Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-12-07

Of American Colonies was projected and a
% tempted to be carried on within the ierritor
&c and jurisdiction of thu United States. |
3 obedience to the obligation imposed upon th
'e Executive by the Constitution, to see tina
a the laws are faithfully executed, all. citizen
: were warned by proclamation, against tax
u ing part in or aiding such unlawful proceed
: ings, and the proper civil. military, au,
c naval officers were directed TO take all neces
: Ory measures for the enforcement Of the laws
c The expedition failed, but it has not beer
t without its painful consequences. Some O.
our citizens who, it was alleged, were en-
gagged in the expedition, were captured. anl
have been brought to trial, a. for a capita
! Offence, IN the Province Of Clnada. judy.
, ment and sentence Of death have been pro.
: nouneed against some, while others have
{ been acquitted
Fully believing in the MAXIM of govern
ment that severity Of civil punishment fr
misguided persons who have engaged in re-
volutionary attempts which have disastrous
ly failed, Is unsound and unwise. such repre-
sentatIons have been made 20 the British
Government, in behalf Of the convicted per-
sons, as, being sustained by an enlightened
and humane judgment, Will. it is hoped, in
duce in their cases an exercise of clemcucy.
and Judicious amnesty to all who were en-
| gagged in the movement. Counsel has been
employed by the Government to defend
citizens Of the United States on trial for cap
ital offences in Canada and a disclntinr-
ance Of the prosecutions which were inst-
/ tuted in the courts Of the United State,
| against those who took Tart in the expedi-
/ ton, has been directed,
/ | have regarded the expedition as not only
/ political in Its nature, but as also in a great
measure foreign from the United States In
ITS causes, character and objects The at
tempt was understood to be made in symra-
thy with an insufgent party in Ireland, aud.
! by striking at a British Province On this
Continent. was designed TO aid IN obtainIn,
redress for political grievances which, it was
assumed, the people Of ireland had suffered
at the hands OF the British Government dur
ins period Of seyeral centuries The per-
sons engaged in Itwcre chiefly natives Of that
country, some Of whom had, while Others
bad not, become citizens Of the United States
unier our general laws Of naturalization.
Complaints Of misgoveTnment in Ireland
continually engage the attention Of the
British nation, and 50 great an agitation is
now prevailing in Ireland that the British
Government have deemed it necessary to
suspend the writ of da5eas corpus IN that
country.
These circumstances must necessarily mo-
difY the opinion which we might otherwise
have entertained in regard 10 an expedition
expressly prohibited By our neutrality laws.
= long as those laws remain upon our sta
tute-u0oks, they should be carefully oxecut-
ID. aui If they operate harshly, uniustly, or
uPprs-siyely, Congress alone can apply the
remedy. by their modification Of appeal.
Political and commercial interests of tie
United States are not unlikely 90 be affected
Do some degree BY cy nts which are trans
T.rirs iu tie eastern regions %. Europe and
tac line -o-ms 10 have come when our Gov
eminent ought TO have a proper diplomatic
rrlrcs NATION in Greece.
iti- Government has cIaimtd iJI ID --
sons a.. convicted, or accused, 0r suspected
oi crime, an absolute political right of self
cNlatrilIian. and choice Of new national
allegiance Most of the European States
have dls-cu,cd from tins principle, and have
claimed a night 70 hold such oi their sub
iec.s as harc immigratci u and blcu altu-
rIl.z d 10 the United States, aud afterwards
returae- m transient visits 90 their native
countries, 90 che Performance u military
service Do ..E. m1Ener a- resident uhiects
CumIiaIn.s arising from the claim In tins
respect mad, by foreign States, have hcrct1-
lore islu matters 10 -Jutr- yarsy betwo tae
United States and some u the European
Powers, and tae irritation consequent upon
the failure 90 settle this question increased
during -lo wax iu which Prussia, I,sly and
Au-,-m were recently engaged While
Great B-iain ias never ACKNOWLEDGED the
right 0l ,xu4lriIiion, she has nos practically
Insisted upon il France hes equally been
i1rbclrius and Prussia has proposed a
compromise. which, although cvincing in
creased iiaclulify. bas not been acconed iy
The United States Peace is now prevailing
everywhere ia E-Tle and the present seems 4
% DE- q favorable fin, for an ass rti1n by
Congress The principle, so long maintained
by the Executive Department, that naturalI
zlti0n by one Sl'e fully cxempts the native
born suhjlc. 1i any other State from the
performance oi military service under any
foreign government, I'D long as he docs not
Voluntarily ren0uuec IFS rights ard benefits.
IN the Performance 20 duty imposed
upon ne by the Cons tuition. have thus
submitted 10 Tire Representatives Of the
States and of th, Py1rl, such information OF
our damc- ic and foreign affairs as the pub
Inc interest seem go require. Our Govern
mtnt Is now undergoing ITS most trying or
deal. and my earnest prayer is, that the peril
may be successfully anu finally passed, with
out imVsrrng its original strength and sym
metry The interests Of the nation are best
to be promoted by the revival Of iraterual
relations. tie complete ohiieratior OF our
mast q m. .reu.c- and tlc r.-igaurlrlLilu Ui
all tie pursuits of Ieaee. Directing our ci-
forts 30 the early accomplishment Ot these
great ends. let Us cndetyor 90 preserve har-
mouy between the coordinate Departments
OF tie Government, tlat each in It's proper
sphere may cordially cooperate with the
other ID securing the maintenance Of the
Constitution, the preservation Of the Union,
and tue re-yetuity ofouT free institutions.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Dec. 3, ls5d.