The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-12-13
PRESIDElT'S lIESSiGB.

FeIi0w Citizens Of tie Senate and House Of
Representatives.
In the midst of unprecedented political ltou-
bIes, We have cause of great gratitude 10 God
for unusual good health and most abundant har-
vests. You will not be surprised to learn tda!
IN the peculiar exigencies of the times our in
tercourse with foreign nations has been attend
ed with profound socude, 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 the UnIOn. A nation which
endures tactl0us domestic divisions is exposed
10 disrespect abroad, and one party, if not both,
IS sure sooner or later to invoke foreign inter-
ventIOn. Nations thus tempted to interfere are
not always able TO resist the counseIs of SEEM
ing expedency and angenerous ambition, al
though measures adopted under such Influences
seldom fail TO be unfortunate and injurious TO
those adopting them.
The dsloyal citizens of the Uni,ed States,
who have offered the ruin of our country in re-
turn Tor the aid and comfort which they have
invoked abroad, have received less patronage
and encouragement than they probably expect
ed. It 1t were jus. to suppose, as the insur-
gents have seemed to assume, that foreign ma
t51a5, ~ Ills CISa, dtsEar4;IG al ,t-ft, aJTsa3
and treaty obligations, would act solely and sell
fishY for the most speedy restoration OF COM
merce, including especially the acquisition OF
cotton, those nations appear, as yet, not to have
seen their way to their objec! more directly or
clearly through the distraction than through
the preservation of the Union. If we could
dare 10 believe that foreign nations are actuated
by 40 higher principle than this am quite sure
a sound argument could be made 10 show them
that they can reach their aim more readily and
easily by aiding to crush this rebellion than by
giving encouragement 10 it. The principal Ie-
yer relied on by the insurgents for exciting for
rign nations TO hostility against us, as already
Intimaled, is the embarrassment Of commerce.
Those nations, however, not ImPro5abiy, saw
from the first that It was the union which made
as we'll our foreign as our domestic commerce
They can scarcely have failed to perceive that
he effort tor disunioH produces the existing dIf-
fiCulty, and that one strong nation promises
more durable peace and more extensive, vaua-
Bile and reliable commerce than can the same
nation broken into hostile fragments. 1t is not
my purpose TO review Our discussions with for
eigu states, bpcause whatever might be their
wishes or dispositions, the integrity of our coun-
try and the stability Of Government mainly de-
pend, not upon them, bu' on the loyalty, virtue,
patriotism aud Intelligence OF the American
people The correspondence itself, with the
usual reservations, is herewith submitted. |
venture to hope that IT will appear that we have
pTacticed prudence and Iiberality towards for
eIgn powers. avertDg causes OF irritation, and
with fFmness maintaining our own rights and
honor. Since, however, II Is apparent that here
as IN every other state, foreign dangers neces-
sauly attend domestic difficulties ! recommend
that adequate and ample MEASURES BE- adopted
for maintaining the public defeuses on every
side. while under this general recommended
ton provision for defending our sea coast line
ALREADY occurs to the mind, | also, in the same
connection, ask the attention OF Congress TO our
great lakes and rivers. 1t is believed that some
toSt'ucalons and dppols Of arms and munitions,
w,th harbor and navigation Improvements, all
at we'll seietied points upon these, would be of
great importance TO the national defence aud
preservation.
ask attention TO the views OF the Secretary
OF War expressed in his report upon the same
general subject. dee m 1t of importance that
the loyal regions of East Tennessee and West
ern North Carolina should be connected with
Kentucky and other faithful parts of the Union
hy railroad. therefore recommend, as mil
nary measure, that Congress pToVlde ioT tue
construction OF such road as speedily as pos
sble. Kentucky no doubt will cooperate, and
through her Legislature make the most jndlclous
selection OF line. The northern terminus
muat connect with some existing railroad, and
whether the route shall be from Lexington or
Nicholasvile TO the Cumberland Gap, or from
Lebanon to the Tennessee line in the direction
of Knoxville, or on some still different line, can
easily be determined. Kentucky and the gem
eral government cooperating, the work can be
completed IN very short time, and when done
1t will be not only of vas: present usefulness,
but also valuable permanent improvement,
worth its cost in all the temporary future.
Some treaties, designed chiefly for the inter-
ests OF commerce, aud having no grave poIitl-
cal Importance lave been negotiated and will