Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-06
:OomrmaI anu Atatesmrarr
Friday Morning, December 8. 1881.
The Presidents Message.

for unusual good health and most abundant
harVests.
a You will not be surprised to learn that, ia the
peculiar exigenoies of the times, our intercourse
with foreign nations has been attended with pro
found solictude, chiefly turning upon our own
domestic affairs A disloyal portion of the Anne,
rican people have, during the whole year, been
engaged in IN attempt to divide and destroy the
Union.
A nation which endures factous domestic
division is exposed to disrespect abroad, and one
party, If not both, is sure, sooner or later, to
invoke foreign Intervention. Nations thus tempt,
ed to Interfere are not always able to resist the
counsels of seeming expediency and ungeuerous
ambition, although measures adopted under such
influences seldom fail to be unfortunate, and in
furious to those adopting them.
The dislOyal citizens of the United States who
have offered the ruin of our country in return
for the aid and comfort which they have invoked
abroad, have received less patronage and encour-
agement than they probably expected. If ii were
Just TO suppose, as the insurgents have seemed
TO assume, that foreign nations in this case dis
cardipg all moral. social, and treaty obligations,
would act solely and sefshly for the most speedy
restoration Of commerce, including especially
the acquisition Of cotton, these 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 dare 10 believe that foreign nations are
actuated by no higher principle than this, nm
quite sure o sound argument could be made to
show them that they eau reach their aim more
readily and easily by aiding to crush this rebel
lion than by giving encouragement to it. The
principal lever relied on by the insurgents for
exciting foreign nations to hostility against us,
as nlrendy inlimated, is the embarrassment of
commerce. These nations, however, not i'm
probably saw from the first that ii was the Union
which made as well our foreign as our domestic
commerce. They can scarcely have failed TO
perceive that the effort for disunion produces
the existing difficulty, and that one strong nation
promises more durable peace, and more extern
slve and valuable commerce, than can the same
broken into hostile fragments. 1t is not my
purpose to review our discussions with foreign
Stntes, because whatever might be their wishes
or dispositions, the integrity of our country,
and the stability of our Government mainly de-
pend not upon them, hut ON the loyalty, virtue,
patriotism, and intelligence Of the American
people.
Tho correspondence itself, with the usual
reservations, is herewith submitted. venture
to hope 1t will appear that we have practsed
prudence and liberaty towards foreign Powers
avoiding causes of irritation, and with frmuess
maintaining our own rights and honor. Since
however, il Is apparent that here, as in every
other State, foreign dangers necessary attend
domestic difficulties, ] recommend thnt adequate
and ample measures be adopted for maintaining
the public defences on every side. While under
this general recommendation, provision for de-
Tending our sea coast line occurs to the mind
also, in the snme connection, ask the attention
Of Congress to our great lakes and rivers. II is
believed that some Notifications and depots of
arms and munitions, with harbor and navigation
improvements, all at Well.seected points upon
these, would be Of great importance to the ma
ti0nnl defence aud preservation
| ask attention TO the views of the Secretary
Of War, expressed in his report upon the same
general subject. | deem it of Importance that
the loyal regions of East Tennessee and Wes-
tern North Carolina should be connected with
Kentucky, and other faithful parts of the Union,
by railroad. |, therefore, recommend as II
military measure, that Congress provide for the
construction of such road as speedily as possible
Kentucky, no doubt, will co operate, and
through her Legislature, make the most judi
cious selection of line. The northern terminus
must connect with some existing railroad, and
whether the route shall he from Lexington or
Nlchoaaville to the Cumberland Gap, or from
Lebanon to the Tennessee line, in the direction Of
Knoxville, on on some still different line, con
readily be determined. Kentucky and the Cen
eral Government co operating, the work can be
completed in very short time, and when done,
il will be not only of vast present usefulness,
but also n valuable permanent improvement,
with its cost, in all the future.
Some treaties, designed chiefly for the inter
ests of commerce, and having no grave political
Importance, have been negotiated, and will be
submitted TO the Senate for their consideration.
Although we have failed to induce some OF the
commercial Powers to adopt desirable meiora-
.tion of the rgor of a maritime war; we have
Etmoyed all distractions from the way Of this
hNuane reform, except such as are merely of
temporary and accidental occurrence.
invite your attention to the correspondence
between her Britannia MnjOsty's Minister, ac-
credited to this Government, and the Secretary
OF State, relative to the detention of the British
ship Perthshire, in June last, by the United
States steamer Massachusetts, for n supposed
breach of the blockade, As this detention was
accustomed by an obvious misapprehenson of the
faots, and as justice requires that We should
commit no brgerent net not founded in strict
right or sanctioned by public law, | recommend
that nn appropriation be made TO sntisiy the
reasonable demand of the owners Of the vessel
for her detention.
repeat the recommendation of my predeces-
eor in his annual message TO Congress in Decem-
Der last, in regard to the disposition of the
an, ~uIus which will probably remain after satisfy
jne' ne claims of American citizens against
rbino 'ursuant to the awards of the commits
s,anars nm, 'sF the act of the Sd of March, 1869
If however L. should not be deemed advisable
40 corrv thot recommendation into effect,
wonld auqeeat that authority be given investing
tbe PRINCIPAL over the proceeds of the surplus
referred 10 in good secur SHE'S, with view to the
satisfaction Of such other just claims OIL our
citizens against China are not unlikely 10
arise hereafter in the course Of our extensive
trade with that empire.
BY the act Of the 9th Of August last, congress
authorized the President to instruct t"e com
manders of suitable vessels to defend themselves
.ooo;nat nd IN cnntura niratpq This authority
has been exercised in n single instance only
For the more effective protection of our extern
siYe aud valuable commerce in the Eastern seas,
especially, it seems to me that it would also be
advisable to authorize the commanders of sail.
ing vessels to recnpture any prizes which pirates
may make of United States vessels and Their
enrgoes, and the consular courts now established
by law in Eastern countries to adiudioate the
cases. in the event that this should not be object
ed to by tie local authorities.
If any good reason exists why We should
persevere longer in Withholding our recognition
Of the independence and sovereignty of Hayt
and Liberia, am unable to discern it. Unwil
ing, however, to inaugurate n novel policy in
sgard to them without the appreciation Of
r. -ress, l submit for their consideration th(
evnsdi, Nney of an appropriation for maintaining
itha.oA FafaireB near each of those new States
7, Jnas No, admit OF Il doubt that mportan
commercial n 1Vanlages might be secured b.,
Sovornhle treaties with them.
The operations &C. tho Treasury during thi
n.rind nd wpicS U Sas ela, 'aed since your adjourn
pb pl"ant have been eonduc, ed WIth signal success
Ib' Tbe patriotism Of the peOvle has placed at tn
disposal Of the Government Lhe large me, mean
demanded by the public exgeneies' Mueh o
the national loan has been taken ny eluzens 2
the industrial classes, whose confidence 10 lheI
country's faith and zeal for their coNntrys DE
liyerance from present peril, have induced lheu
to contribute to the support of the Governmen a.,
the whole of their limited acquisitions. I'M
fact imposes peculiar obligations upon US to us