Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-11

been relieved from foreign Intervention s earnestly on
Rged in Efforts 10 re establish her constitutional system
OF government good understtn tnding continues
s between our government and the republics Of Hsyu
and San Domingo, and our cordial relations with the
central and south Am,rican states remain unchanged.
The tender. made In conformity with resolution Of Con.
gress, Of the good oc ces of the with view
70 an amioabe adj stmsnt Of peace between Brazil and
her allies side and PAag the other, and be-
tween Chill and her allies side and spain on the
other though kindly received has In neithr been
fully accepted BY the begereuts The war in the valley
Of the Para "a s vigorously maintained On the other
hand sctusl hosuites between the PAcae States and
Spain have been more than year suspended shall.
on any proper occasion that occur, the
estory reoom sndaons which have beeu already made
BraKl, with enlightened sAgscity aud comprehensive
s,atesmanship has opened the great channel, Of the
Amaz n aud its lbalsF 70 uaiVefsai CON One
thing more to be neeiiul 1, assure rapid and
cheering pflpes, in 50 ith America refer % thoss
peaceful habits without which and nations
Ia this age well expect maedA prosperity social ad
vsnsement.
PARIS ExaIRIrIoS.
The exposition of universal Industry at Paris has p.a.
sed and seems 20 have fy realized the high expests-
tons Of the French government. II due allowances be
made ft recent political arrangement Of Industry here
the part Witch the United States has In exit
bton Of invention and art be regarded with very
high satisfaction. During the expedition e,nferenee
held by delegates from several states heing In
whch the Of commerce and a inter-
course reurg from dseTse st,ndAfds Of money vaun,
establishing By universal ,cnt, principle
for the coinage OF gold These conferences expected
70 be rens-ed wh he attendance many fregn states
proceedings will be submitted to Congress, which will
doubt justly appreciate the object aud be ready
adopt aay measure which may tsnd to facilitate It's ut
mate accom- Dlishmeut.
On the 2Sh Of Febraary 1862, Congress declared by
law that the Treasury notes without interest authorized
By that act should be legal tender n the Of all
debis public aud private, within the United States An
annual remittance Of less THAI So 900 less than the
.ted expenses accrues to the claimants under tbs
convention made with spain ia 1884 These remittanoes
since the passage Of that Ac have been paid Ia such
notes The claimants insist that the goyernmeui ought
q rqlre their payment 10 coin. The subject may be
deemed worthy your Atention
ALABAMA CLAIMS.
No arrangement has yet been reached for the settle
meat Of our claims for British depred,tions upon the
commerce Of the United Slaes have felt it my duty
20 decline the proposition OF arbitration made by her
Maiesy's government because It has hitherto been
compAnied br elervaons aud limitations ncom oaable
with the rights interests and honor Of couutry. IL
Is not to be apprehended that G'eat Britain will persist
in her refusal to satisfy these just and reasonable claims
which involve the principle NJ non-iatervrnOn prn
cips henceforth important the United States
than all other commercial nations.
TERRITORIAL ACQUISITIONS.
The West India Indis Islands settled and colo
niSed by European Sats, simultaneously with the colo
niEaton Of the American continent Most Of the colo
MES planted here became Independent nations at the
close Of the last and beginning OF the present century
Oar own country embraces communities which at one
period, colonies OF Great Brtan France, Spain,
Holland, Sweden, and Russia The people n the West
Indes with the exception OF the Island OF Hayt have
neither attained aspred q Independence have
they become prepared for selfdefence Athlu3h pos
been held by the several European States which colo
nzed at some time conquered them, chief for the
purpose Of military and naval strategy in Carrying out
European policy and designs in regard TO this oonunent
In revolutionary forts and harbors in the West
Indian Islands used by enemy the great in
Jury and embarrassment OF the United St.tes We had
the same experience in our second with Great Brit.
ain. The same European policy for a long time excu-
ded us even from trade with the West lndie' while
were At peace with all nations. In civil
rebels and their ptatinal and blockade breaking allies
found facilities ia the same pors for the work which
they too successfully accomplished OF inurng and de-
vastating the commerce which are now engaged In
rebuilding. We laoored pecally under the dsadvan-
tage that Earopeau steam vessels employed by
mics, found friendly shelter, protection, aud supplies In
West Indian ports, while naval operations
necessarily carried on from distant shores.
There then universal feeling Of want of aa ad-
vanoed naval outpost bsween the Atlantic coast aud
Europe. The duty Of obtaining such outpost peacea-
bly, aud la~fuily. white ae'taer DONG menaeng in
the executive department before OF the war
and 1t has not been lost sight Of since that time not
entirely dismilar naval resolved Itself during the
same period the Pacific coast The requ red foohold
was fortunately secured by late treaty with the Em
ptlor Of Russia aud now seems npe atiys that the
more obvious necessities OF the Atlantic should
not be less cttefuy provided for. good aud
nent port aud hatDor capable Of easy Defence will ,up
ply that With the possession Of such station BY
the United States, neitner any otHer American
nation need longer appTehend injury offence from any
translsnue enemy. agree with our early statesmen
that the West Indies naturally grsvate TO- and may be
expected ultimately 10 be abslrbei by tbs Continental
states, including our own agree wi them also that
wise 70 eaNe the queet1n OF Absorption 10
Il national political grAyitation The island Of ST.
lhomis aud St. Johns which constitute part Of
group called the Vgn Islands, seemed TO offer advan
tages Immediately desirable, while their acquisition
could be sec red in harmony with the principles to
which have alluded. A treaty has therefore been
Concluded with the King OF Denmark for the possession
Of those islands, aud will be submitted TO the Senate for
consideration.
II will hardly be necessary to call the attention OF
Congress to the subject Of providing for the payment to
Russia of the spul,ed ia the treaty for the sson
OF Alaska Possession having been form Lly delivered
to our oommissonsr the territory remains for the pfes-
gAniEAtion as shall be directed by Congress
sAruaALIzED CITIZENS.
The annexation OF many small German States to
Prussia and the reorganization OF that country under
aud liberal constitution, have induced TO renew
the effort to obtain just and prompt settlement OF the
longveAed question concerning the claims Of foreign
States for military service from their subjects natural
lied In the Uled States In connection with this sub
the attention Of Congress is respectfully called to
singular and embauassiog conflict OF laws. The exeou-
tive department OF this Govern nent has hitherto uni
brmy held 1t holds that nauralz aion, in con-
firmty with the Constitution and the laws Of the
United States, absoves the recipient from his native al
leglsnce.
The Court OF Great Britain hold that allegiance to
the British Crown Is ndeeAsble aud not Absoved by
our laws Of natursis atom. British judges cite courts
and law authorities of United states in support ofthat
theory, against the position held BY the executive Of the
United States. This conflict perpexes the public mind
concerning the rights OF naturazed euzens. aud i'm
pairs the national authority abroad called attention
to this subject IN my last annual message. and now
again respectfully appeal TO Congress TO declare the ma
uOnal will unmlsakAbly upon this important question:
TEH SLAVE rRkDs.
The abuse Of our laws by the cAndesune prosecution
OF the African slive trade from American ports or BY
American citizens has altogether ceased aud under
stng eroumsanoes no apprehensions OF its renewal In
this part of the world are entertained. Under these
circumstances II becomes question whether shall
not propose TO Her MaJesl's government suspension
naval force for the suppression Of that trade
ANDREW JOHNSON.
wAsmSaros, Dec. 3, 1857.