Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-04

alton.
The West India Islands were settled and colo
nlEcu by European States simultaneously with
tne seuiercns and colonization Of the Amcri-
can continent. Most Of the colonies planted
here became independent nations i, the clrse :,
the last and beginning Of the present cent 4ry.
Our own country embraces communities wnseh
az one period were colonies Of Great Britain.
france Spain Holland Sweden and Russia
The people in the Yves, Indies. with the excep
ton of those of the lslaud of Hayfi. have
neither s,tsined nor aspirsd 10 Independence
nor have they become prepared for self defence
Although possessing considerable commercial
value, they have been held BY several European
States. which colonies, nj some time G ,uuuer,d
them chiefly Tor purposes Of military and naval
strategy III carrying ont European policy and
designs In regard " this continent in our r.vo.
iniionary war the ports and harbors on the
West India lslands we're used by our enemy 10
the great injury and emhafrassmen mt Of the Uni.
ted States. We had the same experience in our
second war with Great Britain. The zane Eu.
ropcAn policy for long time excluded III. Uni.
ted States eveA from trade with the West indies
While we were az peace with all nations. in our
recent evil war, the rebels aud their pirat,c.
and block ade- breaking allies found facilities in
the same ports tor the work which they too sue
cessfnlly accomplished Of injuring and devastat.
ing the commerce which We are now engaged IN
rebuilding. We labored especially under thi.
tnsAdyantage that European steam vessels en-
pioyed by our enemies found friendly shelter
protsc.icn and supplies in West Indian ports'
while our own naval operations were necessnrt !.
" carried on from our own distant sh6res
There was then universal feeling of reyre, Al
the want Of an advanced naval ou,pos, between
the Atlantic coast and Europe. The duty of oh
tanning such nm outpost peacefully aud lawfully
while mother dong nor menacing injury 10
other states, engaged the attention Of the State
Department at the close of the war. and il has
nov peen lost SIGHT OF since that time, A not
en'ireiv disssmiar naval want revealed itself
curing the same period on the Pacific coast
required icothoid there was fortunately Sc.
eurea nN cur late treaty with the Emperor
OF Russia, and il now seems imn.ra,ive
thas the more obvious necessities of Tho Allan.
~ coast should not be less carefully n-ny;d.a
TOT. gnoi and convenient port and harhpr
enpnole Oh easy defence will supply that want.
With the possession of such n station n, IL.
United States neither We nor ANY o,he, ,,,,
need longer apprehend injury or ef,encr t,,,,
any trans Atlantic enemy / agree With M,
early statesmen that the West Indies na,nra,lr
grayitatcs to, and may be expected ultlma,rl,
To De absorbed by continental States, including
our own. l agree with them, also that IL II
wise to leave the question of such ABSORPTION 10
TINS process Of natural political grayitatian The
isianus OF ~. Thomas and ST. Johns which con.
stitute n part of the group called Virgin Islands
seemed to oher To the United States advantages
'n',i,ns"'eis dcsirsble while their acquisition
conId DC secured IN hs-tsIony with tho pr,nr;nlee
70 which have al -4..ea. A treaty has ,hare
lore. been concluded with the King q, Denmark
Tor the ccssion OF these islands and will hs am
united TO the Senate for consideration twill
hardly be necessary to call the sttention OF Con.
gress to the subject OF providing for The pay
| 'nept to Russia OF the sum stipulated in the
treaty for the cession Of Alaska Possession
having been formally delivered to our Commits
sioner. the territory remains for the present in
the care Of a military force awaiting such civil
organization as shall be directed by Congress
The annexation OF many smaller German States
TO Prussia, and the Teor ganization Of that coun
try under new and liberal Constitution. have
| induced mo to renew the effort TO obtain a juss
and prompt settlement Of the long and vexed
question concerning the claims offoreign Stntes
Tor military service from their subjects natural
ized in the United States, aud in connection
with this subject the attention Of Congress il re-.
spacuulty called 70 asingular and embarrassing
conflict OF laws The Executive Department 81
this Government has hitherto uniformly held
as It now holes that uaturalix alton in conform
NY with the Constitution and laws OF the United
states absolves the recipient from his native al
legiance. The ourts OF Great Britain hold that
allegiance to the British Crown is indeicnsible.
aud Is not absolved by our laws Of naturai ~
ton. British Judges cite the courts and Law
authorities OF the United States in support o,
that theof, against the position held by the ex-
ecntive authority Of the United States Thi.
conflict perplexes the public mind concerning
te rights of naturalized citizens, and impairs
he national authority abroad. | called a,ten.
tien to this subject in my last annual message
and now agaia respectfully appeal TO Congress
to declare the national will uumistaka ably upon
this important subject.
rnE SLAVE TRADE.
The abuse of our laws by the clandes,ine pros
ecntiOn of the African slave trade FROM An.eri
can porte, or by American citizens, has alta
gether ceased and under cxsting circum stances
no apprehension OF its renewal in this part Of
the world are entertained. Under the circum
stances, II becomes question whether we shal
not propose to Her sjesty' . Government . sus
pension or discontinuance Of stipulations fuI
maintaining naval force for the suppression o.
that trade.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WAsuvorpv nec "A lsc7