Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-12-05

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European States simultaneously with
the settlement aud colonization Of
the American continent Most Of the
colonies planted here became inde-
pendent nations. la the close of the
last and beginning Of the present century
our own country embraced communities
which at one period were colonies of
Great Britain, France, Spain, Holland,
| Sweden and Russia The people in the
West indies, with the exception of the
Island Of Hayti, have neither attained
nor aspired to independence, nor have
they become prepared for selfdefense,
although possessing considerable com.
mercial value. They have been held by
several European States, which colonized
and at the same time conquered them,
chiefly for the purposes of military and
naval strategy in carrying out European
policy and designs in regard TO this con-
tinent. In our revolutionary war the
ports aud harbors in the West India
| Islands we're used by our enemy to great
injury and embarrassment Of u.s. We
had the same experience in our second
war with Great Britain.
The same European policy for 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 and
blockade breaking allies, found facilities
in the same ports for the work, which
they too successfully accomplished, of
ipjuring and devastating the commerce
which we are now engaged in rebuilding
We labored especially under this disad-
| vantage, that European steam vessels,
employed by our enemies, found friendly
shelter, protection and supplies in West
Indian ports, while our own naval ope-
rations were necessarily carried on from
our own distant shores. There was then
universal feeling of a want of
naval outpost between the Atlantic coast
and Europe. The duty of obtaining such
an outpost peacefully aud lawfully, while
neither doing nor menacing injury to
other states, earnestly engaged the at
tention of the Executive Department
| until the close of the war, and it has not
been lost sight of since that time. A not
entirely dissimilar naval want revealed
itself during the same period, on the Pa
cific coast. A foothold there was f1rtu.
nately secured hy our late treaty with
the Emperor Of Russia, and it now seems
| imperative that the more obvious neces.
sites Of the Atlantic coast should not be
less carefully provided for. A good and
convenient port and harbor capable of
easy defense will supply that want With
| possession of such a station by us, neither
we nor any other American nation need
longer apprehend injury or offense
| from any trans Atlantic enemy. | agree
with our early statesmen that the West
| Indies naturally gravitate to, and may
be expected ultimately, to be absorbed
| by the Continental States, including eur
own. agree with them also that it is
wise TO leave the question of absorption
| to the process of natural political gravi-
tation The islands of ST. Thomas and
| St. Johns, which constitute part of the
group called Virginia lslands, seemed to
offer us advantages Immediately desir-
able, 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 cession of those
islands, and will be submitted to the
! Senate for consideration.
1t 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 for the
session of Alaska. Possession having
been formally delivered to our commits.
sioner, the territory remains for the
present in care of a military force
awaiting such civil organization as shall
be directed by Congress.
The annexation of many small German
| States to Prussia, and the reorganization
of that country under new and liberal
constitution, have induced me to renew
the effort to obtain just and prompt
settlement of the long vexed 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
singular and embarrassing conflict of
laws. The Executive department of this
Government has hitherto uniformly held,
as it now holds, that naturaliza-
ton, 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
allegiance TO the british crown is inde-
feasible, and is not absolved by our laws
of naturalization. British Judges cite
the Supreme Courts and laws and author
tiles of the United States in support of
that theory against the position held by
the executive authority of the United
States. This conflict perplexes the pub
lie mind concerning the rights of natu-
ralized citizens, and impairs our national
authority abroad. l called attention to
this subject in my last annual message,
and now again respectfully appeal to
Congress to declare the national will
unmistakably upon this important ques-
ton.
The abuse of our laws by the elandes-
tine prosecution of the African slave
trade from American ports, or by
American citizens, has altogether ceased,
and, under existing circumstances, no
apprehensions of its renewal in this part
of the world are entertained. Under the
circumstances it becomes question
whether we shall not propose to Her
Msjesty's Government a suspension or
discontnuance of stipulations for main
tanning a naval force for the suppression
of that trade. ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington. Dec 3. 1861