Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-12-07

thought expedient that he should be attended
in the vicinity Of Mexico by the Lieutenant
General Of the Army of the United States,
with the view of obtaining such information
as might be Important to determine the course
to be pursued by the United States in re-es-
/ tablishing and maintaining necessary and
proper intercourse with the Republic of Mex
leo. Deeply interested in the cause of fiber
ty and humanity, it seemed an obvious duty
on our part to exercise whatever influence we
possessed for the restoration and permanent
establishment in that country of domestic
and republican form of government.
Such was the condition of affairs in regard. to
Mexico, when on the 22d of November last Off
cia information was received from Paris that the
Emperor of France had some time before decided
not to withdraw detachment of his forces in the
month of November past, according to engage
ment, but that this decision made with the
purpose of withdrawing the whole of those for
ces in the ensuing spring. Of this determination
however, the United States had not received any
notice or intmatOn; and, so soon as the infor-
nation was received by the Government, care
was taken to make known its dissent to the En-
peror of France.
cannot forego the hope that France will re-
consider the subject and adopt some resolution
in regard to the evacuation of Mexico which will
conform as nearly as practicable with the existing
| engagement, and thus meet the just expectations
of the United States. The papers relating to the
subject will be laid before you. 1t is believed
that, with the evacuation Of Mexico by fhe expe-
dictionary forces no subject for serious differences
between France and the United States would re-
main. The expressions of the Emperor and peo-
pie of France warrant q hope that the traditional
ry friendship between the two countries might
in that case be renewed and permanently restored
claim of citizen of the United States for in
demnity for spoliations committed on the high
seas by the French authorities in the exercise of
belllgerent power against Mexico, has been met
by the Government of France with a proposition
| to defer settlement until mutual convention for
the adjustment of all claims of citizens and sub
Jects of both countries, arising out of the recent
wars on this Continent, shall be agreed upon by
the two countries. The suggestion is not deemed
unreasonable, but it belongs to Congress to direct
the manner in which claims for indemnify by for
eigncrs as well as by citizens of the United States
arising out of the late civil war, shall be adiudi-
Gated and determined. | have no doubt that the
subject of all such claims will engage your atten-
ton at convenient and proper time.
| IL is matter of regret that no considerable adj
vance has been made towards an adjustment of the
differences between the United States and great
Britain, arising out of the depredatons upon our
national commerce and other trespasses committed
during our civil war by British subjects, in vio-
| lation of international law and treaty obligations
The delay, however, may be believed to have re-
suited in no small degree from the domestic sit
| uation 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 some reason to expect that it will
now be considered in becoming and friendly
spirit. The importance of an early disposition of
the question cannot be exaggerated. Whatever
| ,;rh< k1@ IL, IL IL
manifest that goodwill and friendship between
the two counties cannot be established until re-
clprocity in the practice of good-faith and neu-
trality shall be restored between the respective
| nations.
| On the 9Th of June last, in violation of our
neutrality laws, military expedition and enter
prise against the British North American Colo
mics was projected and attempted to be carried
on within the territory and jurisdiction Of the
| United States. In obedience to the obligation
imposed upon the Executive by the Constitution,
to see that the laws are faithfully executed ali
| citizens were warned BY proclamation, against
taking part in or aiding such unlawful proceed
/ ngS, and the Civil, military, and naval officers
were directed to take all necessary measures for
the enforcement of the laws. The expedition fail
ed but it has not been without its painful conse-
! queDceS Some of eur citizens who it was alleg-
ed, were engaged in the expedition, were captur-
ed, and have been brought to trial, as for cap
ital offence i'll the Province of Canada Judg-
ment and sentence Of death have been pronounc-
ed against some, while others have been acquitted
| Fully believing in the maxim of government that
severity Of civil punishment for misguided per-
sens who have engaged in revolutionary attempts
which have disastrously failed is unsound and
unWise, such representations have been made to
the British Government, in behalf of the conYc-
ted persons, as, being sustained by an cnlighten-
ed and humane judgment, will it is hoped in
! duce in their exercise of clemency, and
| udieiouS amnesty to all who were engaged in the
movement. Counsel has been employed by the
| Government to defend citizens ofthe United States
on trial for capital offences in Canada and dis
continuance Of the prosecutions which were in
stituted in the courts of the United States against
those who took part in the expedition, has been
| directed.
| have regarded the expedition as not only po-
| tical in its nature but as also 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 British Province
on this Continent, was designed to aid in obtain
ing redress for political grievances which, it was
assumed, thespeope of Ireland had suffered at the
hands of the British Government during period
of several centuries. The persons engaged in it
were chiefly natives of that country, some ofwhom
had, while Others had not become citizens of the
United States under our general laws of naturali-
cation. Complaints of misgovernment in Ireland
continually engage the attention of the British ma
ton, and so great an agitation is now prevailing
in Ireland that the British Government have
deemed 1t necessary to suspend the writ of ha6eas
corpus in that country These circumstances must
necessarily modify the opinion which we might
otherwise have entertained in regard to an expe-
dition expressly prohibited by our neutrality laws
So long as those laws remain upon our statute
books, they should be faithfully executed, and if
they operate harshly, unjusuy, or oppressiyely,
Congress alone can apply the remedy, by their mod
| ifcation repeal.
| Political and commercial interests of the United
States are not unlikely to be affected in some degree
by events which are transpiring in the eastern re-
gons 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 setexpatriation, and
choice of new national allegiance. Most of the
European States have dissented from this prnci-
pie, and have claimed a right to hold such oftheir
subjects as have immigrated to and been natural
lied in the United States and afterwards returned
transient visits to their native countries, to the
performance of military service in like manner as
resident subjects. Complaints arising from the
claim in this respect made by foreign States have
heretofore been matters of controversy between