The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FellOao- Citizens of the Senate all
House Of Representatives


House Of Representatives
In the midst of unprecedented polit-
zeal troubles we have cause of great
gratitude to God for unusual 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 profound soEci.
tude, chiefly turning upon our own do
nestle affairs. A disloyal portion of
the American people nave, during the
whole year, been engaged in an at
temp to divide and destroy the Onion.
A nation which endures faetions and
domestic divisions, is exposed to disre-
spect 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 seeming expediency
and ungenersus ambition, although
measures adontsd under such influ-
ences seldom fail to be unfortunate and
Injurious to those adopting them. The
1isloyal citizens Of the United States
who have offered the ruin of our coun-
try in reward for the aid and comfort
which they have invoked abroad, have
received less patronage and encourage
ment than they probably expected. If
it were just to suppose, as the insur-
gents have seemed to assume, that for
eign nations in this case, disregarding
all moral, social and treaty obligations,
would act solely and sslfishly for the
most speedy restoration of commerce,
including specially the acquisition of
cotton,-those nations appear as yet
not to have seen their way to their OBJ
ject more directly or clearly through
the destruction than through the pres
ervation of the Union. If we could
dare to believe that foreign nations are
actuated by no higher principle than
this, am quite sure second argu-
ment could be made to show them that
they could reach their aim more rsadi-
ly and easily by aiding to crush this
rebeflfonthan by giving encouragement
to the. principal lever relied on by the
exciting of foreign nations to hostility
against us, as already intimated, in the
embarrassment of commerce. Those
nations, however, not improbably saw
from the FIRST that it was the Union
which made as we'll our foreign as our
domestic commerce. They can scarce
ly fail to perceive that the effort for
disunion produces the existing difficult
ty, and that one strong nation promis-
es more durable peace and more ex-
tsnsive, valuable and reliable CON-
merce than can the same nation broken
into hostile fragments.
1t is not my purpose to review our
discussions with foreign States, because
whatever might be their wishes or dis
positions, the integrity of our country
and the stability of our Government,
mainly depends not upon them, but
upon the loyalty, patriotism, virtue and
intelligence of the American people.
The correspondence itself, with the
usual reservations, is herewith submit
ted. Iventurs to hope it will appear,
that we have practiced prudence and
liberality towards foreign powers,
averting causes Of irritation, and with
firmness maintaining our own rights
and honor. Since, however, it is ap-
parent that here, as in every other
State, foreign dangers necessarily at
tend domestic difficulties, l recommend
that adequate and ample measures be
adopted for maintaining the public de-
fences on every side. While under
this general recommendation provision
for defending our coast line readily oc-
ours to the mind, l also, in the same
connection, ask the attention of Con-
gress to our great lakes and rivers. 1t
is believed that some Notifications and
depots of arms and munitions with
harbor and navigation improvements
at well selected points upon these,
would be of great Importance to the
national defence and preservation. l
ask attention to the views of the Secre-
tary of War expressed in his report
upon the same general subject.
deem it of Importance that the 10y
al regions of East Tennessee and Yves
tern North Carolina should be connec-
ted with Kentucky and other faithful
parts of the Union, by railroad, l there
fore recommend, as military measure,
that Congress provide for the construc-
ton of such road as speedily as pos
siblo. Kentucky will no doubt coop
efcte, and through her legislature make
the mos. iudicious selection of the line.
The Northern terminus must connect
with some existing railroad, and wheth-
err the route shall be from Lexington or
Nieholasville, to Cumberland Gap, or
from Lebanon to the Tennessee line, in
the direction of Knoxville or some
still different line, can easily be deter
mined. Kentucky and the general
Government cooperating, the work
can be completed in very short time.
and when done it will be not only of
vast present usefulness, but also an
available permanent improvement,
worth its cost in all the future.
Some treaties, designed chiefly for
the interests of commerce, and having
no grave political importance, have
been negotiated and win be submitted
to the Senate for their consideration.
Although we have failed to induce
some of the commercial powers to
adopt desirable melioration for the
vigor OF maritime war, we have far re.