Des Arc citizen., 1866-12-15

V accordipg to engagement, but that this r decision was made with the purpose Of t withdrawing the whole of these forces . in the ensuing spring. Of this deter
 imitation, however, the United States . has not received any notice or intima- s tion and so soon as the information { was received by the government, care , was taken to make known it's dissent to
 the Emperor of France.
 Icannot forego the hope that Franco will reconsider the subject, and adopt some resolution in regard to the evacu- l ation of Mexico which will conform as nearly as practicable with the existing
 engagements, and thus meet the just
 expectation of the United States. The
 papers relating to the subject will be
 laid before you. It is believed thai
 with the evacuation of Mexico by tho
 expeditionary forces no subject for se-
 rious difference between France and tbc
 United States would remain. The ex-
 pressions of the Emperor and people
 of France warrant hope that the ira :
 ditionary friendship between the two
 countries might in case be reclaimed
 and permanently restored.
 SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS.
 A claim of citizen of the United States for indemnity for spoliations committed on the high seas by the
 French authorities in the exercise of a
 oeingefent power against Mexico has
 been met by the government of France i With proposition to defer settlement untll mutual convention for the ad lJustment of all claims of citizens and suo]ects of both countries arising ont of the recent war on this continent shall
 be agreed upon by the two countries.
 The suggestion is not deemed unrea- sonable, but it belongs to Congress to
 direct the manner. in which claims for
 indemnity by foreigners as well as by
 the citizens ofthe United States arising
 out of the late civil war, shall be adiu-
 dlcated and determined I have no
 doubt that the subject of all claims will
 engage your attention at convenient
 and proper time.
 It is 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 depredations
 upon our national commerce and other
 trespasses committed during our civil war by British subjects, in violation of international law and treaty obliga-
 tions. The delay, however, may be believed to have resulted in no small : degree from the domestic situation of ! Great Britain. An entire change of
 ministry occurred in that country du-
 ring 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 becom- ing and friendly spirit. The import ance of an early disposition of the question cannot be exaggerated. What ever might be the wishes of the two , governments, it is manifest that good , will and friendship between the two countries cannot be established until a , reciprocity in the practice of good faith and neutrality shall be restored f between the respective nations.
 t FENIAN AFFAIRS.
 On the 9th ofJune last, in violation l of our neutrality laws, military eXpe- s dition and enterprise against the Brit $ ish North American colonies was pro- . jected and attempted to be carried on l within the jurisdiction of the United : States. In obedience to the obligation s imposed upon the Executive by the : Constitution, to see that the laws are . faithfully executed, all citizens were n warned by proclamation against taking
 part in or aiding such unlawful pro- 2 ceedings, and the proper civil military : and naval officers were directed to s take all necessary measures for the en- ,- forcement of the laws. The expedi- = ton failed, but ii has not been without e it's consequences. Some of our citizens ?, who, it was alleged, were engaged in n the expedition, were captured and
 have been brought to trial as rog a cap O ital ofense in the Province Of Canada e Judgment and sentence of death have e been pronounced against some. while l. others have been acquitted. Fully be- II lieying in the maxim of the govern l. ment that severity of civil punishment
 for misguided persons who have cnga- ,t ged in revolutionary attempts which o have disastrously failed, is msound If and unwise, such representations have 7, been made to the British government e in behalf of the convicted persons as. e being sustained by an enlightened and e humane judgment, will, it is hoped st induce in their eases an exercise of ,- clemcncy and iudicious amnesty to c all who were engaged in the move l. ment. Counsel has been employed by IT the government to defend citizens oi is tho United states on trial for capital l. offences in Canada, and Qiscontinu- ,t ance of the prosecutions which were l. instituted in the courts of the United
 States against those who took part in
 the expedition has been directed. I l. have regarded the expedition as not 1t only political in it's nature but also as ,f in great measure foreign from the q United States in it's causes, character 70 and objections. The attempt was un- " derstood to be made in sympathy with f. an insurgent party in Ireland, and by ,f striking at a British province on this e continent was designed to aid in ob- Ie taining redress for political grievance d which it was assumed the people ot
 Ireland had suffered at the hands ol .e the British government during a pe- 1t riod of several centuries. The persons l. engaged in it were chiefly natives of is that country, some of whom had, while d others had not, become citizens of the n United States under our general laws D. of naturalization.
 e Complaints of misgovcrnment in d Ireland continually engage the atten-
 ton of the British nation, and so great e an agitation is now prevailing in Ire