The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-12-07

1t has hitherto been accompanied by reservation.
ana limitations incompatible with the rights in
terest, and honor Of our country Ii is NOT Ia IA,
apprehended that Great Britain will persist in har
refusal to sstssy these just and reasonable claim,
which involve the sacred principle of non .interyen
Uon-a prlnciple hencefOrth not more important Ia
the United States than to any other commercial
nation.
The West India Islands were settled aud colon.
ned by European States simultaneously with III,
settlement and colonization of the American con
!nent Most OF the colonies planted here became
independent nations in the close of the last and the
beginning OF the present century. Our own coun
Try embraces communities which al one period
were colonies of Great Britain, France Spain Hol
Ianc, Sweden and Russia. The people in the West
indies with the exception Of those Of the Island of
hayti, have neither attained aspred to indie.
2endence, nor have they become prepared for self
ueiense Although possessing considerable COM
netcia' value, they have been held by several
European States, which coonized and, at the sam
time, conquered them, chiefly for purposes of mill
cary and naval strategy ia carrying out Euronean
policy and design IN regard to the continent In
our revolution war, the ports aud harbors ON IN.
West India Islands we're used by our enemy ~
the great INJURY and embarrassment of the United
States. We had the sane experience in our second
war with Great Brittany The same European nnli
cy has "a long time excluded us even from trad.
with the West Indies. while We were at peace wifi
all nations. In our recent cvlwar the rebel. and
their piratieal, blockade breaking allies found
facilities in tho same ports for the work ,vb;ch
they too successfully Accomplished Of inuripo and
devastating the commerce which We ar. now en-
gagged III rebuilding. We labored especially under
this disadvantage that European steam ve.s.l
employed by enemies found friendly shelter
protection and supplies in West Indian morris
while own naval operations were necessarily ear
REQ on from our own distant shores There was
then universal feeling of wan, of an advanced
naval outpost between the Atlantic coast and En-
rope The duty OF obtaining such An ou,posi
peacefully and lawfully, while neither doing nor
menac'ng injury to other States, engaged the AT.
fention of the Executive Department ~ the close
OF The war, and II has not been lost sight of since
that time
not entirely dissimilar naval wnt re, ealed it.
sell during the same period on the Pacific coast
The required foothold there was fortunately s.rur
ed by ou- late treaty with the Enreror IF Ro,si,
anu II now seem, Imperative that the more obvious
necessities of the Atlantic coast should not be les,
carefully provided for. good and convenient
port and hurbor, capable Of easy defense will sun
ply that want. With the possess Of such ST..
ton by the United States. neither nor any other
American nation need longer apprehend injury or
ouense from any Transatlantic enemy. | agree with
our early statesmen that the West Indies naturally
grayitates 10, and may be expected Ultimately Ia
DE- absorbed by the Continental States, including
on! own. agree with them, also, that il is wise
to leave the question Of such absorption to the pro
cess OF natural political graviintion.
The islands of 81. Thomas and -, Johu- which
constitute part OF the group called Virgin Is
lands, seemed TO ofer the adj sntage immediately
desirable, while their acquisition could be secured
In harmony with principles 10 which have alluded
treaty has, therefore, been concluded With the
Ming OF Denmark for the ce,sion of these Islands
aud will be submitted 10 the Senate for snsdera
ton
1t will hardly be necessary to call the attention
OF Congress 10 the subjec, sf prov iding for the
payment tn Russia Of the sum stipulated IN thu
treaty for the cession Of Aiasks, possession hay
ing been formerly delivered 30 our Cominis sioner
The territory remains. for the present in care ola
military force. awaiting such civil organization ~
shall be directed by Congress
The annexation Of many smsll German States 10
frussia, and the reergxnizatien 81 stsa, country
under new and liberal cons, it,Ison have induced
mo to renew th. effort 10 Obtain a inst and PROMPT
settlement -: the long veXea qse s;iun concerning
the claims Of foreign States tor military service
from their subjects naturalized e the United
States.
- RIGHTS SAruRetigsp eyrrxrNs
Ia connection with this subject the a.Arp,io, -.
Congress Is respectfully called To- singular and
conflict of laws. The Executive De
partment OF THIS Go,erunent has hahsris Uniform.
" held as y now holds that naturalization, ia
with the constitution and laws Of the
nited States, absoives the rccipiens from his ma
tive sllegiance-the Courts Of Great Britain hold
that allegiance 10 the British crown /. indefeasibI.
aud Is not absolsed by our laws of naturniiza,
The British Judges cit. the courts and law of IN.
nifsd States In support OF that theory AZ the
petition held by the Executive authority of the
United States This conflict perpiexes the public
mind conceruing the:rights Of naturxlzed citiz.ns
ana imPslr> the national authority abroad call
ed attention TO this subject in my Inst annual mes
sag, aud now again respectfully appeal to Congress
TO declare the natousl ~iliunrnistskably upon this
important question:
TN SLAVE
The sbusr OF our laws by the clsndes iD- pros-.-
;ntion of the African slay. trade from American
ports, or BY American citizens has alt oyrther
ceased, and under existing circumstances no appra
tensions OF i's renewal IN this part OF the word
are entertained. Under the circumstances it be
comes "a question whether we shall not propose To
her Majssty's Goyernmcnt suspension or contin.
lance vi stlpulatons for maintaining a naval force
or the suppression OF that trade "
Signed ANDREW JOHNSON
WASHINGTON, Dec. =, 1867.
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