The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-12-08
st. Cloud Spntna1,
sT. CLOUD, DECEMBER 8, 1870
ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF
PRESIDENT GRANT,
OEL1vERED DECEMBER s, 1870,

To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
A year of peace and general prosperity
to this nation has passed since the last as
sembling Of Congress. We have, through
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 re.
GREETED, however, that free exercise Of
the elective franchise has by violence and
intimidation been denied to citizens in ex-
ceptional cases, in several Of the States
lately in rebellion, and the verdict Of the
people has thereby been reversed.
RECONSTRUCTION.
The States of Virginia, Mississippi and
in our national councils; Georgia, the
may confidently be expected to take her
place there also at the beginning of the
new year, and then. let us hope, will be
completed the work Of reconstruction.
With an acquiesence 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. their widows and Or
phsns, and in the changes to the constitu-
ton which have been made necessary by
the great rebellion, there is no reason why
we could not advance in material prosper
ity and happiness as no other nation did
after so prolracted and devastating war.
THE FOREIGN WAR.
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 Germani domicilled in
French territory. Instructions were is.
sued to grant the protection. This has
been followed by an extension of Ameri-
eau protection to citizens of Saxony, Hesse
and Sax Coburg, Gotha, Columbia
Portugal, Uruguay, the dominican Re-
public, Ecuador, Chilli, Paraguay and Ven
ezuels in Paris. The charge was an oner-
GUS one, requiring constant and severe Ia
Dor a. 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 to the satisfaction Of the
government of North Germany.
RECOGNIZING THE REPUBLIC.
As soon as I learned that Republic had
been proclaimed at Paris, aud that the peo-
pie Of France had acquiesced in the
change, tho minister of the United States
was directed by telegraph to recognize it,
and tender my congratulations aud those OF
the people of the United States. The
establishment in France of system OF
government disconnected by the dynastic
traditions Of Europe, appeared to be pro.
per subject for the fluctuations of the
Americans. Should the present struggle
result in attaching the hearts of the French
10 our simpler forms OF representative gov
eminent, it will be subject of still further
satisfaction to our people. While'wo make
no effort to impose our institutions upon
The inhabitants Of other countries, and
while we adhere to our traditional neu.
trality, in civil interests elsewhere, we
cannot be Indifferent to the spread o.
American political ideas, and in a grea,
and civilized country like France.
DECLINED TO INTERFERE
We were asked by the new government
to use our good offices jointly with those
Of European powers, in the interest OF
peace. The answer was made that the es
tablished policy and true interests of the
United States forbade them TO interfere ir
European questions jointly with Euro
pean powers. l ascertained informally
and unoficially that the Government o
North Germany was not then disposed tc
listen to such representations from any
powers, and though earnestly wishing to
see the blessing of peace restored to bel.
ligerents with all Of whom the United
States are on terms Of friendship, I de
clined, on the part Of this government, t.
AXE step which could only result in in
jury to our true interests and without ad
vancing the object for which our inter
vention was invoked. Should the TIM
come when the action of the United State
can hasten the return of peace by singl,
hour. that action will be heartily taken.
NEUTRALITY PROCLAMATION.
deemed it prudent, in view Of the mum
Der of persons of German and French brit
living in the United States, to issue 500,
after official notice of the state of war hal
been received from both belligerents, 6
proclamation defining the duties of tn
United States as neutral, and the obliga
tons of persons residing within their ter
ritory to observe their laws and the law
Of nations. The proclamation was followed
by others as circumstances seemed to cal
for them. The people, thus acquainted il
advance with their duties and obligations
have assisted in preventing violations q
the neutrality OF tho United States.
THE CUBAN RESURRECTION.
1t is not understood that the conditio
of the insurrectlon in Cuba has materially
changed since the close Of the last sessio
of Congress. In an early stage of the cor
test the authorities Of Spain inaugurated
system of arbitrary arrests, CT close COZ
tinement, of military trial and execution
of persons suspected of completely with til
insurgents, and of q summary embargo {
their property and sequestration of the
revenues by executive warrant Such prt
ceedings, so far as they have affected tn
persons and properly of citizens of tn
United States, were in violation of the pr,
visions of the treaty of 1895 between tt
United States and Spain. Representatio,