Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-12-11
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

r.,,o,c.o;ti.ens Of tie Senate and House o.
Representatives.; ,.,.
In the midst OF unprecedented political
,ronbles. we have cause OF great gratitude
" God for unusual good health and most
abuudant haryests.
Yor will not besurprised to learn. that
in the peculiar exigencies Of the times,
oar intercourse with foreign nations has
Ssen attended with profound solicituce,
rbieAy turning uron our own domestic
ssojr:. A disloyal portion Of the Ameri-
San people have, during the whole year.
Sepn engaged in an attempt TO divide and
destroy the Union.
nation which endures factious do,
nestle division is exposed TO disrespect
broad. and one party, if not both, is sure
'ooner or later, to invoke foreign inter-
r,ntion. Nations thus tempted TO inter-
tere are not always able to resist the coun.
,sls of seeming expedency and ungene:-
ans ambition, although measures adopted
vrder such influences seldom fail to be
unfortunate, and injurious to those adop-
ting them. >, =, 3,
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 encourage
ment than they probably expected. If il
we're Just to suppose, as the insurgents
have seemed to assume, that foreign ma
lions, in this case, discarding all moral,
social and treaty obligations, would act
solely and seltishly for the most speedy
restoration OF commerce including espec
iay The acquisition of cotton, these ma
lions appear as yet not to have seen their
way 10 their object more directly or clear.
" through the destruction, than through
the preservation of the Union.
If We could dare to believe that foreign
nations are actuated by no higher pl!nci-
ple than this, am quite sure sound ar
eument could be made to show them that
they can reach their aim more readily
and easily by aiding TO crush this rebel
lion than by giving encouragement to H..
The principal lever relied on by the in
urgents for exciting foreign nations to
hostility against US, as already intimated,
is the embarrassnen Mt OF commerce. These
nations, however, not improbably saw
from the first that it was the Union which
made as we'll our foreign as our domestic
commerce.. rbey can scarcely have failed
70 neyceive that the effort for disunion
produces the existing difficulty, ara that
oae strong nation promises moro duraU.e
peaee aud more extensive and reliable
commerce., than can the same nation bros
ken into hostile fragments. 1t is not my
purposc 10 review our discussions with
io,eign States, because whatever might he
their wishes, or dispositions, the integrity
Of our country and the stability of our
Government mainly depend not upon
them, but on the loyalty, Victue, patriot
ism and intelligence OF tde Anierl1an peo-
pie. :, -,
The correspondence itself with the us
ual reservations Is hereYith submitted.-
venture to hope it will appear that we
have practised prudence and liberality to-
wards foreign powers, avertlng causes oi
irritation and with tirmness maintaining
our own rights and honor. Since, howey-
er, it is apparent that here, as in every
other State, foreign dangers necessarily
attend domestic difficulties. | recom>
mend that adequate and ample measures
be adopted for maintaining the public de"
fences on every side.
While under this general recommends
lion provision for defending our seacoast
line occurs to the mind.
also, in the same connection. ask the
tttention OF Congress 10 our great lakes
and rivers. II is believed that some TOR
tfcaions and depots of arms and muni-
lions, with harbor and navigation i'm
TroVemeuts, all at well selected points
upon these, would be cf great Importance
10 the national defence and preservation.
ask attention to the views Of the Sec
retary of War expressed in his report up
on the same general subject. | deem II
Of importance that the loyal regions OF
East Tennessee and Western North Caro-
Ina should be connected with Kentucky
and other faithful parts of the Union by
railroad. therefore, recommend, as a
military measure, that Congress provide
for the construction of such road as speed
lily as possible. Kentucky, no doubt, VIII
cooperate and, through her Legislature.
make the most iudicious selection OF a
line. The Northern terminus must con-
rect with some existing railroad, and
whether tie route shall be from Lexlng'.
ton or Nicholasville TO the Cumberland
zap, or from Lebanon to the Tennessee
line in the direction of Knoxville or on
some still different line can readily be de-
t.rmined Kentucky and the General
government cooperating, the work can
Do ecompleted in very short time, and,
when done, it will be not only OF vas:
present. usefulness, but also valuable
Permanent improvement, with its cost, in
all the future.
Soue 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
o. the commercial powers to adopt a de-
slrabe melioration of the rigor of a mari
Tine war, we have removed all obstruc-
IONS from the way of this humane reform,
except such as are merely OF temporary
aud accidental occurrence.
Invite your attention to the cores
pondence between Her Britannia MWes-
Vs Minister, accredited TO this Govern
nent, and the Secretary of State relative
70 q n