Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-12-16
PRESIDEN IT'S MESSAGE
WASHINGTON, d. G., Dco. s, 1870.

|
Z z" Me Senate and House Of Representatives
A year of peace and general prosperity
TINS nation has passed since the last asseu
bling OF Congress. We have, through kin
providence, been blessed with abundant crop
and have been spared from complications an
war With foreign nations. In our mids
comparative harmony hos been restored.
is to be regretted, however, that free exc
else OF the elective franchise has, BY violenc
and intimidation, been denied to citizens, i
exceptional cases, in several of the State
lately in rebellion, and the verdict of the pec
pie has thereby been reversed
The States of Virginia, Mississippi an
IL es have been restored to representation i
oul national councils. Georgia, tho onl
State now without represcntion, may conf
IDENTIFY be expected to take her place thcr,
also at the beginning of the new year; an,
then, let US hope, will be completed the worl
OF reconstruction. With On acquiescence OF
the part of tho whole people in the nationa
obligation to pay the public debt, created a.
the price of our union, the pensions to oul
disabled soldiers and sailors, and their wild
ows and orphans, and in tho changes to the
constitution, which have been made necessary
by a great rebellion, t..ere is no reason why
we should nos advance in material happiness
as no other nation ever 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 domiciled in French territory.
Instructions were issued to grant the proteo.
ton' TINS has been followed by an extension
OF American protection to citizens of Saxony.
IIesse, SAKE Coburg, Gotha, Columbia. Por'
tugal, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic.
Ecuador, Chill, Paraguay and Venezuela. in
Paris. The charge was an onerous one ra a.
curing constant and severe labor, ns we'll as
the exercise Of patience, prudence and good
Judgment: gssy It ABss beap eaaahy $50 to the
satisfaction of the government of North
Germany. AS soon as 1 learned that re.
public had been proclaimed at Paris, and that
the people of Franco had acquiesced in the
change, tho Minister of the United States
was directed, by telegraph, to recognize it,
and to tender my congratulations, and those
of the people of the United States The re.
establishment in France of system Of gov
ernmcnt disconnected with the dynastic ira
ditions of Europe appeared to be q proper
subject for the Fluctuations of Americans
Should the present struggle result in attach
ing LuC uCdJ u VI tuC EICuCu W UuT Stupio
form Of representative government, it will be
people. While we make no effort to impose
our institutions upon the inhabitants of other
countries, and while We adhere to our tra.
ditional neutrality inaeivil contests elsewhere,
we cannot be indifferent to the spread of
American political ideas in great and highly
civilized country like Franco. We were
81, al hx,t tl,or
offices, jointly with those of European pow
made that the established policy and the true
to interfere in European questions jointly
formally and unofficially, that the Government
Of North Germany was not then disposed to
listen to such representations from any pow
crs, and, though earnestly wishing to see the
blessings Of peace restored to belligerents
terms Of friendship, I declined, on tho part
of this government, to take step which could
only result in injury to our true interests,
without advantaging the object for which our
intervention was invoked. Should the time
come when the action Of the United States
can hasten tho return Of peace single hour,
l.
it prudent, in view of the number of persons
of German and French birth living in tho
United Suites, to isaue, soon after the official
|'hoticc of state of war had been received
FROM both bclligerents, o proclamation do.
fining the duties of the United States es a
neutral, and the obligations Of persons residing
within their territory to observe their laws
and tho law of nations This proclamation
was followed by others, as circumstances
seemed to call for them. The people, Thus
acquainted in advance Of their duties and o.
liga ,ops, have assisted in preventing viola
tions of the neutrality Of the United States.
It's not understood that tho condition Of
tho insuYseetion in Cuba hns materially
changed since the CLOSE of the last session o
Congress. In an early stage of the contest
tho authorities of Spain inaugurated system
Of arbitrary arrests, Of close confinement, ant
Of military trial and execution Of persons sus
peotcd Of eonplicity with the insurgents, ant
of summary embargo of their properties, ant
sequestratiOn Of tho revenues, by Executive
warrants. Such proceedings, 80 fer as the,
affected the persons or property Of citizens 0
the United States, were in violation Of tn
provisions Of the treaty OF 1906, between tn
United States and Spain. Representation
of injuries resulting to severa. poraons claim
ing to be citizens Of the United States, b
reason Of such violations, were made to th
Spnnish Govefnmsns. b
! From April, 1869, to June last, the Spar
ish. Minister at Washington had been oleshe
with q limited power to aid In redressiog sue
, srHnoo That newer was fonnd to be will