Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

troubles. we have cause Of great gratitude
20 God for universal good health aud mos,
abundant bNrvests. You will not be sur
prised 70 learn that in the peculiar exigeucy
Of the times, our intercourse with foreign
nations has been attended with profound
solicitude, chiefly tuning upon our own do,
nestle affairs. A disloysl portion Of the
American people bad, during the whole
year, beon engaged in an attempt to divide
and destroy the Uuiou1 A nation which
endures facdous domestic divisions is ex
posed TO disrespect abroad, and one party
or both are sure, sooner or later, TO invok,
foreign Intervention.
Nations thus attempted to interfere, mr.,
not always able 10 resist the couusels O
seeming eSpedieucy and ungeuerous ambi
tion, although measures adopted under such
influences seldom fail to be unfortune snd
injurious to those adopting them.
The disloyal citizeus of the United Ststes
who have offered the ruin of our country 10
reward for the aid and comfort which they
have invoked abroad, have received less
patronage aud encouragement than they
probably expected. .
! Ii il were Just to suppose, as the insur-
gents had seemed to assume, that foreign
nations in this case, disregarding all moral,
social AID treaty obligations, would act sole
ly and sel6sbly for the most speedy restora'
ton Of commerce. including specially the
acquisition Of cotton. ..
Those nations appear rs yet not 70 have
/ sEas- - n
or clearly through the destruction than
through the preservation Of the Union. II
We dare to believe that foreign nations are
actusted by 20 higher principle than this, |
am quite sure a second argument could be
made to show them that they could reach
thssr aim moro readily and easily by aiding
to crush this rebellion than by giving en-
enlargement TO the principal lever relied on
by the exciting of foreign nations to HOSTILE
ty against us, which as areaiy inlimated is
the embarrassment of oommerca.
These nations. however, not imprnbsbly
saw from the first that it was the Upion
which made, as we'll our foreign as our do
meStc commercs. They can scArcsly fail
to perceive that the effect of dlsunion pro-
duees existing difficulties and that one strong
nation promises more turable peace and =
more extensive, valuable aud reliable com
merce than the san9 nations broken into
hostile fragments.
1t is my purpose 10 review our discus
siops with foreign States, because whatever
night be.. their wishes or dispositions, the
ln,egdty Of our country and the stability Of
our Government manly depends not upon
hen but upon the Loyalty, patriotism, vir'
tue and intelligence of the AWericsu pso-
pie.
The correspondence itself with the usual
reservations is herewith submitted.
venture TO hope that it will appear that
we have practised prudence and hberality
towards forsigu powers, averting causes Of
irritation and with irmness maintaining our
own rights and honor. Since however l. is
apparent that here, AZ ia every other State.
foreign dangers necessarily suead domestic
difficulties. recommend that adequate and
ample measures be adopted for maintaining
the public defences on every side, while un-
der this general recommendation, provision
for defending our coast line readily occurs
to the mind .
I also, 10 the same connection, ask the
attention Of Congress to our great lakes and
rivers. Its believed that some fort6ca-
tons and depots of arms and munitions,
with harhor and navigation improvements,
at well elected points upon these, would be
of great importauee to the National defance
and preservation. l ak attention to the
views of the Secretary of War expressed iu
his report upon the same general suhjtct.
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
Union 10y railroads. /, therefore, recom-
mend as military measure that Congress
provides for the construction Of such a rail
road as speedily as possible. .r..a. ID.
Kentucky will no doubt cooperate and
through her legislature make the most ju-
dicious selection of the limo. The Northern
terminus must connect with some existing
Railroad, and whether the route shall b.
from Lexington or NichoIsvilIe, to Cunb4r-
land Gap, or fem Lebanon tp ths TenneS
see Inc IN the direeion Of Knoxville, G
sou sill different l.ns, can ea,iy be de-
termined.
Kentucky and the General Cove nment
cooperating, the work can be completed in
a very short time, and when done 1t will BE-
not only Of vast present usefulness, but also
an available permanent improvement with
It's costs IN all the future.
Some treaties designed chiefly for the in
terests Of commerce, and having no grave
political importance have been negotiated,
aud will be submitted to the Senate for their
consideration
Although We have failed TO induce some
of the comme,c cisl powers to adopt desiF-
able meioration for the rigor Of maritime
war, We have removed all tue obstacles from
the way Of their humane reform, except
such ss are merely OF Iemporsry and aeci-
dental ceCarr ncs.
invite your attention 20 the corrGspon-
dence between Her Britannia Majesty's Mn
'ster, accredited 10 tAis Government, aud
ths Secretary Of State, relative to the de-
TsN''on Of the British ship Perthshre, in
June last, by the Untel States steamer
mHSs4ehu' +, fer a supposed breach Of the
% de. a. Sh@ detsnu n WAS occasioneI
oy An oo'l 'pS m's,.Pprshsus,on Of the facts
: and as justice requires that we sbonld com.
mit no beltgerent net not founded in s,,;o,
right as sanctioned by public law. I reoon,'
mend that an appropriation be mad - -.