New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-10
Nem Orlears Dailp Crescent
t TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10. 1851.
L1kcoLN's MEssAGETo THE y. s. CON GREss,
Fellow. Citizens Of the Senate and s. r,- gbs-. ~

Er TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 10. 1851.
L1EcoLN's MEssAGETo THE q. s. CONGRESS,
Fellow. Citizens Of the Senate and ss fe,.- Ibetr-> aT
House of Representatives ts-sl.F
In the midst of unprecedented political troubles
we have cause of. great gratitude to- God for uni
versal good health and most abundant harvests.
ION will not be surprised to learn that in the pc
chiar exigenGies OF the times our intercourse with
foreign nations has been attended with profound
selcilude, chiefly turning upon our domestic af-
fairs. A 9disloyal portion Of the American people
have, during the whole of the year. been engaged
In an attempt to divide and destroy the Union. "A
nation which endures faetious domestic divisions,
IS exposed to disrespect abroad, and one party or
both IS sure sooner or later to invoke foreign
intervention. Nations thus tempted to inter-
fere, are not always able to resist the counses of
seeming expediency and ungenerous ambition, al
though measures adopted under such influences
seldom fail to be unfortunate and injurious to those
adopting them. The disloyal citizens of the
United States who have offered the ruin of our
country in reward for the aid and comfort which
they have invoked abroad, have received less
patronage and encouragement than they probably
expected. II it were just to suppose, as the ia.
surgents have seemed to assume, that foreign ma
tons. in this case disregardng all moral, social
and Treaty obligations, would act solely and sell
fishly for, the most speedy restoration of com
merce, including specially the acquisition Of cot
ton, those nations appear yet not to have seen
their way to their object more directly or clearly
we could dare to believe that foreign nations are
actuated by no higher principle than this, II am
quite sure sound argument could be made to
show them that they could reach their aim more
readily and easily by giving encouragement to the
principal lever relied on, by the exciting of for
eign nations to hostities against us, already init
mated, in the embarrassment of commerce.
Those nations, however. not improbably saw from
the first that it was the Union which made as well
our foreign as our domestic commerce. They can
sCarGGIV fail that the ffnFt
produces the existing difficulties, and one strong
nation promises more durable peace and more
extensive, valuable and reliable commerce 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 dispositions, the integrity Of our
country and the stability of our Government main
ly depend, not upon them, but upon the loyalty,
patriotism virtae and intelligence of the American
people, The correspondence itself, with the usual
reservations, is herewith submitted. 1venture to
hope that it will appear that we have practieed
prudence and liberality toward foreign powers,
averting causes of irritation and with firmness
maintaining our own rights aM power. Since,
however, it is apparent that here, as in every other
State, foreign dangers necessarily attend domestic
difficulties, recommend that adequate and ample
measures be adopted for maintaining the public de-
fenses on every side.
While under this general Recommendation, pro-
visions for defending our coast line readily occur
to the mind,l also, in the same connection, ask
the attention of Congress to our great lakes and
rivers 1t is believed that some Notifications and
depots o." arms and munitions, with harbor and
navigation improvements, as we'll 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 same general question. s
deem it 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. !, there
f1ra
gTess provide for the construction of such road
as speedily as possible. Kentucky will, no doubt,
cooperate, and through her Legislature make the
most Judiclous selection of the line The northern
terminus must connect with some existing rail
road, but whether the route shall be from Lexng
ton or Nicholasville to Cumberland Gap, or from
Lebanon to the Tennessee line in the direction of
Knoxville, or some still different line, can easily
be determined. Kentucky and the General Gov
ernment cooperating, the work can be completed
IN very short time, and when done. it will not
only be 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 i'm
portanee have been negotiated, and will be sub
mitted to the Senate for their consideration. AL
though we have failed to induce some of the com
merclal powers to adopt desirable melioration
Tor the rlgor OF maritime war, we have far removed
all the obstacles from the way of their humane re-
form, except such as are merely of temporary and
accidental occurrence. Invite your attention to
the correspondence between Her Britannia Males.
ty's Minister accredited to this Government, and
the Secretary OF State relative to the detention of
the British ship Perthshire, in June last, by the
United States steamer assachusetts, for a sup
posed breach of the blockade. AS this detention
was occasloned by an obvious misapprehenson of
the facts, and as justice requires that we should
commit no .belligerent act not founded in strict
right as sanctioned by public law, I recommend
that an appropriation be made to satisfy the rea-
sonabie demand of the owner of the vessel for her
detention.
/ repeat the recommendation of my predecessor,
in his annual message to Congress in December
last, in regard to the disposition of the surplus
which will probably remain after satisfying the
claims OF American citizens against China, pursuant
to the award OF the commissioners, under the act
of the Sd March, 1850. If, however, it should not
be deemed advisable to carry that recommenda-
toni into effect, would suggest that authority be
given for investing the principal over the surplus
referred to in good securities with view to the
satisfaction OF such other just claims of our citizens
against China as are not unlikely to arise here
after in the course of our trade with that Empire.
By the act of the 9th of August last, Congress
authorized the President to instruct the command
ers OF suitable vessels to defend themselves against
and to capture pirates. This authority has been
exercised in a single instance only. ,. .... q.
For the more eifectual protection of our exten-
slVe and valuable commerce in the eastern seas
especially, it seems that it would be advisable to
capture any prizes which pirates mey make of
United States vessels and their cargoes, and the
consular courts established by law in the eastern
countries. to adjudicate the cases, in the event
that this should not be objected to by the legal
authorities. 49, K
If any good reason exists why we should per-
sist longer in Withholding our recognition of the
independence and sovereignty of Hayti and Lii
beria l am unable to discover it. Unwilling how
ever, to inaugurate novel policy in regard to
them without the appreciation of Congress, sub
init for your consideration the expediency of an
appropriation for maintaining a charge d'affaires
near each of those States It does not admit, of
doubt thatimportant commercial advantages might
be secured by favorable treaties with them.
The operations of the Treasury during the period
which has elapsed since your adjournment have
been conducted with signal success. The patriot
ism OF the people has placed at the disposal of
the Government the large means demanded by the
public exigences. Much Of the national loan has
been taken by citizens Of the industrial classes
whose confidence in their country's faith and zeal
for their countrys deliverance from the present
peril, have induced them to contribute to the sup
port of the Government the whole of their limited
acquisitions This fact imposes peculiar obliga-
tions to economy in disbursement and energy in
action. The revenue from all sources, including
loans for the financial year ending on the seth Of
June, 1861, was $S6,S35, 900 II, and the expendi-
lures for the same period, including payment on
account of the public debt, were SS4,57S ,03I "a
leaving balance in the Treasury on the lst of
July, of $2,257065 so for the first quarter of the
financial year. ending 30th September, 1861 The
rpnpiDtS from all jppIudiup tha haIa o,t