Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-12-05
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellow Citi>tns Of the Senate and House Of
Representative; :

God for unusually good heaI;h and most abuu-
dant harVestS.
You win not be surprised that, in the pecu.
liar exgencies of the times our intercourse
Iith foreign nations has been attended with
profound solictude, 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.
4 nation which endures factious domestic
divisions is exposed to disrespect abroad and
one party. if not both, is sure, sooner or later,
10 invoke foreign intervention. Nations thus
tempted to interfere are not always able to
resist the counsels OF seeming expedency and
ingenious ambition, although measures adop-
ted under such influences seldom fail to be un-
fortunate and injurious to those adopting
them.
The REBELS NOT ENCOURAGED ABROAD.
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 encouragement than they probably expee-
ted If it were just to suppose, as the insur-
gents have seemed to assume, that foreign ma
tions in this case, discarding all moral, social
and treaty obligations, would act solely and
se6shly for the most speedy restoration OF
commerce, including especially, the acquisition
of cotton, those nations appear as yet not TO
have seen their way to their object more dl-
rectly or clearly through the destruc-
tion than through the preservation
of the Union If We could dare to
believe that foreign nations are actuated by
no higher principles than this, | am quite sure
a second argument could be made 10 show
them that they can reach their aim more rea'
Oily and easily by aiding to crush this rebel
lion, than by giving encouragement to it.
The principal lever relied on by the insur-
gents for the exciting foreign nations to hoSti,
lty against US, as already intimated, is the en-
barrassment Of commerce. The nations, how
ever, not improbably saw from the first that
il 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 dur
able peace, and a more extensive, valuable and
reliable commerce than can the same nation
broken into hostile fragments.
1t is not my purpose to review our discus
sions with foreign states, because whatever
might be their wishes or dispositions the in
tegrity Of our country and the stability OF our
government mainly depends, uot upon them,
but on the loyalty, virtue, patriotism and intel
ligence of the American people. The cores
poudence itself, with the usual reservations, is
herewith submitted. | venture to hope it will
appear that we have prGctised prudence and
liberality towards foreign powers, aVertng
causes Of irritation, and, with itmness, main
tanning our own rights and honor.
Since, however, it is apparent that here as
in every other state, foreign dangers necesSari-
" attend domestic difficulties, recommend
that adequate and ample measures be adopt
ed for maintaining the public defences on every
side, while, under this general recommends
tion, provision for defending our coast lire
readily 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 Notifications and depots of arms and
munitions, with harbor and navigation i'm
provements at well selected points upon these,
would be OF great Importance to the national
defence and preservation.
| ask your attention to the views of the Sc
cretary OF War, expressed in his report upon
the same general subjects.
NEW MILITARY ROAD
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 rail
road | therefore recommend as a military
measure that Congress provide for the con-
struction of such road as speedily as pos
sbe
Kentucky will no doubt cooperate, and
through her legislature make the most judcious
selection of line The northern terminus
must connect with some existing railroad, and
whether the route shall be from Lexington or
Nichoslville to the Comberland 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
general government, cooperating, the work
can be completed in very short time and
when done it will be not only of vast present
usefulness, but also a valuable permanent i'm
provement, worth its cost in all the future.
COMMERCIAL TREATIES.
Some treaties designed chiefly for the iuter-
csts of commerce, and having no grave poltl.
cal Importance, have been negotiated and will
be submitted to the Senate for their consider.
alton. Although we have failed to induce
some of the commercial powers to adopt de-
sirable melioraton of the rigor of maritime
war we nave removed all OOSlTuCtlOuS lTOlA Iue
way Of this humane reform, except such as
are merely of temporary and accidental occur.
renee.
THE CHASE OF THE BRITISH SHIP PERrHSHIRE.
invite your attention to the correspondence
between Her Brtanic Majesty's minis
ter, accredited to this government, and the Sc
cretary of State relative to the detention Of
the British ship Perthshire in June last by
the United States steamer Massachusetts, for
a nsnnnnsed breach of the blockade As this