American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-12-15

/, foreign nations.
The entire success of the Atlantic
, Telegraph between the coast Of Ire
land and the Province of Newfound-
land, is an achievement which has
been Justly celebrated in both hem
iSpheres as the opening of an era i'll
the progress of civilization. There
is reason to expect that equal success
will attend, and even greater results
follow, the enterprise for connecting
the two continents through the Paci-
tic Ocean by the projected line of tel
egraph Between Bamschatka ard the
Russian possessions III America.
The resolution of Congress protest
ing against pardons by foreign Gov
eTnments of persons convicted OF in
famous offences, on condition of emf
grafton to our country, has been COM
municated to the States with which
we maintain Intercourse, and the
practice, SO justly the subject Of com
plant on our part, has not been re-
neWed.
The congratulations Of Congress
to the Emperor Of Russia, upon his
escape from attempted assassination,
have been presented to that humane
and enlightened ruler, and received
by him with expressions Of grateful
appreciation.
The Executive, warned OF an at
tempt by Spanish-American adven-
turcrs to induce the emigration Of
freedmen of the United States to q
foreign country, protested against
the project as one which, if cOnsum-
mated, would reduce them to bon
dage even more oppressive than that
from which they have just been re-
lieved. Assurance has been received
from the Government Of the State in
which the plan was matured, that
the proceeding will meet neither its
encouragement nor approval. 1t is n
question worthy of your considera-
ton, whether our laws upon this sub
ject are adequate to the prevention
or punishment Of the crime thus me-
ditated.
In the month of April last, as Con.
gress is aware, friendly arrange
ment was made between the En-
perOr Of France and the President of
the United States for the withdrawal
from Mexico Of the French eHpedi-
tiOnary military forces. This with
drawal was to be effected in three
dctachmcntS, the first Of which it
was understood, would leave Mexico
in November, HOW past, the second
in March next, and the third and last
in November, 1867. Immediately
upon the completion OF the eyaCua-
ton. the French Government was to
assume the same attitude Of nOn-in.
tervention, in regard TO Mexico, as
is held by the Government Of the
United States. Repeated assurances
have been given by the Emperor,
since that agreement, that he would
complete the promised evacuation
within the period mentioned, OF
sooner.
1t was reasonably expected chat the
proceedings thus contemplated would
produce a crisis Of great political in
terest in the Republic Of Mexico. The
newly-appointed Minister Of the
United States, Mr.. Campbell, was
therefore sent forward, on the 9th
day of November last, to assume his
proper functions as Minister Plenipo-
Tertiary 81 the United States TO that
Republic. It was also thought eXpe.
dent that he should be attended in
the vicinity Of Mexico by the Lieute-
nant General Of the Army Of the
United States. with the view Of oh
tanning such information as might
be important to determine the course
to be pursued by the United States
in rc-cStahlishing and maintaining
necessary and proper intercourse with
the Republic of Mexico. Deeply in
tcrestcd in the cause Of liberty and
humanity, it seemed an Obvious duty
on our rart to exercise whatever in
iuence we possessed for the restora-
ton and permanent establishment il
that country of domestic and re-
publican form Of Government.
Such was the condition Of affairs
in regard to Mexico, when on the 22d
Of November last, official informa-
ton was received from Paris that the
Emperor of France had some time
before decided not to withdraw a de.
tachment Of his forces in the month
of November past, according to en-
gagement,' but that this decision was
made with the purpose Of withdraw
ing the whole of those forces i'll the
ensuing spring. OF this determine
ton, however, the United States had
not received any notice or intimatiOn;
and, SO soon as the information was
received by the Government, care
was made to make known its dissent
to the Emperor Of France.
| cannot fOrego the hope that
France will reconsider the subject,
and adopt some resolution in regard
to the evacuation of Mexico which
will conform as nearly as practicable
with the existing engagement, and
thus meet the just expectations of the
United States. The papers relating
to the subject will be- laid before you.
1t is believed that, with the evacua-
ton of Mexico by the eXpeditionary
forces, no subject for serious differ
ences between France and the United
States would remain. The express
sions of the Emperor and people of
France warrant a hore that the ira
dictionary friendship between the two
countries might in that case he re-