Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-12-22


 states for terminating the war upon he South Pacific coast. Chi'i has not inally declared upon the question: In the meantime the conflict has prncti- ,aDly exhausted itself, since no beili-- rrent or hostile movement hns been made by either party during the last Two years. and there arc no tudscati0ns of a present pugpusc to reeume hostIlt- lies. On the osher side, Crest Britain and France hav6' cOfslianv. seconded our prop0sition of mesliatioils and do not forcxO the hope that 1t may be soon by all the belligerents ,and lead to q secure establishment of peace and friendly relations between tlte Al Americrn Republics of the Paciic and Spaiu--a result which W ould be attended with a common bencfit ko the belligcrcnts and much to All commercial nations I communicate for the consid ration oi Congress . correspondence which Ahows that the Bolivian Republic has established the extreme principle of receiving, into its cisizemship any citizen of the United Statcs or any of ,tha American Republics upon the simple conditions of voluntary registry. The correspondence herewith submitted will be found painfully rcplctc with accounts Of the ruin and wretchedness produced by recent earthquakes Of unparalleled acverity in the Republics of Peru. Ecuador and Bolivia. The agency and naval forces Of the United States, who were present in these countics' at the tim~ of these disasters, furnished all the relief in their power. and have been gratefully thanked with grateful and touching acknowledgment by the Congress of Peru, and an appeal to charity to oar fellow citizens has been answered by much libcraIity. In this connection l submit an appeal which has beer made bv the Swiss Government, whose Government and institutions arc kin dred tO our own, on behalt ofthc inhabi tauts. who are suffering extreme desti- tuition produced 6v recent inundation.
 Our relations with Mexico during the year have been marked by an increasing growth 0f mutual cOnfi- demce. The Mexican Government has not yet acted upon the treaties nrRO- tiated here last summer for establish ing the rights of uatura,ized citizen on liberal and just basis, for rexalat- ing consular powers, and for the adjust- ment of mutual claims.
 Ali commercial nations, as well as friende Of republican institutions, have occasion to regret the frequent local disturbances which occur in some of the constitutional States of Columbia. Nothing has occurred, however, to af- feet the harmony and cordial friend- ship which has for several years existed bet that youthful Republic and our own.
 Negotiations are pending with a view to the survey and construction Ot n shin canal across the islhmus o; Daricn, under the auspices of the United States. l hope 10 be able to submit the results 0f that negotiation to the Senate during the present ses- sion.
 The very liberal treaty which was entered into last year between the United States and Nicaragua has been ratified by both republics, and Costa Rica, with an earncstness of sincere ly friendly neighbor, solicits recipro- city of trade, which l commend to the
 
 The convention created by treaty be- tween the United States and Venezuela in July, 1865. for the mutual adjust ment of claims. has been held, aud it's decisions have been received at the De- part,ncnt Of State. The heret oiOfc re- cognized government by the United States of Venezuela has been subvcrt- ed, and n provisional government hay. ing been instituted under circurn- stances which promise durability, il has been formally recognized.
 l have been reluctantly obliged to ask explanation and satisfaction for na- tional injuries committed by the Presi- dent of ilayti.
 The political and social condition ot the Republics of Hayti and st. Domin- 20 are very unsatisfactory and painful The abolition of slavery, which had been carried into effect throughout tbe islands of St. Domingo aud the West Indies, except the Sptmish islands oi Cuba and Porto Rico, has been follow ed by profound popular conviction of the rightiulness of the republican institutions. and an intense desire ,t secure them. The attempt, however to establish Republics there encounters many obstacles. most Of which may be supposed to result from long indulged habits of Colonial supremcncss and dependence upon European mOnarcl,i- al power. While the United Siate' have. on all occasions, professed de citied willingness that any part Q this continent or it's adjacent islands shall be made q theater for q new es- tablishment of monarchical conquests Little l,as been done by the United States, on the other hand, to attach tho communities by which we are sur rounded to our own country. or to lenc even moral support to efforts the! are resoiutely and constantly making to secure republican institutions t'ol themselves. It is indeed question O grave consideration whether our re cent and present example is not calcu lated to check the growth and expansion of free principles, and make those com munities distrust, if not dread, q gov. ernment which at will consigns to mil, itarv domination States that are inte grai parts of our Federal Union. and and while ready to meet any attempts by other nations tor extend to thi, hctulsituerc tttc uoH"c cH'S"i ihs'uu' tions of Europe assumes to establish, over large portion of its people s rule of more absolute, harsh and tyran. nical than any known to the civilized powers. The acquisition of Alaska was made with view of extending the national jurisdiction and republi' can principles in the American hcmi. sphere. Believing that further stcl could be taken in ll.e sane direction. | last year, entered into q treaty with the King of Drninssh for.;he purchase or the Islands of St. T.2'Eas and St. John on the hest terms then obtainablc with the express consent of the people of the Islands. This treaty still re- mains under consideration in the Sen- ate. A new convention has been en-