Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

Congress. We have through a kind Providence
nations. In our midst comparative harmony has
ven restored 1t is to be regretted, however,
Lat the free exercise of the elective franchise has
by violence and intimidation been denied to citi-
zens in exceptional cases in some of the states
lately in rebellion and the verdict OF the people
has thereby been reversed. The states OF Vir-
ginia, Mississippi and Texas, have been restored
to representation in our national councils. Geor-
gia, 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 completed 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 soldiers and
sailors, and their widows 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. Soon
after the existing war broke out In Europe the
protection of the United States Minister in Paris
was invoked in favor of North Germans domi-
ciled in French territory, instructions were is
sued to grant the protection. This has been fol-
lowed by an extension of American protection to
the citizens of Saxony Hesse. SaXe-C obourg- Co.
tina, Columbia, Portugal, Uruguay, the Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Chill, Paraguay and Vene-
Zueia in Paris. The charge Was an onorous one,
requiring constant aud severe labor as well as the
exercise of patience, prudence and good Judgment.
l.
this Government, and, as am officially informed,
equally so to the entire satisfaction Of the Gov
ernment of North Germany. AS soon as learn
ed that Republic had been proclaimed at PARIS
guessed in the change, the Minister of the
United States was directed by telegraph to re-
cognize it and tender my congratulations and
those of the people OF the United States
The re-establlshment in France of system of
government disconnected with the dynastic
traditions of Europe, appeared 10 be possible
project Tor the fluctuations of Americans. Should
the present struggle result in attracting the
hearts of the French to our simpler forms
of representative government it will be q
subject OF still further satisfaction 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 OWL contests, We cannot be inditer-
ent 10 the spread of American political ideas IN a
great and highly civilized country like France.
We were asked by the new government to use
our good offices Jointly with those OF European
powers in the interests OF peace. The answer
was made that the established policy and the true
| interests of the United States forbade them to
interfere in European questions Jointly with
! the European powers. L ascertained infor-
mally and unotticially that the government of
North Germany was no: then disposed to listen
| to any such representations from other powers,
| and though earnestly wishing to see the bles-
| sings of peace restored to the belligerents,
with all of whom 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
! without advancing the object for which in
| terventlon 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 be heartily taken. L deemed it prudent,
IN view of the number of persons of German and
French brth living in the United States, TO issue
| soon after official notice of a state of war had
been received from both belligerents, proclama-
nation defining the duties OF the United States
as q neutral and the obligations Of persons re-
siding within its territory TO observe their laws
/ uYNAth l la nfr atorrar inrN paa
| followed by others as circumstances seemed to
Call for them. The people thus acquainted in
advance of their duties and oblig atious have as
sisted in preventing violations OF the neutrality
of the United States.
CUsAN AFFAIRS.
1t is 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
lnaugurated system OF al bltrary arrests, close
conf nement, and of military trial and execution
of persons suspe ted of completely with the in
suIgents, and of q summary embargo of their
properties and the ssquestrat10n OF their revenues
by the executive warrant Such proceedings, so
far as they affected the persons or property of
citizens of the United States, were in violation
of the provisions of the treaty of 1895 between
the United otates and spain, Represent atoms
OF injuries resulting to several persons claim
ing to be citizens OF the United States, by reason
of such violations were made to the Spanish Gov
eminent. From April, 1869, TO June last, the
Spanish Minister at Washington had been
clothed with limited power TO aid in redressing
! such wrongs. That power was found TO be with
drawn in view, as IL was said, OF the favorable
! situation in which the Island of Cuba then was,
viii b, however, did not lead to revocation or
suspension of the extraordinary and arbitrary
| functions exercised by the executive power in
Cuba, and ave were obliged TO make our COM
plants at Madrid. In the negotiations thus
opened and stan pending there, the United States
claim d that for the future The rights secured to
the citizens by treaty should be respected IN
! M hat Al a 4 tfIh a
should be sta bIished in the Unit d States with
full Jurls dIctlon over all such ella ms Before such
I'M partial tribunal, each claimant would be
required to prove his Gaze, On the other / and
Spain woula be at liberty to iraver.e every ma
terial fact, and thus complete equity Voul1 be
done which at one time threatened ser
iously to affect the relations between the United
States aud Spain, has already been disposed of
in this way. The claim OF the Col. Lloy d Aspin-
wall Tor the legal seizure and detention Ut that
vessel, was referred to arbitration by mutual
consent, and has resulted IN award TO the Uni
ted States for the owners OF the of $40 7O2 30
in gold. Al other and long pending claim or a
like DatUre III that of the Whale-ship Canada.
has be II dip Sed OF by friendly arbtrameut dur
| ing the present year. II was rett FRED by the
JOINT consent of Brazil aud the United States to
Ihe decision OF I II Edward Thornton. Her Brit
| tanic Majestys Minister at Washington, who
kindly Undertook the la6o1ious task OF examining
the vOlumi Gous of grresp ondence and testl-
mony submitted by the two Guvernments ana
awarded to the United States the sum OF one hun
dred thousaI and seven hundred and forty dollars
and nine cents in gold, which has since been paid
by the Imperial Government. These recent ex-
amples show that the mode which the United
States have proposed 60 Spain for adjusting the
pending claims is just and feasible, and that 1t
may be agreed to by either nation without dis
hon T. 1t is TO be hoped that this moderate &C.
mand may be acceded to by Spain without fur
Their delay should the pending negotiations IN
fortunate and unexpectedly be without result,
it will then become my duty to communicate that
fact TO Congress and invite its action the sub
jet.
rEACE CUNtERENCE.
The long deferred Peace Conference between
Spain and the allied South American Republics
has been Inaugurated in Washington under the
auspices of the United states, pursuant to the re-
Communications contained in the resolution of the
House of Representatives of the 18th of Deem
Der, 1866, the Executive department of the gov
eminent offered ITS friendly offices for the promo
ton OF peace and harmony between pain and
The allied kepuhlicS. t1estations and oh .taclns