The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-12-07

It has been deemed advisable TO withdraw
our representative from there.
Towards the close Of tho last admlnistra.
lion convention was signed a London for
The settlement Of all outstanding claims be-
tween Great Britain and the United States,
which failed to receive the advice and con.
sent Of the Senate to It's ratification. Tho
time and the circumstances attending the
negotiation Of that treaty were unfavorable
TO Its acceptance by the people Of the
United States, and Its provisions were wholly
Inadequate for the settlement Of the grave
wrongs that had been sustained by this
Government as well as by its citizens.
The injuries resulting to the United States
by reason OF the course adopted by Great
Britain during our late civil war, In the In
creased rates of insurance. In the dimlnu.
ton Of exports aud Imports, aud other OBJ
structions to domestic Industry aud produc-
ton In Its effect upon the foreign COM
mercc of the country In the decrease and
tran sigr TO Great Britain Of our commercial
marine; in the prolongntion Of the war and
the increased cost (both in treasure aud In
llyes) Of It's suppression, could not be ad
justed and satisfied as ordinary commercial
claims, which continually arise between
commercial nations. And yet the convention
treated them simply as such ordinary
claims, from which they differ more widely
In the gravity OF their character than 10
the magnitude of their amount, great even
rs is that difference. Not n word was found
In the treaty and not an inference could be
drawn from II to remove the sense OF the
unfricndincss ofthe course OF Great Britaiu
in our struggle for existence which had so
deeply and universally impressed Itself upon
the people Of this country.
Believing that convention thus mlscou-
aat. sod Ia. tie ls,nI In Ia
provisions would not have produced the
hearty, cordial settlement Of pending ques-
tons which alone Is consistent with the re-
latons which desire TO have firmly estab-
llshcd between the United States and Great
Britain, regarded the action Of the Senate
In rejecting the treaty to have been wisely
taken, in the interest of peace, and as a
necessary step In the direction of perfect
and cordial friendship between the two
countries. \ sensitive people, conscious OF
their power, are more at case under great
wrong wholly unatoned than under tho re-
strlnt 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 q
state of public feeling on both sides which
thought not favorable TO au immediate at
tempt at renewed negotiations. | accord
ingy so instructed the Minister OF the
United States to Great Britain, and found
that my views in this regard were shared by
Her Mujcsty's Ministers. | hope that the
time may soon arrive whcu the two govern
ments can approach the solution Of this
momcntous question with an appreciation OF
what Is due to the rights, dignity and honor
ofcach, and with the determination not only
to remove the causes Of complaint In the
past, but to lay the foundation Of broad
principle OF public law, which will prevent
future differences and tend to firm and
continued peace and friendship.
This Is now the only grave question which
the United States has with any foreign
nation.
The question of renewing q treaty for re-
Clprocal trade between the United States and
the Britifh provinces on this continent has
not been favoraby considered by the Ad-
mlnlstrntion. Tho advantages of such a
treaty would be wholly iu favor of the
British producer, except, possibly, a few Gu
gagged in the trade between the two sections;
no citizen of the United States would be
benefited by reciprocity. Our internal tax
alton would prove protection TO the British
producer almost equal to the protection
which our manufacturers now receive from
the tariff. Some arrangement, however, for
the regulation of commercial Intercourse
between the United States and the Dominion
oil t0uauo may DC ucslrauIc.
The commission for adjusting the claims
Of the Hudson Bay and Puget's Sound
Agricultural Company" upon the United
States has terminated its labors. The award
OF 1850, 900 has been made, and all rights
and titles of the company on the territory of
the United States have been extinguished.
Deeds for the property of the company have
been delivered. An appropriation by Con-
gress TO meet this sum Is asked.
The commissioners for determining tho
Northwestern land boundary between the
United States and the British possessions,
under the treaty Of 1856, have completed
their labors and the commission has been
dissolved.
In conformity with the recommendation
OF Congress, proposition was early made
to the British Government to abolish the
mixed courts created under the treaty OF
April I, lSG2, for the suppression OF the
slave trade. The subject Is still under nego.
tiation.
1t having come to my knowledge that q
corporate company, organized under British
laws, proposed to land upon the shores OF
the United States, and to operate there a
submarine cable under a concession from
his Majesty, the Emperor Of the French, OF
an exclusive right for 20 years, Of tclegraphic
communication between the shores OF France
aud the United States, with the very objec.
tionable feature of subIeCtng all messages
conveyed thereby to the scrutiny and control
OF the French Government, ] caused the
French and British Legations at Washing
ton to be made acquainted with the probable
policy Of Congress on this subject, as fore.
Swallowed by the bill which passed the Sem
ate In March last. This drew from the repre-.
scntatives Of the company an agreement to
accept as the basis of their operations the
80 al
mcnt on the subject as might be passed
during the approaching session OF Congress
also, to use their influence to secure
from the French Government Inodia-
cation of their concession so as TO permit the
landing, upon French soil, of any cable be.
longing to any company Incorporated by the
authority of the United States, or of any
State In the Union, and on their part not IL
oppose the establishment of any such cable
Ia consideration of this agreement | di
rcctcd the withdrawal OF all opposition by
the United States authorities to the landing
of the cable, and to the working OF 1t until
the meeting of Congress. | regret to say
that there has been no modification made in
the company's concession, nor, so far rs
can learn, have they attempted to secure one
| Their concession excludes the capital and
the citizens of the United States from com
petition upon the shores of France.
recommend legislation to protect the
rights uf citizens Of the tnited States as well
as the dignity and sovereignty of tho nation
against such al assumption, | shall also en-
drnyOf to secure by negotiation an abandon
ment OF the principle OF monOpolloE In ocean
tclegfaphIc cables. Copies Of this CORE
spondence arc herewith furnished.
The unsettled political condition Of Other
countries, less fortunate than our own, some
times Induces their citizens to come to the
United States for the sole purpose of becom.
lag nAturaliIed. Having secured this, they
return to their native country, and reside
there without disclosing their change Of ale.
glance.
They accept official positions OF trust OF
honor, which can only be held by citizens oil
their native Land they journey under pass
purt- describing them as such citizens, and II
Ia only when civil discoTd, after perhaps years
of quiet, threatens their persons or their no
eTty, or when their n1tlvc state drafts then
into its military service, that the fact OF theiI
change of allegiance Ia made known. They
reside permanently away from the United
StatcBi they contribute nothing to Its rev
euues; they avoid the duties OF its citizenship
aud they only make themselves known by
claim OF protection.
have directed the diplomatic aud consular
officers of the United States to scTutinize care
fully all such claims OF protection, The citi
ecu OF the United States, whether native OIL
adopted, who discharges his duty to his coun
try, Is entitled 10 It's complete protection
while have a voice In the direction OF affairs
! shall not consent to impeFil this sacred right
by comforting It upon fictitious or fTaudulen,
/ claimants,