The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1861-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

/ The annual Message of the President
though short for such document, is to-
long for insertion, entire, in our columns
We, however present below a synopsis 0
its contents, with extracts relating to th
more important subjects which it discusses
The President opens by the common ex
pressions of gratitude to God for goot
health and abundant harvest in the mids
of unprecedented political troubles. Oul
amicable relations with forei On nations con
tinucs undisturbed. Towards Foreign Pow
ers We have practiced liberality and pry
dence, avoiding ell causes of irritation
He recommends the adoption Of ample
measures for maintaining the public de-
fences on every side, and especially our sea
coast line. He also asks the attention o.
Congress to: our great lakes and rivers, ard
suggests the erection of some fortiGcations
and depots Of arms and munitions at well
selected points. He recommends the con-
nection Of East Tennessee and Western
North Carolina with Kentucky by railroad,
as a military measure. He suggests the es-
tablishment of Consular Courts in eastern
countries, to adjudicatc and dispose of cases
Of rccapture, by American sailing vessels,
of any prizes taken BY pirates, of United
States vessels, if not objected to by the To-
cal authorities. The propriety of acknowl-
edging the independence and sovereignty
of Hayti and Liberia is brought to the at
tenticn of Congress. The operations of the
Treasury for the past fiscal year is referred
to. The patriotism Of the people. in plac-
ing at the disposal of the Government the
large means demanded by the public exigen-
cies, is commended, and qualification ex-
pressed at the fact that the large expendi.
lures made necessary by the rebellion, are
not beyond the resources Of the loyal peo-
pie. The number Of troops who have ten
dered their services is beyond the force au-
thorized by Congress. The organization of
the militia upon a uniform basis is earnestly
pressed upon the attention of Congress-
Attention is called to the reports of the
Secretary of State and the Postmaster Gen
eral. He refers to the vacancies in the Su
preme Court, and urges at some length the
reorganization of the Courts of the United
States.
But the part of the Message which will
be most eagerly looked for is that referring
to the rebellion. We give that entire:
Through the Secretaries of State and
Interior, a plan or system has been devised,
and partly matured, which will be laid
before you, and by virtue of the act of
Congress, entitled, {" An Act to Con6scate
Property used for Insurrectiouary Pur-
poses, approved August 6, 1861. The
Claims Of certain persons to the labor and
service of certain other persons have be.
come forfeited, and numbers of the latter
thus liberated are already dependent ON the
United States, aud must be provided for In
SOME way. Besides this, it is now possible
that some of the States will pass similar
for their own benefit, irrespec.
tive Of the operation Of which persons of
the same class will be thrown upon them
Tor their disposal. In such case. / recon- |
mend that Congress, for accepting such
persons from such States, according to some
node of valuation, in lieu of pro rata or
iirect taxes, or upon some other plan to be
agreed upon with such States respectively;
hat such. persons. on such acceptance by
he General Government, be at once deem
ID free, and that In any event. steps be
AIKEN fer eolonizing both classes, or the
me first mentioned, if the other should not
'e brought into existence, at some place
n places in climate congenial to them
t might be well to consider, too, whether
ne free colored people already in the Uni
ed States, could not, so far as individuals
nay desire, be included in such coloniEa-
ION. 10 carry out the plan of colonization
nay Involve the acquisition OF territory and
iso an appropriation of money beyond that
o be expended in the territorial acquisi- /.
Ion. Having practised the acquisition of
erFisory Tor nearly fifty years, the question
I constitutional power to do so is no lop-
'er an open one with US The power was
Justly inaugurased by Mr. Jefferson, who,
owever, in the purchase of Louisiana II
ieided his seruples on the plea of the erea, :
xpedieucy. II it be said that the lec;,i.
'ate object of the acquisition of territory
to furnish homes for the white man, his
'easures effects that object for tho emigra- l.
on Of the colored man, and leaves addi- It
onal room for white men remaining or Il
s