Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Feuot5 CtiSeRs Of the Senate and House
q Representatives;
In the midst Of unprecedented political
troubles We have cause of great gratitude
to God for unusual good health and most
abundant harvests. You will not be sur
prised to learn that in the peculiar exiecn-
cies of the times our intercourse with for
eign nations has been attended with pro.
found sOlicitude, chiefly turning upon cur
own domestic affairs.
TIE REBELLION AxDFoRK1Gv ~STERpIRrvcr
A disloyal portion of the American rco-
pie have, during the Whole year, been en-
gagged IN an attempt r. divide and destroy
the Union. A Patton which endures fac
tioss domestic divisions as exposed to dis
respect abroad, and one party, or both. is
sure, sooner or later, to invoke foreign in
Prevention. Nations thus tempted to inter
fere are not always able to resist the coun-
sells of seeming expediency and ~ungcnerous
ambition, although measures adopted un-
der such influences seldom fail to be unfor-
tunate and injurious to these adopting
them. :
The disloyal citizens Of the United
States who have offered the ruin of our
country in reward for the aid and comfort
which they have invoked abroad, have re-
clTed less patronage and encouragement
than they probably expected. If it were
Just to suppose, as the insurgents have
seemed to assume, that foreign nations IN
this case, ~disregarding all moral, soci:I and
treaty obligations, would act SOLE 2 and sell
fshlg fer the most speedy restoration Of
commerce, including specially, the acquisi-
ton of cotton, those nations appear as vet
not to have see1 their way to their object
more directly or clearly through the des-
tructlcn than through the preservation Of
the Union. If We could dare to believe
that foreign nations are actuated by No
higher principle than this, 1 am quite sure
a second argument could be made to show
that they could reach their aim more read
Iy and easily by aiding to crush this re-
beiion than by giving encouragement "a
the principle lever relied on by it al he
exciting of foreign nations to hostility a
gainst us, as already intimated, is the EN-.
barrasszent Of commerce. These nations.
however, not improbably saw from the FIST
that it was the Union which made as we'll
oar foreign as our domestic commerce.
They can scarcely fail to perceive that the
effort for disunio1 produces the existing
difficulty, and that one strong nation p.vm-
Uses more durable peace, and a more extern
sive, valuable and reliable commerce than
the came nation broken into hostile frag-
ments. 1t is not my purpose to review
u discussions with foreign States. because
whatever might be their wishes, or DISPOSE
tons, the integrity of our country and the
stability of our Government mainly depcnds
not upon them, but upon the loyalty, patti
ohsm, virtue and intelligence of the Amer
lcan people. The correspondence itself,
with the usual reservation, is herewith
submitted. l venture to hope that it will
appear that We have practiecd prudence
and fberality towards FOREIGN powers avert
ing causes Of irritation. and with frmness
maintaining our own rights and honor
Since, however, it is apparent that here, as
In every other State, foreign dangers nee
essarily attend domestic difficulties, | rec
ommend that adequate and ample measures
be adopted for maintaining the public de-
fences on every side; while under this GEN.
eral recommendation provision for defend
ing our coast line readily occurs to the
mind
Ger DEREScEs.
| also, in the same connection, ask the
attention of Congress to our great lakes
and rivers. 1t is believed that SOM for
ti6cations and depots of arms and mum
tons, with harbor and navi. q ion improve
mcnts, at we'll selected points upon these,
would be of great importance-to the nation
al defense and preservation. l ask atten-
ton to the views Of the Secretary Of War,
expressed In his report upon the same gen
eral subject. [ deem it of Importance that
the loyal regions of EastITcnnessce and
Western North Carolina should be connect
ed with Kentucky and other faithful parts
of the Union by railroad. 1 therefore rec
ommend as a military measure, that Con-
grcss provide for the construction Of such
a road as speedily as possible. Kentucky
will no doubt cooperate, and through her
Legislature make the most judicious selec
ton of the line. The northern terminus
must connect with some existing railroad.
and whether. the route shall be from Lex
ington or Nicholasville to Cumberland Gap,
or from Lebanon TO the Tennessee line, in
the direction of Knoxville, or some still
different line, can easily be determined
Kentucky and the General Government CO.
operating, the work can be completed in a
very short time, and when doue. It will. Re
not only Of vast present usefulness, but
also an available permanent Improvement,
worth its cost in all the future.
FOREIGN TREATIES.
Some treaties designed chiefly for tie in
terests of commerce, and having no grave
political importance, have been negotiated,
and viii be submitted to the Senate for
their consideration. Although We have
failed to induce soma Of the commercial
powers to adopt a desirable Moderation for
the rigor Of maritime war, We have far
removed all the obstacles from the way Of
their humane reform. txccTt such as are
merely of temporary and accidental occur
renee. 1 invite your attention to the cor
rcspoDdencc between her Britauic Majesty's
Minister, accredited to this Government.
and the Secretary of State. relative to the
detention Of the British ship P~e:thshirc,
~ the United States steamer Mass2chu-
sets, In j arc last, for supposed breach of
the blocksEe. As this detention WIS occa-
stoned by ca ebvious Misrepresentation Of
the facts, and as justice requires that We
should commit 10 belligereut act not found
ed in strict right as sanctioned by public
law. / recommend that an appropriation be
made to satisfy the reasonable demand of.
the owners of the vessel for her detention.
Tu3 CHINA CLAIMS.