Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-05
DotirnaI aito &tHtesmratt
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
fsito,e ciiise"s Of The Senate and Aou,s Of Repre-

NfliutOeSs :
Since your last animal assembling, another
year Of health aud bounIitul harvests has passed
md while it has not pleased the Almighty tt
bless us with return Of peace. We can hut pres,
on, guided by the best light lie gives ls, trusting
that III his own good timo and wiss way, all will
yet be we'll.
This correspondence touching foregn affairs
which ha4 taken place during the last year. l.
herewith submitted, in virtual compliance with
a request to that effect made by the House oil
Representatives near the close of the last session
of Congress. II the condition Of our relations
with other nations is less gratifying than it has
usually been at former periods, it is certainly
more satisfactory than nation so unhappily
distracted as we nre might reasonably have ap-
pretended.
In the month Of June last there were some
grounds to expect that the maritime powers
which at the beginning of our domestic difficult
Ties so unwisely and unnecessarily, as we think,
recognized the insurgents M beFercnt would
soon recede from that position, which has proved
only less Injurious 10 themselves than to our own
country.
But the temporary reyerses which afterward
betel the National arms and which were exag-
geratcd by our own disoyal citizens abroad have
hitherto delayed that act of simple Justice The
civil war. which has so radically changed, for
the moment, the occupations and habits of the
American people, has necessarily disturbed the
social condition, and affected very deeply the
prosperity Of the nations with which we have
carried OIL commerce that has been steadily n-
creasing throughout period OF half century.
1t has at the same time excited political aub.
tions aud apprehensons, which have produced
profound agitation throughout the civilized
world. In this unusual agitation we have for
borne from taking part in any controversy be-
tween foreign States and between parties or fac
tons in such States.
We have attempted no propagandism, and &C.
knowledged no revolution but we have left TO
every nation the exclusive conduct and manage.
ment of its own affairs
Our struggle has been, of course, contemplated
by foreign nations with reference less to its own
merits than to its supposed and often exaggera-
ted effects and consequences resulting to those
nations themselves. Nevertheless, complaint on
| the part of this Government, even if ii were lust
would certainly be unwise.
The treaty with Great Britain for the suppress
sion Of the slave trade has been put into opera
tion with good prospect of complete success
| 1t il an occasion of special pleasure to acknow-
ledge that the execution of it, on the part of her
Majesty's Government has been marked with
jealous respect for the authority of the United
States and the rights of their moral aud loyal
citizens.
The convention with Hanover for the abolition
of the Stadt dues has been carried into full ef.
feet under the act of Congress for that purpose.
blockade of three thousand miles of sea.
coast could not be established and vigorously en-
forced in Il season OF great commercial activity
like the present without committing occasional
mistakes, and inHctng unintentional injuries
upon foreign nations and their subjects. A civil
war occurring in country where foreigners
side, and carry on trade under treaty siipuln-
tons, is necessarily fruitful OF complaints Of the
violation OF neutral rights.
All such collisions tend to excite misappre-
tensions and, possibly, to produce mutual re-
camatons between nations which have COM
mon interest in preserving peace and friendship.
In clear cases of these kinds have, so far as
possible, heard and redressed complaints which
have been presented by friendly powers.
There is still, however. large and on aug
menting number of doubtful cases, upon which
the Government is unable to agree with the
Governments whose protection is demanded by
the claimants.
There are, moreover, many cases in which the
United States or their citizens suffer wrongs
from the naval or military authorities of foreign
nations, which the Governments of these States
are not at once prepared to redress. have pro-
dosed to some OF the foreign States thus interest
ed, mutual conventions to examine and adjust
such complaints. This proposition has been
made especially to Great Britain, to France, to
Spain, and to Prussia. In each case it has been
kindly received, but has not yet been formally
adopted.
deem it my duty to recommend and appro-
prlation in behalfof the owners Of the Norwegian
bark Admiral r. Tordinskiod which vessel was,
in May 1861, prevented by the commander of the
bockading force off Charleston from leaving that
port with cargo, Notwithstanding similar
privilege mad, shortly before, been granted to
an English vessel. have directed the Secre-
tary Of State to cause the papers in the case
to be communicated to the proper committees.
Applications have been made to me by many
free Americans OF African descent to favor their
emigration, with q view to such colonization as
was contemplated in recent acts oil Congress-
Other parties at home and abroad-some from
interested motives, others upon patriotic con-
siderations, uud still others influenced by phi
lanthropic scniiMents-haye suggested similar
measures while, Ol the other hand, several OF
the Spanish American Republics have protested
against the sending OF such colonies to their res
pective territories
Under these circumstances have declined to
move any such colony TO any States, without
first obtaining the consent OF its Government
with an agreement on its part to receive and
protect such emgranis in all the rights Of free
men {; and have, at the same time, offered to
the several States, situated within the tropics, or
having colonies there, to negotiate with them,
subject to the advice and consent Of the Senate,
to favor the voluntary emigration of persons of
that class to their respective territories, upon
conditions which shall be equal, just, and hu
name.
Liberia and Hayti are as yet the only coun-
tries to which colonists of African descent from
here could go with certainty Of being received
and adopted as citizens, aud regret to say that
such persons as contemplate colonization do not
seem so willing to migrate to those countries as
to some others, nor 50 willing as, think, their
interest demands. / believe, however, the opin-
ian in 10 inn and
that ere long there will be an augmented and
considerable migration to both these countries
from the United States.
The new commercial treaty between the Uni
ted States and the Sultan of Turkey has been
carried into execution. commercial and con-
sular treaty has been negotiated, subject to the
Senate's consent, with Liberia, and a similar
negotiation is now pending with the republic of
Hayt. considerable improvement of the ma
tional commerce is expected to result from these
measures.
Our relations with Great Britain, France,
Spain, Portugal, Russia, Prussia, Denmark,
Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands Italy, Rome,
and the other European States, remain undis-
turbed. Very favorable relations also continue
to be maintained with Turkey, Morocco, China
and Japan.
During the last year there has not only been
no change of our previous relations with the
independent States of our own Continent, but
more friendly sentiments than have heretofore
existed are believed to be entertained by these
neighbors, whose safety and progress are so in
timately connected with our own. This state
ment, especially applies to Mexico, Nicaragua,
Costa Rca, Honduras, Peru, and Chill.
The commission under the convention with
the Republic of New Granada closed it's session
without having audited and passed upon all the
claims which were submitted TO 1t. propo-
al l., 10 eaWtu