Indiana State sentinel., 1861-12-04

/
bles 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 pc
culiar exigencies of the times our intercourse
with foreign nations has been attended with
profound solicitude, chiefly turning upon
our own domestic affairs. A disloyal portion of
the American people have, during the whole year,
been engaged in an attempt TO divide and destroy
1 the Union-a nation which endures factions, do
mestic divisions, is exposed to disrespect abroad,
and one party both is sure, sooner or later. to
invoke foreign intervention Nations thus tempt
ed to interfere, are not always able TO resist the
counsels of seeming expediency and ungeDerous
ambition, although measures adopted under such
influences seldom fail to be unfortunate. and
injurious to those adopting them. The disioy-
al citizens of the United States, who have offered
the ruin of our country in reward for the aid and
comfort which they have envoked abroad, have
received less patronage and encouragement than
they probably expected. IL it were just to sup
pose, as t.le insurgents have seemed to assume,
that foreign nations in this case disregarding all
moral, social and treaty obligations, would act
solely and selfshly for the most speedy restora-
ton of commerce, including specially the acquisi
ton of cotton, these nations appear vet not to
have seen their way to the object more directly or
clearly through the destruction than through the
preservation of the Union. If we could dare to
believe that foreign nations are actuated by
no higher principle than this, / am quite sure a
second argument could be made to show them
that they could reach their aim more readily and
easily bv aiding to crush this rebellion than by
giving encouragement to the principal lever relied
on bv the exciting of foreign nations to hostility
against US, already intended, il the embarrass-
ment of commerce. Those nations, however,
not improbably saw from the first that it was the
Union which made well our foreign as our do
mestic commerce. They can scarcely fail to
perceive that the effort for disunon produces the
existing difficulty, and that one strong nation
promises more durable peace and more exten-
sive, 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 disposi-
tions the integrity of our country and the stabil-
ity of our Government mainly depends not upon
them but upon the loyalty. patriotism, virtue and
intelligence of the American people. The cor
respondence itself, with the usual reservations, is
| herewith submitted. / venture TO hope il will
appear that we have practised prudence and liber-
ality toward foreign Powers, averting causes of
irritation, and with frmneSs maintaining our own
rights and honor. Since, however, it is apparent
that here as in every other State foreign dangers
necessarily attend domestic difficulties, rec
Ommend that adequate and ample measures
be adopted for maintaining the public defenses
on every side, while under this general recommen
dation provision for defending our coast line
readily occurs to the mind aud also in the same
connection ask the attention Of Congress to our
great lakes and rivers. 1t is believed that
some Notifications and depots of arms and mu-
nitions with harbor and navigation improve
ments at well selected points upon these, would
be of great Importance to the national defense
and preservation, and ask attention to the views
of the Secretary of War expressed in his report
upon the same general subject. deem it of i'm
portance that the loyal regions of East Ten
nessee and Western North Carolina should
be connected with Kentucky and other faith
full parts OF the Union, by railroads. | there
fore recommend. as military measure
that Congress provide tor the construction of
such road as speedily as possible Kentucky
will. no doubt, cooperate, and through her legis-
lature make the most judicious selection of the
line. The northern terminus must connect with
some existing railroad. and whether the road
shall be from Lexington or Nicholasville to Cum
berland Gap, or from Lebanon to- the Tennessee
line in the direction of Knoxville, or some still
different line, can easily be determined. Ken
tucky and the General Government cooperating
the work can be completed in a very short time
and when done, it will not only be of vast pres
ent usefulness, but also 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 viii
be submitted the Senate for their consideration
Although have failed to induce some of the
commercial powers TO adopt desirable meo
ration for the rigor of maritime war, we have
far removed all the obstacles from the way ol
their humane reform, except such as are mere
ly OF temporary and accidental occurrence
invite your attention to the correspondence be
tween Her Britain: Majesty's Minister, accred
tied to this Government, and the Secretary o.
State, relative to the detention of the British shin
Perthshire, in June last, by the United States
steamer Massachusetts for a supposed breaking o
the blockade. As this detention was received
by an obvious misapprehenson of the facts, anC
as justice required that we should commit nc
belligerent act, not founded in strict right a.
sanctioned by public law, | recommend that an
Appropriation be made to satisfy the reasonabl,
demand of the owners of the vessel for her de
tention.
| repeat the recommendation of my predeces
sor in his annual message to Congress in Decem
Der last i'm regard TO the disposition of the surplus
which will probably remain after satisfying the
claims of American citizens against China, pur
suant to the awards of the Commissioners, under
the act of the Sd of March, 1859.
1T, however, it should not be deemed ad
visable to carry that recommendation into eff
feet, i would suggest that authority be giver
for investing the principal over the surplu:
referred 10 in good securities, with view to the
ratification OF such other just claim of our cit
zens against China, as are not unlikely to arise
hereafter in the of our extensive trade
with that Empire By the Act of the 5th of Au
gust last, Congress authorized the President tC
instruct the commanders or suitable vessels tc
defend themselves against, and TO capture pi-
rates. This authority has been exercised in a
single instance only. For the more effectua pro
lection OF QUO extensive and valuable commerce
in the eastern seas especially it seelas to me that
it would also be advisable to authorize the com.
manderS of sailing vessels to recapture any prize.
which pirates may make Of IT, States vessels ant
their cargoes, and the Consular Courts estab
iished by law IN Eastern countries to adudicatt
the cases in the event that this should not be 0b
jected 10 by the local authorities. If any good
reason exists why we should persevere longer in
withholding our recognition of the independence
and sovereignty of Hayti and Liberia, am
unable to discern it. Unwilling however, tc
in1ugurdte novel policy in regard to them
without the appreciation of Congress, submit
for your consideration the expediency of an appro
priatIon for maintaining Charge dAffaire.
near each of these States. Ii does not ad
init of doubt that important commercial ad
vantages might be secured by favorable trea
ties NTH them. The operations of the treas
ury. during the period which has elapsed
since your au1OurnmeUt, have been conducted
with signal success The patriotism of the peo
pie has placed at the disposal of the Government
the large means demanded by the public exigen
cies. Much Of the national loan has been taken b,
citizens of the industrial classes whose confidence
in their countrys faith, and zeal for their country
deliverance from its present peril have induced
them % contribute to the support of the Govern
nent the whole of their limited acquisitions Th.
fact imposes peculiar obligations to econom,
in disbursement and energy in action. Tn,
revenue from all sources, including loans
for the financial year ending on the 30ti
of June, 1861, was S56.S35. 800 "a, and tn,