634 



PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 



adapted to them. I therefore recommend the pas- 

 sage of a law authorizing the electors of the District 

 of Columbia to choose a delegate, to be allowed the 

 same rights and privileges as a delegate representing 

 a Territory. The increasing enterprise and rapid 

 progress ot improvement in the District are highly 

 gratifying, and I trust .hat the efforts of the munici- 

 pal authorities to promote the prosperity of the 

 national metropolis will receive the efficient and gen- 

 erous cooperation of Congress. 



The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture re- 

 views the operations of his Department during the 

 past year, and asks the aid of Congress in its efforts 

 to encourage those States which, scourged by war, 

 are now earnestly engaged in the reorganization of 

 domestic industry. 



It is a subject of congratulation that no foreign 

 combinations against our domestic peace and safety, 

 or our legitimate influence among the nations, have 

 been formed or attempted. While sentiments of 

 reconciliation, loyalty, and patriotism have increased 

 at home, a more just consideration of our national 

 character and rights has been manifested by foreign 

 nations. 



The entire success of the Atlantic Telegraph be- 

 tween the coast of Ireland and the Province of New- 

 foundland, is an achievement which has been justly 

 celebrated in both hemispheres as the opening of an 

 era in the progress of civilization. There is reason 

 to expect that equal success will attend, and even 

 greater results follow, the enterprise for connecting 

 the two continents through the Pacific Ocean by the 

 projected tine of telegraph between Kamschatka and 

 the Russian possessions in America. 



The resolution of Congress protesting against par- 

 dons by foreign governments of persons convicted 

 of infamous offences, on condition of emigration to 

 our country, has been communicated to the states 

 with which we maintain intercourse, and the prac- 

 tice, so justly the subject of complaint on our part, 

 lias not been renewed. 



The congratulations of Congress to the Emperor 

 of Russia, upon his escape from attempted assassina- 

 tion, have been presented to that humane and en- 

 lightened ruler, and received by him with expressions 

 of grateful appreciation. 



The Executive, warned of an attempt by Spanish- 

 American adventurers to induce the emigration of 

 freedmen of the United States to a foreign country, 

 protested against the project as one which, if con- 

 summated, would reduce them to a bondage even 

 more oppressive than that from which they have just 

 been relieved. Assurance hns been received from 

 the government of the state in which the plan was 

 matured, that the proceeding will meet neither its 

 encouragement nor approval. It is a question wor- 

 thy of your consideration, whether our laws upon, 

 this subject are adequate to the prevention or pun- 

 ishment of the crime thus meditated. 



In the month of April last, as Congress is aware, a 

 friendly arrangement was made between the Emperor 

 of France and the President of the United States for 

 the withdrawal from Mexico of the French military 

 expeditionary forces. This withdrawal was to be 

 effected in three detachments, the first of vvhich, it 

 was understood, would leave Mexico in November 

 now past, the second in March next, and the third 

 and last in November, 18C7. Immediately upon the 

 completion of the evacuation the French Government 

 was to assume the same attitude of non-intervention, 

 in regard to Mexico, as is held by the Government 

 of the United States. Repeated assurances have 

 been given by the Emperor, since that agreement, 

 that he would complete the promised evacuation 

 within the period mentioned, or sooner. 



It was reasonably expected that the proceedings 

 thus contemplated would produce a crisis of great 

 political interest in the Republic of Mexico. The 

 newly-appointed Minister of the United States, Mr. 

 Campbell, was therefore sent forward, on the 9th day 



of November last, to assume his proper functions as 

 Mihister Plenipotentiary of the United States to that 

 Republic. It was also thought expedient that he 

 should be attended in the vicinity of Mexico by the 

 Lieutenant-General of the army of the United States, 

 with the view of obtaining such information as might 

 be important to determine the course to be pursued 

 by the United States in reestablishing and maintain- 

 ing necessary and proper intercourse with the Re- 

 public of Mexico. Deeply interested in the cause of 

 liberty and humanity, it seemed an obvious duty on 

 our part to exercise whatever influence we possessed 

 for the restoration and 'permanent establishment in 

 that country of a domestic and republican, form of 

 government. 



Such was the condition of affairs in regard to Mex- 

 ico, when, on the 22d of November last, official in- 

 formation was received from Paris that the Emperor 

 of France had some time before decided not to with- 

 draw a detachment of his forces in the month of 

 November past, according to engagement, but that 

 this decision was made with the purpose of with- 

 drawing the whole of those forces in the ensuing 

 spring. Of this determination, however, the United 

 States had not received any notice or intimation ; 

 and, so soon as the information was received by the 

 Government, care was taken to make known its dis- 

 sent to the Emperor of France. 



I cannot forego the hope that France will recon- 

 sider the subject, and adopt some resolution in re- 

 gard to the evacuation of Mexico which will conform 

 as nearly as practicable with the existing engage- 

 ment, and thus meet the just expectations of the 

 United States. The papers relating to the subject 

 will be laid before you. It is believed that, with the 

 evacuation of Mexico by the expeditionary forces, no 

 subject for serious difference between France and 

 the United States would remain. The expressions 

 of the Emperor and people of France warrant a 

 hope that the traditionary friendship between the 

 two countries might in that case be renewed and per- 

 manently restored. 



A claim of a citizen of the United States for in- 

 demnity for spoliations committed on the high seas 

 by the French authorities, in the exercise of a belli- 

 gerent power against Mexico, has been met by the 

 Government of France with a proposition to defer 

 settlement until a mutual convention for the adjust- 

 ment of all claims of citizens and subjects of both 

 countries, arising out of the recent wars on this con- 

 tinent, shall be agreed upon by the two countries. 

 The suggestion is not deemed unreasonable, but it 

 belongs to Congress to direct the manner in which 

 claims for indemnity by foreigners, as well as by 

 citizens of the United States, arising out of the late 

 civil war, shall be -adjudicated and determined. I 

 have no doubt that the subject of all such claims will 

 engage your attention at a convenient and proper time. 

 It is a matter of regret that no considerable ad- 

 vance has been made toward an adjustment of the 

 differences between the United States and Great 

 Britain, arising out of the depredations upon our 

 national commerce and other trespasses committed 

 during our civil war by British subjects, in violation 

 of international law and treaty obligations. The 

 delay, however, may be believed to have resulted in 

 no small degree from the domestic situation of Great 

 Britain. An entire change of ministry occurred in 

 that country during the last session of Parliament. 

 The attention of the new ministry was called to the 

 subject at an early day, and there is some reason to 

 expect that it will now be considered in a becoming 

 and friendly spirit. The importance of an early dis- 

 position of the question cannot be exaggerated. 

 Whatever might be the wishes of the two Govern- 

 ments, it is manifest that good-will and friendship 

 between the two countries cannot be established 

 until a, reciprocity, in the practice of good faith and 

 neutrality, shall be restored between the respective 

 nations. 



