The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-06

ers, as well as by citizens of the United States,
arising ont of the Late civil shall be adjudi-
Gated and determined. have no doubt that the
subject of all such claims will engage your atten-
ton at a convenient and proper time.
1t is matter of regret that no considerable adj
vance has been made tow 'rds an adjustment of
the differences between the United States and
Great Britain, arising ont OF the depredafions up
on our national commerce and other trcspasscs
committed during our civil war by British sub
iects, in violation international law and treaty
obligations The delay, however, may be be-
lieved to have resulted in no small degree from
the domestic situation of Great Britain An entire
change of ministry occurred in that country du
ring the last session of Parliament. The atten-
ton OF the new ministry was called to the subject
at an carly day, and there is some reason to cN-
pect that it will now be considered in L becoming
and friendly spirit. The importance of an early
disposition of the question cannot be eNaggera-
ted. Whatever might be the wishes OF the two
Governments, it is manifest that goodwill and
friendship between the two countries cannot be
established until reciprocity, in the practice of
good-faith and neutrality, shall be restored be-
tween the respective nations.
On the 9th of June last, in violation OF
neutrality laws, military expedition and enter
prise against the British North American Colonies
projected and attempted to be carried on
within the territory and jurisdiction of the Uni
ted States. In obedience to the obligation inn
posed upon the Executive by the Constitution, to
see that the laws faithfully executed all citi
Zens were warned, by proclamation, against ia
king part in or aiding such unlawful proceedings,
ana tne proper CIVIL, military, ana H;iE OIncerS
were directed to take all necessary measures for
the enforcement of the laws. The expedition
failed, but it it has not been without its painful
consequences. Some of our citizens who, it was
alleged, were engaged in the expedition, were
captured, and have been brought to trial, as for
q capital offence in the Province of Canada-
Judgment and sentence of death have been pro-
nounced against some, while others have been
quilted Fully believing in the maxim of gov
eminent, that severity OF civil punishment for
misguided persons who have engaged in revolu-
tionary attempts which have disastrousliy 1aiied,
is unsOund and unwsc, such representations have
been made to the British Government, in behalf of
the convicted persons. as, being sustained by
enlightened and humane Judgment, will, it is
hoped, induce in their cases an exercise of Glenn
ency, and judiciOus amnesty to all who were en-
gagged in the movement. Counsel has been en-
ployed by the Government to defend cIIizens of
the United States on trial for capital offences in
Canada; and a discontinuance OF the prosccu-
tions which were instituted in the courts of the
United States against those who took part in the
expedition, has been directed.
have regarded the expedition not only po-
litcal i'll its nature, but also in great measure
foreign from the United States in its causes,
character, and objects. The attempt under
stood to be made in sympathy with an insurgent
party in Ireland, and, by striking at British
Province on this Continent, was designed to aid
in obtaining redress for political grievances which,
it was assumed, the people of Ireland had suffered
at the hands of the British Government during q
period of several centuries. The persons engaged
in it were chiefly natives of that country, some of
whom had, while others had not, become citizens
of the United s;t;,Gcs under our general laws of
naturalization. Complaints OF miSgovernment in
Ireland continually engage the attention OF the
British nation, and great an agitation is now
prevailing in ireland that the British Government
have deemed it necessary to suspend the writ OF
hdbeas cO,pns in that country. These circum-
stances must necessarily modify the opinion
which we might otherwise have entertained in
gard to an expedition expressly prohibited by our
neutrality laws. So long those laws remain
upon our statute-books, they should be faithfully
executed, and if they operate harshly, njustly,
or opprcssively, Congress alone can apply the
np6y nv fhpl mo float or
Political and commercial interests of the Uni
ted States not unlikely to be affected in some
eastern regions of Europe, and the time seems to
have come when our Government ought to have
u proper diplomatic representation i'll Greece.
This Government has claimed for all persons
not convicted or accused. suspected of crime,
an absolute political right of sef-exp atriation,
and choice of new national allegiance. Most of
the European States have dissented from this
principle, and have claimed right to hold such
of their subjects as have immigruted to, and been
in, the United States and afterwards
returned on transient visits to their native coun-
tries, to the performance of military service in
like manner resident subjects. Complaints
arising from the claim in this respect made by
foreign States, have heretofore been matters of
between the United States and some
of the European Powers and the irritation cOnse-
quent upon the failure to settle this question in
creased during the war in which Prussia, Italy,
and Austria were recently engaged.
While Great Britain has never ack nowledged the
right of pat ration, she has practically in
sisted upon it, France has been equally 'osbear-
ing and Prussia has proposed a compromise,
which, although ev incing increased libcrality has
not been accepted by the United States. Peace
is now prevailing everywhere in Europe and the
present seems to be favorable time for asser-
ton by Congress of the principle, so long Hrain-
tanned by the Executive Department, that
by State fully excmpts the
native born subject of any other State from the
performance of military service underany foreign
so long as he does not voluntarily
renounce its rights and benefits.
In the performance of duty imposed upon me
by the Constitution, have thus submitted to- the
of the States and of the People
such information of our domestic and foreign AT
fairs AS the public interests seem to require: Our
Government is now undergoing its most trying,
ordeal, and my earnest prayer is that the peril
may be successfully and finally passed, without
impairing its original strength and Symmetry
The interests of the nation are best to b. promot-
ed by the revival of traternal relations, the COM
plete oblteration OF our past differences and the
of all the pursuits OF peace. Di-
recing efforts to the carly accomplishment of
these great ends, let us endeavor to preserve har
mony between the coordinate Departments OF
the Government, that each in its proper sphere
may cordially co operate with the other in secur
ing the maintenance of the Constt' alton, the pre-
tns 5Rf s 81
WASHINGTON December ), 1885,
A PENITENTIARY.-Gov. Worth, in his
ate Message to the Legislature, recommends
he building of Penitentary in this State.
Dur opinion about the matter will not infu-
ence the action of the Legis'i nature one way or
The other, but we merely W; Int to say that we
10 not agree with the Cove rnor.
First, we are opposed to this scheme be-
cause it will require a larger amount of mon
" to erect the buildings an L put the estab
in operation than the people can
spare in their present impo7 erished condi-
ion. The Governor acknowledges that the
people are barely able to pay their present
axes, and many are entirely unable to pay
heir debts, yet he makes recommendations
hat will certainly increase t:axation.