The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-03

tations incompatible with the rights, interest, and
honor of our country 1t is not TO be apprehended
that Great Britain win persist in her refusal to satisfy
sacred principle of nOn-intervention-a principle
henceorth not more important to the United States
than 10 all other commercial nations.
The West India Islands
Were settled and coonized by European States stimuli
taneousy with the settlement aud 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 one period
were colonies Of Great Britain France, Spain, HOl-
Indies, with the exception Of the Island of Hayti
have neither attained nor aspired to independence
nor have they become prepared for self-defense.
Although possessing considerable commercial value
they have been held by the several European States
which eolonized, or at some time conquered them,
chiefly for purposes OF military and naval strategy in
carrying out European policy and designs in regard
to this continent In our Revolutionary war ports
and harbors in the West India Islands used by
our enemy to the great 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 o long time excluded us even from
trade with the West India Islands, while were at
peace with 9 al mat nstons In our regent iy war the
allies found facilities in the ports for the work.
which they too successfully accomplished, of injuring
and devastating the commerce which we are now en-
We labored especially under this disadvantage that
European steam vessels employed by our enemies
found friendly shelter protection and supplies in West
Indian ports, while our own naval operations were
necessarily carried on from our own distant shores.
There then universal feeling of the want of
advanced naval outpost between the Atlantic coast
and Europe. The duty of obtaining such an outpost
peacefully and lawfully while neither doing nor
menacing injury to other States earnestly engaged
the attention OF the Executive Department before the
close of the war, and it has not been lost sight of
since that time not entirely dssimilar naval want
revealed itself during the same period on the Pacific
coast
Purchase of Alaska.
The required fooothod there was fortunately So
cured by our late treaty with the Emperor of Russia
and 1t now seems imperative that the more obvious
necessities OF the Atlantic coast should not be less
carefully, provided for good and convenient port
and harbor capable Of easy defense will supply that
want. With the possession of such station by the
United States neither we nor any other American ma.
ton need longer apprehend injury or oense from any
trans-Atlantic enemy iagree with our early states
man that the West Indies naturally gravitate, and
may be expected ultimately to be absorbed by the
Continental States, including our own.
agree with them also, that il is wise to leave the
question Of such ABSORPTION to this process of natural
political grayitation The Islands OF St. Thomas and
the VIRGIN IanSr seemed to offer +, y s
unusually desirable while their acquisition could be
secured in harmony with the principles TO which
Purchase from Denmark.
A treaty has therefore been concluded with the
King of Denmark for the cesson of these lsands and
will be submitted to the Senate for consideration.
Our Credit with the Czar.
It will hardly be necessary to call the attention of
Congress to the subject of providing for the payment
to Russia Of the sum stipulated in the treaty Tor the
cession of Alaska, possession having been formally
delivered to our Commissioners. The territory
mains for the present IN care OF military force,
awaiting such civil organization US shall be directed
by Congress-
The Naturalization Question.
The annexation of many small German States to
Prussia and the reorganization of that country under
and liberal Constitution, have induced me to re-
new the effort to obtain just and prompt settleme
Of the long yexed question concerning the claims 4
foreign States for military service from their subec.s
naturalized in the United States.
An Embarrassing International Question:
The attention of Congress is respectfully called TO 3
singular and embarrassing conflict of laws. The Ex-
ecutve Department Of this government has hitherto
uniformly held ii now holds, that naturalization
in conformity with the Constitution and laws OF the
United States, absoves the recipient from his native
allegiance The courts of Great Britain hold that al
not aDsoved by our laws OF naturalization. British
Judges citc 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
the rights OF nauralized citizens and mpairs the ma
tonal authority abroad. called attention TO this
subject IN my last annual message, and now again
respectfully appeal to Congress, TO declare the national
will, Enthusiastically upon this important question.
The African Slave Trade.
The abuse of our laws by the clandestine pro-
secntion Of the African slave trade, from Anne
rican ports, by American citizens, has alto
gether ceased and under existing circumstances
apprehensiOns Of its renewal in this part Of the
world are entertained Under these circumstances
II becomes question, whether we shall not propose
to Her Majestys government suspension or discon-
tinuance Of the stpulatiOns for maintaining naval
force for the suppression OF that trade.
WSsHiNeroN, Dec. 8. 1851.
s A AC B. EW A NJ 8,