, 1861-12-26
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

In the midst Of unprecedented political trou-
bles, we have cause Of great gratitude to God
for unusual good health and a most abundant
harvest You will not be surprised to learn that,
in the peculiar exigencies Of the time, our inter-
course with foreign nations has been at ended
with profound sOlicitude, chiefly turning upon
our domestic affairs. The disloyal portion of
the American people have, during the whole
wear, been engaged in an attempt to divide and
destroy the Union. A nation which endorses
factions and domestic divisions is expected to
lose respect abroad, and one party, or both, is
sure, sooner or later to invoke foreign InteTvcn-
tons. Nations thus tempted to interfere are not
always able to resist the cOunsels OF seeming
expediency. Measures adopted under such in-
fiuences seldom fail to be unfortunate or injuri-
Gus to those adopting them.
The disloyal citizens Of the United States,
who have effected the ruin Of our country, in
reward for aid and comfort which they have in
voked abroad, have received less patronage and
encouragement than they probably expected.
lf il were Just to suppose, the insurgents have
seemed to assure, that foreign nations in this case
dsregarding all moral, social and treaty obliga-
tions, would act solely and selfishly for the
most speedy restoration Of commerce, in
cluding, especially, the acquisition Of cotton,
those nations appear yet not 10 have seen their
way to their object more directly or clearly
through the destruction than through the pre-
servation Of the Union. If we could dare to
believe that foreign nations are actuated by no
higher principle but 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 the United States, as already in
=, h. &c
Those nations, however, not improbably saw,
from the first, that II was the Union which made
as well our foreign as our domestic commerce.
They can scarcely fail to perceive that the effect
Of disunion produces the existing difficulty, and
that one strong nation promises more durable
peace, and a more extensive, valuable and relia-
BILE commerce, than can the same nation broken
into hostile fragments
1t is not my purpose TO review or discuss with
foreign States, because whatever might be their
wishes or dispositions, the integrity Of our Gov
ernment manly depends not upon them, but
upon the loyalty, patriotism, virtue and intelli-
gence Of the American people. The cores
pondence itself, with the usual reservation, is
herewith submitted. venture to hope that it
will appear that we have practiced prudence
and liberality towards foreign powers, avoiding
causes of irritation and with firmness maintained
our own rights and honor. Since, however, it
is apparent that here, as in every other State,
foreign danger necessarily attends domestic diff
culties, | recommend that adequate and ample
measures be adopted for maintaining the public
defenses on every side.
While under this general Recommendation,
provision for defending our coast line readily
occurs to tho mind. also, in the same connec-
ton, ask the attention of Congress to our great
lakes and rivers. II is believed that some torti
icatiOns and dep0ts Of arms and munitions with
harbor and navigation improvements at well sc
lected points upon these, would be Of great i'm
portance to the national defence and preservation
ask attention to the views Of the Secretary Of
War, expressed in his report upon the same sub
ject deem It Of much importance that the
loyal residents Of Eastern Tennessee and Wes-
tern North Carolina should be connected with
Kentucky and other faithful parts Of the Union
by railroad, and therefore recommend, as milf
tary measure, that Congress provide for the con-
struction Of such road as speedily as possible.
Kentucky will, no doubt, co operate, and through
her Legislature, make the most jndicil lus selee-
tion Of the line. The northern terminus must
connect with some existing railroad, and whether
the route shah be from Lexington or Nicholas
vile to Cumberland Gap, or from Lebanon to
the Tennessee line in the direction Of Knoxville,
or some still different route, can easily be deter
mined. Kentucky and the General Government
cooperating, the work can be completed in
short time, and when done, il will not only be Of
vast present usefulness, but also an invaluable
permanent Improvement In all the future.
The operations Of the Treasury during the pc
riod which has elapsed since your adjournment
have been conducted with signal success; the
patriotism Of the people has placed at the disposal
Of the Government the large means demanded
by the public exigencies. Much Of the National
Loan has been taken by the industrial classes,
whose confidence and zeal for their eount-y's
deliverance from its present peril have induced
them to contribute to the support Of the Gov
ernment the whole Of their limited acquisitions
This fact imposes peculiar obligations to economy
in disbursements and energy in action.
The revenue, from all sources, including the
loan, TO- the fiscal year ending on the 30th Of
June, 1860, was $50, 1886, 900 81, Al the expen-
dtures for tho same period including payment
on account Of the public debt were $s4, ,5Ts, ,034
SO, leaving balance in the Treasury, on the
lst july, Of g. 257, ,s65 90. For the first quarter
Of the fiscal year, ending 3Oth Of September,
1861. the receipts from all sources, including the
balance from July 1st, were S102, ,532 500 27
The expenditures were sos, ,239, ,733 90, leaving
balance on the LIST Of October, 1861, Of &, ,392,-
776 lS. The estimate for the remaining three
quarters Of the year, and for the fiscal year
1862, together with his views Of ways and means
for getting the demand contemplated by them,
will be submitted to Congress by the Secretary
Of the Treasury.
It is gratifying to know that the expenses made
necessary by the rebellion are not beyond the
resources Of the loyal people, and to believe that
the same patriotism which hes thus far sustained
the Government will continue to sustain Il till
peace and Union shall again bless the land.
respectfully refer to the report Of the Secre-
tary Of War for information respecting the nu-
merical strength Of the army, and for recommen-
datiOns having in view an increase Of its ell
cheney and the well being Of the various branches
Of the rvice entrusted TO his care. Il is graf
flying 10 know that the patriotism Of the people
Is equal 10 the occasion, and that the number Of