Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-12-15
THE PRESIDENIrS MESSAGE.
Annual Review of the Affairs of the
Nation.
Our Foreign Relations.
Recommendations and Suggestions

Recommendations and Suggestions
TO the Senate and House Of Representatives:
year of peace and general prosperity TO this
nation has passed since the last assembling of
Congress. have, through kind Provi-
dence been blessed with abundant crops and have
nations In our midst comparative harmony has
been restored IL is TO be regretted however, that
free exercise of the elective franchise has, by violence
and intimidation, been denied to citizens, in excep
tona 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 representation in national
CHS Georgia. the only state now without representa-
ron, may conndentiy oe expected TO take her place
there also. Al the beginning OF the new year, and
then, let hope. will be completed the work of
reconstruction, with acquiescence part of
tbe puhlic debt created as the price of our Union,
the pensions 10 our disabled soldiers and sailors and
their widows and orphans, and in the changes
Constitution which have been made necessary by the
great rebellion. There is no reason why we should
not advance in national prosperity and happiness as
other nation did after protracted and devastat-
ing war.
THE FRANco-PRUssIAN WAR.
Soon after the existing broke out in Europe.
was invoked in favor of the North Germans domi-
ciled in French territory. Instructions were issued
to grant the protection. This has been followed by
an extension of American protection TO citizens of
Portugal, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Chill, Paraguay and Venezuela, in Paris
The charge was an onorous one, requiring constant
and severe labor well 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 10 the
As soon as I learned that a Republic had deem pro
claimed at Paris, and that the people Of France had
scquesced in the change the minister Of the United
States directed by telegraph recognize IL 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
dynastic traditions of Europe, appeared to be proper
subject for the felicitati0n Of Americans. Should
the present struggle result in attaching the hearts of
the French to our simpler forms of representative
government, il viii be subject of still farther satis-
faction 10 our people. While we make no effort 10
impose institutions upon the inhabitants other
countries, and while we adhere to our traditional
neutrality in civil interests elsewhere cannot he
indifferent To the spread of American polticaideas
a 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 the
interest Of peace Answer was made that the estab,
lshed policy and true interests Of the United States
forbade them TO interfere in the European questions
jointly VITA European powers. ascertained. infor-
mally and unofciallv that the government Of North
Germany was not then disposed TO listen to such
representations from any powers. and though
earnestly desiring TO see the blessings of peace
restored to the beligerents, with all of whom the
United States on terms of friendship I declined
could only result in injury to true with
out advancing the object for which our Intervention
invoked. Should the time come wher the action
of the United States hasten the return of peace
by single hour that action viii heart ilv taken
deemed IL prudent in view Of the number of persons
Of German and French birth living in TIE United
States, to issue, after the official notice of
had been received from both belligerents a
proclamation defining the duties Of the United
States as neutral, and the obligations Of persons
residing within their territory 10 observe their laws
and the laws of nations The PROCLAMATION was fol-
lowed by Others, as circumstances seemed 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.
II Is not understood that the condition Of the in
surrection in Cuba has materially changed since the
close Of the last session of Congress- In the early
ted system Of arbitrary arrests, of close confne-
ment Of military trial. and execution of al per-
sons suspected of completely with Insurgents and
requsition Of their revenues by executive warrant
Such proceedings as far as they affected the per-
sons or property Of the citizens of the United States
1876, between the United States and Spain. Repre-
sentatons Of injuries resulting 10 several persons
claiming to be citizens Of the Uuted States by
government. From April. 1869. to june last. the
Spanish Minister at Washington had been clothed
with limited power to aid in redressinR such
wrongs That power was found to be withdrawn,
In vew ~ 1t was said, Of the waverable 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 Obliged
TO make our complaint at Madrid. In the negotia-
tons thus opened, and still pending there the
United States only claimed that for the future the
respected in Cuba; that as TO the past joint tri-
bnnal should be established in the United States
with fun jurisdiction over all such claims. On the
every material fact and thus complete equity would
be done. case which at one time threatened seri-
ousiy to affect the relations between the United
States and Spain has already been disposed in this
way. The claim Of the Col Loyd-Aspnwall for the
Illegal seizure and detention of that vessel was re-
ferred to arbitration by mutual consent and has re-
suited in an award to the United States for the
ers Of the sum of nineteen thousand seven hundred
and two dollars and fifty cents in gold Anothc.
and long pending claim of like nature of the While
ship Canada, has been disposed of by friendly
tration during the present year. was referred b.
the joint consent Of Brazil and the United States TO
the decision OF Sir Edward Thornton, Her Britanic
Majesty's minister at Washington, who kindly un-
dertook the laborious 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 In
just and feasible, and that IL may be agreed TO by
either nation without dishonor. 1t Is TO be hoped
that this moderate demand may be acceded to by
Spain without further delay.
Should the pending negotiations unfortunately
and Unexpectedly be without result, ii would then
become my duty to communicate that fact to Con-
gress and await its action on the subject.
THE sPAusH-AMERIcxs 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 17th Of December, 1866. The ex-
ecutive department of government offered its friend
" offices for the promotion OF peace and harmony
between Spain and the allied Republics. Hesita-
tons and obstacles occurred to the acceptance of the
cffer. Ultimately conference was arranged and
opened in this citv the twenty-nnth of Octo-
Der last, at which thorized the Secretary of State
to preside. 1t attended by ministers Of Spain,
Peru, Chilli and Ecuador. In consequence of the
absence Of representative Of Bolivia, the confer
ence sdiourned until the attendance of pleni-
potentiary from that republic could be secured,
other measures could be adopted towards compass
ing its object
The allied and other republics of Spanish oriQin
on this continent may i'm this fact proof of
our sucere interest in their welfare-of desire
10 see them blessed with good governments capable
territorial integrity, and Of sincere wish TO
tend our own commercial and social relations with
them. The time Is probably not far distant when In
the natural course Of events the European political
with this continent viii cease. Our pol
Icy should be shaped in view of this probability
as to ally the commercial interests Of the Spanish
American states more Sosely to our own and thus
give the United States all the pre-eminence and all
the advantage which Mr.. Monroe, Mr.. Adams and
Mr.. Clay contemplated when they proposed 10 join
to the Congress of Panama.
THE san DOMINGO QUESTION.
During the last session of the present Congress
treaty for the annexation of the Republic Of San
Domingo to the United States failed to receive the
requisite two-thirds vote of the Senate was thor
oughly 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 1t IL known that
the United States has entirely abandoned the project
of acceptance part of its territory the island Of
San Domingo, free port win be negotiated for by
European nations.
In the Bay Of samana . large commercial
city win spring mp, to which We via be tributary
without receiving corresponding benefits. The gov
ernment of San Domingo has voluntarily sought
thi. annexation It is weak power. numbering
probably lese than no. 900 sous and yet possessing
one of the richest localities under tho euo cauable