Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-12-11

shall, any proper occasion that may occur re
new the conciliatory recomm endations which
have been aiready made. Brazil, with eplighten-
ed ssgacity and comprehensive craftsmanship mas
opened the great ch annels of the Amazon and ITS
tributaries to universal commerce. One thing
more seems needful TO assure a rapid and cheer
ing progress in South America | refer to those
peacefui habits without which States and Nations
cannot in this age, well expect material prosper
ity social advancement.
The Exposition of Universal Industry at Paris
has passed, and seems to have fully realized the
high expectations of the French Government If
due allowance be made for the recent political de-
rangement of industry here, the part which the
United States has borne in this exhibition of IN
venton and art may be regarded with very high
satisfactions During the Bxposti ion conference
was held by delegates from the several nations,
the United States being one, in which the incon-
yeniences 10 commerce and social intercourse re-
sulting from divers standards of money value
were fully discussed; and plans were developed
for abllshlng by universal consent common
principle for the coinage of gold. These confer
ences are expected to be renewed with the atten-
dance of many foreign States, not hitherto repre-
sented. A report of these interesting proceedings
will be submitted to Congress, which will no
doubt justly appreciate the great object, and be
ready to adopt any measure which lay tend to
! facilitate its ultimate accomplishment
On the 25th of February, 1862, Congress declar-
ed by law that the Treasury notes without interest
authorized by that act should be legal tenders in
the payment of all debts, public and private.
! within the United States. An annual remittance
! of $50 000, less stipulated 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 The claim
ants insist that the Government ought to reqnire
payment in coin. The subject may be deemed
| worthy of your attention
No arrangements have as yet been reached for
the settlement of claims for British depreda-
| tiOns under the commerce of the United States.
! have felt it my duty to decline proposition of
arbitration made by her Majesty's Government,
! because it has hitherto been accompanied by res
ervations and limitations Incompatible with the
rights, interest and honor of our country 1t is
not t. he apprehended that Great britain will per-
sist IN her refusal to satisfy these just and reason
able claims which involve the sacred principle of
noh-ntervention-a principle henceforth not more
| important to the United States than all other
| commercial nations.
The West India Islands were settled and colo
! nized by European States, simultaneously with
| the settlement and colonization of the American
Continent. Most of the colonies planted here
| became independent nations in the close of the
| last and beginning of the present century Our
| own country embraces communities which at
period were the Colonies of Great Britain, France
| Spain, Holland. Sw eden and Russia. The people
in the West indies with the exception of those
of the Island of Hayti. have neither attained or
aspired to independence, nor have they become
| prepared for self-defense; although possessing
| considerable commercial value they have been
| held by several Europen States. which coloniZed
or at time conquered them, chiefly for
purposes of military and naval strategy, in
rying on the European policy and designs in re-
| gard 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
embarrassment eff the United States We had the
same experience in our second war with Great
Britain The same European policy for long
time excluded US even from trade with the W est
| Indies, while we were at peace with all nations.
In recent civil war the ebels and their pirat
cal and blockade treating allies found facilities
in some ports for work which they too sful y
accom- piished, of in juring and devastating com
nerce which we are now engaged IN rebuilding.
We abored especially under this disadvantage
when European steam vessels employed by our
enemies found friendly shelter, protection and
supplies in the West Indian ports, while our own
naval operations were necessarily carried on from
our own distant shores. There was then 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 lawfully while neither doing men
acing injury the other States earnestly engaged
the attention of the Executive department before
the clese of the waT,and it has not been lost sght
of since that time A not entirely dissimilar ma
val waat revealed itself during the period
on the Pacific coast. and the required foothold
there was fortunately secured by late treaty
with the Emperor of Russia ,and it now seems i'm
perative that the oD yious necessities of the
Atlantic coast sh ould not be less carefully provide
for. good and convenentport and harbor capa-
BILE of easy defense will supply ;hatw With
he possession of such statlorF by the United
States neither nor any other american ma
tiOp need longer apprehend injury or ofense from
any trans Atlantic enemy Iagree with our earl Y
statesmen, tual the est lnuleS ally grlVl-
tate to- aad may be expected ultimately to be alb
/ sorbed by, the contInental States. inc uding our
own. L agree with them also that it is wise to
leave the question of such absorption in this pro-
cess of natural po iitical gravitation The islands
of ST Thomas and ST Johns. which constitute a
portion of the group called Virgin Islands seem
ed TO offer us advantages Immediately desirable.
while their acquisition could be secured in har-
nony with the princi Piles 10 which have alluded
treaty has, therefore, been concluded with
the King of Denmark for the cession OF those Is
lands, and VIII be s. omitted 20 tie SENATE iOr
consideration
1t will hardly be necessary to call tn attention
of Congress to the inject of providing for the
payment to Russia the sum stipulated in the
treaty for the cesson of Alaska. Possession
having been formally delivered to our Commits
sioner, the territory remains for the present in
charge OF a military force, awaiting such civil
organization as shall be directed by Congress.
The annexation of many small German States
to Prussia and the reorganization OF that country
under a and liberal Constitution, have Undue
ed me to renew the effort to obtain just and
prompt settlement OF a long vexed question con-
cernng the claims of foreign States for military
service from their sub jects naturalized in the Uni
ted States. In connection with this subject the
attention of Congress is respectfully called to a
singular and embarrassing conflict of laws The
Executive Department of this Government has
hitherto uniformly held las tnow holds that nat
uralization in Conformity with the Constitution
and laws of the United States absolves the recip-
lent from his native allegiance. The Courts of
Great Britain hold that alleg lance to the British
crown is indeteasible, and is not absolved by our
laws OF naturalization, and British Judges cite
courts and law authorities of the United States
in support Of that theory against the position
held by the Executive authority of the United
States. This conflict perplexes the public mind
concerning rights of naiuralZed citizens and i'm
pairs national auth ority abroad, [ called atten-
ton this subject in my last annual essage
now again respectfully appeal to Congress TO de-
! clare the national will unmstakably upon this
important question.
Abuse of our laws by clandestine prosecuti on