Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-07
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.

OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
You will not be surprised to learn that in
the peculiar exigencies of the times, our
intercourse with foreign nations has been
attended with profound solicitude, chiefly
turning upon our own domestic affairs.
A disloyal portion of the American
people during the whole year have been en-
gagged in an attempt to; divide and destroy
the Union. A Nation which endures factions
and domestic divisions is exposed to disrespect
abroad, and one party, if not both, is sure,
sooner or later, to invoke foreign
intervention. Nations thus tempted to
interfere are not always able to resist the
counsels Of seeming expediency and ungen-
erous ambition, although measures adopted
under such Influences seldom fail TO be an
fortunate, and injurious to those adopting
them.
The disloyal citizens of the United States
who have offered the ruin of our Country in
return for aid and comfort which they have
invoked abroad, have received less patronage
and encouragement than they probably ex
pected. If it were Just to suppose, as the in
surgents seemed to assume, that foreign ma
tions, In this case dlscarding all moral social &
treaty obligations. would act solely and sci.
fshly for the most speedy restoration of COM
merce, including especially the acquisition of
cotton, these nations appear as yet Eot to
have seen their way to their object more di-
rectly or clearly through the destruction
than through the preservation Of the Union.
Ii we could dare to believe that foreign
nations are actuated by no higher principle
than this, am quite sure a sound argument
could be made to show them that they can
reach their aims more readily and easily by
aiding to crush this rebellion than by giving
encouragement to it. The principal lever
relied on by the insurgents for exciting for
eigu nations to hostility against, U.s. as al
ready intimated, is the embarrassment of
commerce. Those nations, however, not
improbably saw from the first, that it
was the Union which made as well our for
eign as our domestic commerce. They can
scarcely have tailed to perceive that the effort
for disunion produces the existing difficulty,
and that one strong nation promises more
durable peace and a more extensive, valuable
and reliable commerce than can the same
nation broken into two hostile fragments.
1t is not my purpose to review our discus
sions with foreign States, because whatever
might be their wishes 81 dispositions, the integ-
rity of our country, & stability of our govern't
mainly de, end lot upon them but on the 10y
atty, virtue, patriotism and intelligence of
the American people. The correspondence
itself, with usual reservations, is herewith
submitted. venture to hope it will appear
that We have practiced prudence and liber-
atty towards foreign powers, averting causes
of irritation, and with firmness maintaining
our own rights and honor. Since, however.
1t is apparent that here las in every other state,
foreign dangers necessarily attend domestic
difficulties, l recommend that adequate and
ample measures be adopted for maintaining
the public defences on every side. W lille under
this general recommendation provision for
defending our coast line readily occurs to the
mind, | also in the same connection ask
the attention OF Congress to our
great lakes and rivers. 1t is be-
lieved that some Notifications and de-
pots of arms and munitions, with harbor
navigation improvements, at some well
selected points upon these would be
of great importance for the ma
tional defence and preservation. | ask
attention to the views of the Secretary of
War expressed in his report upon the same
general subjects. | deem it of importance that
the loyal regions of East Tenn, andW Western
North Carolina be connected with Ken
lucky and other faithful parts of the Union
by railroad. | therefore recommend as
military measure thatCongress provide for the
construction of such road, as speedily as
possible. Kentucky will no doubt cooper
ate, 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 Nicholas
vile, to Northumberland Gap, or from Lebanon
to the Tennessee Line, In the direction OF
Knoxville, or on some still different
line, can easily be determined. Ken
lucky and the General Govern't cooperating
in the work, it can be completed In very
short time, and when done it will be not only
of vast present usefulness, but also valuable
permanent improvement, worth Its cos; In
all future time
Some treaties designed chiefly for the interests
of commerce, and having no grave political
importance, have been negotiated, and will
be submitted to the Senate for their consider
alton. Although we have failed to induce
some other commercial powers to adopt
desirable amelioration of the rigor
of maritime war, we have removed all OBJ
Vi tulc numdHC AOtoi"D S0SSRe
such as are merely of temporary and |
accidental occurrence. invite your attention |
10 the correspondence between Her British |
Majesty's Minister and the Secretary oil
State, relative to the detention OF the British |
ship Perfhshire, in June last, by the
j. s. steamer Massachusetts, for supposed
breach of the blockade. As this detention
was occasioned by an obvious nisapprehen-
sion Of the facts and as justice requires that
we should commit no belligerent act not
bounded in strict right, or sanctioned by
public law, recommend that an approprla-
tion be made to satisfy reasonable demand
. the owners OF the vessel for the detention.
repeat the recommendation of my prede-
.essor, in his message to Congress in Decem-
l. flast. IN regard to the disposition of the
urplus which will probably remain after +
.atisfying the claims of American
citizens against China, pursuant to
he awards of the commissioners