The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRE-
sENTATIvEs
A year of peace and general prosperity
to this country has passed since the last
assembling OF Congress, We have,
through Kind Providence, been blessed
with abundant crops aud spared from
complications and war with foreign ma
tions in our mdst mparative harmo
nv has been restored 1t s 10 be regret
ted how ever, that free exercise Of the
elective franchise has been by violence
and intim dafion denied to citizens
in exceptional case, 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 representa-
ton in our national councils; Georgia,
the only state now without representa-
ton, may confidently be expected to take
her place there also at the beginning of
the new year, then let us hope will be
completed the work of reconstruction.
With an acquiescence on the part Ut the
whole people in the national obligation
to pay tie public debt, created as the
price of our Union, the pensions of our
disabled soldiers and sailors, and their
widows and orphans, and the changes IN
the Cons tuition which have been made
necessary by the great rebellion, there is
no reason why we should nuf advance in
material prosperity and happiness as no
other nation did, after soprotracted and
devastating war
THE FRANCo-PRUssIAN WAR
Soon alter the existing war broke out
in Europe, the protection of the United
States Minister in Paris was invoked IN
favor of tue North Germans domiclled i'll
French territory. Instructions were is
sued to grant protection. This has been
followed by an extension of American
protection to the citizens of Saxony,
Hesse and Sax Coburg, Gotha, Columbia,
Portugal, Uruguay, the Dominican re-
public, Ecuador, Chilli, Paraguay and
Venzuela in Paris The charge was an
enormous one, requiring constant and Sc
we're labor as we'll as the exercise of pa
thence, prudence and good judgment. 1t
has been performed to the entire satisfac
ton Of this government and as l am Off
ciaIly informed, equally to the salts ac
tion OF the government of North Ger
many.
AS soon as / learned that a Republic
had been proclaimed at Paris. and that the
people of France had acquiesced in the
change, the Minister Of he United States
was directed 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-
nastic traditions of Europe, appeared to
be proper subject for the felicitation of
Americans Should the present struggle
result in attaching the hearts Of the
French to our simpler forms of repl essen
tative government, iG will be 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 tradi.
tional neutrality IN civil interests else
where, we cannot be Indifferent to the
spread of American polite ideas in a
great and highly civilized country like
France. We were asked by the new gov
eminent to use our good offices jointly
with those of European powers in the in
terest of peace, Answer was made that
the established policy and true interests
of the United States forbade them to in
terfere in European questions, Jointly
with European powers | ascertained in
formally and unofhcially that the Gov
eminent of North Germany was not then
disposed to listen to any such representa-
tions from any powers, and, though earn
estly wishing to see the blessing of peace
restored to the belligerents, with all of
whom the United States are on terms OIL
friendship, declined on the part of this
government to take step which could
only result in injury to our true interests
without advancing the object for which
our Intervention was invoked. Should
the time come when the action of the
United States can hasten the return of
peace single hour, that action will be
heartily taken deemed it prudent, in
view ofthe number of persons Of German
and French birth, living in the United
States to issue eoon after official notice of
a state Of war had been received from both |
belligerents, proclamation defining the |
duties of United States as a neutral and
the obligations of persons residing with |
in their territory to observe their lawsI
and the laws of nations The proclama-
ton was followed by others, as circum- |
stances seemed to call fer them. The |
people, thus acquainted in advance, of