The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1866-11-07

| ton failcd, but it has not been without its
painful consequences. Some of our citizens
| who, it was alleged were engaged in the ex-
petition, were captured, and have been
brought to trial. as for capital offence, in the
| Province Of Canada.
Judgment and sentence Of death have been
pronounced against some, while others have
been acquitted. Fully believing in the max
i'm of government, that severity of civil pun
ishment for misguided persons who have en-
gagcd in revolutionary attempts which have
disastrously failed, is uusound and unwisc,
such representations have been made TO the
British Government, III behalf Of the con-
victcd persons, rs, being sustained by an cn-
| lightened and humane judgment, will. it is
hoped induce in their eases an exercise OF
clemcney. and a iudicious amnesty to al who
were engaged in the moremont. Counsel has
been employed by the Government to defend
citizens of the United States OIL trial for cap
ital offences in Cnnada and Il discontinue
ancc of the prosecutions which were institu-
ted 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
political in lis nature. but as also. i'll II great
measure. foreign from The United States i'll
IT'S causes, character and objects The at
tempt was understood to be made in synlpa-
thy with an insurgent party i'll Ireland, and,
by striking at a British Province on thii Con-
tincnt, WAS designed to ai,l i'll obtaining re-
dress for political grievances which, it was
assumed. the people of Ireland had suffered
at the hands Of the British Government du-
ring period Of several centuries. The per-
sons 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 misgovernmcnt i'll Ireland con-
tinllally engage the attention OF tho British
nation, and so great IN agitation is now pre-
vailng in Ireland that the British Govern
ment have deemed it necessary to suspend
the writ of haJeas corpus in that country.
These circumstances must necessarily mo-
lify the opinion which we might otherwise
have entertained in regard to an expedition
expressly prohibited by our neutrality laws
So long as those laws remain upon our stat
uie books, they shoulbc faithfully executed,
unl if they operate llarshly, unjustly or op-
pressivcly, Congress alone can apply the
remedy, by their modification or rdpcal.
Political and commercial interests of the
| United Stntes are not unlikely to be affected
in some degree by events which arc trans
primg in the eastern regions OF Europe, and
the time seems to have conc when our Gov
cr,nncnt ought TO have Il proper diplomatic
! representation in Greece.
The Government has claimed for all per-
SONS not convicted, or accused. or suspected
of crime, IN absolute political right Of self
cxpatration. and Il choice Of new natio"al
allegiance Most of the European States
have lisscntc;l from this principle. and have
claimed right to hoil such of their subjects
~ have immieratcd to and bccn naturalizcd
in the rn;tctl States, and afterwards return
cd on transient visits to their native coun-
tries. 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 sumc of the European Powers,
and the irritation consequent upon the fall
ure to settle this question increased during
the war in which Prussia, Italy and Austria
were recently engaged.
Willie Great Britain has never acknowl-
edged the right of expatriation, she has not
| practically insisted upon it. France has
been equally forbearing: Prussia Inns pro-
posed compromise. which, although cvinc-
lug increased libcrality, has not been accept
cd by the United States. Peace is now pre-
yaiiing everywhere in Europe, and the pres
ent seems to be n favorable time for an nsser-
ton by Congress of the principle, so long
maintained by the Executive Department,
that naturalization by one State fully cXc,npts
thenativc born subject ofany other State from
the performance of military service undcr,any
foreign Government, so long as he docs not
voluntarily rcnouncc its rights and benefits.
In the performance cfa duty imposed upon
me by the Constitution. have thus submit
ted to the Representatives of the States and
and of the People such information Of our do
p,cstic and foreign affairs ~ the public in
tcrcss seem to require. Our Government is
NOW undergoing its most trying ordeal. and
n!y earnest prayer is, that the peril may be
successfully and finally passed, without inl-
pairing 1t. original strength and Symmetry.
Thc interests Of the nation are best to be pro-
motcd by the rcTival of fratcrnal relations,
the complete Oblitcration of our past differ
cnccs. AMI the rciuaug,ration of all the pur-
suits of peace Directing our efforts to tho
carly accomplishment Of these great cnds.
let us cndcavor to preserve harmony between
fhc co-or,ti:ate Departments of the Govern
nIcnt, that each in its proper sphcrt MAY cor
daily cooperate with &c other in securing
the maintenance of the Constitution, the
preservation Of the Union, and the perpetui-
ty OF our free institutions.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WAsHfNGToN, December 8, 1866