The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-06

Fellov Citizens ofthe Senate and House o
Representatives.
A,year of peace and general prosperity t.
this nation has passed since the last assembling
of Congress. We have through kind provi
dence been blessed with abundant crops anG
have been spared from complications and wal
with foreign nations. In our midst compare.
tive harmony has been restored. 1t is to be
regretted however that the free exercise of the
elective franchise has by violence and intim-
idation been denied to citizens in exceptional
cases iu some of the States lately in rebellion
and the verdict of the people has thereby been
reversed.
THE PROGRESS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
The States Of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas have been restored to representa- n IN
our national councils. Georgia the only State
now without representation, may confidently
be expected to take her place there also at the
beginning of the new year and then let us
hope will be completed the work of reconstruc-
ion, with aacquiescence on the part of the
whole people In the national obligation to nav
the public debt created as the price of our
union, the pensions to our disabled soldiers
and sailors and their widows and orphans and
in the changes to the Constitution which
have been made necessary by a
great rebellion. There is no reason why we
should not advance in material prosperity and
happiness as no other nation ever did after so
protracted and devastating war.
AMERICAN PROTECTION TO FOREIGNERS IN
FRANCE.
Soon after the existing war broke out in
Europe the protection of tie United States
minister in Paris was invoked in favor of the
North Germans domiciled in French territory.
Instructions were issued to grant the protec.
ton. This has been followed by an extension
OF American protection to the citizens of
Saxony, Hesse, SAKE Coburg, Gotha, Colum-
bia, Portugal, sUruguay, the Dominican re-
public, Ecuador. Chill, Paraguay ndVenezuela
in Paris. The charge was an onerous one re-
curing constant and severe labor as well as
the exercise of patience, prudence and GOOD
judgement. 1t has been performed to the on
tire satisfaction of this government and q.
am officially informed equally SO to the sat
isfaction of the government of North Germany.
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
As soon as learned that a republic had been
proclaimed at Paris and that the people of
France had acquiesced in the change the min
lister of the United States was directed by te)e-
graph to recognize and tender my congrat-
ulations and those of the people o.
the United States. The establishment in
France of system of government disconnect-
ed with the dynastic traditions of Europe ap-
peared to be possible project for the felicita-
tons of Americans. Should the present at
tempt result in change in the French to our
simpler forms of representative government it
Will be subject of still further satisfaction to
our people. While we make no effort to i'm
pose our institutions upon the inhabitants of
other countries, and while we adhere to our
traditional neutrality in civil contests else.
wnere, we cannot De indifferent to the spread
of American political ideas in a great
and highly civilized country like
France. We were asked by the new vovern-
ment to use our good offices jointly with those
of European powers in the interests of peace css
The answer was made that the established
policy and the free interests of the United
States forbade them to interfere in European
questions jointly with European powers. 1
ascertained informally and unoficially that the
of North Germany was not then
l to any such representations
RS and wishing to see the
.e restored to the belligcrents
m the United States are on
ip l declined, on the part of
% take a step which would
rk to our true interests with
object for which our inter-