The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1870-12-13

GENERALIZATION f---COMfLEllON VI
RECONSTRUCTION.
To The Senate aud House Of Representatives;
A year of peace and general pros
perity to this nation has passed since
the last assembling of Congress. We
have, through kind Providence, been
blessed with abundant crops, and been
spared from complication and war
with foreign nations. In our midst
comparative harmony has been re-
stored. 1t is to be regretted, however,
that free exercise of the elective
franchise has been denied to citizens in
exceptional cases, in several of the
States lately in rebellion, and the ver-
dict of the people has thereby been re-
versed. The States Of Virginia, Miss
issippi and Texas have been restored
to representation in our national coun-
ellis. Georgia, the only State now with
out representation, may be confidently
to take her place also at the beginning
of the new year, and then let us hope
will be completed the work Of recon-
struction.
With an acquiesence on the part of
the whole people in the national obi
CATION to pay the public debt, created
as the price of our Union, the pensions
to our disabled soldiers and sailors and
their widows and orphans, and in the
changes to the Constitution which have
been made necessary by great rebel
lion, there is no reason why we should
not advance in material prosperity
and happiness as no other nation ever
did after so protracted and devasta-
ting a war.
UNITED STATES PROTECTION EXTENDED
To FOREIGN RESIDENTS OF PARIS.
Soon after the existing war broke
out in Europe, the protection of the
United States Minister in Paris was in
voked in favor of the North Germans
domiciled in French territory. In
structions were issued to grant the pro-
lection. This has been followed by an
extension of American protection to
citizens of Saxony, Gotha, Hesse, SID
Saxe-C Coburg, Colombia, Port lasl,
Uruguay, the Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, Chill, Paraguay, and Ven
ezuela in Paris. The charge was an
onerous one, requiring constant 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
us l am officially informed, equally 50
to the satisfaction of the government
of North Germany.
RECOGNITION OF The FRENCH REPUB.
As soon as learned that republic
/ had been proclaimed at Paris, and that
/ the people OF France had acqiesced in
/ The change, the Minister OF the United
states was directed by telegraph to
recognize it, and tender my congratu
iations and those of the people Of the
United States. The re.establishmen,
in France of system oi government
disconnected with the dynastic tradi
tions of Europe, appeared to be {
proper subject for the felicitation o
Americans. Should the present strug
gle result in attaching the hearts c
the French to our simpler forms o
representative government, it will be ;
subject of still further satisfaction Il
our people. While we make no etfor
to impose our institution upon the in
habitants of other countries and Will
we adhere to our traditional neutralit,
in civil contests elsewhere, we canno
be Indifferent to the spread of Ameri
can political ideas in great and high
ly civilized country like France.
OUR REFUSAL TO INTERFERE IN TIL
STRUGGLE.
We were asked by the new govern
ment to use our good Offices joint
with those of the European powers i
the interest of peace. Answer wa
made that the established policy an
the true interests of the United State
forbade them to interfere in the EurC
pean questions Jointly with Europea
powers. l ascertained informally an
unofficially that the government {
North Germany was not then dispose
to listen to such representations froI
any powers, and though earnestly y wisl
. ing to see the blessings of peace restore
to the belligerents, with all of whOI
the United States are on terms {
friendship, / declined on the part {
this government to take step whic
could only result in injury to our trr
y interests without advancing the objet
9 for which our Intervention was invol
!; ed. Should the time come when Il
5 action of the United States can haste
the return of peace by single hou
that action will be heartily taken.
70 OUR NEUTRALITY OBLIGATIONS.
deemed it prudent, in view of Il
IS number of persons of German an
, French birth living in the Unite
a States, to issue, soon after official n
tice of state of war had been recei
II ed from both belligerents, a proclaim
ton defining the duties of the Unit
- States as a neutral, and the obligatio
of persons residing within the terrific