New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

the nation has passed SINCE Ine iast dsScW-
bling Of Congress. We have, through a
kind Providence, been blessed with abun- !
dant crops, and have been spared from COM |
plications and war with foreign nations. In |
our midst comparative harmony has been |
restored 1t is to he regretted however, |
that a free exercise Of the elective franchise
has by violence and intimidation, been de-
MED to citizens, in exceptional cases, in sew
eral Of the States lately in rebellion, and the |
verdict of the people has thereby been re
versed. The States of Virginia, Mississippi
and Texas have been restored to representa-
ton in our national councils.
Georgia, the only State now without repre-
sentatiOn, may be confidently expected to
take her place there also at the beginning
Of the new year, and then, let us hope, will
lie completed the work of reconstruction
With an acuuiescence or the part OF the
whole people in the national oDigation TO
pay the public debt, created as the price OF
our Union. the pensions to our disabled SOL
diers and sailors and their WIDOWS ana Or
phans, and in the changes to tAe constltu-
lion, which have been maize necessary by
great rebellion, there is no reason why we
should not advance i'll material prosperity
and happiness u no other nation ever oid
after so protracted and devastating war.
Soon after the existing war broke ont III
Europe the protection of the United States
Minister at Paris was invoked II favor OF
North Germans oomicile0 in France.
Instructions were issued to grant the
protection. This has been followed
bv an extension of American protce-
ton to citizens of Saxony. Hesse and SAKE
Coburg. Gotha, Columbia Portugal,
Uruguay. the Dominican Republic, Ecua-
DOR Chill, Paraguay and Nenzuela In
Paris the charge was an Onerolls one, reGulr-
ing constant and severe labor, as well 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 to the
satisfaction of the government OF North
Germany.
As soon as l learned that a republic had
been proclaimed at Paris. and that the
people Of France had acquiesced in the
change. the minister of the United States was
directed by telegraph 10 recognize 1t and to
tender INV congratulations ana those OF tue
people of the United States. The re-
establishment in France OF .e system Oh
government disconnected with the dynastic
traditions OF Europe, appeared to be an ap-
propriate subject for the Fluctuations OF
Americans. Should the present stTnggle
result in attaching the hearts OF the French
to our simpler forms or representative gov
ernment, it would be a subject OF still 1ur-
| ther satisfaction to our people.
While we make no effort to impose our IN
stitut.ons upon the inhabitants OF other
countries, and while we adhere TO our tradi-
| tional neutrality in civil contests elsewhere.
| we can not be Indifferent 10 the spread OF
American political ideas in q great and
highly civilized country like France.
We were asked by the new government
to use our good Offices jointly with those OF
European powers, i'll the interests OF peace
| Answer was made that the established
| policy and the true interests OF the United
! T,ph pau n in
pean questions jointly with European pow
ers | ascertained, informally and unoffi-
| cially. that the government OF North Ger
many was not then disposed to nsten TO
such representations from any powers. and
| though earnestly wishing TO see the bless
ines of peace restored to the belhgerents.
| with all of whom the United States
are on terms of friendship. declined on
the part OF this government to take step
which could only result i'll injury to oar
| true interests. without advancing the Oh
icct for which our Intervention was invoked
! Should the time come when the acton OF
| the United States can hasten tue return OF
peace by single hour. that action Will be
heartily taken. j deemed it prudent. III
view Of the number OF persons OF German
and French birth living in the UNITED
! States TO issue. soon after official notice II a
state Of war had been received from both
belligerents, a proclamation defining the
duties OF the United States as neutral
power and the obligations OF persons resid-
ing within their territory to observe thelr
laws and the laws Of nations. This procla-
nation was followed by others, as CircuIn-
stances seemed to call for them. The peo-
pic thus acquainted in advance OF thei.
duties and obligations, have assisted il pre-
venting violations OF the neutrality OF the
\ United States.
1t is not understood that the condition o.
the insurrectiOn in Cuba has materially
changed since the close OF the last session
of Congress. In an early stage OF the con
test the authorities of Spain inaugurated /:
system OF arbitrary arrests, of close contine
lnent and of military trial and execution o1
persons suspected of completely with The
insurgents. and of summary embargo o.
their properties and sequestratiOn OF thell
revenues by executive warrant. such pro
ceedings, so far as they affected the per
sons or property Of citizens of the United
States. We're in violation of the provision
OF the treaty OF 1898 between the tnlJet
States and Spain. Representations OF III
iuries resulting 70 several persons claimln!
to he citizens of the United States. by reasOl
Of such violations. were madeto the Spanlsl
government.
Fssm April, 1869. to June last, the Span
! ish Minister at Washington had been clothe'
, with limited power TO aid in redressin
. Withdrawn III view. it was said, 'cf til
favorable condition III which the island @
Cuba then ..was:'' which, however, did no
lead to Il revocation or suspension OF the eA
traor,linary and arbitrary functions eXel
cised by the executive power III Cuba, an
we were obliged to make our complaints a
Madrid. in the negotiations thus opened
and still pending there, the United State
: | only claimed that for the future the right
secured to- their citizens by treaty shOul
be respected in Cuba, and that as 10 tn
. bast, o Joint tribunal should be estabiishe
in the United States, with full iurisdictio
} over all snch claims. Before such an impal
tial tribunal, each claimant wonld be re
, CURED to prove his case. On the othe
hand, Spain would be at liberty TO travers
every material fact, and thus colppiet
equity would be done.
:, 4 ease which at one time threatened ser
, ously to affect the relations between til
United States ard Spain, has already bee
disposed Of in this way: The claim OF til
!, owners Of the Colonel Lloyd Aspinwall, fo
: the illegal seizure and detention OF tha
vessel, was referred TO arbitration by mutuf
consent, and has resulted in an award to til
United States. for the owners of the SUI
of nineteen thousand seven hundred an
two dollars and fifty cents in gold.
Another and long pending claim OF llk
| nature, that OF the whale ship Canada, ha
been disposed of by friendly arbitramen
during the present year. 1t was referred
by the joint consent Of Brazil and th
. United States to the decision sf Sir Edwar
Thornton, her British Majesty's Minister a
: Washington, who kindly undertook th
. laborious task of examining the voluminou
= mass of correspondence and testimony sui
mitted by the two governments. an
= awarded to the United States the su,
E of one hundred thousand seven hundre
and forty dollars and nine cents in gol'