The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-17

Our POSSESSIONS IN THE WEST INDIES
The Danish proclamation, transferring the
island of st. Thomas to the United States, APP
pears in the St. Thomas Times of Nov sum-
Two years are conceded to the inhabitants 10
effect complete change of nationality. ihe
following is the proclamation OF the hins Vi
Denmark:
hove resolved to cede our Islands Of st.
Tboros and St Johns to the U United states OF
Lnm;aa and we have to that end, with the
1 a of the constitutional consent of
orr Rigsdag, concluded convention with the
President of the United States. We have, by
embodying in that convention explicit and pre-
else provisions, done our utmost to secure you
protection in your liberty, your religion, your
property, and private rights, and Won shall be
Tree to remain where you now reside or to re-
move at any time, retaining what yon possess
in said islands or disposirg thereof and remov
ing the proceeds wherever you please, without
your being subjected on this account to any
contribution, tax, or charge whatever.
Those who shall prefer to remain in the sala
islands may retain the title and the rights OF OF
their natural allegiance, or acquire tnosa OF
citizens of the United States; but they snaii
make their choice within two years irolis t tne
date OF the exchange of ratlncat,ons Vi .ne
said convention and those who shall remain
in the islands after the expiration of that term,
without having declared their intention to re-
tain their national allegiance, shall be consid-
cred to have chosen to become citizens OF the
United States.
As we, however will not exercise any con-
straint over our faithful subjects, we will give
you the opportunity of freely and extensively
expressing your wishes in regard to this ces-
sion; and we have to that effect given the ne
cessary instructions to our commissioner ex-
traordinary. .
With sincere sorrow do we look forward to
the severment of those ties which for many
years have united you 10 us and the mother
country, and never forgetting these many de-
monstrations of loyalty and affection we have
received from you, we trust that nothing has
been neglected from our side to secure the fu-
ture welfare of our beloved and faithful sub
.jeets, and that a mighty impulse, both moral
and material will be given to the happy de-
velopment of the islands under the new sover-
eighty. t..
Given at our palace of Amalienborg, the 18th
day OF October. 1867, under our royal hand
and seal. Hae-r1 CHRISTIAN, II.
The Danish commissioner, in presenting
this proclamation to the assembly of the is
lands, announced the postponement of voting
by the people until the commencement of
January, in consequence of the unsettled state
Of affairs growing out of the late terrible dis
asters TO the islands. sij a. aa'
1t appears from this statement that the an
nouncement of the vote Of the people on the
question of annexation to the United States
was premature. 1t also appears that his Dan
ish majesty May dry the tears that are ready
to flow at parting with his subjects, for it is
pretty evident that the House of Representa-
tives will not make the appropriation necessa-
ryto carry the bargain into effect