Maryland free press., 1866-12-06

suggestien is not deemed unreasonable
but it belongs to Congress to. direct the
manner in, which claims for indemnitvhv
foreigners, as we'll as by citizens of the
United States, arising out Of the late civil
war, shall be adjudicated and determined
[ have no doubt that the aubject of ali
such claims will engage your attention n.
convenient and proper time.
Great BRIrAIN. 'g v ~
tits . matter Of regret that no ,copsd-
ersble advance has been, made towards an
adjustment of the differences between tho
United States and Great Britain, arising
out of the depredations upon our national
comm cree and other trespasses committed
during our civil war by British subjects
in violation Of international law and tre.tv
obligations. The delay, however, NAV be-
believed to have resulted in no small do
gree from the domestic situation of G,e..
Britain. An entire change Of ministry oc-
Cured in tha country during the last se,-
sion of Parliament. The attention of ,ba
new ministry was called to the subject a,
an early day, and there is some reason To-
exE Get that it will now be considered in a
becoming and friendly spirit The i'm
portancc of an early disposition CT the,oue,-
ion c,nrot be exaggerated, Whatever.
might be the wishes Of the two Govern
ments, it is manifest that goodwill and
friendship between the two countries. can.
not be established until reciprocity, in
the practice of good faith and neutrality.
shall be restored between the respective.
ma tions. 80 Isa "a. strE3 '-nH-r.J
THE FRNIAN MOVEMENTS.
On the 9th of June last. in violation Of
our neutrality laws, military expedition
and enterprise against the British North
American Colonies was projected and at
tempted to be carried on within the terri
tory oud jurisdiction of the United States
In obedience to the obligation imposed
upon the Executive by the Constitution,
TO see that the laws are faithfully cxeeu-
ted, all citizens were warned, by procla-
nation, against taking part in or aiding
such unlawful proceedings. The expedi-
ton failed, but it has not been without its
painful consequences. Some of our citi-
zens who, it Was alleged, we're engaged in
the expedition, were captured. and have
been brought to trial, as for capital Of
fence, in the Province of Canada Judg-
ment and sentence of death have been pro-
nounced against some, while othersrhavc
been acquitted. I'D ais;, ta@ ~ t7,-ap
Fully believing that severity of civil
punishment for misguided persons who
have engaged in revolutionary attempts
which have disastrously ia lied. is unsonnd
aud uuwise, such representations have been
made to the British Government, as will,
it is hoped. induce. in their cases an .exer-
else of clemency. .as th ~ aE
Complaints ofmisgovernment in ireland
continually engage the attention of the
British ration, and so great an agitation
is how prevailing in Ireland, that the Brit.
ish Governme en- have deemed it necessary
to suspend the writ of habcas cdrpas in that
country These circumstances must ne
cessarily modify the opinion which we
might other wise have entertained in regard
to an expedition expressly prohibited ty
our neutrality laws. So long as those laws
remain upon our statute books, they. should
be faithfully executed, and Il they operate
harshly, unjustly, or oppressively.l Con-
gress alone can apply the remedy, by their
Modification or repeal. ''''.-' 2,
EASTERN HURpE .,,".rc
Political and commercial interests of the
United States arc not unlikely to be affected
10, some dcgrec'by events which are trans
piriIg, in the eastern regions Of Europe,
and the time seems to have ccine when GU r
Government ought to have 81 proper di-
pl6matic representation in Greece. '.os,t g. Z,
IN .e"1h72 ~ EXpATRIAT1oN., .;',-s t...,,.
This Government has, claimed for all
persons not convicted or accusedqor sus-
pscted of crime, an absolute political right
of selfexpatriatiop,. and 4 choice Of, new
natioual allegisnce. Most Of the Europe
an States have dissensed from this princi-
pie, and have claimed right to hold such
of their subjects as have immigrated to
and been naturalized in, tho United States,
and Afterwards returned on transient visits
to- their native countries, to the perform
ahcc'of. military service in like manner as
resident Subjects yCohp plants arising from
the clasm in this respect made bys'fcreign'
States, have heretofore beer matters of
controversy .betweenfsbs UHited States and
some of the European Powers, and the ir-
ritation consequent upon the failure to set
tie this question increased during the. war
in which Prussia, Italy, and Austria were
recently engaged. n D't ~
While Great Britain has never scknowl-
edged the right Of expatriation she has not
for some years past practically insisted
upon the opposite doctrine. France, has
been equally fqrbearing; and Prussia has
proposed a compromise, which, although
avineing increased libcrality. has not been
accepted by the United States. Peace is
now prevailing everywhere in Europe, and
the present seems to be q fayorablei time
for an assertion by Congress Of the princi-
pfe.o long 'maint aimed BY the Executive
Department. THAT naturalization by one
State fully exelhpts the nstive-born subject
ofany other State from the performance of