The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-12-06

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friendship between tne Two countries cannot
be established until reciprocity in the p<ac-
tice of good faith and nsutralisy shall be re-
stored between the respective nations
THE rENIAN INVASION OF CANADA.
On the 10th Of Juno last, in violation Of
our neutrality laws, military enterprise
against the British North American colonies
was projected and attempted to be carried ON
within the territory and Jurisdiction of the
United States. In obedience to the obliga-
ton imposed upon the executive by the con-
stition, to see that the laws are faithfully ex-
| ecuted, all citizens were warned by proca-
nation against taking part or siding suca
unlawful proceedings, and the proper OWL
military and naval officers were directed to
take ali necessary measures for the enforce
ment Of the laws The expedition failed, but
it has not been without its painful conse-
ouences Some Of our citizens, whom 1t was
| alleged were engaged in the expedition. were
/ brought to trial, as for a capital etfense, IN
| the province Of Canada. Judgement and
sentence of death have been pronounced
| against some while others have been scquit-
| ted. Fully believing in the maxim OF gov
eminent, that severity of civil punishment
for misguiged persons who have engaged In
| revolutionary attempts, which have dlsas-
trously failed lis unsound and IN wise, such rep
| reservations have been made to the British
governments, in behalf of the convicted per-
| sons, as, being sustained by an enlightened
| and humane judgement, will, /. ID to be
| hoped, induce ia their cases an act of elem
ency and iudicious amnesty to all who were
engaged in the movement. Counsel has been
employed by the government to defend citi-
| zens of the United States on trial for capital
| offences in Canada and discontinnance OF
4A1 N
courts of the United States against those who
took part in the expedition has been directed
| have regarded the expedition as not only
, political in lts nature, but as slso in a great
! measure foreign from the United States, 10
causes, character and objects.
The sttemp t was understood to be made in
sympathy with an insurgent party in Ireland,
and, by striking at a British province on this
continent, was Designed to aid in obtaining
redress for political grievances which 1t was
assumed the people of Ireland had suffered at
the hands of the British government, during
psriod 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 ireland con-
tinually engage the attention of the British
| nation, and so great aeita ion is now pre-
| vailiog in Ireland that the British govern
msnt have deemed it necessary to suspend
the writ Of hdbeas corpus In that country.-
| These circumstances must necessarily modi-
fly the opinion which we might otherwise
| have entertain ed in regard to an expedition
| expressly prohibited by our neutrality laws.
| So long as thess laws remain upon our statute
books they should be faithfully executed, and
if they operate harshly, upjustly or oppres-
sively, congress alone can apply the remedy
| by their modification or repeal.
TIE EASTERN QUESTION.
| The political and commeFcial interests of
! the United States are not unlikely TO be af-
| fected in SOME degree By events which are
Transporting In the eastern regions of Europe,
and the time seems to have como when our
| government Should have proper diplomatic
| representation in Greecs.
NATURALIZATION.
| This government has claimed for all per
| sons not convicted, or accused, or suspected
| of crime, an absolute political right of self
| expatriation and choice Of new national al
| iegiance. Most Of the European states have
| dIsseated froa this principle, and have
| claimed = right TO hold such of their subjects
as have immigrsted to and been naturalizsd
| il the United States, and afterwards returned
to the performances of military service, il like
| manner rs resident subjects, Complaints
| arising from the chains IN this rssp5csy made
| by foreign states, have heretofore been q mat
ter CT controversy between the United States
| and some OF the European powers. and the
/ invitation c0nsequelt upon the failure to get
| tie this question increased during the war in
| which Prussia, Italy and Austria were recent
| lY engaged. While Great Britain has never
| akvn cd he rYrEt E .trIc o.a
| has not practically insisted upon 1t. France
has been equally forbearing, and Prussia has
! proposed IL compromise, which, although
! evincipg increased liberslty, has net been &c
| ceptsd by the United States Peace is now
prevailing everywhere in Europe, and ihe
| present seems 10 be favorable time for an
assertion in congress of the principle 20 long
| maintained by the executive department that
natura lizaticn by one state fully exempts the
native born subject of any other state from
| the performance of military service under
any foreign government, SO long as he does
Voluntarily renounce its rights and benefits.
CONCLUSION.
! In the performance of duty imposed ny
| the constitution, / have thus submitted
| to the representatives. of the states and
| the people such information of our do
nestle and foreign affairs as the public
interest seems to require. Oor government
is now undergoing itH most trying ordeal,
and my earnest prayer ia 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 promoted by the revival of fra
ternai relations, the complete obiiteration Of
our past differences. aud the inauguration of
all the pursuits of peace. Directing our eff
forts to the accomplishment of these great
ends, let US endeavor 10 preserve harmony
| between the coordinate departments of the
governments. that each, IN its proper sphere,
may cordially cooperate with the other in Sc
curing the maintenance of the constitution,
the preservation of the Union and the perpet-
uity of free institutions.
ANDREW JOHNSON
Washington, Dec. 3, 1866.
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