The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
EsllosS C.t,sens If the Senate and Hoxss d
Rspyesent0tsvS:

Fsllo1 C.tisens If the Senate and Howss %
Rspysssntanss:
In the midst VI unprecedented political
troubles we have cause Of great gratitude to
Col for unusual good health and most abuu.
dsnt harvcs's You will not b. surprised TO
lie IN thGt Ia the peculiar exigcnc:es OF the
times our intercourse with foreign nation has
been attended with profound solicitude, chic 6y
turning upon Cur own domestic affairs. a
dislo,s portion Of The American people
have. during the whole year b.. ~ss"sed 10
an stl...rs 20 divide and destroy the
Union. A pc Ion which endules fas.
,ious ard domestic divis ons, II ex.
posed to disrespect abroad, and on" party
or both Is surs, sooner OF later, to invoke
foreign intervention. Nations thus tempted
TO interfere ore not always al to resist
tho cCuLsels Of seeming expediency and
uneeberous ambition, although measures
Q opted under such l. 6asnoes seldom fail 70
be unfortunate aud il furious to those adopt
ing them. The disloyal citis,ns Of the Uui.
ted States who have offered the ruin OF our
Country In reward for tho aid and comfors
which they have invoked abroad, have
received less patronage and encouraaem' ut
than they probably expected. ifis we're just
TO suppose, 40 the surser u have seemed u
assume, that foreign nations 10 this
case, disregarding oil moral, social
aid treaty obligations, would act
solely aud selashly for tho most speedy
restoration Of commerce, including ~. ciaily
the acquisition Of cotton,-,hoee pations ap.
pear As yet not to have seeh their way to
their object more directly or clearly through
the dest -uc,ion than through the pre- ssrvation
Ut the Union. II We could dare 70 believe
that foreign nations are a"tuated by no
bly, her prir ciple than this, I am quite sure
second argument could be made to
show them that they could reach their
aim mole readily aud easily by aid.
iIg TO crush this rebellion than by giving
encour az. MEET to the principal lever relied
on by the exciting Of foreign nations 70 hos
tllity against US, a. already intimated, In the
OF c,mmercc. Those IA.
tiops, however, not imprcbably saw
from the first that 1t was the Cnion
which made a. well our foreign as or
dome stic oomn,e rec. They can scarosly fail
to perceive that the e6crt for disunion pro.
duces the existing difficulty, and that one
strong nation promises more durable peace
AID more extensive, ' luable and reliable
commerce than can tho same nation broken
into hostile frag nents.
1t is not my purpose 70 review our discus.
sions with foreign States, because whatever
might be their wishe. or dispositions, the In.
tsgrity Of our country and the sta aility Of our
Government mainly depends not upon them,
but upon the loyalty, patriotism, virtue and
intelligence CT the American people. The
correspondence itself with the usual reserva.
lions, Is here with submitted. venture TO
hope It will appear, that we have practice d
prudence akL literally towards foreign
powers, avs:,il causes Of irritation, and
with frmness maintaining our own rights
and honor. Since, however, 1. Is apparent
that here, as In every other State, foreign
dangers necessarily attend domestic difficult
ties, l recommend that adequate and ample
measures be adopted for maintaining the
public offences on every side. While under
shi~ noro1 vnNovn 4 oticy, vsoulslx,s>