traces in our rela-
tiOns with one, at least of the great ma
ritime Powers. The formal accordance
of belligerent right to the insurgent
States was unprecedented, and has not
been Justified by the issue. But in the
systems of neutrality pursued by the
Powers which made that concession,
there was amarked difference. The ma
terials of war for the insurgent States
werefurnished, in agreat measure, from
the workshops OF Great Britain, and
British ships, manned by British sub
iects and prepared for receiving British
armamentss sailed from thepOrts OfGreat
Britain to make war on American com
meTce, under the shelter of commits
sion from the insurgent States.
These ships, having once escaped from
British ports, ever afterwards entered
them in every part of the world, to retit,
and so torenew neutrality-suspicious. The
consequences of this conduct was most
disastrous to theSta theninrebelliOn
increasing their desOlatiOn and misery
by the prOlongatiOn of our civil contest
It had. moreover, the effect to grea
extent, to drive the American flag from
the sea, and to transfer much Of Ou
shipping and commerce to the very
power whose subjects had created th'
necessity for such change. TheseeVenu
took place before | was called to TIT
administration of the Government
The sincere desire for peace by which
am animatedled me to approve thepro
posal, already made, tOSubmit the ques
lions which had thus arisen betWeel
the two countries to arbitration.
These questions are Of such mOmen
that they must have commanded tn
attention of the great powers, and ar
SO interWOven with the peace and inter
est of every one of them as to have in
sured an impartial decision. / regre
to inform YOU that Great Britain declin
ed the arbitrament, but, on the othe
hand, invited us to the formation OF
iointcOmmission to settle mutIalcla
between the two countries, from WhicI
those for the depredations before men
toned should be excluded. The prop
osition, in thatvery unsatisfactory form
has been declined.
The United States did not present thi
object as an impeachment of the gOot
faith of a power which was prOfessin;
the most friendly dispositions, but a
INVOLVING questions of public law, o
which the settlement is essential to tn
peace of a nation and although pecun
iary reparatiOn to their injured citizen
would have followed incidentally on
decision against Great Britain, sue
compensation was not their primar
object. They had higher motive, an,
il was in the interest of peace and jus
tice to establish important principles O
international law. The correspondent
will be placed before you.
The ground on which the British Min
lister rests his justification is, substan
TALLY, that the municipal law of a ma
ton, and the domestic Interpretation c
that law, are the measure of its duty as
neutral, and feel bound to declare III,
opinion before you and before the world
that justification cannot be sustained be
fore the tribunal of nations. At th'
same time / do not advise to any pres
ent attempt at redress by acts of legis
lation. For the future, friendship be
tween the two countries must rest Ol
the basis of mutual justice.
From hemomentOfthe establishment
of our free Constitution, the civilize'
world has been convulsed by revOlu