Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-12-04
TnE PRESIDENTS mEssAGE.

our relations with foreign nations Is less
gratifying than formerly, IL is certainly more
satisfactory than nation SO unlmpily disturb.
ed might reasonably have apprchcndcd. A
blockade OF 5000 miles of sea coast could
not be established and vigorously enforced in
u season of great commercial activity like the
present, without committing occasional mis-
takes, and inllicting unintcntiOnal I'M urics up
on foreign nations aud subjects. In clear
cases of these kinds, | have, so far as poSsi-
bic, heard and rcdresscd complaints by friend.
ly powers,
There is, however, large and augmcnting
number of doubtful cases upon which the
Government IS unable to agree with the Gov
crnmonts whose protection is demanded by
the claimants. There are, moreover many
cases in which the United States or their cit
izcns suffer wrongs from the military authori.
ty of foreign nations which the Governments
Of these States are not prepared to redress
have proposed to some OF the foreign States
interested, mutual conventions to examine
and adjust such complaints This has been
made especially to Great Britain, France,
Spain and Russia. In each case it has been
kindly received, but not yet formally adopted,
Applications have been made to me by
many free American citizens of African do
scent, to favor their emigration with aview to
such colonization as was contemplated by re.
home and abroad, some from interested aud
other nations, have suggested similar meas
ures, while on the other hand, several Of the
Spanish American Republics have protested
agt inst the sending OF such colonies to their
respective territories.
Under these circumstances | have declined
to move any such colony to any State without
first obtaining the consent of its Government,
with an agreement on its part to receive and
pr otcct 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 on the subject, with the advice and con.
sent of the Senate, to favor the voluntary en-
| igration of persons of that class to their re
! spective territories on conditions which shall
be equal, just and humane.
| Liberia and TTeyti arc, as yet, the only
countries to which coonists of African de
sc cnt from here could go with certainty OF
being received and adopted as citizens and
| | regret to say that such persons contemplate
! ing colonization do not seem as willing to
| to cmigrate to these countries as to some
others, nor as willing as | think their intercs,
demands. believe, however, that the opin.
ion is improving, and that ere long there will
he an augmented AID considerable emgra.
tion to both these countries.
Our relations with European States remain
undisturbcd, and with States of our cont
nent have improved, especially Mexico, Costa
Rica, &c.
Tho President favors the projection Of ar
Atlantic telegraph and extending the Pacific
line to connect with that being built acros,
the Russian Empire.
/ He thinks the mineral resources Of the Ter.
ritories ought to be developed as rapidly as
possible. Every step in that direction has a
] I tn hn
| thy serious consideration whether some cX
traordinary measures to promote that end
cannot be adopted. The means which sug-
gest itself as most likely to effect that end is
a scientific exploration.
The vast expenditure, incident to the military
and naval operations requised for the suppression
of the rebellion, have hitherto been met with I,
|prompttudc and certainty unusual in similar c!r
cumstauccs, aud the public credit has heen fully
ma ntaine |. The continuance Of the wa" how
ever, and the increased disbursements nude nee.
essiry, demand your best reflections rs to the
best modes of providing the necessary revenue
| The suspension Of specie payments by til, banks
made large issues Of United States notes una
yoidablo In no other way could the payment OF
the troops and the satisfaction of other Just de.
mands he so economically oras well provided for
1t is extremely doubtful whether a circulation
of United States notes. payable in coin and suf
fctcntly large for the wants of the people, cal
be permanently useful 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 cur
rency securcd2 know Of none which promise
SO certain results and at the same time uuOb
jcctionab!e, as tho organization of banking asso
ciat ms under general act Of Congress, wei
guarded in its provisions.
/ To such associations the Government nigh
furnish circulating notes on the security of Uni
ted States bonds, deposited in the treasury -
These notes prepared under the supervision o
proper officers being uniform in appearance an,
security, and convertible always into coin, woull
at once protect labor against the evils of u vi
cious currency, and facilitate commerce by chcaI
and safe exchange moderate reservation
from the interest ON the bonds would compensate
TIE United states for the preparation and distr
button OF the notes, and II general supcrvi ision o
the system, and would tighten the burden of that
portion of the public debt employed as security
The public credit moreover would be greatly
improved, end the negotiation of new loan,
greatly facilitated by the steady market demand
for Government bonds which the adoption of tn,
proposed system would create 1t is an addition
nj recommendation Of the measure Of consdera
bic weight in my judgment, that it would recon
ellie, far as possible, all cxis ing interests by
the opportunity offered to eXistr & institutions t
rcorganile; under the act, subs tituting only til,
uniform national circulation for the local and va
riOus circulations now issued.
The Prcsldsnt then gives summary from tn
Secretary of the Treasury's report Refers t,
the reports of the Secretaries of the Navy am
War; says though long, they are only brief al
stracts. He says there is decided improve
mcnt in the financial condition of lhc Postolic
Department compared with previous years, Th
lands have ceased te be n source of revenue -
Speaking of Indian affairs and the rcceut trou