Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

usual good health and most abundant harvests.
You will not be surprised to learn that in the
peculiar exigencies Of the times, our Intercourse
with Foreign nations has been attended with pro-
found solicitude, chiefly turning upon our own
domestic affairs.
disloyal portion of the American people have,
durin; the whole year, been engaged in attempt
10 divide and destroy tie nion 4 nation winch
enaures factious domestic divisions. ia exposed to
dl.respcct abroad and one Iarty, tr both, is sure
sooner later to invoke foreign intervention.
Nations thus tempted 10 interfere, are aot always
able to resist the .OuBseis OF seeming cxIcdieney
and ungenerous ambition, although measures
adopted under such influences, seldom fail to be
unfortunate and iuj urious to those adopting tn eu
The disloyal citizens Of tho United States who
have Tered the ruin of our country, in reward for
the aid and comfort which they have invoked
abroad, have received less patronage and encour-
agenent than they probably expected.
II Il were Just to suppose, as the insurgents
have seemed - assume, that foreign nations in
this case disregaring all moral social AMI treaty
Obligations, woull act solely and aeifshy Tor the
most speedy reatoration Of commerce, including,
specially, the ACQUISITION Of cotton, those
lons appear, as yet, not to have seen their way 10
their ob ect more directly or clearly through the
destruction than through the preservation of the
Union. If we could dare to believe that foreign
nations are ac.uated by no higher principle than
this, am quite sure second argument 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 principal lever relied on. The exciting o.
foreign nations to hostility against the United
States, as already intimated,is the embarrassment
Of coz merce. Those nations, however, not inn
probably, saw frora the first III at il was the Mon
which made as well our foreign rs our domestic
commerce. They can scarcely fail to perceive thst
the effort for disunion produces TIE existing diff
Guilty, and that one strong nation promises more
durable peace AM more extensive, valuable and
reliable commerce than can the sal.e nation bro
ken into hostile fragments.
Its not my purpose 10 review our di eussioas
with foreign states because whatever might be
their wishes or disPositons the integrity of our
country and the stability Of our Government main
~ depends, not upon them, but ulon the loyalty,
patriotism, virtue, and intelligence If the hmeii.
can people. The correspor dence itself, with the
usual re, ervatiGns il hereby submitted.
'nre 70 hope that it vii! appea. that have rr4c-
iieed prudence an lberaliiy towards foreign pow
ers, avoiding causes Of ifrata,icn md wish fnness
maintaining our own rights ana honor.
Since, however, IL Is apparent that here, as in
every other State, foreign hangers necessarily at
tend domestic difficulties. recommo nj that sd-
equate and ample measures be adopted for main
tanning the public deleuces every s,ie, while
Under this general recommendation. provisions
tor defending our coast line, readily occur t, the
mind also, in the same eorne ton, ask the at
ention Of Congress 10 our great lakes ard riye-s.
OF arms ani munitions with harbor and nayIga-
ton improvements, at we'll chosen points upon
these, would be OF great importance to the rational
defense and preservation. | ask attention II the
views OF the Secretary Of War, expressed in his
reiost upon the same general subject. | deem il
et Importance, that the loyal regions of East Ten
nessee and Western North Carolina, should be
connected with Kentucky, and other faithful parts
Of the Inion, By railroad
HI erefore recommend, as a military measure,
that ngreSs Irovi for the construction Of such
a road as spc uily as possible. kentucky will ~
donbt Cooperate, and through her Legislature
northern terminus must connect with some exist
ing Railroad, and whether the route will be from
Lexineton.or Ncho vile, u Cumberland Gap, or
from Lebanon to tho Tennessee lin" in the aircc
tvn Of Knoxville, or some still different line, ca
e Isily be determined. kentucky and the General
Government cooperating, tho work can hc com
pseted in very short time and when done 1t will
be not only Of vast present use!ulness, but also
available permanent improvement worth its cost
in all the future. Some trentes designed chiefly for
the interests OF commerce, and having no grave
poltiea Importance, have been negotiated and
will bc submitted TO the Senate for their corsid |
Grafton Although we have failed TO induce some
IF tho commercial powers to adopt desirable |
moderation Tor the rgor Of naratine war, we |
have thus far removed all the obstacles from the
way OF their humane reform except such as are
mercy Of temporary and accidental occurrence.
invite your attention to the corft pOilcnce between
Her Britanic Mojcsty's Ministers accredited TO i
this Gov ernment ami the secretary of State, rea-
live to the detention Of the british ship Perth. |
shire in June last by the United States steamer |
Massach usetts, for supposed breach Of the block
lde. As this detention was occasioEed by an OBJ
sious mssapprehe OF the iacts,and as i.tice
equires that sh uid commit no belligercnt act |
not founded in strict right sanctioned oy luhli:
aw, recommend tha. an appropriation be made
10 satisfy the reasonable demand q tie Owns:s ii
he vessel for her detention.
repeat the recomme ndation Of my predecessor
Il his unnua! message to Congress, in regard TO the
disposition o. the surplus which viii probably re-
main after satisfying, the claim. Of American ci,i |
,ens against China, pursuant to the awards Of the
,omi- ioners, under the act Of the third oi March
1850. #, however, it loul not be deemed adys |
,ble to carry that reluistion into effect | would I
uggest that authority be given Tor Investigating I
he principal over the surp.us referred 10, IA good
ecu,itcs, with a View to the satisfaction of such
,ther just claims Of our citizens against China "a
ire not unlikely TO arise hereafter the course OF
3ur extensive trade With that empire.
BY tie act Of the 9TH Of August last, Congress
the President to cnttust The command
RS Of suitable vessels, to d. lend themselves !,
against and capture pirates This authority has
5een exercised in a sirG,c instance, only for The
more ctfec:ual protection of our extcnsirs and
salu.L.e con- mercc on the Eastern Seas. Espcc-
ally, it seems TO me, that it would also be adyls-
.ble to authorize the commanders Of sailing yes.
,es, to rccapture any prizes which pirates may
make of L. :. vessels and their cargoes, and tl0
Consular Court, established by law In Eastern
countries, to adjuiicate the cases, in the event
hat this should not be objected 10 By the ioca.
uthortios. Ii any good asoa exists why We
houid pcrseyerc longer in Withholding cur rccog-
liti6n Of the indepen dence and sovereignty Of
iayti and Liberia, | am unable to discover it.
rnwilin-, however, TO :naugurate novel policy
vayd IA ftem without the aDDYorrlatiDn Of
Congres 81, submit for your consideration. The ez-
peliency OF an appropriation for maintaining
Charge de A ila:rs near each Of those States. 1t
loes not admit OF doubt that important CONNER
.ial advantages might be secured Dy iavoraale
treaties with them.
The operations Of he Treasury during the period
which has elapsed since your adjournment, have
been conducted with signal success. The patriot
sm of the people has placed at the disposal Of the
Government the large means demanded oy the
rublic exigencies much Of the national loan has
been taken by citizens OF the indu trial classes,
whose confidence in their country faith, and zea.
Tor their count-y's deiiveraDce from its present
peril. have induced them to contribute to the sup
port of the Governmt mt the whole Of their limited
acquisitions. This fact imposes peculiar ooliga-
lions 10 economy in disbursement and energy IN
action. The revenue from all sources, including
loans for the financial year, ending On the 30th OF
June, 1861, was $s6 ,9a5, and the expenditures
for the same period, including payments on ac-
c,unt Of the public debt were Ssh > 5,03i3i, icav-
ing balance in the Treasury the first day Of |
July OF 81 25I e65 90 for the first quarter # the f.
nancial year eniing on the 3oth OF Sept, 1851.
Tie receipts from all sources, including the bal,
ance from july 1st., were $40 25s ,25s,z7, and |
the expenses s9,s23 975.o9, leaving balance on |
the lst Of Oct, 1851, Of Si,2e2,1s6ls.
estimates for the remaining three quarters q |
the year and for the financial year Of lsS2 toge- /
ther with his views Of the ways and incans for |
meeting the demands contemplated by them, will
!. q oil ta Cnnnress by the SECRETARY OF the