Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
10 hc Senate and
House Of Representatives.:
RECONSTRUCTION,

RECONSTRUCTION.
A year of peace and general prosperity
TO this nation has passed since the last
assembling OF Congress. We have,
through a 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 ~.
grcttcd, however, that the free exercise
OF the elective franchise has by violence
and intimidation been denied 10 citizens
in exceptional eases in some ot the States
lately i'm rebellion. and the verdict of the
people has thereby been reversed. The
States OF Virginia, Mississippi, aud Texas
have been restored 10 restoration in our
national council Georgia the only State
now without representation may conll-
IDENTIFY be expected To take her place there
also at the beginning OF the new year,
aud then let us hope will be completed
the work of reconstruction. With an ac-
quieSconce on the part OF the whole pco-
pie in the national obligation 10 pay the
public debt created a. the price ut our
union, the pensions TO our disabled sol
dieri and sailors, and the widows and
orphans. and the changes TO the cOnstliu'
ton which have been made necessary 10y
great rebellion, there Is no reason why
We should not advance in material pros.
perity and happiness rs no other nation
did after SO pTotraCted and devastating
war.
THE FRANCO IKtSSIAN WAR.
Soon after the existing war broke out ~
Europe, the protection OF tho United
States Minister i'm Prussia WAS invoked in
favor of the North German domicils IN
French territory Instructions were IS.
sued to grant the protection. This has
been followed Lv the extension Of Amcrl-
can protection To the citizens OF SaNony,
IIcsSe, SAKE Coburg, Gotla, Columbia.
Portugal. Uruguay, the Dominican Re
public, Ecuador, Chilli. Paraguay and
Venezuela.
In Paris. the charge Wa, an onQouS
one, requiring constant and severe labor,
n well as the exercise of patience, per
severance and good JUDI 1t has
been performed to the entire satisfaction
Of this government, and as | am officially
informed, equally 50 Ia the satisfaction OF
he government OF North Germany.
As soon rs | learned that a Republic
had been proclaimed at Paris. anal that
the people of Franco had acluc>ccd in
The change. the Minister OF The United
states was directed by telegraph to rccog.
uize and tender my congratulations and
those Of the people OF the United States,
The .c-cstablishHcnt in France OF a
,vstem ol government. disconnected with
The dyna,tic traditions OF Europe appear
,d TO be a plausible project for the felici-
tatlonS Of Americans. Should the pres
cut result in = change 10 the French, 10
our simpler forms ot Representative gov
crnment, it will be n subject at still fur
thcr satisfaction 10 our people. While
we make no efforts To impose our instItu'
tions upon the inhabitants ot other coun-
tries. and while we adhere 10 our tradl
tioual neutrality in civil contests else
where, we cannot be indifferent 10 the
spread OF American political ideas in u
great and civilized country like France.
We |crc asked by the new government
10 use our good Offices jointly with those
of European power, in the interests OF
Peace. The answer was made that the
established policy and the free interests
OF the United States forbade them 10 in
tcrlcre in European questions. jointly
with European power". a>cett1ined
informally and unoiliciaIly tha; the gov
crnmcut OF North Germany was not then
li>po cd 10 listen 10 any such representa-
tionS. from the powers. and wishing To
sec The hcs ing OF peace restored 10 the
belligclcntS. with all OF whom the United
states arc on terms OF friendship, de
Cliucd, on the part OF this government. TO
take q step which would only result in IN
Jury To our true interests, Withoa. adj
yancing the object tor which our in,crven-
ton was invoked. Should the time come
when the action OF the United States can
hasten the return oi peace, by single
hour. that action will be heartily taken.
deemed it prudent, in view OF the
numbers OF persons OF German and
French birth living in the United States
to issue soon after official notice ol a
state of war had been received from both
uci.i-ercnls, a proclamation defining the
duties of the United States as neutral
aud the obligations of persons residing
within their territory to observe their
laws and the laws OF the nations. This
was followed by others as
circumstances seemed to call for them.
The people thus acquainted in advance OF
their duties and obligations have assisted
in preventing violations of the neutrality
OF The United States.