Litchfield enquirer., 1861-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE 7
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE
 SRrars aNn HnIrur ou prn,,,,n...


 '. bles we have cause of great gratitude to God
 unusual good health and most abundant, h.
 vests. =
 fou will not be surprised to learn that in fl peculiar exlgencies of the times, our intereour
 with foreign nations has been attended wisf nr
 found solicjtude, chiefly turning upon our ou
 domestic afairs. A disloyal portion of tl O American people have, during the whole yea fneen engaged m an attempt to divide and destro , tne onion A nation which endures faction uomestic divisions is exposed to disrespet aoroaa' and one party, if not both, is sure soor el UT ,ater, to invoke foreign intervention. Na aIn JJn' mus tempted to interfere are not alway aple to resist the counsels of seeming expedienc and ungenerous ambition, although measi,re adopted under such influences seldom fail to h unfortunate and injurious to those adoptin. them. ~'e'soi THE REBELS NOT ENCOURAGED ABROAD.
 The disloyal citizens of the United States wh, have offered the ruin of our country in return fa the aid and comfort which they have invoked abroad, have received less patronage and enconr agement than they probably expected. If il were just to suppose, as the insurgents have seemed to assume, that foreign nations in tbis case, disregarding all moral, social. and tre.tv obligations would act solely and selfshlv for the most speedy restoration of commerce. incn,lny especially the acquisition of cotton, those na. t'oliS appear as yet not to have seen their way to to .heir object more directly or clearly through .he destruction than through thc preservation of tnc Cmon. If we could dare to believe that for elGn nations are actuated by no higher principle n,i' ..ai 'aS' am quite sure second argument could be made 10 show them that they can reocb their aim more readily and easily bv aiJ;nn ,n crush this rebellion than by giving cncouraon. ment to it. The principal lever relied on by fine insurgents for exciting foreign nations to hosti i's against us, as already intinated, is the en- 'affassmeht ot commerce. Those nations, how e''F' not lmprobabIy saw from the first that if i "a8 'he Chion which made as well our foraion it's Our domestic comnlarce. They can scarcely i on produces tic cZ!srl;.t otta, ty .rt, strong nation promises more durable peace, and n more extensive, valuable, and reliable con- merce, than can the same nation broken into 1 hostile fragments. 1t is not my purpose to review OUT discussions with foreign states, because whatever might be their wishes, dispositions, the integrity of our country and the stability of our government mainly depends, not upon them, but on the by alty, virtue, patriotism, and intelligence of the American people. The correspondence itself, with the usual reservations, is herewith submit ted. venture to hope it will appear that we
 
 foreign powcIs avertng causes of irritation, and W!tit tirnncss maintaining our own rights and honor. Since, however, it is apparent that here, as Tn every other state. foreign dangers Hecessar fly attend domestic difficulties, l recommcnd that adequate and ample measures be adopted for the public dufances on every side, | while under this general recommendation pro- vision for defending cur coast line readily occurs to the miud. l also. in the s,ne connection, ask tic attention of Congress to our great lakes and rivers. It is believed that some fortGc:,- tons alid sicpots Of ;rnis and munitions, with halbor and nav @ation improvements at well se- lectcd points npon these, would be ot great i'm ronancc to the national delense and prescrv.- ten.
 ask attention to tic views of the Secretary of War, expressed in his report, upon the same general subjects.
 A NEW MILITARY BOARD.
 deem it of importance that the loyal regions of East Tennessee and Western N orth Carolina should be connected with Kentucky and other faithful parts Of the Union by railroad. there fore recommend, as q military measure, that Con gross provide for the construction of such road as speedy as possible. Kentucky will no doubt co o-opcrate, and through her Legislature make the most judicious Oi ltnc. Uc ttfiiilu Us tluSG connect with some existing railroad, and wheth- CT the route shall be from Lexington or Nichol- asville to the Cumberland Gap, or from Lebanon to the Tennessee line in the direction of Knox vile, or on some still different line, can easily be determined. Kentucky and the general govern ment cooperating, the work can be completed in very shortt time, and when done it will be not only ol vast present usefulness, but also valuable permanent improvement, worth its cost in all the future.
 COMMERCIAL. TREATIES.
 Some treaties, designed chiefly for the inter- ests of commerce. and having no great 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 meliora- tion of the rigor of maritime war, we have re- moved all Instructions from the way of this hu- mane reform except such as arc merely of tenn porary and accidental occurrence.
 THE CASE OF THE BRITISH SHIP PERTlIsIIIRE.
 l invite your attention to the correspondence between her Britannic majestys minister, accrc- dted to this government, and the Secretary of State, relative to the detention of the British shp Perthshire, in June last, by the United States steamer Massachusetts, for a supposed breach of the blockade. As this detention was occasioned by an obvious misapprehenson of the facts, and as justice requires that we should con- init no belligerent act not founded in strict right as sanctioned by public law, 1 recommend that an appropriation Ge made to satisfy the reason able demand of the owners of the vessel for her detention.
 CLAIMS AGAINST CUBA.
 Irepeat the recommendation of my predeces sor, in his annual message to Congress in Dec ember last in regard to the disposition of the surplus which will probably remain after satisfy ing the claims of American citizens against Cuba, pursuant to the awards of the commissioners under the act of the Sd of March, 1850. | If however, it should not be deemed advisable | to carry that recommendation into effect, would suggest that authority be given for investing the principal over the proceeds of the surplus refer red to in good securetes, with view to the sa- tlstacton of such other just claims of our citizens aga'nst Cuba as are not unlikely to arise hereaf- ter m the course of our extensive trade with that empire.
 By the act of the 9th of August last Congress authorlzed the President to instruct the com. manders Of suitable vessels to defend themselves against and capture pirates. This authority has been exercised in single instance only For the more effectual protection of our ex tensive and valuable commerce in the eastern seas especially, it to me that it would also be advisable to authorize the commanders O sailing vessels to recapture any prizes which pi rates may make of the United States vessels ant their cargoes, and the consular courts establish ed by law in eastern countries to adjudicate thu cases in the event that this should not be object ed to by the local authorities.
 | RECOGNITION OF HAITI AND LIBERIA.