The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-04

took part in the expedition, has been di-
Tected.
have. regarded the expedition as not only
political In its nature, but as also in a great
measure foreign from the United States In its
causes, character and objects. The attempt
was understood to be made in sym pathy with
an tnsurgent party in Ireland, and, by strik-
was designed to aid in obtaining redress Tor
| political grievances which, ii was ASSUMED,
the people OF Ireland had suffered at the
hands OF the British Government during a
period OF several centuries. The persons en-
gaged in 1t We're chiefly natives OF that coun-
| try, some of V hom had while Others had not,
become citizens OF the United States, under
| our general laws of naturalization. Com
plants of miSgovernment in Ireland contin-
ually engage the attention OF the British
nation, and so great an agitation is now pre-
vailing in Ireland that the British Govern
ment have deemed II necessary to suspend
the writ OF habedf corpus in that county,
1 These circu instances must necessarily modify
| the opinion which We might otherwise have
entertained in regard 10 an expedition eN-
| preSsly prohibited by our neutrality laws. SO
long as those laws remain upon our statute
BOOKS, they should be nithfuily executed. i.
and II they OperRte harshly, uDiustly or Op-
presSlSely, Congress alone can apply tho
remedy by their modification or repeal.
I Political ana commercial Interests OF the
| United states are not unlikely to be affected
In some degree, by events which are
and the time seems to have come when our
4 Government ought TO have u proper diplo-
matte representation in Greece.
| ThisGOvernment has claimed for all per
sons not convicted, or accused, or suspected
OF crime, an absolute political right Of self
! eXpatriatlon, and choice of new national
| allegiance. Most of the European States
have dissented from this principle and have
claimed Il right to hold such of their subj eCtS
| as have immigrated to and been naturaIized
| in the United StateS.aud Afterwards returned
! on transient visits to their native countries.
to the performance OF military service in like
manner rs resident subjects. Complaints
arising from the claim nm this respect made
| by foreign states, have heretofore been mat
ters OF controversy between the United States
and some of the European Powers, and lrri-
tation consequent upon tie failure TO settle
this question increased during the war in
which Prussia, Italy and Austria were re-
Gently engaged. While Great BEitaiu has
never acknowledged the right of expatrin-
ton, she has not pi actic1lly insisted upon IL
France has been equally forbearingi and
Prussia has proposed "A compromise, which,
although eVinCing Increased libeTality, has
not been accepted by the United States
Peace is now prevailing everywhere in
Europe, and the present seems To be II favor
able time for an assertion by Congress OF Ihn
principle so long maintained by the EXecu-
tive department, that naturalization by one
State fully eXempts the native-born subject
OF any other Stale from the performance or
military service under amy foreign govern
ment, so long as he does not voluntarily re-
nOunce its rights and benefits.
In the performance of duty posed upon
me by the Constitution, have thus submit
ted TO the representatives of the States and
OF the people, such information OF our do
meSiic and foreign Affairs as the public inter-
eSts Seem to require Our Government is now
undergoing Its most trying ordeal, and my
eaTnSS prayer is that the peril may be sue
ceSstully and finally passed without impair
ing its original strength and symmetry. The
Interests Of the nation are best to be promo
ted by the revival OF fraternal relations the
complete obliteration OF our past differences,
and the Inauguration of all the pursuits OF
peace. Directing our efforts 10 the early aC-
complishment OF these great ends let us en-
deitVor to preserve harmony between the CO.
ordinate departments OF the Government
That each in its proper sphere may cordially
cooperate with the other in securing the
maintenance OF the Constitutions the pfeser-
walton OF the Union, and the perpetuity OF
our free institutions.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, December 3, 1866.