The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-12-05

posed upon the Executive by the Constitution, to
see that the laws are faithfully executed all citi
Gems were warned, BY proclamation, against t.
king part in or aiding such unlawful proceedings,
and the proper civil, military, and naval officers
were directed to take all necessary measures for
the enforcement of the laws. Tie expedition
failed but 1t 1t has not been without Its painful
consequences. Some Of our citizens who, 1t was
alleged, were engaged in the expedition, were
captured, and have been brought 10 trial. as for
. capital offence, in the Province of Canada
Judgment and sentence of death have been pro-
nounced against some, while Others have been &C
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 tailed,
is unsOund and unwise, such representations have
been made to the British Government, in behalf Of
the convicted persons. as, being sustained by an
enlightened and humane Judgment, will, 1t Is
hoped, induce in their cases an exercise Of elem
ency, aud judicious amnesty to all who were en-
gagged in the movement. Counsel has been en-
plOyed by the Government to defend citizens OF
the United States on trial for capital offences IN
Canada; and discontinuancc of the prosecu-
tons 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 as not only po-
litcal III its nature but also In great measure
foreign from the United States In its causes,
character, and Objects The attempt was under
stood to be made in sympathy with an insurgent
party in Ireland, and, 6y 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
period of several centuries. The persons engaged
in it 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 Improvement la
Ireland continually engage the attention Of the
British nation, and SO great an agitation Is now
prevailing in ireland that the British Government
have deemed it necessary to suspend the writ OF
habeas corpus in that country. These circum-
stances must necessarily modify the opinion
which We might otherwise have entertained In re-
gard to an expedition expressly prohibited by our
neutrality laws. So long as those laws remain
upon our statute books, they should be faithfully
executed, and If they operate harshly, unjustly,
or oppressively, Congress alone can apply tho
remedy, by their modification or repeal.
Political and commercial interests of the Uni
ted States are not unlikely to be affected In some
degree by events which are Transporting In the
eastern regions of Europe, and the time seems to
have come 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 political right of self-expatriation,
and a 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 immigrated to, and been
naturalized in, the United States, and afterwards
returned on transient visits to their native coun-
tries, to the performance of military service In
like manner as resident subjects. Complaints
arising from the claim in this respect made by
foreign States, have heretofore been matters OF
controversy between the United States and some
Of the European Powers, and the irritation consc-
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 acknowledged tho
right of repatriation, she has not practically in
sisted upon it. France has been equally torbear-
ing; and Prussia has proposed q compromise, ,
which, although evincing increased lberality, has
not been accepted by the United States Peace
is now prevailing everywhere in Europe, and the
present seems to be favorable time for an asser-
ton by Congress Of the principle, so long main
tanned by the Executive Department, that
naturalization by one State fully exempts the
native-born subject of any other State from the
performance of military service underany foreign
Government, 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
Representatives of the States and of the People
such information of our domestic and foreign a.
fairs 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 be promot-
ed by the revival of fraternal relations, the COM
plete obteration of our past differences and the
reinauguration of all the pursuits of peace. d..
rectiDg our efforts to the early accomplishment Of
these great ends, let us endeayor to preserve har
mony between the coordinate Departments Of
the Government, that each in its proper sphere
may cordially cooperate with the other In secur.
ing the maintenance of the Constitution, the pre-
servation of the Union, and the perpetuity of our
free institutions. ANDREW JOHNSON.
WASHINGTON, December 3, 1866.