The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House of

Gentlemen Of the Senate and House of
Representatives..
A year of peace and general prospect
i ity 10 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 compar
alive harmony has been restored. 1t is
to be regretted, however, that free ex-
ercise o: the elective franchise has by
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, Mis-
sissippi and Texas have been restored
to representation in our national coun
ellis. Georgia, the only State without
representation, may confidently he ex-
pected to take her place there also at
| the beginning of the new year, land then,
let us hope, viii be completed the work
of reconstruction.
i With an acquiescence on the part Of
the people in the national obligation to
pay the public debt created as the price
| of our Union, the pensions to. our dis
4 aoled soldiers and sailors and their wild
ows and orphans, and in the changes to
the constitution which have been made
necessary by great rebellion, there is
no reason why we should not advance
in material prosperity and happiness as
no other nation did after so protracted
| and devastating war.
4 THE EUROPEAN WAR.
i Soon after the existing war broke out
/ in Europe, tliesprotection OF the United
States Mnistff in Paris was invoked in
favor ftthe North Germans domiciled
in French territory. Instructions were
issued to grant the protection, this has
been followed by an extension of Amer
Iican protection to the citizens of Saxony,
/ Hesse and Sax. Coburg, Gotha, Colum-
hia, Portugal, Uruguay. the Dominican
Republic Ecuador, Chill, Paraguay and
i. yenezula In Paris the charge was an
onerous one, requiring constant and Sc
we're labor as well as the exercise of pa
tience prudence and good Judgment
1t has been performed to the entire sat-
| isfaction of this Government, and as l
am officially informed, equally so to the
satisfaction of the Government of North
! Germany.
RECOGNITION OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
As soon as / learned that republic
: had been proclaimed at Paris and that
5 the people of France had acguiesced in
the change, the Minister of the United
States was directed by telegraph toirec-
: ognize it and tender my congratulations
J and those of the people of the United
g States.
4 The re-establishment in France of a
system of government disconnected with
1.-THE dynastic traditions of Europe ap-
: peared to be proper subject for the
!: felicitatioL of Americans Should the
3 present struggle result in attaching the
|, hearts OF The French to our simpler
!. forms Of representative government, il
win be subject of still further satisfac-
I 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 nen-
: trality in civil contests, elsewhere, we
cannot be Indifferent to the spread of
American political ideas in grest and
highly civilized country, like France
We we're asked by the new Government
Ito use our good offices Jointly with those
vlof the European powers in the interest
/ lof peace. The answer was made that
! THE established policies aud the true in
lterests Of the United States forbade
: them to interfere NTH the European
question Jointly with the European pow
1ers I asceftained informally and un-
officially that the government of North
: Germany was not then disposed to lis
: ten to such representations from any
r powers, and though earnestly wishing
Ito see the blessings OF peace restored to
4 the beliigefents, with all of whom the
|, United States are on terms of friend
ship, declined on tue part of this gov
ernmcntt 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
1.-the time come when the action Of the
!. United States can hasten the return OF
. lpeace BY single honr, that action will
be heartily taken. / deemed it prncent,
: in view OF the number of persons Of
] ! CerpaN and Erenrh birth. living in the