Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-12-06
Presidents Message.
FELLOW Citizens ofthe Senate and House
of REPRESENTATIVES.

Fellow Citizens ofthe Senate and House
Of 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 exigen-
cies of the times our intercourse with for
eign nations has been attended with pro-
found solicitude- 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. A nation which
endures Gactious domestic divisions, is ex-
posed to disrespect abroad, and one party
or both, is sure, sooner or later, to invoke
foreign intervention.
Nations thus tempted to interfere are not
always able to resist the counsels of SEEM
ing expediency and ungenerous ambition,
although measures adopted under such in
fuences seldom fail to be unfortunate and
injurious to those adopting them The dis
loyal citizens Of the United States, who Of
Tered the ruin Of our country in reward
for the aid and comfort which they have
invoked, have received less patronage and
encouragement than they probably expect
ed; If 1t were just to suppose, as the insur-
gents have seemed to assume, that foreign
nations, in this case, disregarding all moral,
social and treaty obligations, would act
solely and selfshly for the most speedy
restoration of commerce, including especi-
ally the acquisition of cotton, Those ma
tons appear as yet not have seen their way
to their object more directly or clearly
through the destruction than the preserva-
ton of Union.
Ii we could dare to believe that foreign
nations are actuated by 10 higher princi-
pie than this, I am quite sure second ar
gument could be made to show them that
they could reach their aim more readily
and easily by aiding to crush this rebellion,
than By giving encouragement to the prin-
cipai lever relied on, by the exciting of
foreign nations to hostility against us, as
already intimated, is the embarrassment of
commerce. Those nations, however, not
lmprobably saw from the first that it was
the Union which made as we'll our for
eign as our domestic commerce. They
can scarcely fail to perceive that the effort
tor disunion produces the existing diff
Guilty and that one strong nation promises
more durable peace, and more extensive,
valuable and reliable commerce than can
the same nation broken into hostile frag-
ments.
= II Is not my purpose to review our dis
@cusslons with foreign States, because what
ever might be their wishes or dispositions,
the integrity OF our country, and the sta
oiilty OF our government mainly depend
not upon them, but upon the loyalty, patri
otism, virtue and intelligence of the Ameri-
can people. The correspondence itself
with the usual reservations is herewith
submitted
venture 10 hope it will appear that we
have practiced prudence and liberality to-
wards foreign powers, avering causes of
irritation, and with frmness, maintaining
our own rights and honor. Since, how :
ever, 1t is apparent that there as in every
other State, foreign dangers necessarily
attend domestic difficulties, | recommend
that adequate and ample measures be
adopted FOR maintaining The public de-
lenses on every side, while under this
general recommendation provision for de-
Tending our coast line, readily occurs TO
the mind Also in the same connection l
ask the attention Of Congress to our great
lakes and rivers
1t is believed that some Notifications
and depots of arms and munitions, with
harbors and navigation Improvements at
well selected points upon these would be