Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellow-citizens Of tie Senate
...T and House of Pe0reser

<ettVW-CNtSeHS " We OgHUtG
'.' and House Of Representatives. :
In the midst of unprecedented political
troubles we have cause Of great gratitude
to God for unusual good health and m ost
abundant barvests. You will not be sur.
prised to learn that in the peculiar exc.
gedcies of the times our intercourse with
foreign nations has been attended with
profound solicitude, chihy turned upon
our own domestic affairs.
THE REBELLION AND FOREIGN INTERFERE
- ru d, T. ENCE. "
A .disloyal portion Of the American
People have, during the whole year, been
engaged in an attempt to divide and des
troy the Union. A nation which endures
factious domestic divisions is exposed to
!dlsrespect abroad, and one party, or 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 un-
generous ambition, although measures
adopted under such influences 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 reward for the aid and COM
fort which they have invoked abroad,
have received less patronage and encour-
agement than they probably expected
If it were just to suppose, as the insurg-
ents have seemed to assume, that foreign
nations in this case, disregardiug all NOR
al, social and treaty obligations, would
act solely and selfisbly for the most
speedy restoration of commerce, includ-
ing specially, the acquisition of cotton,
these nations appear as yet not to have
seen their way to their object more direct
ly or clearly through the destruction than
through the preservation Of the Unon.-
If we could dare to believe that foreign
nations are actuated by no higher princi-
pie than this ana quite sure second ar
gument could be made to show that they
could reach their aim more readily by
aiding to crush this rebellion than by Civ
ing encouragement to the principle lever
relied on by it. The exciting of foreign
nations to hostility against us, as already
intimated, is the embarrassment of com
merce. These nations, however, not i'm
probably saw from the first that it was
the Union which made as well our for
egn as our domestic commerce. They
can scarcely fail to perceive that the et-
fort for disunion produces the existing
difficulty, and that one strong nation
promises more durable peace, and more
extensive, valuable and reliable commerce
ha,, h,, l., l.. =
fragments. 1t is not my purpose to re-
view our discussions with foreign States,
because whatever might be their wishes
or dispositions, the integrity of our coun.
try and the stability OF our Government
mainly depends not upon them. but up
on the loyalty, patriotism, virtue and in,
telligence Of the American people. Tho
correspondence itself, with the usual res
ervation,i ,is herewith submitted. | ven.
ture to hope that it will appear that We
have practiced prudence and liberality
towards foreign powers averting causes
of irritation, and with lirmness maintain.
ing our own rights and honor. Since
however, it is apparent here, as in every
other State, foreign dangers necessarily
attend domestic difficulties, recommend
that adequate and ample measures be
adopted for maintaining the public de.
fences ON every side while under this
general recommendation provision for
defending our coast line readily occurs tc
the mind.
OUR DEFENCEs.
1 also, in the same connection, ask the
.Ak r,f 4 'a,,r Ia loI- ac
and rivers 1t is believed that some for.
tifications and depots of arms and muni-
tions, with harbor and navigation i'm.
provements, at well selected points upon
these, would be of great importance tC
the national defence and preservation
l ask attention to the views of the Sec
retary of War, expressed in his report OF
the same general subject. l deem it o
Importance that the loyal regions of Eas
Tennessee and Western North Caroline
should be connected with Kentucky anC
other faithful parts of the Union by rail
road. ! therefore recommend as a mill
tary measure, that Congress provide fo
the construction of such road as speed
lily as possible Kentucky will no doub
cooperate, and through her Legislator
make the most judicious selection Of th
line. The northern terminus must con
meet with some existing railroad, an
whether the route shall be from Lexing
ton or Nicholasville to Cumberland Gap
or from Lebanon to the Tennessee line, il
the direction of Knoxville, or 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 vii
not only be Of vast present usefulness, bu
also an available permanent improvement
worth its cost in all the future.
FOREIGN TREATIES.
Some treaties designed chiefly for tn
interests of commerce, and having II
grave political Importance, have been nj
eotiated, and will be submitted to til
Senate for their consideration. Althoug
we have failed to induce some of the con
mercial powers to adopt desirable mel
Grafton for the rigor of maritime war, W
have far removed all the obstacles irol
the way of their humane reform, excel
such as are Of merely temporary and a
cidental occurrence. / invite your after
ton to the correspondence between he
Britanic Majesty's Minister, accredited
this Government, and the Secretary
I -. -