The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-12-10
Presidents Message
Annual Message Of the President Of
the United States 10 Congress.
Delivered Monday, December s, 1870

A wear of peace ara general prosperity to this
na,lon has passed since the last assembling of
CONGRESS. We have, through kind Providence,
been blessed with abundant crops, and have
been spared from complications and war with
foreign nations. In our midst comparative har.
nonv has beev restored. 1t il to be regretted,
however that free exercise OF the elective fran.
chise has, by violence and Intimidation. been
denied 10 citizens In exceptional in several
of the states lately in rebellion, and The verdict
of the people has thereby been reversed, The
states of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas have
been restored TO approximation in our national
councils. Georgia, tho only state now without
representation, may confidently DO expected to
take her place there also ut the beginning of the
new year, and then, let US hope, will be compile
ted the work of reconstruction. With an aeQui.
essence On the part Of the whole people in the
national obligation to pay the public debt created
"a the price OF our Union, the pensions to our
disabled soldiers and sailors and their widows
and orphans, and in the changes to the constitu.
ton which have become necessary by the great re-
bellon, there is 10 reason why we should not
advance in material prosperity and happiness NJ
no other nation ever did after SD protraoted and
devastating war.
Soon otter the existing war broke out in Eu-
rope the protection of the United States Minister
in P4ris was invcG I'd in favor Of the North Ger.
mans dcmiciied in French territory Instruc.
tions were issued to grant the protection. This
has been followed by an extension of American
protection to citizens of Saxony, Hesse and SAKE
Coburg Gotha, Columbia, Portugal Uruguay.
the Dominican Republic Ecuador, Chilli, Para
quay, and Venezuela. in Paris. The charge was
an onerous one, requiring constant and severe
labor, well as the exercise Of prudence and
good Judgment II has been performed to the
entire satisfaction Of this government, and, "a I
am officially informed equally 40 to tho satsfac.
ton of the government of North Germany. As
soon as l learned that Republic had been pro-
claimed at Paris, and that the people of France
had scquiesced in the change. the Minister of
the United States was directed by telegraph to
recognize it and tender my congratulations and
those of the people of the United States. The
re-establishment in France of system of gov
eminent disconnected with the dynastic tradi-
lions of Europe appeared to DO proper subject
for the felicitation OF Americans. Should the
present struggle result in attaching the hearts of
the French to our simpler forms of representa-
tive government, it will be subject of still
further satisfaction 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 in.
terests elsewhere, cannot be Indifferent to the
spread Of American political ideas in great and
highly civilized country like France. We we're
asked by the new government to Us our good
offices jointly with those OF the European powers
in the interest Of peace. Answer was made that
the established policy and the true interests OF
the United States forbade them to interfere in
European questions jointly with European pow.
crs. | ascertaned, informally and unoificialiy
that the government Of North Germany was not
then disposed to listen TO such representations
from any powers and though earnestly wish.
Ing 10 see the blessings of peace restored to the
beilgeicnts, with all Of whom the United States
are on terms oi friendship, / declined, on the
part of this government, to take a step which
would Only result in I'M ury to our true interests
without advancing the object for which our in
tervention was Invoked. Should the time come
when the action of the United States can hasten
the return of peace by single hour, that action
will be heartily taken.
deemed it prudent. in view of the number of
persons OF German Ind French birth living in
the United States, to Issue. soon after Official
notice of u state of war had been received from
both the be!hgerents, a proclamation, 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 proclamation was followed by
others, as circumstances seemed to call for them
The people, thus acquainted, in advance, of their
duties and obligations, have assisted in prevent
ing violations of the mentality of the United
States
1t is not understood that the condition of the
instruction 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 a system of arbitrary arrests
and the military trial and execution of persons
suspected of completely with the insurgents, and
OF summary embargo Of their properties and
reqnisition Of their revenues DO executive war.
rant. Such proceedings, as far as they affected
the persons Or property OF citizens of the United
States. were in violation of the provisions of the
treaty of 1913 between tho United States and
Spain. Representations Of injuries resulting to
several persons claiming to be citizens of the
United States by reason of such violations. were
made to the Spanish government. From April
1869 TO June last, the Spanish Minister at Wash.
ington had been clothed with a limited power To
act in redressing such wrongs. That power was
found to be withdrawn in view, az it was said,
OF the warke situation in which the island Of
Cuba than was, which, however, did not lead to
u revocation OF the suspension of the extraordi-
nary and arbitrary functions exercised BY the
executive power in Cuba, and we were Obliged
to make our complaint at Madrid. In tho nego.
tiations thus opened, and still pending there the
United States only claimed that for the future
the rights secured to their citizens by treaty
should be respected in Cuba, and that, as to tho
past, Joint tribunal should be established in
the United States with full jurisdiction over all
such claims. Before such impartial tribunal
each claimant would be required to prove his
case. On the other hand, Spain would be at
liberty to traverse every material fact, and thus
complete equity would be done. A case, which
at one time threatened seriously to affect the 70.
iations between the United States and Spain.
has already been disposed of in this way The
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