Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-12-13
FIRST ANIMAL MESSAGE
OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
President Gf the United States,
READ IN CONGRESS TUESDAY, De-
CLIMBER Sd, 1861.
Feltow C.tszsns Of tie Senate and House Of
Representatives:


FeYow CHszsns Of tie Senate and House Of
Representatives.:
In the midst Of unprecedented political trou-
bles, we have cause of great gratitude to God
for unusual good health and most abundant
harveste.
You will not be surprised to learn, that in
the peculiar exigencies of the times, our inter-
course with foreign nations has been attended
with profound solicitLde, chiefly turning upon
our own domestic affairs. A disloyal portion
of the American people have, during the whole
year, been engaged in an attempt to divide and
destroy the Union.
nation which endures factious domestic
division 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 re-
sist the counsels Of seeming expediency and
uDgenerous ambition, although measures adop-
ted under such influences seldom fail to be uns
fortunate, aud Injurious to thosv adopting
them.
The disloyal citizens of the United States
who have offered the ruin of our country in
return for the aid and comfort which they have
invoked abroad, have received less patronage
and encoura cement than they probably expecs~
ed II il were just to suppose, as the insurp
gents have seemed to assume, that foreign na7
TORS, in this case, discsrding all moral, social
aud treaty obligations, would act solely and
seI6shly for the most speedy restoration of
commerce including especially the acquisition
of cotton, these nations appear as yet not to
have seen their way 10 their object more di-
rectly or clearly through the destruction, than
through the preservation of the Union.
Ii we could dare to believe hat foreign na-
tious are actua ted by nc higher principle than
this, | am quita sure sound argument could
be made 10 show thrm that they can reach
their ain more readily and easily by aiding to
crush this rebellion than by giving encourage
ment to it. The principal lever relied on by
the insurgents for exciting foreign nations is
hostility against us, as already intimsted, to
the embarrassment of commerce. These na-
ticns, however, not improbable saw from the
6rst thst it was the Union which made as we'll
our foreign as our domestic commerce. They
can scarcely have failed to perceive that the
effort for disunion produce the existing diffis
cnty, and that one strong nation promised
more extensive and reliable peace and more
extensive and reliable commerce, than can the
same nation broken into hostile fragments. 1t
With foreign States, because whatever might
be their wishes, or dispositions, the integrity Of
our country and the stability of our govern
ment mainly depend not upon them, but on
the loyalty, virtue, patriotism aud intelligence
of the American people.
The correspondence itself with the usual
reservations is herewith submitted. l venture
TO hope it will appear that we have prscticed
prudence and liberslty towards foreign powers
avorting causes of irritation and With frmness
maintaining our own rights and honor. Since,
however, il is apparent that here, as iI every
other State, foreign dangers necessarily attend
domestic difficulties. ! Recommend that ade~
quate and ample measures be adopted for
maintaining the public defences on every side.
While under this general accommodation
provision for defending cur sea coast line oc-
ours to the mind.
also, 10 the same connection, ask the at
tention Of Congress TO our great lakes and
rivers. 1t is believed that some forti6cations
and depots of arms aud munitions, with aarbor
and navigation improvements, all at we'll Sc
lscsed points upon these, would be of great
importance to the national defence aud preser-
VatioB.
ask attention to the views of the Secreta-
RI of War expressed 10 bis report upon the
same general subject. / deem il Of importance
that the loyal regions of East Tennessee aud
Western North Carolina should be connected
with Kentucky and other faithful parts of the
Union by railroad. | therefore Recommend,
as military measure, that Congress provide
for the construction Of such road as speedily
as possible. Kentucky. no doubt, viii eo-op-
crate aud through her Legislature, make the
most iudicons selection Of line. The North
ern terminus must connect with some existing
railroad, and whether the route shall be from
Lexington or Nicbolasville to the Cumberland
Sap, on from Lebanon to the Tennessee line
IN the direction Of Knoxville, or on some still
difereut liuo can readily ba determined. Ken
lucky aud tho General Government co-opera-
ting tbs work can be completed 10 very short
time and, when done il will ba not ouly Of vast
present usefuIness. but also . yalnable psrms-
ne1t improvement, With its cost, IN all the fu.
ture.
Some tseAties designed chiefly for the inter-
ests Of eoEnmercs, aud having no grave politi+
cal importance, havs been negotiatad, aud will
be suhunitted 30 the Senate for their consider
alton.
Although we have failed to iadacs some o f
the commercial powers TO adopt desirabi
mslioration Of the rigor of a maratime war,
we baxe removed al otstructiors from the way
ef this humane reform, except such as are
mereIyof temporary aud accidental occurrence.
Invite yorr attention 70 the correspond enee