Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-09
RICHMOND WHIG.
TIE LAST MESSAGE OF THE FIRST PRESIDENT
OF THE YANKEE NATION.

| tdttbeS:
In the midst Of unprecedented political troubles
We have Of great gratitude to God Tor unusua
good health and most abundant harvests.
You will not be surprised to learn that in the pecu
liar exgencies of the tnes intercourse with foregr
nations has been attended with profound socude chief
| ly turning upon own domestic afIirs. disloya
portion of the American people have, during the whole
year. been engaged in attempt to divide and destroy
| the Union A nation which endures factous domestic
divisions is exposed to drespect abroad and party
il not both, sure sooner later 70 invoke foreign In
tervenon. Nations thus tempted TO interfere net
always able to resist the couDse of seeming expedency
and ungeserous ambition although measures adopted
der such Influences seldom fail 10 be unortunse ahd
| juricus 20 those adopting them.
The disloya ctizens OF the United States who have
offered the ruin OF country In for the aid and
comfort which they have invoked abroad have received
less patronage and encouragement than they probably
expected II il Just to suppose, the insurgents
have seemed TO assume that foreign nations In this
di'carding oil al social and treaty obligations would
solely and selshy for the most speedy restoration OF
commercs, including especially the acquisition Of cotton
those nations appear as yet have their way
their object recty clearly through the desruc-
on than through the preservation OF the Union. II
could dare to believe that foreign raions actuaed
by higher principle than this, quite sureA sound
argumeD, conld be made to show them that they can
reach their aim readily and easily by aiding to crush
this rebellion than by giving encouragement to it.
The principal lever relied by the insurgents for ex
citing foreign nations TO hostility agaus, us as already
ibtmatod, is the embarrassment of commerce. Those
nations however, not improbably cav from the first
that it the Union which made well our foreign as
our domestic commerce. They can scarcely have failed
perceive that the for dsunion produces the
isiing difficulty, and that one strong nation promises
more dur lbe peace and more extensive valuable and
reliable commerce than the same nation broken into
hostile Fragments.
II is not my purpose to our discussions with
foreign States beclule whatever might be their wishes
dispositions, the integrity of Our country and the
stability OF our Government mainly depend not upon
them but on the loyalty virtue pstriotsm, aud nte
gOnce OF the American people. The correspondence it.
self, with the usual resolution, ia herewith submitted
venture TO hope II wi appear that have practsed
prudence aud hberaly towards foreign Powers averted
causes Of irritation, and with frmness maintained our
own rights and honor Since, however, it is apparent
that here, in every other State foreign dangers
cessariy attend domestic diiicutA recommend that
adequate and ample measures be adopted for uantan-
ing the public defences every side while under this
general recommendation, provision for defending
coast line readily occurs 10 the mind | also in this
connection, ask the attention of Congress to great
akes and rivers 1t is believed that some forhcatons
and depots of a1d munitions with har Dor and nav
gaoh improvements at well selected points upon these
would be OF great importance TO the national defence
and preservation.
ask attention to the views of the Secretary Of War
expressed in his report upon the general subjects
| deem Il OF importance that the loyal regions OF
East Tennessee and Western North Carolina should be
connected with Kentucky and other faithful parts Of the
Union by railroad |, therefore, recommend a mil
ary measure that Congress provide for the cohstruc-
ton of such roads as speedily as possible. Kentucky
will no doubt cooperate ard through her Legislature
make the most udicious selection Of line. The North
ern terminus must connect with some existing railroad
and whether the route shall be from Lexington NASH
vile to the Cumberland Gap from Lebanon to the
Tennessee line, in the drecsn Of Knoxville
stu different line easiybe determined. Kentucky
and the General Government operating, the work
be completed 10 very short time; and whom done It
viii only be OF vast present usefulness, but also
valuable permanent improvement worth its cost in all
the future
Some treaties designed chiefly for the interests Of
commerce, and having no great political importance,
have been negotiated, and will be submitted 10 the Sen
ate for their consideration. Although have failed to
induce some Of the commercial Powers TO adopt de-.
sirabe melioraon Of the rigor of maritime war, We
have removed oil distractions from the way Of this hu-
reform, excep. such are Of merely temporary
and accidental occurrence
l invite your attention to the correspondence be-.
tween her Britannia Msjestys Minister, accredited to
this Government and the Secretary of State, relative
70 the detention Of the British ship Perthsire in June
last by the United States steamer Massachusetts, for
supposed breach Of the blockade As the detention
occssoned by obvious misspprehensinn Of the acs
and justice requires that should commit belge.
rent act not founded in strict right as sanctioned by
public law recommend that an appropriation be made
10 satisfy the reasonable demands Of the owners Of the
vessel for her detention.
repeat the recommendation OF my predecessor, in
his annual Message to Congress in December last in re-
gard TO the disposition Of the surplus which will prob,.
bly, remah after satisfying the claims Of American cii.
zeus agaus China, pursuant to the awards Of the Com
ms;ioners under the sct Of the Sd Of March, 1852 IT,
however II should not be deemed advisable to carry that
recommendation into effect would suggest that author
y be given for investing The principal the proceeds
Of the surplus referred to in good Securities with view
10 the satisfaction Of such other Just claim OF our ct
against China not unlikely arise hereafter
in the OF extensive trade with that empire
By the act of the 5h Of August last Congress au
lied the President instruct the lnders OF suta.
ble vessels to defend themselves against aud to capture
pirates This authority hiss been exercised in single in
stance onB. ...
For the moro efctual protection Of our extensive and
valuable commerce. in the Eastern especially II
would also be advisable TO authorize commanders OF sail
ing vessels TO recaptuTe any prizes which pirates NAV
make cf the United States vessels and their clrgoes and
the Consular courts established by vi Estern conn.
tries to audcate the ses in the event that this should
not be objected 10 by the loo Il authorities.
II any good reason exists why.we should persoye-e
longer in Withholding recognition Of the Independence
and sovereignty Of Hay and Liberia am unable TO dis.
cfrn it, Unsiliug however, to naugurae a novel poli.
CIV in regard 10 them without the spprt button of Con.
Rres submit for your consideration the erpedency OF
an apI ropr alton for maintaining Cbaigs Affairs near
each OF those new States II does not admit of doubt
that important commercial advantages might be secured
| by favorable treaties with them.
The operations Of the Treasury curing the period which
has psed since your dournment have been conducted
with signal The patriotism Of the people has
placed the disposal Of the Government the large means
demanded by the public exigeuces Much Of the nation.
al loan has been taken by citizens Of the ndustrs class.
Co. whose confidence in their countrys faith and zal
for their country del verance roms rr peril
induced then to contribute to the support OF the Govern
ment the whole of their limited acquisition This fact
imposes peculiar obligations TO economy in disbursement
! and energy In action.
The revenue from all sources including loans for the
6raucia yesr ending the S0h June 1861 was eighty
six millions cigh. hundred and thriygs thousard nine
hundred dollars and twentysevsn cents aud the expen.
dures for the same period including payments on ac.
count Of the public debt eighty.four millions five
hundred aud seventy eight thousand and thirty four dol
lars and cents leaving balance in the treas
ury on the st Of Jolly Of two millions two hundred and
6hy-seyen thousand and sxy.dve dollars and eighty
cents Foe the nst quarter Of the financial year, en- J.
ing on the 9O.h September 1861 ths receipts from all
;ncLtdinV tha balance July l. hum