Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-12-13

and colonization ofthc Americau con-
tinent. Most of the colonies planted
here became independent nations IN
the close OF the last and the beginning
of the present century. Our own
country embraces communities which
at n period were colonies of Great
Britain, France. Spain, Holland, Swc-
den and Russia. The people OF the
West Indies, with the exception of
those Of the island Of Hayti. have
neither attained nor aspired to indie
pcndence, nor have they become pre-
pared for sclfdetense, although pos.
scsing considerable commercial value.
They have been held by the several
European States which colonized or
at some time conquered them, chiefly
for purposes of military and naval
strategy in carrying out European
policy and designs in regard 10 this
continent. In u revolutionary war,
the ports and harbors on the West
India island were used by our enemy
to the grea, injury and embarrassment
Of the United States. We had the
same experience in our second war
with Great Britain. The same Eu-
ropean policy for a long time excluded
us from trade with the Yves, Indies,
while We were at peace with all ma
tons. In our recent civil war, the
rebels and their piratical and block
ade-breaking allies found facilities in
the same port for the work which
they too successfully accomplished. of
injuring and devastating commerce,
which we are now engaged in rebuild
ing. We labored especially under
this disadvantage; that European
steam vessels employed by our ne-
mics found friendly shelter, protection
and supplies in West Indian ports,
while our own naval operations were
necessarily carried on from our own
shores. There was then q universal
feeling Of 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 in
jury to other States, engaged the at
tention of the executive department
at the close Of the war, and it has not
been lost sight of since that time. A
not entirely dissimilar naval want re-
vealed itself during the same period
on the Pacific coast. We required q
foot-hold there, which was fortunately
secured by our late treaty with the
Emperor of Russia; and now seems
imperative that the more obvious ne
cessities Of the Atlantic coast should
not be less carefully provided for. A
good and convenient port and harbor,
capable Of easy defense, will supply
hat want. With the possession Of
such q station by the United States,
neither We nor any other American
nation need longer %apprehend injury
or offense from any transatlantic enc
my. / agree with our early statesmen,
that the West Indies naturally grayi-
tate to, and may be ultimately expect.
ed to be absorbed BY the continental
States. including our own. I agree
with them also, that it 10 wise to leave
the question Of such absorption to
this process Of natural political CRAWL
tation. The islands of ST. Thomas
and ST. John, which constitute a part
of the group called the Virgin islands,
seemed to offer US advantages I'M
mediately desirable, while their ac-
QUESTION could be secured in harmony
with the principles to which l have
alluded. A treaty has therefore been |
concluded with the King of Denmark
for the cession Of these islands, and
will be submitted to the senate for its
consideration,
1t will hardly be necessary to call
the attention Of Congress to the sub
ject to providing for the payment to
Russia of the sur stipulated in the
treaty for the cession of Alaska, the
possession having been formally de-
livered to our commissioners. The
territory remains for the present in the
care Oft military force, awaiting such
civil organization as shall be directed
by Congress.
The annexation Of many Of the
small German States TO Prussia, and
the reorganization Of that country I'M
der . new and liberal constitution,
have induced to renew the effort to
obtain a just and prompt settlement
OF the long vexed question concerning
the claims Of foreign States for mill
tary service from their subjects nat
uralized in the United States. and, 10
connection with this subject, the at
~tertion Of congress 10 respectfully
called to a singular and embarrassing
conflict of laws. The executive de-
parunent OF this government has hitl,-
erto uniformly held. as it now holds,
that naturalization, in conformity will
the constitution and laws of the Uni
ted States, absolves the recipient from
his native allegiance. The courts Of
Great Britain hold that allegiance
to the British crown is ~inalienable,
and is not absolved by our laws OF
naturalization. British judges cite
the courts and Law authorities of the
United States III supporter that theory
against Tie positIon AclO ny the exc
cutiye authority Of the United States.
This conflict perplexes the pubic
mind concerning the rights Of natur-
allied citizens, and impairs the ma
tional authority abroad. / called at.
t~ention to this subject in my last an
nual message, and now again respec-
fully appeal to Congress to declare
the rational will Enthusiastically upon
this important question.
THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
The abuse Of laws by the clandes-
tine prosecution OF tae African slay,
trade from American ports, or from
American citizens, has altogether
ceased, and under existing ciroum'
stances, no apprehension Of its renew
al in this part of the world are enter.
tanned. Under the circumstances j,
becomes a question whether we shall
not propose to her majesty's govern
!. ment suspension or discontinuance OF
the stipulations for maintaining q ma.
val force for the suppression Of that