Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-12-13

| prosnerity or 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 arrangement of IN.
| dustry here, the part which the United
States has borne in this Exhibition of in
vention and art may be regarded with very
| high satisfaction During the Exposition a
| conference was held Of delegates from sew
eral nations, the United States being one, in
/ which the iDconveniences of commerce aud
social intercourse, resulting from the diverse
standard of money value, were very fully
/ discussed, and plans were developed for es
| tablishing. By universal consent, a common
nrincinle for the coinage of gold. These
| conferences are expected TO be renewed,
/ with the attendance Of many foreign States
| not hitherto represented. Arcport ofthese
| interesting proceedings viii be submitted to
| Congress, which will no doubt Justly appre
ciate the great object, aud be ready TO adopt
any measure which may tend to facilitate its
ultimate accomplishments. On the 25th Of
| February, 1862, Congress declared by law
that treasury notes without interest, au-
thorized by that act, should be legal tender
| in payment for debts, public and private,
within the United States An annual re
mttance Of $1,000, 900 less stipulated ex
penses accrues to claimants under the con
yention with Spain in 1894. These remit
tances since the passage Of that act have
been paid in such notes: the claimants insist
that the Government ought 70 require pay
ment IN coin. The subject may be deemed
worthy of your attention.
No arrangement has as yet been reached
for the settlement of our claims for British
depredations upon the commerce Of the
United States. / have felt it my duty to
decline the proposition Of arbitration by
her Majesty Government, because it has
hitherto been accompanied by reservations
and limitations incompatible with the rights,
interest and honor OF our country. tits not
20 be appreheRded that Great Britain will
persist IN her refusal TO satisfy these just
and reasonable claims, which involve the
sacred principle Of nou-intervention, prin-
ciple henceforih not more important to the
United States than to ali other commercial
nations.
Territorial E.cteation-tbe Vest India Is
lo9,ds
The West India Islands were settled and
colonized BY European States simultaneous
IL with the settlement and colonization of
the American continent. Most Of the colo
MES planted here became independent ma
tions in the close of the last and the begin
ming OF the present century. Oar own
country embraces communities which at one
period were colonies of Great Britain France,
Spain, Holland, Sweden. aud Russia. The
neople In the West Indies, with the excep-
fiou of those Of the Island of Hayti, have
neither attained nor aspired TO independ
ence; nor have they become prepared ior
self-defence. Although possessing consid
cradle commercial value they have been
held by the several European States which
colouized, 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 Ia
oGr Revolutionary war ports and harbors in
/ West India Islands, were used by our enc
my to the great injury and embarrassment
of the United States. We had the same
experience In our second war with Great
Britain. The same European policy for a
long time excluded us even from trade with
the West Indies While we were at peace
with all nations in our recent civil war, the
Rebels and their piratical aud blockade
breaking allies found facilities in the same
ports for the work, which they too success
fully accomplished Of iniuring and deyasta
ting the commerce which we are now en-
gagged in rebuilding. We iaborea especially
under this disadvantage, that European
steam vessels, employed by our enemies,
found friendly shelter, protection and sup
plies in West Indian ports while our own
naval operations were necessarily carried on
| from our own distant shore.
4 Ngrql Outpost
There was then a universal 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 no meaucing
/ injury 20 other States, earnestly engaged
( the attention Of the Executive Department
! before the CLOSE Of the war, and il has not
/ been lost sight of since that time 4 not
entirely dissiuiiar naval want revealed itself
/ during the same period on the Pacific coast
| The required f0olhold there was fortunately
/ secured by our late treaty with the Emperor
/ of Russia and IL now seems imperative that
/ the more obvious necessities Of the Atlantic
coast should not be less carefully provided
| for. 4 good and convenient port aud har-
| Dor, capable Of easy defence will supply
/ that want. With the possession Of such
station By the United States neither we nor
auy other American nation need longer ap-
/ prehend injury or offence from any trans
/ Atlantic enemy. l agree with our early
gravitate, and may be expected ultimately
to be absorbed by the Continental States,
including our own. | agree with them also
hat it is wise to leave the question Of such
absorption to this process of natural political
gravitation The islands of St Thomas, St.
| Johns, which constitute 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 cessions Of
! those Islands, and will be submitted to the
! Senate for consideration
| 1t will hardly be necessary to call the at
/ tention Of Congress TO the subject Of pr0vl-
ding for the payment to Russia Of the sum
| stipulated in the treaty for the cession Of
/ Alaska, possession having been formally
| delivered 20 our Commissioner The Ter
ritoTy remains for the present in care Of d
| military force, awaiting such civil Organi2a-
| tIon as shall be directed by Congress.
Nahualised CHi2eS.
! The annexation Of many small German
| States to Prussia, and the reorganization of
/ that country under a new and liberal Consti-
tuition, have induced me to renew the effort
/ to obtain Just and prompt settlement of the
! long yexed question concerning the claims of
! foreign 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 a singular
| and embarrassing conflict of laws The Ev