Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-13

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of unprecedented political troubles, we
have great cause of gratitude to God for
unusual good health and abundant har-
vests.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
You will not be surprised to learn that,
in the peculiar exigencies of the times,
our intercourse with foreign nations has
been attended with profound solicitude,
chiefly turning upon our own domestic
Affairs. A disloyal portion Of the Amer
lean people have during the whole year
been engaged in an attempt to divide and
destroy the Union. A nation which ell
dures factions or domestic divisions is ex-
possd to disrespect abroad, and one party,
if not both, is sure, sooner or later, to
invoke foreign Intervention. Nations
thus tempted to interfere are not always
able to resist the counsels of seeming
expediency and ungenerous ambition, al
though measures adopted under such in
fluenees seldom fail to be unfortunate and
injurious to those adopting them.
The disloyal citizens of the United
States, who have offered the ruin Of our
country in retern for the aid and comfort
which they have invoked abroad, have
received less patronage and encourage
ment than they probably expected. If it
we're just to suppose, as the insurgeants
have seemed to assume, that foreign ma
tions, 10 this case discarding all moral,
social, and treaty obligations, would act
solely and selfshly for the most speedy
restoration of commerce, including espe-
cially the acquisition of cotton, those ma
tions appear as yet not to have seen their
way to their object more directly or clear
ly through the destruction than through
the preservation of the Union. If we
could dare to believe that foreign nations
are actuated by no higher principle than
this, am quite sure a sound argument
could be made TO show them that they |
can reach their aim more resdily and
easily by aiding to crush this rebellion,
than by giving encouragement to it. The
principal lever relied upon by the inour-
gents for melting foreign nations to hos
tility against Us, as already intimated, is
the embarrassment of commerce. Those
nations, however, it is not improbable
saw from the first that it 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 extensive and
reliable commerce than can the same ma
ton broken into hostile fragments.
1t is not my purpose to review our
discussions with foreign states, because
whatever might be their wishes or dispo-
sition, the integrity of our country aud
the stability of our government depends
not upon them, but upon the loyalty, vir-
tue, patriotism, and intelligence OF the
American people. The correspondence
itself, with the usual reservations, is
herewith transmitted. l venture to hope
it will appear that We have practiced
prudence and liberslity towards foreign
powers, avertiDg causes Of irritation, and
with frmness maintaining our own rights
and honor.
DEFENSIVE PREPARATIONS.
Since, however, it is apparent here as
in every other state, foreign dangers nee
sssariIy attend domestic difficulties, l
recommend that adequate and ample
measures be adopted for maintaining the
public detenses on every side. While /
under this general recommendation, pro-
vision for defending the coast line readily
occurs to the mind. / also, in the same
connection, ask the attention of Congress
to our great lakes and rivers. 1t is be-
lieved that some Notifications, with har-
Dor and navigation improvements at we'll
selected points, would be of great lmpor-
tance to the national defense and preser-
walton. ask attention to the views of
the Secretary of War, expressed in his
report upon the same general subject.
RAILWAY PROJECT.
i 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 t
Union by railroad. / therefore recon- I
mend as military measure, that Con- |
gress provide for the construction of such |
a road as speedily as possible. Kentucky /
will, no doubt, cooperate, aud, through t
her legislature, make the most judicious a
selection of a line. The Northern busi- Q
ness must connect with some existing q
railroad, and whether the route shall be .
from Lexington or Nicholasville to the b