The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-12-07
Especial to the Hawk-Eye.I
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


i Especial to the HswkEye.I
/ PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fsao,o citizens Of d!e Senate and House Of Rep
resenfaties: 3 esE
In the midst of unprecedented political
troubles we have cause of great gratitude Il
God for unusual good health and most abund
ant haryests.
/ You will not be surprised to learn that in the
peculiar exigencies Of the times, our intercourse
4 with foreign nations has becnattended with pro
found solicitude, 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 dcs
troy the Union. A nation which endures fac
tious domestic divisions, is exposed to dsrespeci
abroad, and one party or both, is sure sooner or
later, to invoke foreign intervention.e Nations
thus tempted to interfere are not always able to
resist the ,counsels Of seeming expediency and
ungenerous ambition, although measures adopt.
| ed under such influences seldom fail to be un-
fortunate and injurious to those adopting them.
| ThS 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 received less patronage and en-.
couragement than they probably expected II
1t were just to suppose, as the insurgents have
seemed to assume, that foreign nations in this
case, dsregarding all moral, social and treaty OBJ.
igations, would act solely and selfshly for the
most speedy restoration Of commerce, including
specially the acquisition of cotton those nations
appear as yet not to have seen their way to
their object more directly through. the des-
truction than through the preservation Of the
! Union. ans d I'll
| II We could dare to believe that foreign ns.
tions are actuated by no higher principle than
| this, am quite sure sound argument 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 principal lever relied on. By the exciting of
foreign nations to hostility against u.s. as already
lntimated, is the embarrassment Of commerce.
Those nations, however, not improbably saw
from the first thatit was the Union Which made
ns well our foreign as our domestic commerce
They can scarcely fail to perceive that the effort
Nor disunon produces the existing difficulty, and
that one strong nation promises a more durable
peace and more extensive, valuable and reli-
able commerce than can the same nation broken
into hostile Fragments
1t is not my purpose to review our discussions
with foreign states, because whatever might be
their wishes or dispositions the integrity and the
stability OF our government mainly depends not
upon them, but upon the loyalty, patriotism,
The correspondence itself. with the usual reser.
vaticns, is herewith submitted. venture to
hope It will appear that we have practiced pru-
dence and liberality towards foreign powers,
averting causes of irritation, and with firmness
maintaining our own rights and honor. Since,
however, it is apparent that here, as in every
other state, foreign dangers necessarily attend
domestic difficulties.
Irecommenn that adequate and ample meas
ures be adopted for maintaining the public de.
fences on every side, which, under this general
recommendation provisions for defending our
coast line readily occurs to the mind also in
the same communication ask tho attention OF
Congress to our great lakes and rivers. It, is
believed that some Notifications and depots Of
arms and munitions with harbor and navigation
improvements at well selected points upon these
would be ofgreat Importance to the national de-
fence and preservation.
! ask attention to the views of the Secretary
of War, expressed in his Report upon the same
general subject. l deem it Of Importance that
the loyal regions of East Tennessee and Western
North Carolina should be connected with Ken
tucky aud other faithful parts of the Union, by
Railroad. therefore recommend, as a military
measure, that Congress provides for the con-
struction OF such road as speedily as possible.
Kentucky will no doubt co operate, and through
her Legislature, make the most judicious selcc.
tion OF the line. The northern terminus must
connect with some existing Railroad, and wheth-
er the route shall be from Lexington or Nicho.
lasville to Cumberland Gap, or from Lebanon to
the Tennessee line, in the direction of Knoxville,
or some other still different line, can easily be
determined, Kentucky and the General Govern
ment cooperating. The work can be completed
in very short time, and when done, it will be
not only OF vast present usefulness, but also on
Vail nor INF Suoo -
cost in the future.
Some treaties designed chiefly for the interests
of commerce and having no grave political i'm
portance have been negotiated and will be sub
mitted to the Senate for their consideration.
Although we have failed to induce some of
the commercial powers to adopt desirable
melieration for the rigor of maritime war. we
have far removed all the obstacles from the way
of their humane reform, except such as are
merely of temporary and accidental occur
renee. so
I invite your attention to the correspondence
between her Britanic Muesty's Minister ac-
credited to this Government, and the Secretary
of State, relative to the detention of the British
ship Pertllshier, in June last, by the u S.
steamer Massachusetts, for supposed breach of
the blockade. As this detention was occasioned
by an obvious Misrepresentation of the facts, and
as justice requires that we st ould commit 70
bcligerent act not founded in strict right. sane
toned by pubic law, recommend that an ap-
preparation be made to satisfy the reasonable
demands of the owners of the vessel for her
detention.
repeat the recommendation Of my predeces.
sor, in his annual message to Congress in De-
cember last, in regard to the disposition Of the
surplus which will probably remain after salts
flying the claims of American citizens against
China, pursuant to the awards of the Commits
sioners under the act of the Sd of March. 1859.
II, however, it should not be deemed advisable
to carry the recommendation into effect, would
suggest that authority be given for investing the
principal, over the surplus, referred to, in good
securities with view to the satisfaction of fuch
other claims Of our citizens against China as are
not unlikely to 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 the com.
manders Of suitable vessels to defend them
selves against, and to capture privateers. This
authority has been exercised in single instance
only For the more effcctual protection Of our
extensive and valuable commerce in the east.
ern seas especially, it seems to me that it would
also be advisable to authorize the commanders
Of sailing vessels to recapture any prizes which
pirates may make Of United States vessels and
their cargoes,. and consular courts, established
Dy law III eastern cOuntrles, TO adludlcate the
cases. in the event that this should not be OBJ
jected to by the local authorities.
If any good reason exists why We should per-
severe longer IN Withholding our recognition of
the Independence and sovereignty of Hayti and
Liberia, am unable to discern it. Unwilling,
however, to inaugurate a naval policy in regard
to them without the appreciation of Congress,
submit for your consideration the expediency
Of an appropriation for maintaining Charge
d'AiIairs near each OF those States. It does not
admit of doubt that important commercial ad-
vantages might be secured by favorable treaties
with them.
The operations Of the Treasury during the pe.
rod which has elapsed since your adjournment
have been conducted with signal success The
patriotism of the people has placed at the dis
posal of tho Government the large means de.
manded by the public exigencies Much Of the
National loan has been taken by citizens Of the
industrial classes, whose confidence in their
country's faith and zeal for their countrys de
liverance from its present peril, have induced
them to contribute to the support of the Gov
crnment the whole of their limited acquisitions.
This fact imposes peculiar obligations to econ.
Omy in disbursement and energy in action