Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-10
OLD ABR'S MESSAGII.
Es1zs,c- Citizens Of the Senate
and House of Representatives:

and House Of Representatives:
In the midst of unprecedented poiti-
cal troubles, we have cause of great graf
itude to God for unusual good health
and most abundant harVests.
You will not be surprised to learn that,
in the peculiar eXigencies of the times,
our intercourse with foreign nations has
been attended with profound solicitude,
chiefly turning upon our own domestic
affairs. A disloyal part of the American
people have, during the whole year, been
engaged in an attempt to divide and
destroy the Union. A nation which
endures factious domestic divisions, lis
exposed to disrespcct abroad; and one
party, or both, is sure, sooner or later, to
invoke foreign Intervention. Nations
thus tempted to interfere are not always
able to resist counsels of seeming expo
diency and ungenerous ambition, al
though measures adopted under such
influences seldom fail to be unfortu-
nate 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 COM
fort which they have invoked abroad,
have received less patronage and encour-
agement than they probably expected.
If it were just to suppose, as the insur
gents 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 restoration of commerce, in
Guiding especially the acquisition of cot
tom fh0Sa nafinno amman rot not 40 ho NO
seen their way to their object more di-
rectly 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, l am quite sure Sc
cond 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 en-
couragement to the principal lever relied
on by the exciting of foreign nations to
hostility against us, as already intimated,
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 scarcely
fail TO perceive that the effort for disunion
produced the existing difficulty, and that
one strong nation promises more durable
peace, and a more extensive, valuable
and reliable commerce than can the same
nation, broken into hostile fragments. 1t
is not my purpose to review our discus
sions with foreign States: because, what
ever might be their wishes or dispositions,
the integrity of our country and the sta
bility of our government mainly depends
not upon them, but upon the loyalty, pat
riotism, virtue and intelligence of the
American people.
The correspondence itself, with the
usual reservations, is herewith submit tied
venture to hope it will appear that we
have practiced prudence and liberality
toward foreign powers, averting causes of
irritation, and with firmness maintaining
our own rights and honors. Since, how
ever, it is apparent that here, as in every
other State foreign dangers necessarily
attend domestic difficulties, / recommend
that ample and adequate measures be
adopted for maintaining the public de-
tense on every side. While under this
general recommendation, provisions for
defending our coast line readily occur to
the mind. 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 munitions, with harbor and naviga-
ton improvements at well selected points
upon these, would be of great importance
to the national defense and preservation.
ask attention to the views of the Secre-
tary of War, expressed in his report upon
the same general subject.
I 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 l, therefore, recon-
mend that Congress provide for the con-
struction of such road as speedily as
possible. Kentucky 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 Licking
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 Government
cooperating, the work can be completed
in very short time, and when done, it
will not only be of astpresent usefulness
but also an available permanent improve
ment worth its cost in all the future.
Some treaties designed chiefly for the
interest of commerce and having 40
grave political Importance, have been ne
gotiated and will be submitted to the
Senate for their consideration, Although