The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-12-12

states that arc integral parts OF our federal union
and, while rsaly to resist any attsmps by other
nations to extend to this hemisphere the monsr-
chial institutions of Europe, assumes TO establish
over large portion Of its people q rule mere sb'
soluts, harsh, and tyranicsl than any known to
civilized power. sf Er -
The acquisition Of Alases was made with the
view Of extending national Jurisdiction and 70
publican principles in the American hemisphere
Believing that further step could b taken
in the same direction, last year entered into q
treaty with the King of Denmark for the pur.
chase of the islands Of st. Thomas and st. John
on the best terms then sttainable, and with the
express consent of the people of those islands.-
This treaty still remains under confederation In
the senate. A new CONVENTION has BEEN entered
into with Denmark, charging the time fixed for
the faal ratification Of the original treaty.
A comprehensive national policy would seen
TO sanction the acquisition and incorporation in.
to our federal unien of tho several adjacent con.
tinsntal and insalar communities - speedily q
it can be doae peassfslly and without any viola.
ten Of national justice, faith, Or honor. For.
eign possession or control OF those communities
has hitherto hindersd the growth and impaired
the influence Of the United States. Chronic rev.
olutiol' and anarchy there would be equally in
furious. Each one Of them, when firmly sstab-
lishsd ~ An Independent republic, or when in
csrporated into the United States should 10 Q
new source of strength AID Sowsr.
Conforming my administration to these pria-
ciples. have on no occasion lent support or tol-
Grafton to unlawful expeditions ct On foot upon
tho plea of republican propsgandisn or Of
national aggrandizensnt The necessity, how
ever, of REFRESHING such unlawful movements
United States of adapting our Legislative action
to the new circumstances Of decline Of Europe
an monarchial power and influence, and the in.
crease Of American republican ideas, and inter.
ests, and sympsthies.
1t cannot Be lsng before it will become nscss-
sary for this government to lend some effective
aid to the solution Of the Political and sssisl
problems which are continually kept before the
world by tho two republics of the island Of st.
Domingo, and which are now disclosing them.
selves more distinctly than heretofore in the
island of Cuba The subject il commended to
your consideration, with all the more earnest
mel" because am satisfied that the time has ar
rived when even 30 direct . proceeding - .
proposition for annextion Of the two replblics of
the island Of St. Domingo would not only re-
ceive the consent OF the people interested, but
would also give satisfaction TO all other foreign
nations.
l am aware that, upon the question of fur
ther extending our possessions, it is spprehend-
ed by some that our political system cannot
successfully be applied to an area more ex-
tended than our continent; but the conviction
is rapidly gaining ground in the American
mind, that with the increased facilities for
intercommunication between all portions of
the earth, principles of free government, as
embraced in our constitution, if faithfully
maintained and carried out, would prove OF
sufficient strength and breadth to comprehend
within their sphere and influence the civilized
nations Of the world. ..f.
The attention OF the senate, and Of congress
is,agaln respectfully invited to the treaty for
the establishment Of commercial reciprocity
with the Hawaiian kingdom, entered into last
year and already ratified by that government.
The attitude of the United States towards
these islands is not very different from that in
which it stands toward the West Indies. It is
known and felt by the Hawaiian government
and people that their government and insitu-
tions ere feeble and precarious, and that the
United States, being 80 near neighbor, would
be unwilling to sec the islands passed under
foreign control. Their prosperity is continual
ly disturbed by expectations and alarms OF
unfriendy political proceedings, Is well from
the United States as from other foreign powers.
A reciprocity treaty, while it could not mate
rally diminish the revenues OF the United
States would DO guarantee of the good will
and forbearance Of all nations until the people
of the islands shall, of themselves, at no dis.
tant day, voluntarily apply for admission into
the union. -.
The emperor of Russia has acceded to the
treaty negotiated here in January last. For
the security of trade, and in the interest of
g., -l 7 hou
his attention to the importance of establishing
now, while it seems easy and practicable,
fair and equal regulation of the islands be.
longing to the two nations, in the waters OF
the North Pacific ocean.
The two treaties between the United States
and Italy, for the regulation of consular pow
ers aud the extradition of criminals, nego-
tiated and ratified here during the last session
of congress, have been accepted and confirmed
by the Italian government
A liberal consular convention, which has
been negotiated with Belgium, will be sub
mitted to the senate.
The very important treaties which were ne
gotiated between the United States and
North Germany and Bavaria, for the regula-
ton Of the rights of naturalized citizens, have
been duly ratified and exchanged; and similar
treaties have been entered into with the king
doms OF Belgium and Wirtemburg, and with
the Grand Duchies of Baden and Hesse DARN
stadt; and hope soon to be able to submit
an equally satisfactory convention of the same
character, now in the course of negotiation
with the respective governments of Spain,
Italy, and the Ottoman empire.
The examination of the claims against the
United States by the Hudson Bay company
and the puget's Sound Agricultural company,
on account of certain possessory rights in the
state Of Oregon and territory Of Washington,
alleged nv those companies IN virtue of provi-