The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate and
House Of Representatives.
NATURALIZATION.
npcoNsrRrcroN.

House Of Representatives.
RECONSTRUCTION.
A year Of peace and general prosperity to this
nation has pa-sed since the last Assembling OF
Congress. We have. through kind Pro'',
dence. been blessed with abundant erops anu
have been spared from complications snd war
with foreign nations. In our midst COMPARE
tive harmopy has been restored. IL Is TO De re |
prrtted. however, that the free exercise OF the
slectiye franchise has by violence and intimida- |
ton been dcned 10 citise;s IN exceptona casr
In .ome II the States istey IN rroeii'on' ana 'he
yeriict Of the people hss thereby heen received. |
The State Of Virginia. Mississippi, and Texas
M. hen restored 20 restoration in our nation
Al council. Georgia the only State now without
r.nr,.eutstion may confidently be expected to
take her place there also at the beginning Of the
new year, and then let US hops win be COM |
pletcd the work Of reconstruction. With an &c
aue.cence on the part Of the whole people IN
the national obligation to pay the public deot
created as the price Of our union, the pensions |
10 our disabled soldiers and sailors. and their |
widows and orphans, and the changes to the |
constitution which have been made necessary by |
Q great rebellion, there Is no reason Why Ne
should not advance In material prosperity and
bsppincss As no other nation did amer 70 pro- |
trseted and devastating var.
TIE FRANCO PRrssiAS WAR.
Soon amer the existing war broke out In Eu-
rope, the protection Of the United States Minis
ten In Prussia was invoked In favor Of the North
German domicils In French territory. fnstruc-
tons were issued TO grant the protection. This
has been followed by an extension Of American
protection 10 the citizens Of SaIony, Hesse. SAKE
Cobury. Goths, Columbia, Portugal. Uruguay,
the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Chill, Para
quay and veneruela.
In Paris, the charge Was an onerous one, re
curing constant aud severe labor, rs well as the
exercise Of patience, perseverance, and good
judg,nent II has been performed to the entire
satisfaction Of this government, and rs II am
officially informed. equally 50 TO the satisfaction
of the government Of North Germany.
As soon a. learned that q Republic had been
proclaimed at Paris. and that the people OF
France had acauiesced in the change. the Min
lister of the United States was directed by tele-
graph TO recognize and tender my congratula-
tons and those Of the people Of the United
States.
The re-establshment in France Of . system Of
government. disconnected with the dynastic
traditions Of Europe appeared to be plausible
project for the fluctuations OF Americans
Should the present result in change TO the
French, 10 our simpler forms OF representative
government, it will be . subject Of still further
satisfaction TO our people. While We make no
effort to impose our institutions upon the inhab-
itants Of other countries, and while We adhere
TO our traditional neutrality In civil contests
elsewhere, We cannot be Indifferent 10 the spread
OF American political ideas in great and civil
iIcd country Ike France. We were asked by
the new government TO use our good Offices
Jointly with those tf European powers in the
interests Of Peace. The answer was made that
the established policy and the free interests Of
the United States forbade thsm 10 interfere in
European questions, jointly with European
powers. aseertained informally and unofh-
cially that the government Of North Ger many
was not then dispused to listen 10 any such rep
RESERVATIONS, from the powers, and wishing to
zee the blessing Of peace restored TO the bellig-
errnts, with all cf when the United States are
on terms Of friendship. declined, on the part
Of this government. to take step which would
only result in injury to our true interests. with
out advancing the object for which our inter-
,ention was invoked. Should the time come
when the action Of the United States can hasten
the return Of peace, by single hour, that ac-
ton will be heartily taken.
deemed Il prudent, in view OF the numbers
Of persons of German and French birth living
In the United States, TO issue soon after cfhcial
notice Of state Of war bad been received from |
both belligerents, q proclamation defining the
duties Of the United States as neutral, and
the obligations Of persons residing within their
territory 10 observe their laws and the laws Of
nations. This proclamation was followed by |
others as circumstances seemed to call TOR them.
The people thus acquainted In advance OF their |
duties and obligations have assisted in prevent |
ing violations Of the neutrality Of the United
States.
SPAIN AND cuBA.
n Il 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 inauguatei Q system Of arbitrary
arrests, close confinement. and OF military trial
and execution OF persons suspected OF completely
with the insurgents, and Of a summary embargo |
OF their properties and the sequestrstion OF
their revenues by the executive warrant. Such
proceedings, so far as they affect the persons or
property Of citizens Of the United States, were
in violation of the provisions Of the treaty Of
1876 between the United States and Spain. .
The representations Of injuries resulting to |
several persons claiming to be citireus Of the |
United States by reason Of such violations, were
made 10 the Spanish government. From April,
1869, TO June last, the Spanish minister at
Washington had been clothed with q limited |
power 20 aid In rcdrcssing such wrongs. That
mower was found 20 he withdrawn in view, and |
n was said, Of the favorable situation In which
the Island Of Cuba then was, which, however. |
did not lead TO a revocation or suspension OF the
extraordinary and arbitrary functions exercised
by the executive power in Cuba, and We were
obliged TO make our compli ints at Madrid. In
the negotiations thus opened. and still pending
there, the United States claimed that for the
future the rights secured to their eltirens by
treaty should be respected in Cuba. and that as
90 the past joint tribunal should be established
In the United States with full jurisdiction Of all
such claims. Before such an impartial tribunal, !
each claimant would be required TO prove his
case. On the other hand. Spain would be at
liberty TO Traverse every material TACT and thus
complete equity would be done.
SETTLEMENTS.
case which nj Que time threatened seriously |
10 effect the relations between the United States
and Spain has already been disposed Of on this
way. The claim Of the Col. Lloyd Aspinusil
for the illegal seizure and detention Of that yes-
eel was rcferrd TO arbitration by mutual con- |
sent, and has resulted in an award 10 the United
States for the owners Of the same Of 81 $40 $50
In gold. Another and long pending claim Of
Ike nature. that Of the whale ship Canada, has
been disposed Of by friendly srbtratment during
the present. year. II was referred by the joint
consent Of Brazil and the United States to the
decision Of SIR Edward Thomson, Her Britanic
Majcsty's Minister at Washington. who kindly |
undertook the task Of examining the yoluminous
mas. of correspondence and testimony contrib
uted bv the two governments, and awaried 20 |
the United States the sum Of four hundred thou
and and seven hundr~i and forty dollars and
nine cents In gold. which has since been paid
BY the Imperial government. These r~ccnt En-.
.mplc-. show that the mode which the United
States have proposed to Spain for adjusting the
pending claims Is just and feasible, and that
NAV be agreed To BY either nation without dis
honor. II IL to be hoped that this moderate de
mand may be accecied to by Spain without FUR
Their delay. Should the pending negotiations
unfortunately and Unexpectedly be without re-
mill n viii then become NV duty 90 communi-