Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-04
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PRESIDENTS MEssAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate

ln the midst Of unprecedented political trou
bles we have cause Of great gratitude to Go
for unusual good health and most abundant har.
vests. a1
You will not be surprised to learn that in th
peculiar exlgencies OF the tines our intercours
with foreign nations has been attended will
profound solicitude, chiefly turning upon ou
own domestic affairs
A disoyal portion of the American ueopl
have during the whole year been engaged in Of
attemptto divide and destroy the Union.
nation which endures factious domestic
divisions, is exposed to d!srespect abroad
and one party, or both, is sure soone
or later TO invoke foreign intervention. :
Nations thus tempted to interfere are no
always able to resist the counsels of seemi ne
expediency and ungenereus ambition, although
measures adopted under such Influences seldom
fail TO be unfortunate and uniniurious to thos,
adopting them. The disloyal citizens OF th,
United States who have offered the ruin of ouI
country In reward for the aid and comfort which
they have invoked abroad, have received lesl
patronage and encouragement than they proba
bly, expected, lfit werejust to suppose, as thu
Insurgents have seemed TO assume, that foreign
nations in this case disregardiDg all moral, 80
cial and treaty obligations, would act solely
and selisbly 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 object more direct
ly or clearly Though the destruction than
through the preservation of the Union.
| II we could dare to believe that foreign ma.
tons are actuated by no higher principles than
this, am quite sure a sound argument could
be made to show them that they could reach
their aim more readily and easily by aiding to
crush this rebellion, than by giving encourage
ment to the principal lever relied on for the ex.
citing of foreign nations to hoetilities against
us, as already intimated In the embarrassment
of commerce. Those nations, however, not
| limprobably saw from the frat that It was the
Union which made as well our foreign
as our domestic commerce They can scarcely
fail to perceive that the effort for disunion pro
duces the existing difficulty and that one strong
nation promises more durable peace and more
extensive, valuable and reliable commerce than
can the same nation broken into fragments
is not our purpose to review our discussions
| with foreign states, because whatever might be
their wishee or dispositions, the integrity of our
country and the stability OF our Government
depends, not upon them, but upon the loyalty,
patriotism, virtue and intelligence Of the Amer
lean people.
The correspondence itself, with the usual reser
vations, is herewith submitted. l venture to
hope IL will appear that we have pracliced pru-
dence and liberality toward foreign powers,
ayerting 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, recommend that ade
quste and ample measures be adopted for main
tanning the public detenses on every side; while
kinder this general recommendation provision
for defending our coast line readily occurs TO the
mind, | also in the same connection ask The
attention of Congress to our great lakes and
rivers. ...
Ills believed that some Notifications and de
pots OF arms and munitions, with harbor and
navigation improvements upon these, would be
of great Importance to the National defense
and preservation. ask attention to the views
of the Secretary Of War, expressed in his re.
port upon the same general subject.
Ideem 1t Of importance that the loyal regions
of East Tennessee and Western North Caroli.
ns should be come oted with Kentucky and 9th
er faithful parts of the Union by railroad -
therefore recommend as a necess ary meas
ure, that Congress provide for the CO instruction
of such road as speedily as possible. Ken.
lucky will no doubt co operate, and through her
Legislature make the most judicious selection
of the line. The Northern terminus must con.
meet with some existing railroad, and whether
the route shall be from Lexington or Nichols
vile to Cumberland Gap, or from Lebanon TO
the Tennessee line, in the direction of Knoxville,
or some different line, can easily be determined.
Kentucky and the General Government co-ope-
rating, the work can be completed in a 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 inter-
ests OF commerce, and having no grave polti-
cal Importance, have been negotiated, and will
be submitted to the Sepate for their considera.
tion. Although we have failed to induce some
of the commercial powers to adopt desirable
melioration for the rigor OF maratime war, we
have thus far removed all The obstacles from the
way Of their humane reform, except such as
are OF merely temporary or accidental occur.
renee.
| invite your attention to the correspondence
between Her Britannia Msjesty's Minister &C.
credited 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 Massachusetts,, for q supposed
breach of the blockade. As this detention was
occasioned by an obvious inisspprehension of
the facts, and as Justice requires that we should
commit no belligerent act not founded In strict
right as sanctioned by public law, recommend
that an appropriation be made to satisfy the
reasonable demand of the owners Of the vessel
for her detention.
repeat the Recommendation Of my predeces-
sor in his annual message to Congress in De-
cember last, in regard to the disposition of the
surplus which will probably remain after salts
flying the claims of American citizens against
China, pursuant to the awards of the commits.
sioners under the act of the 30th of March, 1859
If however, it should not be deemed advisable
10 carry that recommendation into effect,
would suggest, that authority be given for in
vesting the principle over the surplus referred
to in good securities with a view TO the salts
faction of such other just claims of our citizens
against China as are not unlikely to arise here
after in the coutse of our extensive trade with
that empire.
By the act of the 9Th OF August last, Con.
gress authorised the President to instruct the
commanders oil suitable vessels to defend them
selves against and to capture pirates This
authority has been exercised In q single ia
stance only. For the more effective projection
Of our extensive and valuable commerce in the
eastern seas especially, it seems TO me that il
would also be advisable to authorize the com
manders Of sailing vessels to re capture any
prizes which pirates may make cf United States
vessels and their cargoes, and the consular
courts established by law ia eastern counties
to adjudicate the cases, In the event that this
should not be objected 90 BY the local authori
ties. ,.t... $500 .. II. I..f.. ,--
II any good reason exists wby we should pee
severe longer in Withholding our recognition OF
the independence and sovereignty of hlyli and
Liberia, | am unable to diecerns it. Unwilling,
however, TO oinaugurate novel policy Ia regard
TO them without the appreciation of Congress,
aubmit for your consideration the expedleueT