The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-12-10
VOLUME XIV NUMBER so.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
FelLoac- Citizens Of tie Senate
Ind House of RfnrfSentntireS


pleased the Almighty to bless US with a
return of peace, we can but press on, guild
ed by the light He gives US, trusting that
in His own good time and way, all will
be well.
The correspondence touching foreign
affairs, has taken place during the last
year, is herewith submitted, in virtual
compliance with a request to that effect,
made by the House of Representatives,
onear the close of the last session of Con-
gress. If the condition of our relations
with other nations is less gratifying than
1t has usually been at former periods, it
is certainly more satisfactory than a ma
ton SO unhappily distressed as VIC are
might reasonably have apprehended. Ia
the month of June last, there were some
grounds to expect that the maritime Pow
ers, which at the beginning Of our do
mestlc difficulties, so unanimously and
unnecessarily, as we think, recognized
the insurgents as a beligerent, would
soon recede from that position, which has
proved ouly less injurious to themselves
than to our own country; but the tempo
rary reverses which afterward befell the
national arms, and which were exaggerat-
ed by cur own disloyal children abroad,
have hitherto delayed that act of simple
justice.
The civil war which has go radically
changed for the moment the occupations
and habits of the American people, has
necessarily disturbed the social conditions
aud affected very deeply the prosperity Of
the nations with which we have carried
on a commerce, that has been steadily in
creasng throughout a period of half a
century. 1t has at the same time excited
political ambitions and apprehensons,
which have profound agitation through
out the civilized world. In this unusual
agitation, we have forb3rue from taking
part in any controversy between foreign
States and between parties or factions in
such States. We have attempted no pro-
pagandism and acknowledged no revolu-
ton. But we have left to every nation
the exclusive conduct and management
Of its own affairs. Our struggle has been,
of course, contemplated by foreign ma
tons with reference less to its own mer
its than to its supposed and often exag
gerateI effects, and the consequence re-
sultrng to those nations themselves. -
Nevertheless, complaint on the part of
this Government, even if it were just,
would certainly be unwise.
The treaty with Great Britain for the
suppression of the African slave-trade
has been put into operation with a good
prospect of complete success. 1t is an
occasion Of special pleasure to acknowl-
edge that the execution Of it on the part
of her Majcsty's Government has been
marked by a jealous respect for the au-
thority of the United States and the
rights Of their moral and loyal citizens
The Convention with Hanover for the
abolition of the Stade dues has been car
red into full effect under the act of Con
gress for that purpose.
A blockade of 3 900 miles Of sea-coast
could not be established and vigorously
enforced in season of great commercial
activity like the present without commit
ting occasional mistakes and inhicting
unintentional injuries upon foreign ma
tions and their subjects. A civil war oc-
curing in a country where foreigners re-
side and carry on trade, under treaty stip-
ulations, is necessarily fruitful of com
plants of the violation of neutral rights.
All such collisions tend to excite mis-
pprehensions, and possibly, to produce
mutual reclamations between nations
which have a common interest in pre-
serving peace aud friendship. In clear
cases of these kinds, have, so far as pos
slbe, heard and redressed complaints
which have been presented by friendly
Powers. There is, however, large and
augmenting number of doubtful cases,
upon which the Government is unable to
agree with the Governments whose pro-
lection 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 au-
th0ritles of foreign nations, which the
Governments Of these States are not at
once prepared to redress. [ have pro-
posed to some of the foreign States thus
interested, mutual conventions to exam.
inc 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 for
mally adopted. [ deem it my duty to
recommend an appropriation in behalf of
the owners of the Norwegian Bark Ad-
mlral Z. Fordens Riola, which vessel was,
IN May, 1861, prevented by the comman-
der OF the blocading force off Charleston
from leaving that port with cargo, not
Tl'nstaGdlng a similar privilege bad
shortly before been granted to an English
vessel | have directed the Secretary of