Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-12-12

laducc 81 their Oascs an exercise Oi
ciemenoy. and a iuaic'Oas amnesty 20 4
all who were Cngaged iu She move .
ment Counsel has been employed by .
the Government to defend ciuzeus Of
the United States on trial for capital
oflcnscs in Canada aud discoutlnu-
ance of the prosecutions which were |
instituted ia 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 It's nature, but as
al.o in great measure foreign from
the United States in its causes, char
acter and objects. The attempt 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 toad
in obiainingredress tor political griev-
ances. which, it was assumed, the
people of Ireland had suffered at the
hands of the British Government, du.
ring Il period ofseveral 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 mis- government in Ire
land continually engage the attention
OF the British nation, and so great an
agitation is now prevailing in Ireland
that the British Government have
deemed it necessary TO suspend the
writ Of hdJeaS corpus in that country.
These circumstances must necessarily
modify the opinion which we might
otherwise have entertained in regard
to an expedition expressly y prohibited
by our neutrality laws. So long as
those laws remain upon our statute
books, they should be faithfully execu-
ted, and it they operate harshly, un-
justly or oppressiveiy, Congress alone
can apply the remedy, by thoir modi-
fcation or repeal.
Political and commercial interests
of the United States are not unlikely
to be affected in some degree by events
that are transpiring in the eastern re-
gions of Europe, and the time seems
to have come when our Government
ought to have proper diplomatic
representation in Greece.
=. la.s slass.,aa N,.r
all persons not convicted, or accused,
or suspected of crime, an absolute po-
litical right of selfexpatriation, and
choice Of new national allegiance.
Most of the European States have
di.senied from this principle, and have
claimed 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 countries, TO the
performance Of military service in like
manner as resident subjects. Com
plants 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 irri-
tation consequent upon the failure to
settle this question increased during
the war in which Prussia, Italy and
Austria were recently engaged. While
Great Britain has never acknowledged
the right of eXpatriation, she has not
practically insisted upon it. Franco
has been equally forbearing, and Prns.
sia has proposed compromise, which,
although evincing increased iiberality
has not been accepted by the United
States. Peace is now prevailing ev,
erywhere in Europe. and the present
seems to be favorable time for al
assertion by Congress Of the principle
so long maintained by the Executive
Department, that naturalization by
one State fully eXempts the native.
born subject Of any other State from
the performance of military service
under any foreign government, ~
long as he does not voluntarily re.
nounce its rights and benefits.
In the performance of a duty i'm.
posed upon me by the Constitution, ]
have thus submitted to the Represent
atives OF the States and of the people
such information Of our domestic and
foreign affairs as the public interests
seem TO require. Our Government i.
now undergoing its most trying or.
deal, and my earnest prayer is that
the peril may be successfully and final.
~ passed. without impairing iis origi
nal strength and symmetry The in.
terests OF the nation are best to be
promoted 10y the revival Of fraternal
relations, the complete obIiicration Of
our past differences, and the reinau.
guration OF all the pursuits Of peace
Directing our efforts TO the early ac.
complishment of these great ends. let
us cndeavor to preserve harmony be.
tween the coordinate Department.
OF the Government, that each in il.
proporsphere cordially ca. operate
with the other in securing the main
tenance Of the Constitution, the pres
ervalion Of the Union, and the peIpe
tuity of our free institutions.
ANDREW JoHEsoN.
Washington, Dec. 3. 1866.
-r---.-s-
Az INHUMAN DoG.-Schuylcr Col
fax delivered a speech ID at Detroit
not long ago in which he said.