Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-12-13

ously disturbed our relations with other States.
The Republic Of Mexico having been relieved
from foreign Intervention, 10 earnestly ems
gagged in efforts for the re establishment of her
constitutional system of government. A good
understanding continues to exist between our
government and the Republic of Hayti and
San Domingo, and our cordial relations with
the Central and South American States re-
main unchanged. The tender made in con-
formity with the resolution of Congress of the
good offices of the government with a view to
an nmicables adjustment Of peace between
Brazil and her allies on one side, and Para
qua on the other and between Chill and her
allies on the one side, and Spain on the other,
though kindly received has in neither case
been fully accepted by the belligerents. The
war in the Valley Of the Parana is still vigor>
ously maintained. On the other hand, the ac-
tual t,Js,ilitics between the Pacific States and
Spain have been more than a year suspended.
l shall, on n proper occasion that may occur,
re Few the conciliatory recommendations which
have already been made. Brazil, with en-
lightened sagncily ard comprehe nsive states>
manship, has opened the great channel Of the
Amazon and its tributaries to universal com.
mcrce.
The exposition Of Universal Industry at
Paris has passed. and seems to have fully rea-
lized the high expectations of the French gov.
rnment. If due allowance be made for our
recent political arrangement, and that Of in
dustry here. the part which the United Sta.es
has borne in this exhibition Of invention and
art may be regarded with very high satisfac-
ton. During the Exposition a conference was
held Of delegates from several nations, the
United States being one in which the incon-
venience Of commerce and social intercourse
resulting from divers standards of money val.
ne were fully discussed, and plans were de-
veloped for establishing, with universal con-
sent, a common principle for the coinage Of
gold. These conferences are expected to be
renewed, with The attendance Of many foreign
States not hitherto represented. A report Of
these interesting proceedings will be submitted
to Congress. which will no doubt justly appre.
ciate the object, and be ready to adopt any
measure which may tend to facilitate its &C.
complishment.
On the 9Th Of February, 1869, Congress de.
clared that Treasury notes without interest,
authorized by that act, should he legal tender
in payment Of all debts, public and private,
within the United States. An annual remit
lance of thirty thousand dollars, less the stipu-
lated expenses. accrues to claimants under the
convention made with Spain in 1884. These
remittances. since the passage Of the act, have
been paid in such notes. Claimants insist
that government ought to require m in
coin. The subject may deemed worthy your
ALABAMA CLAIMS
No arrangement has rs yet been reached
for the settlement of our claims for British
depredations against the Of the
United States. l have felt it my duty to de-
cline tie proposition Of arbitration made BY
Her Majesty's government, because it has been
hitherto accompanied by reservations and
and limitations Incompatible with the rights,
interest and honor Of our country. II is no,
to be apprehendsd that Great Britain will
persist in her refusal to satisfy these just AMI
reasonable claims which involve the sacred
principle Of on-intervention, a principle
not more important to The United
States than any other commercial nation.
The West Indie Islands were settled and
colon;zcl by European States simul,a neously
with the settlement aud colonization of the
American continent. Most of the colonies |
planted here became independent nations in
the close Of the last and beginning Of the pres
century. Our own country embraces |
which at one period were colonies
Of Great Britain, France, Spain, Holland, |
and Russia. The people in the West
Indies, with the exception Of those Of tho
Island Of Hayti have neither attained nor ass
pired to independence, nor have they become
prepared for self-defence. Although possessing
considerable commercial value, they have been
held by several European States. which colonies
at some time conquered them chiefly for mile
tary and naval strategy in carrying out
European policy and designs in regard to this
in our revolutionary war; the ports
md harhors on the West India Islands were
used by our enemy {, the great injury and
embarrassment OF the. We had the same ex-
p%erience in our second war with great Britain
The same European policy fora long time ex-
cluded the United States even from trade with
the West Indies. While we were ut peace with
all nations, in our recent civil war, the rebels
and their piratical and blockade breaking
allies found fac ilities in The same ports for
which they too successfully accomplished Of
injuring and devastating the which
we are now en- gagged in rebuilding. We labored
especially under this disadvantage, that Euro
pean steam vessels employed by ~ enemies
found friendly shelter, protection aid supplies
in West Indian lorts, while our own naval
operations were necessarily carried on from
our own distant shores. There was then a
universal feeling of regret at the want of an
advanced naval outpost between the atlantic
coast and Europe. The duty Of obtaining such
an outpost peacefully and lawfully, while
neither doing nor menacing injury to other
States, engaged the attention of the State De-
partment at the close Of the war, and it has net
been lost sight of since that time. A not en-
tirely dissimilar naval want revealed itself
during the ZANE period on the Pacific coast. A
required foothold there was fortunately secured
by u late treaty with the late Emperor Of
Russia, and it now seems imperative that the
more obvious necessities Of the Atlantic coast
should not be less carefully provided for. A
good and convenient port and harbor capable
of easy defence will supply that want. With
the possession Of such q station by the United
States, neither we nor any other nation need
longer apprchend injury or offence from any
transatlantic enemy. 1 agree with our early
statesmen that the West Indies naturally
gravitates to. and be expected ultimately to
be absorbed by continental States, including
our own. I agree with them also, that it is
wise to leave the question Of such absorption
10 this process Of natural political gravitation
The islands Of st. Thomas and st. Johns which
constitute a part Of the group called Virgin
islands seemed to offer to the United States
advantages Immediately desirable, while their
acquisition could be secured in harmony with
the ., inciplcs 10 which ! have alluded. A
treaty has, therefore, been concluded with the
King Of Denmark. for the ccssion Of these is
lands, and will be submitted 10 the Senate for
consideration l 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 c~ession
Of Alaska. Possession having been formally
delivered to our Commissioners the territory