Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-05
EVENING STAR.
SEtGiD edition
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the seHste
sns House q Representatives.:

Ills u.,tssu has pa>Spd : nee the Last aSSeLnbl AZ
0t Congress We have, through a sind Prov |
teuce- been blessed y I'm abuEyaut crops, End |
have heen spared rrpl complications and ear |
with cuTT!gI nations. IN n0T I-+i>t comparative
hars.ouv hrs been restored I. = - b. regret !
tetL however. tN't q I. &c exc ci-t OF tht &c
rv.- franchise has. hv NiUieuc' ami Intimidation
I-eu ,ieuic, To- citizens IN cv-CptiOn1i cases in
several 81 the Stats lately - rebellion sra the
verde. the IeJ- De- has thereby been er>sd 4
Ttt States OF Virginia. f'S-i~~IppI, are TeN-
- have been JOred ~ approximation IN our
national counrsis. George the Oaiy ST. t. rOw
without repress ntatioB, rJy confident ht eS-
TeCted 10 take her place s. ere also n TIE begi n
ming of the uSsT year. ~ THEN. le1 rs hope. viii
be completed he work . reconstruction. With
an aequie~erre on the part OF the wl'oic people,
IN the national ohliau ton 70 sisy he public
echt, created a. IL" price of -N-iT mon.
the pensions to disabled soldiers and slilOrs,
and their widows and orphans; end in the
changes to the Constitution which have been
made necessary by q great rebellion, there is no
reason W We shoG,d not advance IN material,
ProsperitJ, and happiness a. no ether nation
ever did after so r. 0tTacted and devastating a
war.
Soon after the existing war broke out in Eu-
rope the prOtectio1 of the United States Mir s.
ter IN Parts was invoked liz fs-sr of North
Germans dOmiciied in French territory. In
stIue;iOns we're Issued TO grant The prote ctiOB
American projection 70 the citizens of Sax
ony, Hesse EEd SAKE Cotag, Goths, Colon
sl s,n, portugs.z ETuqTSsSS ir he Dominica can
Venezuela, in Paris. Tie charge was
onerous one, requiring constant ond severe ta-
dence and good Judgment. 1t has been pe--
formed to the entire satisfaction of this govern
ment, and, as ! am Official informed, equal
As soon as i learned that a Republic Fad
been proclaimed At Paris, and that the people
of France hsd acquiesced in the change, the
Minister OF the tinted states was directed 6y
telegraph 70 recognize -, and to tender my
CONGRATULATIONS and those of the people OF the
Disconnected with the dynastic traditrons
OF Of EuIoPe appeared to De proper subject for
ent struggle result in attaching the hearts ef the
French 10 our simpler forms OF representative
government II will be . subject of still further
satisfaction to our people. While we MAKE no
effort TO impose our institutions upon the iahsb-
Itants Of other countries, and while adhere
elsewhere, We cannot be Indifferent to the
spread OF American political ideas in G great
and highly CIVILIZED country like France.
We were asked by the new government to use
our good ofhces. jointly with those OF European
Powers, in he interests 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 Powers i ascertained informally
and unofhctally that the government Of North
Germany was not then disposed to listen to such
representations from any powers, and though
earnestly wishing TO see tie blessings CT peace
restored TO the belligerents, with all of whom
the nIted states are on terms of friendship,
declined, on the part of this government, to
TAKE step winch could only result In
injury TO our true interests, without adj
vancing the object for which our interven-
ton was invoked. Should the time come
when the action. Of the United States can hasten
the return OF peace, by single hour, that ac-
hon will be heartily taken. ] deemed il pru-
dent, IN view o. the number OF persons OF Ger
man and FTent n birth living in the United Sta
ties, To- iS ne, soon after Official office of state
of var had been received from both belliger-
ents- = proclamation defining the duties of the
United states a. a neutral, and the obligations
Of persons residing within their territory, to OBJ
serve their laws and the laws OF nations. This
proclamation was followed by Others, as eircum-
stances seemed to Call Tor them. The people,
thus acquainted, in advance. Of their duties
and obligations, have assisted in preventing
violations Of the neutrality OF the United
States.
Its not understood that the condition of the
insurTeetiOn IN Cnba has materially changed
siDee the close OF the last session of Congress.
In an early stage OF the contest the authOri-
ties Of pain inau gur ated a system of arbitrary
aTesss, OF clOse confinement and of military
Trial ard execution Of IerkOns suspected of
sSSmPhc .1yus with The insurgents, sne
properties. ami SsGuestTatiOn OF their revenues
by Executive warrant. Such proceedings, 80
citizens Of the United States. were IN violation
at tie provisions Of the Treaty OF 1875 between
the United states and Spain. Representation,
Of injuries resulting 20 several persons claim NJ
20 ht citizens eft the United States by reason Ui
such Violations W.re made 40 the Spanish Gov
stnmeTt- fr,m April. 1st2 10 June last the
SIaH Il Minister 81 Washington hal
been clothed with limited power
10 a,a IL redrte,Ing such wrO"g~.
N.
view, a. IL was said, - OF the favorable situa-
ton in which the Island Of Cuba" then WAS. -
which however, did not lead TO a revocation or
sUsI ersiOn Of the extraordinary and arbitrary
functions exercised by the Executive Power in
Cuba and We were obliged 10 make our com
plants al Madrid In the negotiations thus on
eHed. and pending there the tinted States only
claimed, th1f fer The future. the right secured
10 their citizens by treaty, should be respected
In Cuba. and that, 10 the past a icint
tribunal should be established in the United
States with iuh jurisdiction over all such claims
Before such an impartial tribunal each claim
ant would he required TO prove his case Ou
the other hand, Spain would he AT liberty 10
traverse every material fact, and thus complete
equity would be done A case, which at one
time, threatened seriously TO affect the relations
between the nited States and Spain, has a.
ready been disposed OF in this way. The claim
OF the owners OF the "COl. LLOYD Aspinwall' for
the illegal seizure and detention OF that vessel
was referred 90 arbitration by mutual consent
and has resulted IN an award to the United
States for the owners OF the sum of nineteen
thousand seven hundred and two dollars and
NIFTY cents IN gold. Another, and long pending
claim OF Ike nature, that OF the whaleship Can
ada, has been disposed Of by friendly arbitra-
ment during the present year. 1t was referred
by the joint consent OF Brazil and the Uni-
ted States 10 The decision of SIR Edward
thornton, Her Brlttsnic Majesty's
Minister, AZ Washington, who kindly
undertook The lzbOTlOUs task o. examining the
voluminoUs mass OF correspondence and iesti-
mony submitted BY the two soyernmenfs ard
awarded TO the United States the sum Of one
hundred Athousand seven hundred and rorfv
dollars and nine cents. in gold, which has .ince
been paid BY the imperial government
These recent examples show that the mode
which the United States have proposed TO SIAN
for busting the pending claims Is Just anu fea-
sible, and that 10 may be agreed to by either ma
tiOn without dishoDor. IL IS 10 be hoped that
this moderate demand may be acceded 10 by
Spain without furthe< delay. Should the pend
ing negotiations unfortunately and unexpected
Nv be without result, IL will then become nv
duty 10 comm mic ate that tact to Congress AND
invite tie action On the subject.
The long deferred peace conference between
Spain and the allied South American republics
has been inaugursted in Washington under tha
auspices OF the nited States. Pursuant 10 the
recomme DdztiOn contained in the rssoluton NJ
the House OF Representatives OF the Eth OF De-
cembeT, lst6, the executive department OF tine
government offered its friendly of ces for the
promotion OF peace and harmony between
Spain and the allied republics. Hesitation. and
obstacles occurred TO the acceutanre
of the offer. Ultimately, however, a Conference
was arranged. and was opened in this CITY on
the 18th Of October last, AZ which 1 Authorized
the SecrffarY OF State To meade ~ n. .