The Lincoln County herald., 1870-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
THINGS GENERALLY.

I' N..-.i . l.l. IL
THINGS GENERALLY.
A year Of peace aud oeneral prosperity
to this nation has passed since the last
assembling Of Congress. We have,
through q kind Providence, been blessed
with abundant crops and have been
spared from complications and war with
foreign nations. In our midst compare
tive harmony has been restored. 1t is to
be regretted, howovor, that free exer.
else Of the elective franchise has by vio'
lenco and intimidation been denied to
citizens in exceptional cases in several OF
the States lately in rebellion, and that the
verdict Of the people has thereby been
reversed. t.. t
RECONSTRUCTION IN PARTICULAR.
The States Of Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas have been restored to representa-.
tiou in our national councils. Georgia,
the only State now without representa-
tion, may confidently be expected to take
her place there also, at the beginning Of
the new year, and then let US hope. will
he completed tho work of reconstruction.
With an acquiesceuce on the part Of the
whole people in the national obligation
to pay the public debt created as the
price Of our union, the pensions to our
disabled soldiers and sailors, aud their
wi lows and orphans, and in the changes
in the constitution, which have been
made necessary by the great rebellion,
there is no reason why We should not
advance in material prosperity and hap
piness as no other nation ever did, after
30 protracted aud devastating a war.
AMERICAN PROTECTION.
Soon after the existing war broke out
in Europe, the protection of the United
States minister in Paris was invoked in
favor of the North Germans domiciled in
French territory. Instructions were
issued to grant such protection. This
has been followed by an extension of
American protection to citizens OF Sax
ony, Hesse, and SAKE, Coburg, Gotha,
Columbia, Portugal, Uruguay, the Do.
mini,an republic, Ecuador, Chilli, Para
quay and Venezuela, In Paris. The
charge was an onerous one, requiring con-
slant and severe labor, as we'll as the
exercise of patience, prudence and good
Judgment 1t has been performed to the
entire satisfaction Of this government
and, as am officially Informed, equally
SO to the satisfaction Of the government
of North Germany.
RECOGNITION OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
As soon as | learned that q republic
had been proclaimed at Paris, and that
the people of France had acquiesccd il
the change, the minister of the Uuitec
States was directed by telegraph t.
recognize it and tender my congratula
tions and those Of the people OF tn
United States. The establishment i
France Of n system of government discon
nected with the dynastic traditions
Europe appeared to be proper subjee
for the icicitation of Americans. Shout
the present struggle result in attaching
the hearts Of the French to our simple
forms Of representative government
will be a subject Of still further satista'
ton to our people. While we make n
effort to impose our institutions upon tn
inhabitants of other countries, ami viii
we adhere to our traditional neutrality
civil interests elsewhere, we cannot
Indifferent to the spread Of America
political ideas in great and highly civi
ICED country like France.
No ENTANGLING ALLIANCES.
We were asked by tho nc ' COVE nmc
TO use our good Offices jointly with tho
Of European powers in the interests
pe,ce. The answer was made that Il
estab ished policy and the true intere:
of the United States forbade them
interfere in European questions joint
with European powers. ascertain
inrormllly and unofiicialy, that the 20
ernment Of North Gcrmany was not til
disposed to listen to such representatio
from any powers, and, though earncs
wishing to see the blessings Of peace
stored to the bcll;gerents, with all
whom the United States are on terms
friendship, I declined on the part Of {
government to take such step VIII
could only result IN injury to our int
est. without advancing the object
which our Intervention was invOk
Should the time come when the action
the United States can hasten the ret'
of peace by a single hour, such action Y
be heartily taken.
NEUTRLITY.
I deem il prudent, by reason of
number of persons of German and Ere
nationality living in the United States
issue, soon after the official notice {
state Of war had been received from
belligerents, a proclamation defining
duties of the United States as q neu'
and the obligations of persons resiG
within their territory to observe Il
laws and the laws of nations. The p
aamation was followed by others as
cumstances seemed to call for.
people. thus acquainted in advance
their duties and obligations, have ASST
in nraxentin1 xiahtinna OF thA nautri