The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1866-12-07


ments, Il !, manifest that good will and friend
ship between the two countries cannotbe estsb-
lished until q 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 our
neutrality laws, a military expedition and en-
%terprise against the British North American
Colonies vas projected and attempted TO be car
ried on within the territory and jurisdiction Of
the United States. In obediehce tothe obliga-
tion imposed upon the lExscutive BY the Con
s%tiiution, TO see that the laws are faithfully ex-
eeuted, all citizens were warned, by proclama-
ton, against taking part in or aiding such un-
lawful proceedings, and the proper civil, mill
-tary and naval officers were directed 10 take all
necessary measures for the enforcement Of the
laws. The expedition failed, but it has notbeen
without lis painful consequences. Some Of our
citizens who, it was alleged, we're engaged in
the expedition, were captured, and have been
brought TO trial, as for a capital ofense, in the
Province Of Canada. Judgment and sentence
Of death have been pronounced against some,
while others have been acquitted. Fully be-
lieving in the maxim Of government, that Sc
verify Of civil punishment for misguided per-
sons who have engaged in revolutionary at
tcmpts which have disastrously fai cd, is un-
sound and u visc, such approximations have
been made to the British Government, IN be-
half the convicted persons, as, being sustained
by an enlightened and humane judgment, will,
it lie hoped, induce in their cases ON exercise Of
clemehey, and ejudiciods amnesty to all who
were engaged in ne mbvcmeht,n Counsel has
has bcen employed by the Government 20 de-
fend citizens Of the United States on trial for
capital oiienses in Canada; and a discontinue
ance Of the prosecutions which were instituted
ia the courts Of the United states against those
who took port in the expedition, hos been di-
rected.
have regarded the expedition as not only
political in its nature, but as also in q great
measure foreign from the United States in ito
causes, character and objects. The attempt wus
understood to be made in sympathy with an in
surgent party in Ireland, and, IN striking at q
British Province on this continent was designed
to aid in obtaining redress for political griev-
ances which, it was assumed, the people Of Ire
land had suffered at the hands Of the British
Government during a period-ef several ccntu-
rics. The persons engaged nit were chiefly
natives Of that country, some Of whom had,
while others hadgnot, become citizens Of the
United states under orr general laws Of natur-
a~lization. Complaints Of mis-govcrnment in
Ireland continually engage the attention 0. the
British untion, and so great an agitation is now
prevailing in Ireland that tho British Govern
ment have deemed-t necessary TO suspend the
writ Of babeas. corpus in Chat country Thcsc
circumstances must necessarily modify the
opinion which we might otherwise have enter
TIMED in regard to an expedition expressly pro-
hibited by our neutrality laws. So long as those
laws remain upon our statute books, hey should
be faithfully executed, ard if they operate
hHrshly ,uhiustly or oppressively, Congress alone
can supply the remedy, by their modification
or repeal. 8Ntk-t
Political and commercial interests Of the Uni
ted States are not unlikely TO be effected in some
degpee by events whidb are ~tanspiring in the
eastern regions of Europe, and the time seems
to hpYe, conc when our Government ought to
have d proper diplomatic representation in
Greece.
This Goverhmont has Claimed ferIil persons
not convicted, Or artused,9 OF suspected % crime,
an absolute political right Of self-eTPatriation,
and a choice Of new national allegiance. Most
Of the European States have dissented from
this principle, and have claimeda rightto hold
such Of their subjects ns have immigrated to
and been nuturalized in the United States, and
afterwards returned on transient visits 10 their
nntive countries, to the performance Of military
service in like manner az resident subjects.
Complaints arising from the claim in this re-
spect made by foreigh-ststes, have heretofore
been matters Of controversy between the United
States and some Of the European Powers, and
the irritation consequent upon the failure to
settle this question increased during the war in
WHICH Prussia, Italy and Austria were recently
engagtdDoF while Great Brittinvhas never ac-
knowledged the right OF oxpatriatioh, che has
not practically insisted upon it. France has
been equally forbearingi and Prussia has pro-
posed q compromise, which, although evincing
RcfsA 4 libSgoF7tSS J, hasn5t cen. aceeEtoaby
the Uhited- sthtSs. Ptac9 Il now pfevahing
everywhere in Europe, and the present seems
to be q favorable time for an assertion by Con
gress ofthe principle, 80 long maintained by
the Executive Department, that naturalization
by one State fully exempts the native born sub
ject Of any other State from the performance
of military service under sny foreign Govern
meni, DO long as ne does not yoluniar ily ire
nounce its rights and benefits.
In the performance Of a duty imposed upon
ne by the Constitution, | have thus submitted
TO the Representatives Of the States aid Of the
people such information Of our domestic and
foreign affairs as the public interest seem TO re.
quire. Our Government is now undergoing its
most trying ordeal, and my earnest prayer IT,
that the peril may be successfully and finally
passed, without impairing it's original strength
and symmetry. The interests of the nation are
best to be promoted by the revival of fraternaI
relations, the complete obliteration of our past
differences, and tho re-inauguration of all the
Rtsua ; fpdaesi pitscti8E .op4 efforts ~ the