The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-06

| To rge SENATE AND HOUSE or REPRESENTA-
TrvEs;--
year OF peace and general prosperity to this
nation has passed since the last assembling OF Con-
| gress. We have. through kind Providence, been
blessed with abundant crops ana have been spared
from complications and war with foreign nations.
In our midst comparative harmony has been re-
stored II IS to be regretted, however, That free
exercise OF
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE
has by violence and intimidation been denied to
citizens in exceptional In several OF the States
lately In rebellion and the verdict OF the people has
thereby been reversed. The states OF Virginia. Mis-
sisspp and Texas been restored TO representa-
ZION In our national councils
GEORGIA TO COME IN NEW YEARS.
Georgia the only State now without representa-
ton. may confidently be expected to take her place
there also at the beginning OF the year
ana then, let us hope Will he completed the work Of
reconstruction. With an acquescence on the part
OF the whole people In the national obligation to pay
the public debt-created as the price OF Union
the pensions to disabled soldiers and sailors
ana their widows and orphans, and In the changes
to the constitution which have been made neces
sary by great rebellion there Is no reason
why we should not advance In material
prosperity and happiness al no other ma
ton did after protracted and devastating war.
OUR MINISTER IN PARIS
Soon after the existing war broke out In Europe
the projection OF the United States Minister Paris
| was invoked In favor OF North Germans domiciled
| in French territory. Instructions were issued to
grant the protection. This has been followed by an
extension OF American projection to citizens OF Sax
ony, Hesse and Saxe-Coburg- Gotha, Columbia, Por-
| tuga, Uruguay, the Dominican republic, Ecuador,
| CHILE, Paraguay and Venezuela in Paris The
| riyaa
severe labor, as well as the exercise Of patience,
prudence and good Judgment 1t has been per-
formed to the entire satisfaction OF the government
ana. as l am Ollclay informed equally 30 to tine
satisfaction OF the government of North Germany.
RECOGNITION OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
As soon "a l learned that 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 to recognize and tender my
| congratulations and those OF the people Of the
United States. The re-estabshment In France
| OF system Of government disconnected with
| the dynastc traditions Of Europe appeared to
| be o proper subject for the Fluctuations Of
| Americans. should the present struggle result
in att acting the hearts Of the French to our simpler
forms OF representative government 1t will be sub
Ject OF still further satisfaction TO our people.
While make no effort to impose our institutions
upon the Inhabitants OF other countries and while
we adhere to our traditional neutrality In
civil contests we cannot be indifferent
to the spread Of American political ideas in grea,
and highly civilized country like France. We were
asked by the new government to use our good OF
fees Jointly with those OF European Powers in the
interests OF peace. Answer was made that the es
tabshed policy and the true interests OF the United
States forbade them to interfere In European ques
tons jointly with the European Powers. l ascer
tanned Informally and unofiicially that the gov
eminent of North Germany was not then
disposed to listen to such representations
from any Powers and though earnestly wish
ing to the blessings OF peace restored to
the belligerents-with all of whom the United States
are on terms OF friendship. declined on the part
OF this government, to take step which would only
result in injury to our true interests without al
vancng the object for which our Intervention was
invoked. Sh ould the time come when the action OF
the United States can hasten The return OF peace by
single hour that action viii be heartily taken.
THE NEUTRALITY PROCLAMATION.
deemed 1t prudent, in view OF the number OF
persons OF German and French birth living in the
United States, to issue, soon after official notice OF
state OF war had been received from botn the bel
ligerents proclamation defining the duties OF the
United states as neutral ana the Obligations OF per-
sons residing within their territory to observe their
was followed by Others as CIRCUMSTANCES seemed to
call for them. The people, thus acquainted in ad.
vance OF their duties aud obligations, have assisted
in preventing violations OF the neutrality oil the
rae IssuRREoTIos IN CUBA
II is not understood that the condition OF the In
surrecton In cuba has materially changed since the
close OF the last session oil Congress- In an early
stage OF the contest the authorities of Spain inau-
gufated system Of arbitrary arrests, of close con.
fnement, and OF military trial and execution OF
persons SUSPECTED Of completely with the insur-
gents, aud OF summary embargo or their pro-
perties and sequestratlon OF their revenues by
executive warrant Such proceedings, 80 1ar as
they affected the persons or properly or citizens OF
the United States in violation OF the provisions
or the Treaty Of 1895 betwe the United States and
Spain. Representations OF injuries resulting 10
States by reason OF such violations were made
TO the spanish government. From April 1869. 70
been clothed with limited power to aid In redress
I ing suca wrongs. THAT power was found to be
bic situation In which the island OF Cuba vas,
which, however did not lead to revocation or sus.
pension OF the extraordinary and arbitrary func-
items exercised by the executive power In Cuba,
and were obliged 10 make our complaints at
Madrid. In the negotiations thus opened and still
, that for the future the rights secured to
their citizens by treaty should be respected
in Cuba and that as to the past Joint tribunal
should b. established In the United States. with full
Jurisdiction over all such claims. Before such an
impartial tribunal each Claimant would De REQUIRED
10 prove his case. On the other hand spain would
be at liberty to traverse every material fact aad thus
complete equity would be done. A case which at one
time threatened seriously 10 afect the relations be
tween the United states and Spain has already beer
disposed CT In this way. the claim Oh the Coione
Lloyd Aspnwa for the Illegal seizure and deten
ton OF that vessel referred to arbitration Oh
, mutual consent, and has resulted IN an award
the United states for the owners 0f the same o
$lv i02 30 IN gold.
Another and long penang claim OF ike nature, ina
or the whalesalp Canada, mas been disclosed OF .,
friendly arbitration during the present year ~ wa
referred, by the JOINT consent OF BraNl ana uie
United states. to the decision OF sir Edward Thorn
ton her Britannia Maesty's Minister al Washington
who kindly undertook the laborious task OF cxanin
! inv tho volumiDous mass OF c0rrespondenre ADD