Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1867-12-19

other commercial nations.
The West India Islands were settled and COLO
nized by European States simultaneously with the
settlement and colonization of the American con-
tinent Most of the co.onies planted here became
independent nations in the close of the last and
tn 'hAa--1-7 of the present century. Our own
coumc,r Voraces communities which, Mt one
period, we j colonies of Great Britain, France,
Spain, Holland, Sweden, and Russia. The people
in the West Indies, with the exception fthose of
the Island of Haysi, have neither attained nor
aspired to independence, have they become
prepared for selfdefence. Although possessing
considerable commercial value, they have been
held by the several European States which colo
nized or at some time conquered them, chiefly for
purposes OF military and naval strategy in carry
ing out European policy and designs in regard to
this continent In our Revolutionary War, ports
and harbors in the West India Islands were used
by our enemy, to the great injury and embarrass-
ment of the United States We had the same ex
perience in our second war with Great Britain.
The same European policy for long time excud-
ed even from trade with the West Indies, while
we were at peace with oil nations In our recent
civil war the rebels and their piratical and block
adebreaking allies, found facilities in the same
ports for the work, which they too successfully
accomplished, of injuring and devastating the
commerce which we are now engaged in rebuild
ing. We labored especially under this disadvan-
iage-that European steam vessels, employed by
our enemies, found friendly shelter, projection,
and supplies in West Indian ports, while our own
naval operations were necessarily carried on from
our OWN distant shores. Ihere was tnen q uni-
versal feeling of the want of an advanced naval
outpost between the Atlantic coast and Europe.
The duty OF obtaining such an outpost peacefully
and fully while neither doing nor menacing in
jury to other States earnestly engaged the at
tepton of the Executive Department before the
close of the war, and 1t has not been lost sight of
since that time. A not entirely dissimiar naval
want revealed itself during the same period on the
Pacific coast The required foothold there vas
fortunately secured by our late treaty with the
of nd INN tive
that the nbre obvious necessities of the Atlantic
coast should not be less carefully provided for
d good and convenient port and harbor, capable
of easy defense, will supply that want. With the
possession of such station by the United States,
neither we nor any other American nation need
longer apprehend injury CT offence from any
transatlantic enemy. / agree with early
statesmen that the West Indies naturally gravitate
to, and may be expected ultimately to b. absorbed
by the Continental States, including our own.
agree with them also that it is wise to leave the
question of such absorption to this process Of
natural political gravitation. The Islands of st.
Thomas and st. Johns which constitute q part OF
the group called the Virgin Islands, seemed to
offer us advantages Immediately desirable, while
their acquisition could be secured in harmony
with the principles to which have alluded A
treaty has, therefore. been concluded with the
King of Denmark for the cession of those islands
and will be submitted to the Senate for considera
ton.
1t will hardly be necessary TO call the attention
of Congress to the subject of providing for the
payment to Russia of the sum stipulated in the
treaty for the cession of Alaska Possession hay
ing been formally delivered to our commissioner
the territory remains Tor the present in care OF 9
military force awaiting such civil organization as
shall be directed by Congress.
The annexation of many small German
States to Prussia. and the reorganiza-
ton of that country under new and
liberal constitution, have induced me tC
renew the effort to obtain Just and
prompt settlement of the long-vexed
question concerning the claims of for
eign States for military service from
their subjects naturalized in the United
States. In connection with this subject
the attention of Congress is respectfully
called to n singular and embarrassing
conflict of laws. The Executive Depart
mept of this Government has hitherto
uniformly held, as it now holds, that
naturalization, in conformity with the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, absolves the recipient from his
native allegiance. The courts of Great
Britain hold that allegiance to the Brit
ish Grown is indefeasible, and is moi
absolved by our laws of naturalization
British judges cite courts and law
authorities of the United States This
conficG perpleXes the public mind con
corning the rights of naturalized citi
zens, and impairs the natural authority
abroad. 1 called attention to this sub
ject in my last annual message, ant
now again respectfully appeal to Con
greSS to declare the national will unmis
takabiy upon this important question
The abuse of oul laws by the cIandestin,
prosecution of the African slave-trad,
from American citizens has altogethe
ceased, and, under existing circum
stances, no apprehensions of its rehewa
in this part of the world are entertained
Under these circumstances it becomes
question whether we shall not propos
to her Majesty's Government a suspen
sion or discontinuance of the stipu
lations for maintaining a naval force TO
the suppression of that trade.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, Dee. 3, 1867.
1t will. undoIibtedIv- he seen that i