The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-06
Presidents Message.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives.

ISpS''tNN'NNN
A year Of peace and general prosper
itv TO this nation 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 harmony has been restored.
Il is TO be regretted, however, that a
free exercise Of the elective franchise
has bv violence and intimidation been
denied TO citizens in exceptional
cases in the several 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 representation in our
national councils Georgia, the only
State without representation, may con-
tidently be expected to take her place
there also at the beginning OF the new
YEAR. and then, let us hope, will be CON-
pleted the work Of reconstruction.
With an acquiescence on the part ofthe
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
10 the constitution which have
been made necessary by a great
rebellion, there is no reason why we
should not advance III material pros
perjtv and happiness as no other nation
did after SO protracted and devastating a
war
THE EUROPEAN WAR.
Soon after the existing war broke
out in Europe, the protection OF the
United States Minister in Paris was in
voked in favor OF the North Germans
domiciled in French territory. Instruc-
tions were issued TO grant the protec-
lion this has been followed by an ex-
tension OF American protection to the
citizens of Saxony, Hesse and Sax Co
burg, Gotha. Columbia, Portugal, Uru-
guav, the Dominican Republic
Ecuador, Chill, Paraguay and Venezu,
Ella. In Paris the charge was an oner-
ous one. requiring constant and severe
labor as well as the exercise OF patience
prudence and good judgment 1t has
been performed to the entire satisfaction
of this Government, and as am official
lv informed. equally so to the satiSiac-
ton of the Government of North Ger
many.
RECOGNITIoN OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
As soon as learned that a re-
public hal been proclaimed at Paris
and that the people of France had ac-
quiesced in the change, the Minister
Of the United States was direct
ed by telegraph to recognize it
and tender nv congratulations and
those OF the people of the United States.
The re-eStablishment in France of a
system of government disconnected
with the dynastic traditions Of Europe
appeared to be proper subject for the
iellcitation OF Americans. Should the
present struggle result in attaching the
hearts of The French TO cur simpler
forms of representative government, it
will be a subject OF still further satiStac-
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 neu
rrality in civil contests, elsewhere, we
cannot be Indifferent to the spread OF
American political ideas in great and
highly civilized 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. The answer was made that the
established policies and the true inter
e.rs OF the United States forbade them
TO interfere with the European question
jointly with the European powers. |
ascertained informally and unotficially
that the government of North Ger
many was not then disposed to
listen to such representations from any
powers, and though earnestly wishing
10 see the blessings Of peace restored to
The belliggerents, with all of whom the
United States are on terms of friend
ship, declined on the part of this gov
ernment to take step which could
on Y result in injury to our true inter
ests without advancing the object for
which our intervention 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 he heartily taken. |
deemed it prudent, in view Of the num-
her of persons Of German and French
birth, living in the United States, to is
sue, soon after official notice of state
OF war, had been received from both bel
lgerents, proclamation defining the
duties OF the United States "a neutral,
and the obligations of persons residing in
this territory to observe the laws OF the
nation. The proclamation was followed
10y others As circumstances seemed TO
call for them. The people thus acquaint-
ed in advance of their duties and obll-
cations have assisted in preventing
violations ofthe neutrality of the United
States
CUBAN AFFAIRS.
1t is not understood that the
condition 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 authori-
ties OF Spain inaugurated system OF
arbitrary arrests, OF close confinement,
oi military trial and execution ofpersons
suspected of completely with the insur-
gents, and Of the summary embargo OF
their property and requisitions of their
revenues by the executive warrant. Such
proceedings as far as they have affect
ed the persons or property of citizens o.
the United States were in violation Ot
the provisions OF the treaty of 1875
between the United States and Spain
Representations of injuries resulting to