The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGG.

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In the midst of unprecedented political
troubles we have cause Of great gratitude
to God, for unusual good health and most
abundant harvests. You will not be sur
prised to learn that, in the peculiar lexi-
geneies of the times, our intercourse with
foreign nations has been attended with
profound solicitude, chiefly turning upon
our own domestic affairs. A dis oyal por-
ton of the American people have, during
the whole year, been engaged in an at
tempt to divide and destroy the Union.
A nation which endures factious domes-
tic division is exposed to disrespect abroad,
and one party, if not both, is sure sooner
or later to invite foreign Intervention
Nations thus tempted to interfere, are not
alWays able to resist the counsels OF SEEM
ing expediency and ungenerous ambition,
although measures adopted under such in
huences 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 return for the aid and comfort which
they have invoked abroad, have received
less patronage aGd encouragement than
they probably expected Ii it were just
TO suppose, as the insurg, nts have seemed
to assume, that foreign nations, in this
case, discarding all moral, social and
treaty obligations, would act solely and
sel6shiiy for the most speedy restoration
of commerce. especially the acquisition of
cotton, those nations appear as yet not to
have seen their way to their object more
directly or clearly through the destruction
shan through the preservation of the
Union.
IF we could dare to believe that foreign
nations are actuated by no higher princi
ple than this, am quite sure sound
argument could be made to show them
that they can reach their aim more readily
and easily by aiding to crash this rebel
lion, than by giving encour agement to it.
The principal lever relied on by the iusur
gents for exciting foreign nations to hos
tility against as, as already intimated, is
the embarrassment of commerce Those
nations, however, not imprebably saw
from the first, that it was the Union which
made as well our foreign as cur domestic
commerce. hey can scarcely have fall
ed to perceive that the effort fer disunion
produces the existing difficulty, and that
one strong nation promises more durable
peace and more extensive and reliable COM
merce, than can the same nation br oxen 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 Govern
nent, mainly depended not upon them,
but on the loyalty, virtue, patriotism and
intelligence of the American people.
The correspondence itself, with the
usual reservations, is herewith submitted.
venture to hope it will appear that we
have practised prudence and liberality
towards foreign Powers, ayerting causes
of irritation, and with frmness maintain
ing our own rights and honor. Since,
however, it is apparent that here, as in
every other State, foreign dangers neces-
sarily attend domestic difficulties, reco-
mend that adequate and ample measures
be adopted for maintaining the public de
fenses on every side. While under this
general recommendation provisions for de-
Tending our sea-coast line occur to the
mind, / also, in the same connection, a>k
the attention of Congress to our great
lakes and rivers
1t is believed that some fortifcations
and depots of arms and munitions, with
harbor and navigation improvements, all
at we'll selected points upon these, would
be of great Importance to the national de-
fence and preservation.
I ask attention to the views of the Sec
retary Of War, expressed in his report
upon the same general subject. deem it
of Importance that the loyal regions of
East Tennessee and Western North Caro-
lima should be connected with Kentucky
and other faithful parts of the Union by
railroad.
I therefore recommend, as a military
measure, that Congress provide for the
construction of such road as speedily as
possible. Kentucky, no doubt, will CO.
operate and, through her Legislature.
make the most judieious selection of a
line. The northern terminus must con-
meet with some existing railroad, and
whether the route shall be from Lexington
or Nicholasville to the Cumberland Gap,
or from Lebanon to the Tennessee line, in
the direction of Knoxville, or on some
still different plan, different line can
readily be determined Kentucky and
the General Government cooperating, the
work can be completed IN a very short
time, and, when done, it will be not only
of vast present usefulness, but, also, a
valuable permanent improvement, worth
is cost in all the future.
Some treaties, designed chiefly for the
interests of commerce, aud having no
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