The Republican journal., 1869-12-09

CIldSc VI OOheIIllcul DOnUS, InllS reducing Inc Ill
terest bearing debt Of the country, and of submit
ting to Congress the question of the disposition to
be made of the Bonds so purchased The Bonds
now held by the Treasury amount to about !o,-
UO.0OO. including those belonging to the Sinking
Fund. | recommend that the whole he placed TO
the credit of the Sinking Fund
our attention is respectfully invited TO the re-
commentators Of the secretary OF the Treasury.
The creation OF the Office of the Commissioner OF
Customs and the Revenue; for the increase of sal
:ry to certain classes of officials and the SubStti-
ton of the increased National Bank circulation TO
replace the outstanding per cent. Certificates and
most especially to his recommendation for the re-
peal of the laws allowing the shares of fines, penal
ties forfeiture. &C., to officers of the Government.
or to informers. The office of Commissioner of In
ternai Revenue is one Of the most arduolS and re-
sponsble under the Government. 1t falls but little
if any short of cabinet position in its Importance
and responsibilities. ! would ask, therefore, such
legislation as in your judgment will place the office
on footing of dignity commensurate with its inn
portance, and with the character and qualifications
of the class of men required 10 fill it properly
As the United STATES is the freest Of all nations
so too its people >ympathize with all people strug-
Cling for liberty and seli-government; but while
so sympathizine. ii is due to our honor that we
should abstain from enforcing our views upon I'M
willing nations and from taking an interested part
without invitation. In the quarrels between diff
terent nations, OF between Governments and their
subjects, our course should always be in contormi-
ty with strict justice and law, international and To-
cal Such has been the policy of the Atlministra-
ton in dealing with those questions. For morc than
valuable province Of spain. and near neigh
Dor of ours, in whom all our people cannot but feel
deep interest, has been struggling for indepcntl-
ence and freedom. The people and government of
the States entertain the same warm feelings and
sympathies for the people Of Cuba in their pending
struggle that they manifested throughout the pre-
vious struggles between Spain and her former
colonies in behalf of the latter; but the contest
has at no time assumed the conditions which
amount TO Il war in the sense of International law
or which would show the existence OF !; de l;lcto
political organization of the insurgents sufficient to
justify a recognition Of belligcrcncy. The princ-
pie is maintained. however, that this nation is lis
own judge when to accord the right of belliGcrency
either to a peore struggling to free themselves
from a government they believe TO he oppressive
or to independent nations AT war with each other
The United States has no disposition TO interfere
with the existing relations of Spain to her colonial
possessions on this continent. They believe that
in due time Spain and other European powers will
find their interest in terminating these relations
and establishing their present dependencies as in
dependent POWcrS-lncnbcrS of the family of ma
tons. These dependencies are no longer regarded
as subject to transfer from one European power TO
another; when the present relations of colonies
cease, they are to become Independent powers. eN-
erci>lng the right of choice and of self control in
the determination Of their future condition and re-
atons With other powers. The United States. in
order to put ii stop to blOodshed in Cuba, and in
the interest of Il neghbOrng people pro1rred their
Il
mnaton. The offer not being accepted by Spain
on a basis Which we believed could be received by
Cuba, was Withdrawn. 1t is hoped thai thc good
offices of the United States NAV vet prove a,lyan-
tageots for settlement Of this unhappy struggle.
Meanwhile Il number Of Illegal expeditions against
GuDa have been broken up 1t has been the en-
deayor OF the Administration to execute the nc;-
lralIty laws III good faith. no matter how lmDlcas-
ant the task might be or the suffering we have en-
dured for lack Of like good faith towards lis bv their
On the Goth of March last the schooner Lizzie
MAJOR was arrested OH the high seas by Spanish
frgatc and two passengers taken from and CARRIE,
prisoners to Cuba Representations of these facts
We're made to the Spanish Government as soon as
official ON information of them reached Washington.
The two passengers were set at liberty and the
Spanish authorities assured the United States that
the captain of the tl.gate in making the capture
had acted without the law; that he had been rep
r r for the rregulary of his conduct, and
that the Spanish authorities i'll Cuba would not
sanction any act that could violate the rights or
treat with disreSpec, the sovereignty OF this nation
The question of the seizure of the brig Mary Low
ell ut one OF the Bahama Islands bv the Spanish
authorities, is now the subject of the correspond
ence between this Government and those of Spain
and Great Britain.
The Captain General of Cuba about MAY last i.-
sued proclamation and authorized search to be
made of all vessels on the high seas Immediate
remonstrancc was made against this whcrel1pon
the Captain General issued new proclamation
limiting the right of search to vessels of the United
az
This proclamation. however. was Immediately
withdrawn.
have always felt that The most intimate rela-
tons should be cultivated between the RnpllbIir
of the United States and all Independent nations on
this continent. Ii may be We'll worth considering
whether the new treaties between us and them may
not he proiitably entered into to secure more init
mate relations friendly. commercial and Otherwise
THE DARIEN CANAL.
The subject Of an ntcr-oceanic canal to connect
sx-i,
Daren, Is one in which commerce is greatly inter-
nsted. Instructions have been given to our Minis
Ter to the Republic of the United State, of Column
)il. to en- deavor to obtain authority for survey by
ms Government i'll order to determine the practical
ollity of such an undertaking. and charter for the
right OF way to build by private enterprise such
work. if the survey proves ii TO be practicable
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Towards the close Of the last administration a
was signed al London for the settle
ment of all outstanding claims between Great Brit
am and the United States which failed to receive
the advice and consent Of the Senate to its ratitic-
non. The time and the circumstances attending
the negotiation Of that treaty We're favorable TO its
acceptance by the people Of the United States but
It's provisions were wholly Inadequate for the set
lement of the grave wrongs that had been sustain
eu ny TINS government us well as by its citizens.
The Injuries resulting to the United States bv reason
Of the course adopted by Great Britain during our
ate evil war, i'll increasing the rates of Insurance.
n the dmnution of the exports and imports in
)D>tructlonS TO the domestic industry and prOuuc-
ION, III Ill effects upon the foreign commerce of the
country, and in the decrease and transfer to Great
Britain Of our commercial marine, in the prolonga-
ION OF the war and the increased cost both in treas
IRE and in lives of its Suppression could not be
adjusted and satisfied ordinary commercial
'lams which continually arise between CONNER
'!al nations: and yet the convention treated them
SIMPLY as such ordinary claims from which they
inner more widely i'll the gravity of their character
han in the magnitude of their amount. Great even
Is Is the difference. not a word was found in the
reaty and not an inference could be drawn from it
o prove the sense of the unfricndly dealing of the
curse of Great Britain in struggle for exist
'nce Which had so deeply and universally impress
ng that convention thus misconceived in its scope
ind inadequate in its provisions would not have
Produced the hearty and cordial settlement of pend
ng questions which alone is consistent with the
'elatlons which desire to have established between
he United states and Great Britain. | regarded
he az ton of the Senate in rejecting the treaty to
nave been wisely taken in the interest of peace and
vas a necessary step in the direction of Il perfect
md cordial friendship between the two countries
\ sensitive people, conscious Of their power, are
more at ease under great wrong wholly under
TODD. than under the restraint of a settlement
which satisfies neither their idea Of justice nor their
sraVc sense of the grievance they have sustained
The rejection OF the treaty followed by state
If public feeling on both sides which thought not
adorable to an immediate attempt at renewed ne
sotiatlons. | accordingly instructed the minis
er OF the United States to Great Britain, and found
hat my views in this regard were shared bv Her
'la]esty's minister. hope that the time may soon
'omc when the two governments can approach the
solution OF this momcntOus question with an appre-
'ihon of what is due to the rights, dignity and
honor OF each, and with determination moi only