The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, D. G., December 5.

WI VI PVdVS anu BeIleFdl prosperity
to this natlsn has passed since thelast as
sembling of Congress. We have, through
q kind Providence, been blessed with
abundant crops, and have been spared
from complications and war with foreign
nations. In our midst comparative har
mony has been restored. 1t is to be re.
gretted, however, that free exercise oI
the elective franchise has by violence and
intimidation been denied to citizens in
exceptional cases 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 representation in
our national councils. Georgia, the only
State now without representation, may
confidently be expected to take her place
there also, at the beginning of the new
year, and then, let us hope, will be COM
pleted the work of reconstruction, with
an acquiescence, on the part of the whole
people, in the national obligation to pay
the public debt created as the price of our
Union, the pensions to our disabled SOL
diers and sailors, and their widows and
orphans, and in the changes to the Con-
stltution, which have been made necessa-
ry by great rebellion. There is no rea-
son why we should not advance in mate
rial prosperity and happiness as no other
nation did after so protracted and devas-
tating war.
Soon after the existing war broke out
IN Europe, the protection of the United
States Minister in Paris was invoked in
favor of the North Germans domiciled in
French territory, Instructions 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, Port
ugal Uruguay, the Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Chill Paraguay, and Venezuela,
in Paris. The change was an onerous one,
constant and severe labor as
well as the exercise Of patience, prudence
and good judgment. 1t has been per-
formed to the entire satisfaction of this
government, and as l am officially inform
ed equally so to the satisfaction of the
government of North Germany. As soon
as | learned that a republic had been pro-
claimed at Paris and that people of France
had acquiesced in the change the Minis
ter OF the United States was ordered by
telegraph to recognize it and tender my
congratulations and those of the people of
the United States The re-establishment
in France of a system of government dis
connected with the dynastic traditions of
Europe appeared to be proper subject
for the felicitation of Americans. Should
the present struggle result in attaching
the hearts Of the French to our simpler
forms of representative government, it
will be subject of still further satisfac-
tion 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 contests elsewhere we can not be
Indifferent to the spread of American po-
ltlcal ideas in a great and highly civilized |
country like France. We were asked by
-he new government to use our good Of |
ices jointly with those of the European
bowers in the interest of peace Answer
vas made that the established policies
md the true interests of the United |
States forbade them to interfere in the
European questions jointly with European
powers. ! ascertained informally and un-
officially that the government of North
iermany was not then disposed to listen
o such representations from any powers,
md though earnestly wishing to see the
blessings of peace restored to the bellig-
rents, with all of whom the United States
re on terms of friendship, | declined on
he part of this government to take step
which could only result in injury to our
rue interests, without advancing the OBJ
ect for which our intervention was in
'oked. Should the time come when the
ction of the United States can hasten the
eturn Of peace by single hour, that ac-
ion will be heartily taken | deemed it
'rudent in view of the number of persons
# German and French birth living in the
United States, to issue, soon after the Of
icial notice of state of war had been
eceived from both belligerents, procla-
nation defining the duties of the United
tates as a neutral, and the obligations of
ersons residing within the territory to
bserve their laws and the laws of nations.
he proclamation was followed by Others,
s circumstances seemed to call for them.
he people thus acquainted, in advance,
f their duties and obligations, have as
sted in preventing violations of the
eutrality of the United States.
1t is not understood that the condition
the insurrection in Cuba has materially
hanged since the close of the last session
Congress. In an early stage of the
ontest the authorities of Spain inaugur-
ted system of arbitrary arrests, of close I
of military trial and execu-
on Of persons suspected of completely {
ith the insurgents, and of summary en- {
lrgo of their properties and requisition ,
their revenues by executive warrant I
lch proceedings, as far as they effected
le persons or property of citizens of the {
nited States, were in violation of the I
eaty of 1895 between the United States +
I'd Spain. Representations of injuries J
sulting to several persons claiming to t
citizens of the United States, by reason t
such violation, were made to the Span {
h government, From April, 1869, to
Inc last, the Spanish Minister at Wash Il
gton had been clothed with limited h
'wer to aid in redressing such wrongs "
nat power was found to be withdrawn in II
ew as it was said, of the favorable stu
ion in which the island of Cuba was 4
en-, which, however, did not lead to a !,
volution or suspension of the extraordi- a
ry and arbitrary functions exercised by il
c executive power in Cuba, and we were h
liged to make our complaint at Madrid a
the negotiations thus opened, and still d
nding there the United States only If
timed that for the future the rights Sc q
red to their citizens by treaty should be r,
,pected in Cuba, and that as to the past "
Joint tribunal should be established in W
e United States with full jurisdiction il