The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-12-10
S Y N @ P SIS
OF THE
PRESIDENTS, MESSAGE. F..
[By Telegraph. I

The President says the correspondence
touching foreign affairs which has taken
place during the last year is herewith sub
mitted, in compliance with the request to
that effect. If the condition of our rela-
tions with other nations is less gratifying
| than formerlg, it is certainly more salts
factory than nation so unhappily dis
tracted might have reasonably appre-
hended. A blockade of three thousand
miles of sea-coast could not be established
and vigorously enforced in season of
great commercial activity like the present,
without committing occasional mistakes
and inficting unintentional injuries upon
/ foreign nations and subjects. In clear
cases of these kinds, l have as far as pos
sible heard and redressed the complaints
by friendly powers THERE'S, however, a
large and augmenting number Of doubtful
cases, upon which the Government is un-
able to agree with the Governments whose
protection is demanded by the claimants
There are more eases in which the Uni
ted States or their citizens suffer wrongs
from the naval or military authorities of
foreign ATOMS, which the Government Of
these States are not at once prepared to
redress. / have proposed to some of the
foreign States, interested, mutual .conven
tions, to examine and adjust such COM
lplaints. This has been made especially
to Great Britain, France, Spain and Prus-
sia. In each case it has been fayorably
received, but not yet formally adopted.
i Applications have been made to me by
many free Americans of African descent
to favor their emigration with view to
su b colonization as was contemplated in
tae recent acts of Congress. Other par
ties at home and abroad, some from in
tcrested and other motives, have suggest
ed similar measures, while on the other
hand several of the Spanish American
Republics have protested against the
sending of such colonies to their respec-
tive territories. Under these cireum-
stances. have declined to move anyisuch
] colony to any State without first obtain
ing the consent of its Government. with
an agreement on its part to receive
and protect such emigrants in all their
rights as frecmen, and have at the same
time offered to the several States situated
in the tropics, or having colonies there.
to negotiate with them, subject to the adj
vice and conset of the Senate. to favor
the voluntary emigration Of portions OF
that class to their respective territories
/ npon conditions which shall be equal
/ Just and humane.
Liberia aud Hayti are yet the only
countries to which colonists Of the Afri-
can descent from here could so, with Ger
/ tainty Of being received and adopted as
citizens, and regret : to say that such
persons contemplating colonization net
seem SO willing to enigrate to theseseounl
tries as to some others, nor willing as I
;i.iah their interest demands believe
however, that tl,e opinion is improving,
and that ere long there will be an aug
mcnteI and considerable en- grs ton 10
| bo,h these countries. 3.
! Our relations with European States re-
MA undisturbed. and with States of our
continent ilave improved, especially Mex
! ice. Gost4 isics, d.. go sgl
! Tie presisieat speaks of favored pro-
! jevt the Atlantic Telegraph, and of ex-'
/ tending the fac.:ie line to connect with
. that beiuc extended across the Russian
{ Em, e.. tbitli.s Tie IN neral resources of
the territories oIght % be developed as
rapidly a~ possi Gle. Ever step in that
direction wla,id have Tendency to i,n-
prove t,e revenues 1t is worthy OF seri-
/ Gus consideration whether some ext faor-
dinary measures TO promote that end can
/ not be adopted The means which eug-
gest iiseif as most likely to be effective, is
a scientific exploration.
The naval operations required for the
suppression OF the rebellion have hitherto
been met with a promptitude and certain
" unusual in similar circumstances, and
The public credit has been fully main
tanned. et
! The continuance OF the war, however,
and the increased disbursements made
necessary demand your best reflections as
to tie best modes ofprovidlng the necessa
ry revenue. The suspension OF specie pay
ment by tho banks made large issues Of
United Statet notes unavoidable. In no
other way could tie payment of the
troops and the satisftctiou of other just
demands be SO economically or as well
provided for. 1t is extremely doubtful
whether a circulation of United States
notes, pc yab!e in coin and sufficiently large
for the wants of the people, can be per
manently, usefully and safely maintained.
Is there any other mode in which the
necessary provision for the public wants
can be made, and the great advantages OF
safe and uniform currency secured
know of none which promises so certain
results, and at the same time so unoblec
tionabIe as the organization OF banking
associations under a genera! act of Con
gress, we'll guarded in its provisions. To
such associations the Government light
furnish circulating notes on the security
of United States bonds, deposited in the
Treasury. These notes, prepared unF!e,
the supervision of proper officers, being
uniform in appearance and security, and
convertible always into coin, would al
once protect labor against the evils of a
vicious currency and facilitate commerce
by cheap and safe exchanges. A moder-
ate reservation from the interest on the
bonds would compensate the United
States for the preparation and distribu-
ton of the notes, and a general supervi
la,on of tho 0vStap wontd tIpbtnn tbf