Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-06
TELEGRAPHIC.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGg.
Pence and Plenty.

knQ PROVIDENCE Deen DlessSu WIN 0punN-
ant crops and have been spared from
complications ard war with foreign
nations. In our midst comparative harm
ony has been restored. Il is to be regret
ted however, that fierce lfreef exercise
of the elective franchise has by violence
Snd 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.
RecOnstruction.
The States of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas have been restored to representa-
ton in our national councils. Georgia,
the only State now without representa-
ton, may confidently be expected to take
= its place there also at the beginning of
the new year, and then, let us hope, will
be completed the work of reconstruction.
With an acquiesenee on the part of
the whole people in the national obliga-
ton to pay the public debt created as the
price of our Union, the pensions TO our
disabled soldiers ard 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 30 pIotracted anc
devastating war.
The French Republic.
Soon after the existing war broke out
Sin Europe the protection of the United
. States Minister at Paris was invoked 10
favor of the North Germans domiciled in
French territory. Instructions were is
sued to grant the, protection This has
been followed by an extension of Ameri-
can protection TO citizens of Saxony,
Hesse the SAKE Coburg, Gotha, Co
lumbia, Portugal, Uruguay, the DOmin
lean Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay and
Venezuela in Paris. The charge was
an onerous one, requiring constant and
severe labor as well as the exercise of pa
tience, prudence and coed Judgment. 1t
has been performed to the entire sstisfac-
ton of the Government of North Ger
many.
As soon IS learned that's Republic. had |
been proclaimed at Paris, and that the |
people of France had acquiesced in the |
change, the Minister 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 system !
of government disconnected with the dy /
nasty traditions of Europe appeared to
be proper subject for the felicitstion of
Americans. Should the present struggle
result in attaching the hearts of the
French to our simple forms of representa-
tive government, it will be asubject of still |
= further satisfaction to our people. While
we made no effort to impose eur institu-
tions upon the inhabitants of other cOun-
tries, and while we adhere to our tradi-
tional neutrality in civil contests else
where, we cannot be indifferent TO the
spread of American political ideas in a
great and highly civilized country like
France.
We were asked by tie new government
to use our good Offices Jointly with those
of European powers il the interest of
peace. Answer was made that the es-
tablished politics and the true interests of
the United States forbade them to in er-
fere in European questions. Jointly with
European powers l ascertained inform
ally and unofficjally that the Government
of North Germany was not then disposed
TO listen to such representations from any
powers, snddhough earnestly wishing to
ste luC Dl6SsluSS VI pSdCS lO6bOIOu W luS 1
belligerents, with all of whom the United |
States are on terms of friendship, l de-
clined, on the part of this Government,
to take step which could only result in
injury 10 our true interests without ad-
vancing the object for which our inter
vention was invoked. Should the time
come when the action of the United
States can hasten the return of peace by
q single bour, that action will be heartily
taken.
l deemed il prudent, in view of the
number of persons of German and French
birth living in the United States, to issue,
soon after tie Official notice of q state of
war had been received from both bellig- II
erents, a proclamation defining the duties
of the United States as a neutral, and
the obligations of persons residing within
the territory to observe their laws and the
laws of nations. The proclamation was
followed by others as circumstances
seemed to call for them The people,
thus acquainted in advance of their du-
ties and obligations, have assisted in pre-
venting violations of the neutrality Of the
linked States.
Cuba.
II is lot understood that the condition
of instruction in Cuba has materially
changed since the close of the last session
of Congress. u an early stage Of tie
contest, the authorities of Spain insugu-
rated a scheme of arbitrary arrest,
of close confinement, of military trial
and execution of persons suspect
ed of completely with the insur
gents and of summary embargo of
.heir properties and requisitiOn Of their
revenues by an executive warrant. Such
proceedings, as far s. they affected the
persons.Or properties of citizens of the
United States, were ln violation of the
provisions of the trslty of 1895 between
the United States and Spain. Represen-
feticns of injuries Resulting to several
persons claiming to be citizens Of the
United States by reapn of such violation,
were made 10 the Spanish Government.
From April, 1869, to June lasA
the Spanish Minister at Washington,
had been clothed with a limi-
ted power to aid In redress Of |
such wrongs. That power was found
TO be withdrawn in view as it was said of
the favorable situation in which the Island
of Cuba was then, which, however, |
did not lead 10 a repression or sus
pension of the extraordinary and srbi-
EIary functions exercised by the eXecu-
tive power in Cuba, and we were obliged
30 make our complaint at Madrid. In the
negotiations thus opened and standing |
there, the United States only claimed that
for the future the rights secured 10 their
citizens by treaty should be respected in
Cuba, and that as TO the past a joint tri
huCal should be established in the United |
States with full jurisdiction over all such
claims. Before such an impartial tribu-
ma each claimant would be required 10
prove his case. On the other hand Spain
would be at liberty 10 traverse every ma
ternal fact aud thus complete equity |
would be done.
A case which st one time threatened |
seriously 10 effect the relations between
the United States and Spain Las already |
been disposed of in this way. The claim
of Col. Lloyd, of the Aspinwaii, for the |
illegal seizure and detention of that vessel |
was referred to arbitration by mutual con
sent, and has resulted in an award 10 the
United States for the owners for the sum |
of $l9, 7O2. 90 in gold.
Another and long pending claim of |
like Gature, that of the whaleship Can
ada. has been disposed of by friendly ar
bitIation. During the present year it
was referred by joint consent of Brazil
and the United States to the decision of |
Sir Edward Thompson, Her Brtsnic Ma
esty's Minister at Washington, who
kindly undertook the laborious task of
examining the voluminOus mass of cor
respondence and testimony submitted by
~, In /