The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-12-15
CHE Uribu,,e.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
10 the Senate and House Of Representa-

70 tnlS nation has passed since the last
assembling of Congress. We have,
through kind Providence, been blessed
with abundant crops and have been spar
ed from complications and war with
foreign nations. In our midst compare
tive harmony has been restored. 1t is
to be regretted, however, that free ex-
erclse OF the elective franchise has by
violence and intimidation been denied to
citizens in exceptional cases in sever
al of the States lately in rebellion, fand
the verdict of the people has thereby
been reversed. The States of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas have been restor-
ed to representation in our national
councils; Georgia, now the only State
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 reconstruction.
With'an acquiescence on the part of
the whole people in the national obliga
ton to pay 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 of the Constitution which have
been made necessary by the great rebel
hon, 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.
THE WAR IN FRANCE.
Soon after the existing war broke out
in Europe, the protection of the United
States Minister in Paris was invoked in
favor of the North Germans domiciled in
French territory Instructions were is
sued to grant the protection. This has
been followed By an extension of Ameri
can protection to citizens of Saxony,
Hesse and Sax Coburg, Gotha, Colum-
bia, Portugal, Uruguay. the Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Chill, Paraguay and
Venezuela in Paris The charge was an
enormous one requiring constant and Sc
we're labor as well as the exercise CT
patience prudence and good Judgment
1t has been performed to the entire sat
isfaction of this government. and, as
am officially informed, equally 50 to the
satisfaction of the government Of North
Germany. .
As soon as I learned That republic
had been proclaimed at Paris. and that
the people of France had acquisced in
the change, the Minister Of the United
States was directed by telegraph to re
cognlze 1t, and tender my congratulations
and those of the people of the United
States. The re-establiShnent in France
OF system of government disconnected
with the dynastic traditions Of Europe,
appeared to be a proper subject for the
felcitation of Americans. Should the
present struggle result in attaching the
hearts of the French to our simpler
forms of representative government. it
will be a subject of still further satisfac-
ton to our people. While we make no
effort to impose our institutions upon the
inhabitants of other countries. and while
we adhere to our traditional neutrality in
civil interests elsewhere. We cannot be
indifferent to the spread Of American
political ideas in a great and highly civ
ilized country like France. We were
asked by the new government to use Our
good offices Jointly with those of the
European powers in the interest of
peace. Answer was made that the es-
tabiished policy and the true interests of
the United States forbade them tc inter-
fere In European questions jointly with
European powers. / ascertained infor-
maily and nnofhcially that the govern
eminent of North Germany was not then
from any powers. and though earnestly
wishing to see the blessings of peace re-
stored TO the belligerents, with all of
whom the United States are on terms of
friendship, | declined on the part of
this government to take a step which
could only result in injury to our true
interests, without advancing the object
for which our Intervention was invoked
Should the time come when the action
of the United States can hasten the re-
turn of peace by a single hour, that &C
ton will be hea: tily taken.
TIE NEUTRALITY PROCLAMATION.
l deemed it prudent, in view of the
number Of persons of German and French
birth living in the United States, TO
issue, soon after official notice of state
OF war had been received from both bel
Egerents, a procla nation defining the
duties OF the United States as neutral,
and the obligations of persons residing
within their territory, to observe their
laws and the laws of nations. This pro
clamation was followed by others, as cir
cumstances seemed to call for them.
The people, thus acquainted in advance
of their duties and obligations, have
assisted in preventing violations of the
neutrality Of the United States.
CUBA.
1t is not understood that the condi-
ton OF the insurrection in Cuba has
materially changed since the close of the
last session of Congress. In an early
stage Of the contest, the authorities of
Spain inaugurated system CT arbitrary
nrres,s, of close confinement, of military
trial and execution Of persons suspected
of completely with the insurgents, and of
summary embargo of their properties.
and requisitiou of their revenues by
executive warrant. Such proceedings,
so far as they affected the PERSONS or
property OF citizens of the United States
were in violation of the provisions Of the
treaty of 1885, between the United
States and Spain. Representations of
claiming to be citizens of the United
States, by reasons of such violations,
were made TO the Spanish government
From April, 1869. to .|une last, the
Spanish Minister at Washington had
been clothed with limited power to act
in redressing such wrongs. That power
was found to be withdrawn, in view, it
was said, of the warlike situation In
which the island of Cuba then was,
which, however, did rot lead to a reyo-
cation or suspension of the extraordinary
and arbitrary functions exercised by the
executive power in Cuba, and We were
obliged to make our complaint at Mad
rid. In the negotiations thus opened
and still pending there, the United
States only claimed that for the future
the rights secured to their citizens by
trea.y should be respected IN Cuba, and
that as to the past joint tribunal should
be established in the United States,