The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-04
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

A"iiu uIipfCCilcateO p0ntlcaI tfOuDleo
have great cause Of gratitude to God for VI
usual good health, and mos, abundant harvest<
You will not be surprised to learn that in til
peculiar exigencies OF the times our intercours
with Foreign Nations has been attended wit
profound solicitude, chiefly turning upon on
own domestic affairs A disloyal portion OF tn
American people have, during the whole year
been engaged in an attempt to divide ard de
stroy the Union. A Nation which endure
factious domestic divisions, is exposed to dsre
spect abroad, and one party, ifnot both, is sur
sooner or later to invoke Foreign intervention
Nations thus tempted to interfere are net al
ways able to resist the counscls of seeming ex
ped.cncy and ungenerous ambition, although
such influences seldom fail to be untortunat
aud injurious to those adopting them.
The disloyal citizens Of the United States VIII
have offered the ruin of our country in retur,
for the good and comfort which they hay,
invoked abroad. have received less patronage anc
encouragement than they probably expected
Ii it were just 20 suppose, as the insurgen.
have seemed to assume that Foreign Nations ir
this case, Gisregarding all moral, social anc
treaty obligations, would act solely and selfishly
tor the most speedy restoration of Commerce.
including especially the acquisition CT cotton
those Nations appear as yet not to have seen
their way to their object. more directly or
clearly through the destruction than through
the preservation Of the Union. If we couIa
dare to believe that Foreign Nations a1e &C.
tna'ed by no higher principle than this J. en-
quite s'ro Il second argument could be made
to show them that they can reach their aim
more readily and easily by aiding TO crush this
renell'on than by giving encouragement. The
principle lever relied upon by The insurgents
tor exciting Foreign Nations to hostility ;lgninst
Us as already witnessed is the embarrassment Of
commerce. Those Nations, however, it is no,
Improbable, saw from the first that it was the
Union which made as we'll our Foreign as our
Domestic Commerce. They can scarcely fail
TO perceive that the eff,rt for dst,non produces
the existing difficulty. and that ore strong
Nation promises more durable peace, and a.
mere extensive and reliable commerce thar can
the same Nation broken into hostile fragments.
IL =; Is not my purpose to review discussions with
fofelgn States because whatever might be their
wishes or dispositions, the integrity ofour Coun-
try ard stability Of our government dcnendS
nos upon them, but upon the loyalty, virtue,
patriotism End intelligence Of the American
people. The correspondence itself with the
usual resorvatlCbe. is herewith transmitted. T
venture to hope it will appear that we have
practiced prudence and Aberalty towards For
elgn powers, avoiding causes of irritation. and
with flrmness maintaining our own rights and
honor.
Since, however, it is apparent that here, as
IN every other State, foreign dangers necessarily
attend domestic difficulties. | recommend chat
adequate and ample measures hc zdopted for
maintaining the public defences on every side.
Vhlle, under this general recommends ,icn. pro-
'lslon for defending our coast lines reaAiyv az.
,ur to the mind
also in the same connection ask the at,an.
ion of Congress to our great lakes and rivers,
t IL believed that some Qualifications with har.
'or and navigation improvements at we'll Sc
ecsed points, would be of great importance to
ne National defence and preservation.
ASK attention to the views of the Secretary
War, expressed in his report upon the same
eneral subject. deem it of importance that ,
ne loyal regions of EastTennessee and Western ,
forth Carolina should be connected with Ken.
'cSy and other faithful parts of the Union bv J
abroad. | therefore recommend AZ q mil;arv
easure, that Congress provide for the copstrpc ,
on OF such road as speedily as possible. =
kentucky will no doubt cooperate, and. t
'rouSh her Legislature, rake the most sdic- =
us selection OF line. The Northern business t
uSo connect with some existing railroad, and v
neither The route Shall be from Lexington pr C
'choidsVllle to the Cumberland Gay, or from C
'Dahon 10 the tennessee line in the direction
knoxville, or IN Some still different hne, can S
silly be determined. |
Kentucky and the general Government co. a.
Grating, the work can be completed in IL very l,
ort time, and when done it viii be, nos onlv y
a|.,I,, b.
rmanent improvement, worth its cost IA all &
e future. -
Some treaties designed chiefly G,r the inter 81
IS Vi commerce ana having no political imp0r- II
nee have been negotiated and will he submitted u
the Senate for their consideration. Though o
; have Jailed to induce some of the commercial u
wcrs to adop, desirable meliaratlon of the !
5or OF maratime war we nave removed all oh. u
'uctlons from the way of this humane reform. ii
cept such us are merely of tempo and u
, trust short duration. +,
1 repeat the recommendation of nv predeces ii
in his annual message to Congress IN Decem. r,
r last. IN regard to the disposition of the sur
Us winch will probably remain after satisfying Of
claims OF American ciizens against China. u
rsuant 10 the awards Of the commissioners nm o.
r the act Of the Sd Of March, 1850. If, how {,
er, 1t should not be deemed advisable TO car,y Ii
ut recommendation int effect. would suc i i
st that authority be given for investing the a.
lnclpal over the proceeds of the surplus refer ii
4 to IN good securities, with a view to the sat- h
action of such other just claims Of our citizens u
ainst China as are not unlikely 60 arise here q
Ter ID the course of our extensive trade with G,
at empire. J
BY the act of the 9Th of Auguss last Con- |,
ess authorized the president to instruct the O
OF suitable vessels to defend them
ives against and 10 capture pirates. This au- c