The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-12-16

The conduct of the war between the allies
and the Republic of Paraguay has made in
tercourse with that country difficult, and it
has been deemed advisable to Withdraw our
representatives from there.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Towards the close of the last administra-
ton convention was signed at London for
) the settlement Of outstanding claims between
Great Britain and the United States, which
failed to receive the consent Of the Senate.
The time and the circumstances attending
the negotiation of that treaty were unfavor
able to its acceptance by the people Of the
United States, and its provisions were Who'll
: lv inadequate to the settlement of the grave
wrongs sustained by this Government.
The injuries resulting to the United States
by reason Of the course adopted by Great
Britain during the war IN the increase of the
rates of insurance, in the diminution of ex-
ports and imports and other distractions to
domestic industry and production, in its cf-
feet upon the foreign commerce of the coun-
try, in the decrease and transfer to Great
Britain of our commercial marine, in the
prolongation of the war, and in the increas-
ed cost both in treasure and in lives of its
suppression, could not be adjusted and salts
fed as ordinary commercial claims which
continually arise between commercial ma
tinns; and yet7thc convention treated them
simply as such ordinary claims, from which
they differ more widely in the gravity of their
character than in the magnitude Of their
amount. Great even as is that difference,
not a word was found in the treaty, and not
an inference could be drawn from it, to re-
move the sense of the unfriendliness of the
course of Great Britain in our struggle for
existence which had so deeply and univer-
sally impressed itself upon the people of this
country. Believing that a convention thus
misconceived in its scope and inadequate in
its provisions would not have produced the
hearty, cordial settlement Of the pending
questions which alone is consistent with the
relations which desire to have firmly es-
tablished between the United States and
Great Britain, I regarded the action of the
Senate in the rejection Of the treaty to have
been wisely taken in the interest of peace
and as necessary step in the direction of
perfect and cordial friendship between the
two countries,
A sensitive people, conscious of their
power, are more wholly at ease under great
wrong wholly unatoned, than under the res
traint of settlement which satisfies neither
their ideas of justice nor their grave sense
of the grievance they have sustained. The
rejection of the treaty was followed by
state of public feeling on both sides which l
thought not favorable to an immediate at
tempt at renewed negotiations. accordingly
so instructed the Minister of the United
States to Great Britain, and found that my
views in this regard were shared by her
Majesty's Ministers. I hope that the time
NAV soon arrive when the two Governments
can appoach the solution of this monentous
question with an appreciation Of what is due
to the rights, dignity, and honor of each,
and with the determination not only to re-
move the causes OF complaint in the past,
but to lay the foundation of broad principle
of public law which will prevent future diff
ferences, and tend to firm and continued
friendship. This is now the only grave
question which the United States has with
any foreign nation.
RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA.
The question of renewing the treaty for
reciprocal trade between the United States
and the British provinces on this continent
is not favorably considered. In conformity
with the recommendation Of Congress a
proposition to abolish mixed courts for the
suppression of the slave trade is under ne
gotiation.
THE FRENCH CABLE
1t having come to my knowledge that a
corporate company, organized under British
laws, proposed to land upon the shores Of
the United States, and to operate there
submarine cable, under concession Of the
Emperor of the French of an exclusive right
for twenty years. for telegrarhic communi-
cation between the shores Of France and the
United States, with the very Objectionable
feature of subJecting all messages conveyed
thereby to the scrutiny and control Of the
French Government, l caused the French
and British legations at Washington to be
made acquainted with the probable policy of
Congress on this subject as foreshadowed by
bill which passed the Senate in March
last.
This drew from the representatives of the
company an agreement to accept as the basis
Of their operations the provisions of the bill
or such other cnactments on the subject as
might be passed during the approaching ses-
sion Of Congress. also to use their influence
to secure from the French Government q
modification of their concession to permit the
landing of any cable belonging to any COM
pany incorporated by uthority of the United
States OF any State in the Union, and On
their part not to oppose the establishment Of
any such cable In consideration Of this
agreement directed the withdrawal Of all
opposition by the United States to the
landing of the cable until the meeting Of
| Congress. [ regret to say there has been
| no modification made in the company's con
| cession, nor, SO far as can learn, have they
| attempted to secure one. ftfs "a. - reg
Their concession excludes capital and citi
zens of the United States from competition
upon the shores Of France. | recommend
legislation to protect the rights Of eitizen'
of the United States and the sovereignty OIL
the nation against such an assumption; ano
| shall also endeavor TO secure by uegotia-
ton the abandonment Of the principle Of mo-
/ nopolies in ocean cables.
NATURALlzED CITIZENS.
The unsettled political condition Of Other
countries less fortunate than our own, some
times induces their citizens to come to tht
United States for-the sole purpose Of becom
ing naturalized. Having secured this, the,