The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-23 00:00:00

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

Fellow• Citizens of the Senate and House of
Representatives,
Another year of health and sufficiently abundant
hi:vests has passed. For these, and (-specially for
the improved condition of our national affairs, our
rEliQwed and profoundest gratitude is dae.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

We remain in peace and friendship with foreign
Powers. The efforts of disloyal citizens of the
United States to involve us in foreign wars to aid an
inexcusable insurrection have been unavailing.
Her Britannic Majesty's Government, as was justly
expected, have exercised their authority to prevent
the departure of new hostile expeditions from Bri.
tish ports,

The Emperor of France has, by a like proceeding,
promptly indicated the neutrality which he pro-
claimed at the beginning of the contest. Questions
of great intricacy and importance have arisen out
of the blockade, and other belligerent operations,
between the Government and several of the mari-
time Powers, but they have been discussed, and, as
far as was possible, accommodated in a spirit of
frankness, justice, and mutual goodwill.
It is especially gratifying that our Prize Courts,
by the impartiality of their adjudications, have
Commanded the respect and confidence of maritime
Powers.

, The supplemental treaty between the United
States and Great Britain for the suppression of the
African slave trade, made on the 17th day of Feb-
ruary last, has been duly ratified and carried into
execution. It is believed that so far as American
ports and American citizens are concerned that in-
human
and odious traffic has been brought to an
end.
I shall submit for the consideration of the Senate
a convention for the adjustment of the possessory
claims in Washington Territory arising out of the
treaty of the 15th of June, 1846, between the
United States and Great Britain, and which have
been the source of 30Me disquiet among the citizens
of that now rapidly improving part of the country.
A novel and important question, involving the
extent of the maritime jurisdiction of Spain in the
waters which surround the Island of Cuba, has
been debated without reaching an agreement, and
it is proposed in an amicable spirit to refer it to the
arbitrament of a friendly Power. A convention for
that purpose will be submitted to the Senate.
I have thought it proper, subject to the approval
of the Senate, to concur with the interested com-
mercial Powers in an arrangement for the liquida-
tion of the Scheidt dues, upon the principles which
have been heretofore adopted in regard to the im-
posts upon navigation in the waters of Denmark.
The long-pending controversy between this
Government and that of Cnili, touching the seizure
at Setana, hi Peru, by Chilian officers, of a large
amount of treasure belonging to citizens of the
United States, has been brought to a close by the
award of his Majesty the King of the Belgians, to
whose arbitration the question was referred by the
parties.

The subject was thoroughly and patiently exa-
mined by that justly respected magistrate, and
although the 611a1 awarded to the claimants may
not have been as large as they expected, there is
no reason to distrust thn wisdom of his Majesty's
decision. That decision was promptly complied
with by Chili when intelligence in regard to it
reached that country.

The joint commission under the act of the last
ses,ion for carrying into effect the convention with
Peru on thR subject of claims has been organised at
Lima, and is engaged in the business.
Difficulties concerning inter•oceanic transit
through Nicaragua are in course of amicable ad-
justment.

In conformity with principles set forth in my last
Annual Message I have received a representative
from the United States of Columbia, and have
accredited a Minister to that Republic.