Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-12-08
pREsIDENT pIERoE's MESSAGE.
slLo,c-citizems of the Senate
wv u..d az tLe Hn,.ae of Representatipes:

referred to as marked epoch IN the history OF the
of war our domestic prosperity has not been entirely
tupd The in portions 81 Sne 1TSaer
ban usual and the sacrifice of human life through
by and land a.foea invites the absent
to their homes and the return of business 70 us
bandman less bountfuly than in preceding seasons mTs
left him with abundance for domestic wants. ana lag SUI
5 a oronnds for reYeren thankfuness to the God of
Grace and Providence, for His protecting care ana eeh
our attention has arrested by painful in
trest in passing events yet our country tee no more nan
The slight vibrations the commissions, which have shaken
Europe AS individuals cannot repress sympathy with
human suffering regret for the causes which produce IT.
AS nation we reminded that whatever interrupts ne
peace checks the prosperity, of any part Of
tends more less to involve own Inc condtion OF
states is not unlike that of individuals Ihey are mutually
dependent upon each other Amcable relations between
them and reciprocal good will are essential Tor he promo
tical condition Hence it has been my earnest enaeaVor
maintain and friendly win al an
steadily pursued of avoiding all entangng alliances mas
hitherto exempted it from many cOmps"%9ns IN ~n,Gh
this our clearly defined and well sustained course OF action
creasing disposition has manifested by Of its gov
ernments supervise and in certain Respects 10 our
foreign policy In plans tor dnf to ae rs into m
count would constran us to conform our conduct TO
time to time undertaken to enforce arbitrary regulations
contrary many respects to established principles OF
national law That law, the United States have, in their
foreign uniformly respected and observed and
thew recognize any such interpretations therein the
interests of others may suggest They do not
admit that the soveregn of one continent particular
community of states can legislate for all others.
Leaving the transatlantic nations to ADJUST thelr Poeai
system n the way they may think best for their common
welfare the independent of this continent may wen
assert the right to be exempt all annoying interference
on their part Systematic abstinence from intimate political
with distant foreign nations does not with
giving the widest range foreign commerce ms DIS
tncton clearly marked history, to have been
overlooked Sregarded by leading foreign states
Our refusal to be brought within ana supJeeeo To- tner
peculiar system fear created jealous distrust OF our
conduct induced their part occasional acts OF DIS
turbng effect upon our foreign relations our present
ude and past give assurances which should not De
questioned that purposes are not aggressive nor
ening to the safety and welfare OF other naton our
tary establishment, in time OF peace IS adapeu 10
exterior defences and orqGr among 'n9 @
intended the protection oil our citizens abroad
globe The Of the United States being essen
TALLY pacific in policy stands prepared to repe O
nemSnent means Of foreign aggression These considera
lions should aay all apprehenson that we are ospoSea
encroach the rights or endanger the security OF o'he
states. . -.
Some European powers have regarded, with dsquetine
concern the territorial expansion Oh 1nG ;tte e~ercs
of sovereign rights, belonging alike to all nations, ana
could hardly have been expected that tnose among e
which have within comparatively recent PERIOD SuoGueC
yerv continent and now possess claim the control Of the
islands of every their appropriate DOMAIN Wouit
look with unendy sentiments the acquisitions OF
country every onoraby obtained or would fee
themselves justified in imputng our Advancement " spun
our foreign commerce has reached magnitude and ex
nearly equal to that of the first maritime power
terest in which not only cur merchants but all classes
citizens at least indirectly concerned 1t is the duty
exercise careful supervisor adopt proper measures for it,
protection The policy which have had in view IN regarc
to this embraces its future as well as Its present
Long experience has that general when the pn
pap D"S are 0 endangered " This consideration led
gess the of Independence to the formation OF tn
60 rn6p rtroItV
which was the doctrine that free ships make ire
goods except the of articles cOntraband of war; doc
trne the very OF our national belnS
has been idea the statesmen OF this country
period another maritime power has by some sol
emn treaty stipulation recognised that principles and 1t mgh
have been hoped that would to be universally receive
respected rule of international law But the retusa
of power prevented this and in the next great war wh
ensued that Of the French revolution tailed 10 De ePeGe
among the belgerent states of Europe HotWltnstana
sautary much that at the commencement OF I'd
existing in Europe Great Britain and france
recognized international right but mere concession Tor ID
time being The o ecnra p ps5
afford OCCASION inviting and ustltyng on tn
part of the United States renewed effort TO make the u
rne in question principle of international law by means
special between the several powers of Europe an
America Accordingly proposition, embracing not only II
rule that free ships make goods except contraband art
Giles but also less contested that neutral proper
other contraband though board enemy ships sha
be exempt from concation been submitted by this go
eminent to those of Europe and America
Russia acted promptly in this matter ana conSsn sen
providing for the observance OF the principles ANNOUNCE
not only between themselves but also as between te
None of the other have yet taken final action
the subject am not aware, however, that any objection
the proposed stipulaons has been made but, the
trary they acknowledged to be essential to the secu
land the only apparent obstacle to the
general adoption in the possibility that 1t may be encu
bered by inadmissible conditions.
The King of the Two Sicie has expressed to mnist
at Naples his readiness in proposition reatl
neutral rights and to enter into convention on that su
ject.
The King of Prussia entirely approves of the project Of
treaty to the effect, submitted to him, but proposes
additional article providing for the remuneration of private
ing Such article for most obvious reasons IS much
sired by nations having naval establishments, large IN
portion their foreign commerce. 1t were adopted as
international rule the commerce of nation having comps
atvely small naval force would be very lch at the
cy enemy in of with power of decided
superiority The bare statement of the condition in whi
United States would be placed, after having surrend
ed the right to prvateers in the event of
beligerent naval supremacy will show that this COVER
ment could listen such proposition. The navy
the first maritime power Europe is least times
large that of the United States. The foreign
of the two countries nearly equal and about equally
posed to hostile deprcdations In that pow
and the United States, without resort part to
mercantile marine the means OF our enemy to infct nju
upon our commerce would be tenfod greater than
talate We could not extricae country from this
quail condition, with such enemy, unless dep
ted from present peaceful policy, and became great
val power Nor would this country be better situated
with one Of the secondary naval powers. Though
naval disparity would be less the greater extent and
exposed condition of our widespread commerce. would
any of them like advantage
The proposition to enter into engagements to forego
prvateers, this country should be forced
with great naval power, is not entitled to aV
able consideration than would be proposition, agree
accept the services of volunteers operations
When the honor the rights of country require it
assume hostile attitude confidently relies upon the
otsm of its citizens not ordinarily devoted to the mlt
profession augment the army and the navy so M
thsmfuly adequate to the emergency which calls them
action The proposal to surrender the right to employ
professedly founded upon the principle that
waite property of unofendng nOn-combatants, though
miles, shOad be exempt from the ravages of war but
nOsen hut Ito in