The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-12-06

III INC HitNt unprecedented loii'-N"'
troubles. VT have cause Of great gratitude to
God fer unusual good health and most a
buuGa:.t harve>ts.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
You will not be surprised to learn that, IL
tI, p.cr.liar cXi-ei.,es oi the times our inter
course with foreign nations has been attend
ed with profound soIicitute. chiefly turning
upon our cwn domestic affairs. y dlsloyal
portion q. the American people have. during
the whole year. been engaged in an attempt
10 divide AID destroy tn Union. i nation
which endures factions and domestic divis-
ioas is exposed to disrespect abroad. and one
party, i not both is sure sooner or later to
invoke foreign intervention. Nations thus
tempted 10 intcrit re are rot always able t.
resist the coun>els Of seeming eXpedlency and
ungenerous ambition. although measures d
doptel under such Influences seldom fail t"
be unfortunate and Injurious to those adopt
ING then. The disloyal citzeEs os the Unit
ed States. who nave offered the ruin CT our
country in return for the aid and comfort
which they have invoked abroad, have re-
c-iyed less patronage and encouragement
thar they probably expected, If il were Just
10 suppose, as the insurgents have seemed to
assume, that foreign nations, in this case dis
car,ling all moral, social and treaty obliya-
lions. would act solely and seltishly for the
most speedy restoration Of commerce. nclud-
ing especially the acquisition Q! cctt0n.-
Those nations appear as yet not to have seen
their way to their object more directly or
clearly through the destruction than through
the preservation Of the Union. II We could
.larc to believe that foreign nations are actu-
ated by 20 higher principle than this. am
quite sue a sound argument could be made.
10 SLOW them that they can reach their aim
more readily and easily by aiding to crush
this rebellion, than by giving encouragement
10 II.
The principal lever relied on by :he insur-
gents for exciting foreign nations to hostility
against US. as already intiinated, is the en-
barra>>ment Of commerce. Those nations,
however, not imDrobably saw from the inst
that it was the Union which made, as well
our foreign. as our domestic commerce.
They can scarce have failed TO perceive that
the effort for Gi>unlon produces the existing
difficulty. AID that one strong nation promls-
es more durable peace. and more extensive.
valuable and reliable commerce, than Can the
same nation broken into hostile fragments.
1t is not mr. purpose TO review our discus
sion with foreign states. becauSe, whatever
might be our wishes and dispositions. the in
tegriiy Of our country and the ability of our
government mainly depend not upon them.
but on the loyalty. virtue. patriotism and in
teiligeuce of the American people. The cor
responGt nee itself. with the usual reServa-
tons. is herew ith submitted. venture to
hope it Will appear that We have pra(tced
prudence and liberaty towards foreign pow
ers. avertng causes of irritation. and with
tirmness maintaining our own rights aid no.
nor Since. however, it is apparent that
here. as in every other state, tpre IN dangers
necessarily attend domestic. recommend
that adequate and ample measures be adopt
ed for maintaining the public detenses on ev-
cry side. while under this recommendation
provision for defending cur coast line readi
" occurs to the mind. also in the sam.
connection ask the attention Of Congress t.
our great lakes and rivers. 1t is believed
that some Notifications. depotS of arms ant
munitions. with hdrbor and navigation i'm
provements, at well selected points upol
these, would be of great Importance to tn
national defense and preservation. ask at
tention to the views OF the secretary of wal
expressed in his report upon the same gener
al subjects.
Some treaties. designed chiefly for the in
terest OF commerce and having no grave pc
litical importance. have beeen negotiated IAN;
viii be Submitted to The Senate for their con
s!deration. Although We have failed to in
;luce some OF the commercial powers to adop
:. desirable moderation Of the rigUr of mar
time war, We have renewed all obstruction
from the way Of tn, humane reform, excer
such as are merely temporary.
repeat the recommendation of nv predt
cessor. in his annual message to Congress. i
December last in regard to the dispositio
OF the Surplus which will probably remain a
ter satisfying the claims OF American cit
zenS. against China, pursuant to the award
of the commissioners under the act of the :;
O. March. 1879. Ii. however. it should Ii,
be deemed advisable to carry that recommel
dation into effect. would suggest that a,
thoritv De given for investing the prncip
over the proceeds OF the surplus referred L
in good securities, with a view to the sali
faction of sucl. other Just claims of our cit
zens against China as are not unlikely to
rise hereafter in the course Of cur extens!y
trade with that empire.
BY the act OF. the 9TH OF August last, Coz
sress authorized the president to instruct ii
commanders Of suitable vessels to defen
themselves as INST and to capture pirates
This authority has been exercised in singl
instance only. For the more etftctual pr
lection OF our extensive and valuable con
nerce III the eastern seas especially, it seen
to me that It would also be advisable 10 a
thorize the commanders of sailing vessels
recapture any prizes which pirates NAV mai
OF the United States vessels and their ca
goes. and the consular courts established
law in eastern countries. to adjudicate Il
cases, in the event that this should not
objected to by the local authorities.
Ii any good reason exists why We shou
perSevere longer in Withholding our r.cogr
ton Of the independence and sovereignty {
llay:I and Liberia. am unable to discern
Unwilling, however, to inaugurate a nov
policy in regard to them without the Apr
baton OF Congress, submit for Your consi
Grafton the expedicncy of an appropriate
FOR maintaining charge d atfaires near ea
Of these new stitts 1t does not admit {
doubt. that important commercial advanta
es might be secured by favorable treaties wi
them.
NEW WESTERN RAILROAD RECOMMENDED.
l deem II Of importance that the loyal /
glons OF East tennessee and Western Nor
Carolina should be connected with Kentucl
AMI other f.ithf!i parts OF the Mon by ra
road. therefore recon- mend. as a militia
measure, that Congress provide for the co