American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-12-12

North American Colonies was projected
end attempted to be carried gu within
the territory aud jurisdiction OF the .Uta
ted States In obedience to the .obiiga-
ton imposed upon the Executive by the
Constitution, to see that the laws are
faithfully executed, all citizens were
warned, by proclamation, against taxing
rart in or aiding such uDlawful proceed>
ings and the proper civil, military, aud
naval officers were directed to take all
nece sary measures for the enforcement
Of the laws. The expedition failed, but
i has not been without its painful conse,
auences. Some of our citizens who, it
was alleged, were engaged in the expe>
iition, were captured, and have been
brought to trial, as for capital offense,
in the Province of Canada. Judgment
and sentence of death have been pro-
nounced against some, while other have
been acquitted. Fully believing in the
maxim of government that severity of
civil punishment for misguided persons
who have engaged 10 revolutionary at
tempts VIII ch have disastrously failed, is
unsound and unwise, such representa-
tions have been made to the British Gov.
ernment, in behalf of the convicted per-
SONS, as, being sustained by an enlight~
Ell ed and humane jud gment, Will, 1t is
hoped, iaduce in their cases an exercise
of clemency, and judicious amnesty to
all who were engaged in the movement
Counsel has been employed by the Gov.
erDment to defend citlzeus of the Unlte3
States on trial for capital uhenses in an
ada; aud discontinuance OF the prose
cutions which we're 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 political in its nature, but as also in
great measure foreign from the United
States in IT'S causes. character, and OF jects
The attempt was understood to be made
in sympathy with an iusurgent panty IN
Ireland, aud, by striking at British
Province on this Continent, was designed
to aid ir obtaining redress for political
grievances which, it was assumed, the
people of Ireland had suffered at the
hands Of the British Government during
a period Of several centuries. The per-
SONS engaged i'll 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
natulalizatioE. Complaints of misgov-
ernHlent in Ireland continually engage
the attention OF the British nation, aud
so great an agitation is now prevailing in
ireland that the British Government have
deemed it nee 'ssary TO suspend the writ
Of hp5eos corpus in that country. These
circumstances must necessarily modify
the opinion which we might otherwise
have entertained with regard to an ex
petition expressly prohibited by our
neutrality laws. So long as those laws
remain upou urstatute bucks, they should
be iuithfally executed, aud if they ope>
rate hashly, uujustly OF oppressively.-
Congress alone can "pply the remedy, by
their modification or repeal.
Political aud Commercial interests of
the United States are not unlikely to be
affected IN some degree by events which
are Transporting in the eastern regions OF
Europe, aud the time seems TO have come
when our Government ought to have
a proper diplomatic representation in
Greece.
This Government has claimed for III
persons not convicted, or accused, or sus
rected of crime, an absolute political
lightof sell expatriution, aud a choice of
new national allegiance. .d0st OF the
European States have dissented from this
principle, and have claimed right to
hold such of their subjects as have I'M
migrated to aud been naturalized IN the
United States, and afterwards returned
on transient visits to their native cOun-
tries, to the performance of military ser>
vice 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
consequent upon the failure to settle this
question Increased during the war in
which Prussia. Italy. and Austria were
receltly engaged While great Britain
has never acknowledged the right of ex-
patriatior, she has not, for some years
past, practically insisted upon the oppo>
site doctrine. France has been equally
torbearng; and Prussia has ropose,l
compromise, which, although eyinciug
increased liberality, has not been accept
ed by the United States. Peace is now
prevailing everywhere in Europe, and the
present seems to he favorable time for
an assertion by Congress of the pnnci.
pie, 50 long maiutained by the Executive
Department, that naturalization by one
State fully excnipts the native bo,u subs
ject Of any other State from The perform
anoe of military service under any foreign
Government, SO long as he does not VOL
unfairly rencunce Its rights and benefits
lD The performance OF duty imposed
uron me by the Constitution, have thus
sabmitted to the Representatives Of the
States and OF the People such informa-
tiea of our domestic aud foreign affairs
rs lhe public interests see,n to require
Our Govern nient is now undergoing its
ordeal, and my earnest prayer
is, that the peril may be successfully aud
finally passed, without impairing its orig
ipal strength and symnietiy. The inter
ests Of the nation are best to- be promoted
hy tho revival of rutern,sl relations the