St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellop Citizens Of The Senate and House
Of Representatives: ,... .~t


Fello,o Citizens Of The Senate an House
Of Representatives.: ....... .~'
In the midst OF unorecedented 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 exisen-
cies ofthe times, our intercourse with for
eign nations has been attended with pro.
found solicitude chiefly turning upon our
own domestic afairs. A disloypl 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 factious domestic divisions, is ex-
posed to disrespect abroad, aud one party
or both, is sure, sooner or later, to invoke
foreign Intervention. -
Nations thus tempted to interfere arc
not always able tc resist the counsels of
seeming expediency and ungcnerous ambl-
tion, although measures adopted under
such influences seldom fail to be unfortu-
nate and injurious to those adopting them
The disloyal citizens Of the United States,
offered the ruin Of our country in reward
for the aid and comfort which they have
invoked, have received less patronage and
encouragement than they probably expect
ed if it were just to suppose, as the insur-
gents have seemed to assume, that foreign
nations, in this case, disregarding all NOR
al, social and treaty obligations, would not
act solely and sel6shly for the most speedy
restoration OF commerce, including espec-
tally the acquisition of cotton. Those na-
! tions appear as yet not to have seen their
way to their object more directly or clear
ly Il rough the destruction, than through
tie preservation of the Union.
II we could dare to believe that foreign
nations are actuated by no higher princi-
pie than this, ! am quite sure second ar
gument 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 encouragement to the prin-
cipal lever relied on, by the exciting of
foreign nations to hostility against us, as
already intimated is the embarrassment Of
commerce. Those nations, however, not
improbably saw from the first that it was
the Union which made as we'll our foreign
as our domestic commerce. They can
scarcely fail to perceive that the effort for
disunion produces the existing difficulty,
and that one strong nation promises more
durable peace, and more extensive, val
liable and reliable commerce than can the
same nation broken into hostile fragments.
| 1t is not my purpose to review our DIS
cussions 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 depend
not upon them, but upon the loyalty, pa
triotism, virtue and intelligence Of the
American people. The correspondence it.
self, with the usual reservations, is here
with submitted.
venture to hope it will appear that we
have practised prudence and liherality to-
ward foreign powers, averting causes of
irritation, and with 6rmness, maintaining
our own rights and honor. Since, how
ever, it is apparent that there, as in every
other State, foreign dangers necessarily at
tend domestic difficulties, / recommend
that adequate and ample measures 57 adopt
cd for maintaining the pnoiic defences on
! every side, while under this general rec
ommendation provision for defending our
coast line, readily occurs to the mind.
Also, in the same connection I ask the
attention of Congress to our great lakes and
rivers. 49,. ..l.<..
1t is believed that some Notifications and
depots Of arms aud munitions, with harbor
and navigation improvements at well select
ed points upon these would be Of great
Importance to the national defence and
preservation. I ask attention to the views
Of the Secretary of War, US 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 I therefore recon-
mend as military measure that Congress
provides for the construction of such a
road as speedily as possible. .. ..,~ y
Some treaties designed chiefly for the
interests Of commerce, and having no grave
political Importance, have been negotia-
ted, and will be submitted to the Senate
for consideration. Although we have fail,
ed to induce some OF the commercial pow
ers to adopt desirable reformation for
the vigor Of marine war, we hav, far remov:
ed all the obstacles from the way Of their
humane reform, except as are merely OF
temporary and accidental occurrence. :..-..
Invite your attention to the correspond
ence between Her Britannia Majesty 5
Minister, accredited to this Government
and the Secretary of State, rel4tive to the
detention Of tho British ship Perthshire,