Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-12-06
Congress Presidents Message.

Congress assembled on Monday last
The Presidents Message was sent il
and read the same day. The Presi
dent adheres 70 his pslicy, and doe:
not present any new propositions :
An abstract of its contents was SEN
out in advance of its delivery, from
which we make the following ex'
tracts:
WASHINGTON, December ,.
The Presidents annual message
will be delivered to Congress al
about one o clock P NJ, tomorrow.
Probably st no previous period has
speculation been so rife and as wild
regarding its contents.
1t will be found, however, that
none of the recently agitated cues
tions of amnesty and suffrage are al
luded to in the message. in the slight
est particular, nsr does he intimate
or propose any amendment to the
Constitution, as represented, but, on
the contrary, the President adheres
firmly and closely to his policy OF
restoration, and urges it with re-
newed vigor on Congress. The Pres
ident opens his message with the
proper thanks to the Providence
which has preserved the land from
pestilence, and then proceeds direct
to the consideration of the national
situation, opposing, as will be seen,
the making of any conditions prece-
dent to restoration, except those
known to the Constitution, and fa-
voring the immediate admission of
duly qualified loyal Representatives
to Congress. He asks nething more /;
he comedies nothing less.
He speaks as follows on Mexican
affairs:
''In the month of April last, as
Congress is aware, friendly agree
ment was made between the Emperor
of France and the President, for the
withdrawal from Mexico of the
French expeditionary forces. This
withdrawal was to be effected in three
detachments, the first of which it
was understood was to leave Mexico
in November, the second in March.
and the third in November, 1867
Immediately on the completion of
the evacuation, the French Govern
ment was to assume the same atti-
tude in regard to non-intervention as
is held by the United States. Re-
peated assurances have been given
the Emperor since that agreement
that France would complete the
promised evacuation within the pc
riod, or even sooner.
1t was reasonably expected that
the proceeding thus contemplated
would produce crisis of great po-
litical interest in the republic of
Mexico. The newly appointed Min
ister of the United States, Mr.. Camp
bell, was therefore sent forward on
Nov. 9th to assume his function. 1t
was alse thought expedient that he
should be attended in the vicinity of
Mexico by the Lieutenant General of
the United States Army, with the
view of obtaining such information
as might be important TO determine
the course to be pursued by the Uni
ted States in re- establishing and
maintaining the necessary anG prop
er intercourse with Mexico. Deeply
interested in the cause of liberty
and humanity, it seemed an obvi
ous duty On our part to exercise
whatever influence we possessed for
the restoration and permanent es-
tablishment in that country of do
mestic and republican form of gov
ernment.
Such was the condition OF affairs
in regard to Mexico, when, on the
22d of November, official information
was received from Paris that the
Emperor had some time befere deci-
ded not to withdraw detachments of
his force in the month of NoyeB Der,
according to agreement; but this de-
cision was made for the purpose of
withdrawing the whole of these fore
es in the ensuing spring. or this
latter determination, however, the
United States has received Nc no.
tice or intimation, and so soen as this
information was received by this
Government, care was taken to make
known its dissent to the Emperor of
France.
l can not forcgo the hope that
France will re consider the subject
and aaopt some resolution in regard
to the evacuation of Mexico which
will conform to the existing engage
ment, and meet the expectations Of
this Government. The documents
on the subject will be laid before
Congress. With the evacuation of
Mexico by the French, no subject
for serious differences between |
France and the United States would !
remain.
On our relations with Great Brit |
ain the President writes as follows:
" 1t Is i matter OF regret that no con- !
siderable advance has been made to-
ward an adjustment of the difference
between the United States and Great .
Britain, arising out of the depreda-
tions on our national commerce, and |
other trespasses committed during
the civil war by British subjects, in
violation of international law and
treaty obligations.
The delay, however, may be be
lieved to have resulted in no small
degree from the domestic situation
of Great Britain. An entire change
of Ministry occurred in that country
during the last session OF Parliament. /
The attention of the new Ministry
was called to the subject at an early
day, and there is soHe reason to be-
- l.