Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1861-12-04
grestott gunrnal.
The Presidents Message

.p-r citizens Of The Senate and Hoase Of Rep
.,satltiVss
IN The midst OF unprecedented political
niles. we have cause OF great gratitude
God tor unusual good health and most
.,odant harvests. Y GU will not be sur
sd to learn that in the peculiar exigen-
= Of the times. our intercourse with for.
Ism nations has been attended with pro-
and solicitude-chiefy turning upon our
IN domestic affairs. "A disloyal portion OF the
American people have during the whole
lar been engaged in an attempt to divide
I'D destroy the Union. A nation which
sr9ures factious domestic divisions, is ex-
oqsod TO disrespect abroad, and one party or
t,.b Is sure, sooner or later, to invoke for
-lsu Intervention.
Nations thus tempted to interfere are
ror always able to resist the counses OF
....r,ing expediency and ungenerous ambi-
ion although measures adopted under such
;na1enc.. seldom fail to be unfortunate and
'niurioYs 10 those adopting them. The dis
I,r,l citizens fthe United States, who offered
,t'a ruin of our country in reward for the
ii, and comfort which they have invoked,
have received less patronage and encour-
--.ment than they probably expected; if it
gsre inst to suppose, as the insurgents have
.emed to assume, that foreign nations, in
This case, disregarding all moral, social and
,-aaty obligations, would act solely and
,I7silv for the most speedy restoration of
,,r1merce, including especially the acquisi-
,.5r Of cotton, those nations appear as
80 not 10 have seen their way to their OBJ
H., more directly or clearly through the
3a.rruction. than through the preservation
ii the Cnlon:
,.f-9ns are actuated b. no higher principle
.4s7 this am quite sure second argu-
,ue1t could be made to show them that they
,0uId reach their aim more readily and ed
.ilr by aiding to crush this rebellion, than
IN irving encouragement to the principal
lever relied Oh, by the exciting OF foreign
nations to hostility against us, as already
minated in the embarrassment of COM
MERGE Those nations, however, not i'm
probably saw from the first that it was the
trnion which made as well our foreign as
our domestic commerce. They can scarce
IL fail to perceive that the effort for disun-
ion 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 ma
ron broken into hostile fragments.
Il is not my purpose to review our dis
customs with foreign states, because what
ever might be their wishes or dispositions.
The integrity of our country, and the sta
5Ility OF our government mainly depend
aa upon them, but upon the loyalty, pat
r0tism. virtue and intelligence Of the Amer
irqu people. The correspondence itself,
with the usual reservations, is herewith SUBJ
mirted.
I venture to hope it will appear that We
have practiced prudence and liberality to-
wards foreign powers, avertlng causes OF
irritation, and with firmness, maintaining
orr rights and honor. Since, however, it
j. apparent that here, as in every other
uuate and ample measures be adopted for
maintaining the public defences on every
side, while under this general recommended
lion 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.
l. is believed that some Notifications and
dep0ts of arms and munitions, with harbor
aud navigation improvements at well Sc
Iected points upon these would be of great
Importance to the national defence and
preservation. | ask attention TO the views
d the Secretary of War, as expressed in his
report upon the same general subject.
deem it of Importance that the loyal
regions of East Tennessee and Western
North Carolina should be connected with
Kentucky, and other faithful parts of the
Union, by railroad. | therefore recon-
mend as a military measure that Congress
provide for the construction of such road
az speedily as possible.
Kentucky will no doubt cooperate, and
though her Legislature make the most ju-
dieiOus selection of the line The northern
terminus must connect with some existing
railroad, and whether the route shall be
from Lexington or Nicholasville to Cam
berlaud Gap, or from Lebanon to the Ten
cesSee line in the direction of Knox
vile, or some still different line, can
easily be determined. Kentucky and
the General Government co-operat-
ing the work can be completed in very
short time, and when done it will be not on
II of vast present usefulness but also an
available permanent Improvement worth the
cost 10 all future.
Some treaties designed chiefly for the
interests of commerce, and having no
grave political importance, have been ne
gotiated, and will be submitted to the
Senate for their consideration. Although
We have failed to induce some of the COM
mercial powers to adopt desirable melio-
ration for the rigor of maritime war. we
have far removed all the obstacles from
the way of their humane reform, except
such as are merely of temporary and
accidental occurrence.
invite your attention to the correspond
ence between Her Britannia Maiestvs
Minister, accredited to this Government
and the Secretary of State, relative to the
detention of the British ship Perthshire. in
June last, by the United States steamer
Massachusetts,, for supposed breach OF
the blockade As this detention was oc-
casioned by an obvious misapprehension
of the facts, and as Justice requires that
we should commit no belligerent act. not
founded on strict right, as sanctioned by
public law, recommend that an appropri-
alton be made to satisfy the reasonable
demand of the owners Of this vessel for her
detention.
| repeat the recommendation of my
predecessor, in his annual message 20
Congress in December last, in regard to the
disposition of the surplus which will prob
ably remain after satisfying the claims of
American citizens against China, pursuant
10 the awards of the Commissioners,
under the act of the Sd of March, 1859.
If, however, it should not be deemed ad-