Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-05

painful eoasequenccs. Some oc our citizens who,
IL WAS alieged, were engaged IN the ex-
petition were capturcd.sand have been brought
e trial. e for capital ofense in the Province Of
Canada Judgment and sentence OF death have
been Pronounced against some, while others
have been acquitted. Fully believing in the
maxim Of government ID severity Of civil
punishment for misguided persons WHO have en-
gagged in revolutionary attempts which aave dis
astrOusly Jailed, Is unsound and uowise, such
representations have been made TO the British
Government, in behalf Of the cQlvicsei persons,
a. being sustained By an enhghteued and hui
name judgment. will. it is hoped. induce in
their cases an exercise Of clemency, and a judi
eious amnesty TO all who were engaged in the
moyement- Counsel bias been employed By the
Cos eminent to defend citizens Of the United
States on trial for capital 0fenses in Canda: and
a discOntinuance Of the prosecutions which were
instituted in the courts Of the United States
SEsInst those who took part IN tie expedition.
has been directed.
l 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 attempt was understood 70 be made in
sympathy with an insurgent party in Ire
land, and, by striking at British Province
on this Continent, was designed to aid in
obtaining redress for political grievances
which, 1t was assumed, the people Of Ire
land had suffered at the hands of the
British Government during a period of
several centuries. The persons engaged
in 1t 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. Com
plants Of miSgoyernment in Ireland con-
tinually engaged the attention Of the British
nation; so great an agitation isuowp prevailing
in Ireland that the British GOvernment have
deemed 1t necessary to suspend the writ Of
habeas corpus in that country These cir
cumstancss must necessarily modify the
opinion which we might Otherwise have
entertained in regard to an EXPEDITION ex-
pressly prohibited by our neutrality laws.
So long as those laws remain upon our
they should tie faithfdllyexe-
outed, and if they operate harshly, uniustly,
or oppressively, Congress alone can apply
the remedy, by their modification or repeal.
GREECE.
Political and commercial interests Of the
United States are not unlikely to be affect
ed in some degree by events which are
Transporting in the eastern regions of Eu-
rope, and the time seems to have come
when our Government ought to have a
proper diplomatic representation inGreece.
THE RIGHT OF EXPATRIATTON.d de-
This Government has claimed for all
persons not convicted, or accused. or sus-
pected of crime, an absolute political right
of selEexpatriation, and a choice Of new
national allegiance Most of the European
States have dissented from this principle.
and have claimed the right to hold such Of
NH - -
been naturalized in the United States. and
afterwards returned on transient visits to
their native countries to the performance
OF military service IN like manner as res
ldent subject. Complaints arising from the
claim in this respect made by foreign States,
have heretofore been matters Of controver-
sy between the United States and some
Of the European Powers, and the irritation
upon the failure to settle this
question increased during the war in which
Prussia, Italy, and Austria were recently
While Great Britain has never
the right Of expatriation,
she has not practically insisted upon it.
France has been equally forbearing and
Prussia has proposed compromise,
which, although evincing increased liber-
atty, has not been accepted by the united
States. Peace Is now prevailing every
where in Europe, and the present seems TO
be favorable time for an assertion by Con-
gress of the principle, so long maintained
BY the Executive Department, that natur-
alization by one State fully exempts the
natiye-born subject Of any other State from
the performance Of military service under
any foreign Government so long as he does
not voluntarily renounce its rights and ben
sits.
CONCLUSION.
In the performance Of duty Imposed upon
me By the Constitution, ! have thus submitted
TO the Representatives Of the People such infor-
nation of our domestic and foreign affairs a.
the public interests seem 20 require Our
Government IL now undergoing il most try
ing ordeal, anu my earnest PRAYER is that the
peril may DO successfully and finally passed,
without imPairing2its original strength and
symmetry. The interest Of the nation
are best to be promoted by tae renewal
Of hateTnal relations. the complete OBJ
liberation OF our past differences, and the re-
inauguration Of all the pursuits Of peace.
Directing our efforts to the early accomplish
nent Of these great ends. Pet rs endeaYor to
preserve harmony between the coordinate de-
partments OF the government, that each in it,
proper sDhere may cordially cooperate with the
other Ia securing the maintenance Of the con-
ititutiOu. the preservation Of the UuiOn and the
perpetuity OfOUr free Institutions
ANDREW JOHNSON
WASHINGTON. December 3. 1876 VOL.