The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-12-16
THE PRESIDENTpS MESSAGE.
Annual Review of the Affairs of the
Nation. lzhe
ri ~ .i.A - ls4 Il
Our Foreign Relations.
Recommendations and Suggestions

" 81 > ~
Recommendations and Suggestions
TOthe Senate and House Of Representatives.: -
year of peace and general prosperity 10 this
nation has passed since the last assembling Of
Congress. have, through "a Kind Provi-
dence been blessed with abundant crops and have
been spared complications and war with foreign
nations In our midst comparative harmony has
free exercise Of the elective franchise has violence
and intimidation, been denied 10 citizens in excep
onal 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 IN our oun-
cs Georgia the only state now without repre- yenta
ton, may confidently be expected TO take her place
there also, at the beginning of the new year, and
then, let us hope, win be completed tho work Of
the whole people in the national obhgst ons 10 pay
the public debt created as the price Of our Union,
the pensions to disabled soldiers and sailors and
their widows and orphans and In the changes to the
Constitution which have been made necessary by the
great rebellion There is reason why we should
not advance m national prosperity and happiness
other nation did after protracted and deYastat
/ ing war.
~ THE FRksoo-PRussIEN WAR.
Soon after the existing war broke out in Europe,
the protection Of the United States Minister in Paris
ciIled in French territory Instructions issued
to grant the protection This has been followed BY
an extension of American protection 10 citizens Of
saxony, Hesse and Sax Coburg, Gotha, Columbia,
Portugal, Uruguay, the Dominican Repubhc
ECUADOR, Chfh, Paraguay and venezuela, IN Paris.
The charge vns an onorous one, requiring constant
and severe labor as well as the exercise Of patience,
prudence, and good judgement II has been per-
formed TO the entire satisfaction Of this government
and as am officially informed, equally so to the
satisfaction Of the government of North Germany.
As soon as learned that Republic had deem pro
claimed at Paris snd that the people of France had
acquiesced in the change the minister Of the United
States directed by telegraph to recognize 1t 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
dynasc traditions Of Europe appeared to be proper
subject for the felictstion Of Americans. Should
the present struggle result In attaching the hearts Of
the French to our simpler forms Of representative
government, II viii be subject Of stn farther salts
faction TO our people. While we make effort 10
impose institutions upon the inhabitants Of other
countries, and while we adhere to our traditional
neutrality in civil interests elsewhere cannot be
Indifferent TO the spread Of American poicaldeas In
great and highly civilized country like France. We
are asked bv the new government to use our good
Offices Jointly with those of European powers In the
interest Of peace Answer was made that the estab-
Hshed policy and true interests Of the United States
forbade them TO interfere IN the European questions
jointly with European powers. ascertained. infor
maly unO111C1ally, that the OF North
Germany WIS not then disposed to listen to such
representations from any powers, and though
earnestly desiring to see the blessings Of peace
restored TO the beIigerents, with all Of whom the
United States terms Of friendship I declined
the part Of this Government TO take step which
could only result IN injury to true interests with
out advancing the object for which our intervention
was invoked. Should the time come when the action
of the United States hasten the return of peace
by single hour that action win be heartily taken
deemed il prudent in view of the number of persons
/ lofG and IN, he &kad
States, to issue, soon after the official notice Of
war had been received from both belligerents q
proclamation defining the duties Of the United
States q neutral, and the obligations Of persons
residing within their territory to observe their laws
and the laws of nations. The proclamation fol-
lowed by others, as circumstances seemed TO call for
them. The people thus acquainted In advance of
their duties and obligations have assisted In prevent
ing violations Of the neutrality of the United States
THE CUBAN REVOLUTION.
It is not understood that the condition Of the IN
surrecion in Cubs has materially changed since the
close OF the last session of Congress. In the early
stage Of the contest the authorities Of Spain inaug
ted system of arbitrary arrests, of close conne-
ment, of military trial, and execution Of Ell per
sons suspected of completely with insurgents and
Of summary embargo Of their properties and
requistion Of their revenues by executive warrzut
Such proceedings, as far as they affected the per-
property of the citizens Of the United States
in violation Of the provisions Of the treaty of
1896, between the United States and Spain. Repre-
sentstions Of injuries resulting 10 several persons
son of such relations, were made TO the Spanish
government From April, 1859, to June last, the
Spanish Minister at Washington had been clothed
with limited power to aid in redressing such
wrongs That power was found 10 be withdrawn
in view it said Of the vavershle situation IN
which the Island Of Cuba then was, which, however
did not lead to the revocation Of the suspension of
the extraordinary and arbitrary functions exercised
by the executive power in Cuba and were obliged
10 make our complaint at Madrid. In the negotia-
tons thus opened, and still pending there, the
TTrited rlafrnad he fha
rights secured 10 their citizens by treaty should be
respected IN Cuba; that as to the past joint til
with fun jurisdiction over al such clatms. On the
other hand, Spain would be at liberty to traverse
every material fact and thus complete equity would
be done. case which at one time threatened seri-
ously to affect the relations between the United
States and Spain has already been disposed in fhin
way. The claim Of the Col. oyd-Aspinwan for the
Illegal seizure and detention Of that vessel re-
ferred to arbitration by mutuAl consent and has
suited in award TO the United States for the
ers Of the sum Of nineteen thousand seven hundred
and two dollars and fifty cents IN gold. Another
and long pending claim of like nature Of the whale
ship Canada, has been disposed of by friendly arbi-
traton during the present year. It referred by
the joint consent Of Brazil and the United States 10
the decision Of Sir Edward Thornton. Her Britanic
Majesty's minister at Washington, who kindly un-
dertook the aborious task Of examining the volum-
inous mass Of correspondence and testimony sub
mitted by the two governments, and awarded TO the
United States one hundred thousand seven hundred
dollars and nine cents which has since been paid by
the imperial government. These recent examples
show that the mode which the United States has pro-
posed to Spain for adjusting the pending claims Is
just and feasible, and that 1t may be agreed 10 by
either nation without dishonor. 1t Is to be hoped
that this moderate demand may be scceded to by
Spain without further delay.
Should the pending negotiations unfortunately
snd unexpectedly be without result, Il would then
become my duty to communicate that fact TO Con-
gress and await its action on the subject.
TIE spAsIsH- AMERICAN PEACE CONFERENCE
The long deferred peace conference between Spain
and the allied South American republics, has been
inaugurated IN Washington under the auspices of
contained in the resolution Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives Of the 18th Of December, 1855. The ex-
ecutive department Of government offered its friend
between Spain and the aIlied Republics Hesits- |
tons and obstacles occurred TO the acceptance Of the
offer. Ultimately conference was arranged and /
opened in this ~ the twenty-ninfh Of Oco-
Der last at which uthorized the Secretary of State
TO preside It was attended by ministers Of Spain,
Peru, Chill and Ecuador. In consequence Of the 1
absence of representative Of Bolivia, the confer
ence adjourned until the attendance Of pleni-
potentiary from that republic could be secured, or
other measures could be adopted towards compass
ing its object.
The allied and other republics of Spanish origin |
ON this continent may in this fact proof Of
siucere interest IN their welfare-of desire
TO see them blessed with good governments capable
maintaining order and preserving their respective
territorial integrity, and Of our sincere wish TO ex
tend our own commercial and social relations with
tncl- Iuc pfOueDlN uOt u1tL1nI hnoa u
the natural course Of events the European political
connection with this continent viii cease. Our pol
icy should be shaped in view OF this probability so
as to ally the commercial interests Of the Spanish
American states more closely to our own and thus
give the United States al the pre-eminence and all
the advantage which Mr.. Monroe, Mr.. Adams and
Mr. Clay contemplated when they proposed to join
to the Congress Of Panama
THE sAN DoMEeo QUESTION.
During the last session of the present Congress
treaty for the annexation of the Republic of San
Domingo to the United States failed 70 receive the
requisite twothirds vote of the Senate. Twas thor
oughy convinced then that the best interests Of the
country, commercially and materially, demanded its
ratification. Time has only confirmed this view. I
now firmly believe that the moment ii is known that
the United States has entirely abandoned the project
of acceptance part Of its territory the island Of
San Domingo, free port VIII be negotiated for by
European nations.
In the Bay of SANTANA q large commercial
city VIII spring up, to which VIII be tributary
without receiving corresponding benefits. The gov
ernment Of San Domingo has voluntarily sought
this znnexRtion- II Il o weak power, numbering
urobahlv less than 12fl 000 sOuls and