White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1866-12-13

OtateS. In cUeuicuCo " eoo ooiiSat atiou
imposed upon the Executive by the Con-
stitutiou, to see that the laws are faith
fully executed, all citizens were warned
by proclamation against taking part in
or aiding such unlawful proceedings, and
the proper civil. military and naval Off
GERS were directed to take all necessary
measures for the enforcement OF the laws.
The expedition failed, bnt 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 - tor
capital offense in the Province OF Canada.
Judgment and sentence Of death have been
pronounced sglins. some. while Others
have bssn acquitted. Fully believing in
the maxim of the government that sever
ity of civil punishment for misguided
persons who have engaged in revolution
ary attempts which have dissstrously
failed, is unsound and unwise, such repre-
sentstions have been made to the British
government in behalf of the convicted
persons as, being sustained by an enlight-
ened and humane government, will, it is
hoped. induce in their c,ses an exercise
of clemency and 9 judicious amnesty to
ell who were engaged in the movement
Counsel has been employed by the gov
ernment to defend citizens of the United
States on trial for capital offences in Can
Aas, and discontinusnce of the prose-
cutions which were instituted 10 the courts
of the United States against those who
took part in the expedition has been d.
rected. l hive regarded the expedition
ss not only political in its nature, but also
as in great measure foreign from the
United States in its causes, character and
objections. The attempt was understood
to be made in sympathy with an iDsurgent
party in Ireland, and by striking at a
British province on this continent was
designed to aid in obtaining redress for
political grievances which. it was assum-
ed, the people of Ireland had suffered at
the hands of the British government dur.
ing 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 States under our general laws of
naturalization.
Complaints of misgovernment in Ire
land continually engage the attention Of
the British nation. and so great an agita-
tion is now prevailing in Ireland that the
British government have deemed it nec-
essary to suspend the writ of habeas cor.
pus in that country. These circumstan
ces must necessarily modify the opinion
which we might otherwise" have enter.
tanned in regard to an expedition express
1y prohibited by our neutrality laws. So
long as those laws remain upon our stat.
ute books they should be faithfully exc
cuted, and ifthey operate harshly, unjust
ly or oppressivsly Congress alone can ap-
ply the remedy by their modification or
repeal.
The political and commercial interests
of the United States are not unlikely to
be affected in some degree BY events which
are transpiring in the eastern regions of
Europe. and the time seems to have come
when when our government ought to have
proper diplomatic representation in
Greece. This government has claimed
for all persons not convicted or accused,
or suspected of crime, an absolute politi.
cal right Of self-expatriation, and choice
of a new national allegiance. Most of
the European States have dissented from
this principle, and have claimed right
to bold such of their subjects as have
immigrated to, and been naturalized iu
the United States, and afterwards on
transient visits to their native countries,
to the performance of military service in
like manner as resident SUBJECTS. Com
plants arising from the claims in this
respect. made by foreign States, have
heretofore been matters Of controversy be-
tween the United States and some Of the
European powers. and the irritation con.
sequent upon the failure to settle this ques-
tiou increased during the war in which
Prussia. Italy and Austria were recently
engaged. While Great Britain has new.
er acknowledged the right of fexpatriation.
she has not for some years past practical
ly insisted upon the opposite doctrine.-
France has been equally forbearing, and
Prussia has proposed scompromise which,
although evincing increased liberality,
has not been accepted by the United
States.
Peace is now prevailing everywhere in
Europe. and tho present seems to be
favorable time for an assertion by Con.
gress of the principle so long maintained
by the Executive department That nat
urslizstion by one State fully exempts
the native born subject of any other State
from the performance of military duties
In the performance of duty imposed
upon me by the Constitution, l have in
this submitted to the representatives of
the States and Of the people such inform
alton Of our foreign affairs as the public
interests seem to require. Our govern.
ment is now undergoing it's most trying
ordeal, and my earnest prayer is that the
peril may be successfully and finally pass
ed without impsiring it's original strength
and symetry. The interests of the nation
are best to be promoted by the revival of
fraternsl relations, the complete obliter.
alton Of our past differences. and the rein.
auguration Of all the pursuits Of peace.
Directing our efforts to the esrly &C.
complishment of these great ends, let us
endeavor to preserve harmony between
the coordinate departments of the pov.
ernmep., that each, in its proper sphere.
may cordially cooperate with the other
in securing the maintenance of the Con.
stitution and preservation Of the Union.