American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-12-15

considerable advance has been made
towards an adjustment Of the differ
ences between the United States anC
Great Britain, arising out Of the de
, predations upon our national com
merce and other trespasseS commit
ted during our civil war by British
subjects, in violation Of international
law and treaty obligations. 1he de
lay, however, may be believed K
have resulted in no small degree from
the domestic situation Of Great
Britain. An @tire change Of min.
istrA occurred i'll 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 some reason to expect
that it Will now be considered in a
becoming and friendly spirit. The
Importance Of an early disposal OF
the question cannot be exaggerated.
! Whatever might be the wishes of the
two Governments, it is manifest that
goodwill and friendship cannot be
established, until reciprocity, in
the practice Of good faith ana ncu-
trality, shall be restored between the
respective nations. %.
On tile 9th of June last. in viola
ton Of our neutrality laws, mill
taIy expedition and enterprise against
the British North American Colonies
was projected and attempted to Zoe
carried on within the territory and
Jurisdiction of the United States. In
obedience to the obligation imposed
upon the Executive by the Constitu-
ton, to see that the laws are faith
fully executed, all citizens were
warned, by proclamation, against
taking part in or aiding such unlaw-
FIJI proceedings, and the proper civil,
military, and naval officers were di-
rected to take all necessary measures
for the enforcement of the laws. The
expedition failed, but it has not been
without its painful consequences
Some Of our citizens who, it was al
legged, were engaged in the expedition,
were captured, and have been brought
to trial, as for capital offence, in the
Province Of Canada. Judgment and
the sentence of death have been pro-
nOunced against some, While others
have been acquitted. Fully believing
! in the maxim Of government. that
severity ofpunislment for misguided
persons who have engaged in rCyOlu-
tionary attempts which have disas-
| trously failed, is unSOund and un-
wise, such representations have been
made to the British Government. in
behalf of the convicted persons, as,
being sustained by an enlightened
and humane Judgment, will, it is
hoped, induce I'll their cases al eXer-
else Of clemcnCy, and a iudiciHus am
nesty to all who were engaged in the
movement. Counsel has been en-
ployed by the Government to defend
citizens of the United States on Il ial
for capital offences in Canada; and a
discontinuancc of the prosecutions
which were instituted III 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 noture, hut
rs also in Il great measure foreign
| from the United States in its causes,
character aud objects. The attempt
was understood to be made in sym
patty with an .nSurgent party in
Ireland, and, by stri king at a British
Province on this continent, was de
signed to aid in obtaining redress for
political grievances which, it was as
sImed, the people of Ireland has sut-
fered at the hands of the British. Gov
ernment during a period Of several
centuries. The persons engaged in
it were chiefly natives Of that coun-
/ try, 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 contin-
ually engage the attention of the
British nation, and so great an agita-
ton is now prevailing in ireland that
the British Government have deemed
it necessary to suspend the writ of
habeas cOrpuSin that country. These
circumstances must necessarily modi-
fly the opinion which we might other
wise have entertained in regard to
an expedition expressly prohibited
by our neutrality laws. SO long as
those laws remain upon our statute
books, they should be faithfully exc
cuted, and if they operate too harsh
ly, uniustly, or oppressively, Con
greSs alone can apply the remedy, by
their modification or repeal.
Political and 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, and the
time seems to have come when our
Government ought TO have proper
diplomatic representation in Greece.
This Government has claimed for
all persons not convicted, or accused,
or suspected of crime. an absolute
political right of sclf-eXpatriation,
.and a choice Of new national allie
glance. Most of the European States
have disSented from this principle,
and have claimed a right to hold such
of their subjects as have immigrated
to and been naturaliZed in the United
States, and afterwards returned on
transient visits to their native coun-
tries, to the performance OF military
service in like manner as resident
subjects. Complaints arising from