The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-12-12
Presidents Message.
FNOac Citizens of the Senate

EellOlc Citizens Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives :
In the midst of unprecedented politics
troubles, We have cause of great eratitud
TO God for unusual good health aud mos
abundant barvests.
You will not be surprised to learn tb al
in the peculiar exigencies of the time:
our Intercourse with foreign Dations ha
been attended With profound solicitudt
chiefly torniug upon our OVID douosti
affairs. A dl-loyal portion OF the Amer
icsn people have, during the whole year
been engaged in an atte pit to divide an,
destroy the Union. A nation which co
dures factions domestic divisions is cx
posed to disrespect abroad. aud one par
sy, II not roth. i, sure, soonrr or later. t.
invoke foreign inveption. Nations thu
tempted to Interfere are not always all
to resist the counsels Of seeming expedi
ency and ungeDercus ambition. although
measures adopted under such influence
seldom fail TO be unfortunate and injur
Qua to those adopting them. The di>loy
oi Sl tue III StdlFS, NuO nav
offered the ruio of our country 10 return
for the aid and comfort wbich they have
iuvoked abroad. have received less pat
roaagc and encouragement than tbeJ
probably expected. Ifit we're just to
suppose, as the iusurgeut. have seemed
TO assume, that foreigD nations iu tbi,
case, discarding all moral, social. and
ereaty obligations, would act solely and
sel6shly for the not speedy restoration
of commerce, includiDg, especially, the
acquisition of cotton, those nations ap.
pear as yet not TO have seen their way to
their object more directly or clearly
through the destruction than through the
preservation Of the Union If We could
dare to believe that foreign Dation- are
astuated By 20 higher principle than this
4 sn quite sure second argument could
be NJ ade to show the n that they can reach
their aim more readily aud ea-ily 5Y aid
ing to crush this rebellion than by giving
encourage ment to it. The principal lev
er relied on by the in>urgents for exciting Z
foreigu nations to hostility against US. as
already intimated, is the embarrassment
of commerce. Those nations. however.
Dct ioprobably sau from the FIST that i,
vas the UnioB which made as we'll our
foreign as our domestic co II perce. They
can scarcely have failed to perceive that
the effort for disunon produces the ex
i,tiDg difficulty, aud that one strong IA
tion promises more durable peace, and q
more extensive, valuable, aud reliable
CON merce. than can the same nation bro
ken into hostile fragments.
1t is not my purpose to TesieW our dis
cus.ious with foreign States, because,
whstever hi :. ht be their wishes or dispo
sitions. the integrity of our country and
the stability of our Government mainly
depend, not upon then, but on the loyal
ty. virtue, patriotisu n, and intelligence Of
the American people. The correspond.
eDce itself, with the usual reservations, is
herewith submitted. | venture to hope
it will sppesr that We have praeticed pru
deuce aud liberslity to~srd foreign pow
srs, aveItiDg causes of irritation, and, With
firmness, maintaining ou. own rights and
honor. Since, however, it is apparent
that here, as in every other State. foreign
dangers necessarily attend domestic diff.
culties, | reco oumend that adequate and
ample measures be adopted for maintain
ing the public defenses on every side
While, under this general recommended
ton, prosi.iou for defending our coast line
readily occurs to the mind, also, in tho
same connection, ask the attention OF
Congress to our great lakes and rivers
1t is beliesed that some fortiGcatiens and
depots of arms and munitions. with bar
Dor and navigation improvements, at
we'll selected points upon these. would be
Of great Importance to the Natiousl de-
feDse aOd preservation.
ask attention 10 the views OF the SEQ
retary of War, expressed in Report, upon
the came general subjects.
deem it OF importance that tbe loyal
regions of East Tennessee and Western
North Carolina should be connected with
Kentucky and other faithful parts Of the
Union by railroad; therefore recomUen
ded, as q military measure, that Congress
provide for the construction OF such road
ss speedily as possible.
Kentucky will no doubt, co operate,
and, through her Legislature. make the
most judicious selection of line. The
Northern terminus must connect with
some existing railroad, and whether the
route shall be from Lexington or Nicho-
lasville to the Cumberland Gap, or from
Lebanon to the Tennessee line 10 the di-
rectiou Of Knoxville, or on some still diff
ferent line, can easily be deter@ied.-
Kentucky and the General Government
cooperating. the vork can be completed
in q very short time. and when done it
will be not only Of vast present useful.
ness, bat also 9 valuable perusneDt i'm