The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

FsllotV Citizens, of the Senate and House
of Representatives: z 3.',s,,2
: s'-InI,he midst Of unprecedented political
troubles, we have cause Of great gratitude
to- God for unusual good health and a
most abuDdeht harvest. You will Eot be
surprised to learu that. in the exigencles
OF the times, our intercourse with foreign
nstions1ias been attended with profound
solicitude,, chiefly turning aponaour own
domestic affairs. ,r.
A disloysl portion Of tie American peo:
bic nave, during the whule year, been en-
gagged in an attempt 10 destroy the Union.
A nation which endures factions aud do
mestic divisions, is exposed to disrespeot
abroad, sa6d one party or both is sure
sooner OF later to invoke the Intervention
offofsien nations. Those tempted to In
teriere are not always able TO resist the
oonnsels Of seeming expediency and Ut
geherops ambition; although measures a,
dop,ed under. such influences seldom fail
to Be unfortunate and injurious 10 those
adopting them. , y r. 31s ~ Z,
The disloyal citizens Of the United
States who have offered the ruin of our
country in reward for the aid and comfort
which they have invoked abroad. have re-
oeiyed less patronage and encouragement
than they probably expected. If itwere
lust 10 suppose, as the insurgents have
sssmsd 10 assume, that foreign nations, N
this case, disregarding all moral, socla
andstreaty obligations, would SGT solely
and seldshly for the most speedy res'ora
ton Of commerce. including, specially
the acquisition of cotton. those nations
appear as yet not to have seen their wa!
to their object more directly or clearly
through the Obstruction than through th
preservation Of the Union. ~
If we could dare TO believe that foreigl
nations are acluatsd by no higher princl
pl5-than this, am quite sure a secon
argument could be made to show theI
that they could resch their aim more read
fly and easily by aiding to crush ttis rt
bsllicn, than by giving encouragement I
the principal lever relied on by the e1
citing of foreign nations to hostility
gaiust us, as already intimated, in the en-
barrassmept Of commerce.
Those nations. however. not improbl
bly, saw from the 6rst. that il wss u
Union which made our foreign as well
ourdomestic commercs. They can scare
lyfail 10 perceive that the effort for di
union produces the existing difficulty .ar
that one strong nation promises more d.
rable peace. aud q more extensive, valu
BILE aud reliable commerce, than can 81
same nation broken into hostile fra
insets. sN !.
1T 10 not my purpose to review our di
6nssious with foreign States; becap
whatever might be their wishes or disp
sitions, the integrity Of our country, a
the stability of our Government. matr
depends, NOT upon them, hut upon !
oyaty, patriotism, virtue and intelligen
Of the American people. The correspc
dsace itself. with the usual reserystio
is herewith submitted. I venture to he
twill appear that We have practicsd p
dence aud liberality towards torelgn po
erSe avoiding causes Of irritation, .
with fifmness maintaining our own rig
audlhouor.l Il
Since, however, it is apparent that he
as ID every other State, foreign dang
nScsSSAriiy attend domss,iO dificultisl
recommend that, adequate and sm
meaSdteS De adopted for mafntsinipg.
public defsnses, on every side. VI
uuder this general recommendation |
Visiops for defending ouf coast line res'
occurs 10 the mind, ! also; in the q
eobSsetiou, aak The attention Of Gong,
To- our. great lskes and rivers. ss
TITS believed that some foftiticati
aud,depots OF arms and munitions.
harbor and navigation improvement
we'll selected points upon these, woult
y Of great Importance to the national
Tense and preservation. | ask atten
to the views Of the Secretary Of war,