Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-12-10
SECOND ANNUAL MESSAGE OF
ABR H A M LINCOLN
President Of the United States.


sembling, another year of health and bounti
ful harvests has passed and while it has MOI
pleased the Almighty to bless us with return
of peace, We can but press on, guided by the
best light He gives us, trusting that in His own
good time and wise way, all will yet be WELL
The correspondence touching foreign aft Hrs
which has taken place during the last year,
IS herewith submitted in virtual compliance
With request TO that effect made by the Honse
If 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 a nation so
unhappily distracted as We are, might reasona-
biy have apprehended.
10 the month of June last there were some
grounds to expect that the maritime Powers
which at the beginning of our domestic diff
cGiies so unwisely and unnecessarily, as we
mink, recognised the insurgents belliger-
eut would soon recede from that position which
has proved only less injurious to themselves
ihan to our own country. But the temporary
.reverseS which afterward befe the National
arms, and which were exaggerated by our own
disioyai citizens abroad, have hitherto DELAYED
that act of simple Justice. The Civil war
which has so radically changed, for the mo-
ment, the occupations and habits of the Amer
lean people, has necessarily disturbed the So
ciai condition, and affected very deeply the
carried on commerce that has been steadily
increasing throughout a period of half cen
fury. 1t has at the same time excited politi-
cal ambitions and apprehensions, which have
produced profound agitation throughout the
civilized world. In this unusual agitation we
haye forborne from taking part in any contro-
rcrsy between foreign States and between
parties or factions in such States We have
attempted no propagaudism, and acknowledge
no revolution but we have left 10 every ma.
lion the exclusive conduct and management OF
its own affairs. Oar struggle has been of
course, contemplated by foreign nations with |
reference less to its own merits than to lis |
supposed and often exaggerated effects and |
consequences resulting to those nations them |
selves Nevertheless, complaint on the part |
OF this Government even if it were Just, would |
certainly be nnwise
The treaty with Great Britain for The suppres
sion OF the slave trade has been put iutu uper-
ation With good prospect of complete sue
cess Ii is an occasion of special pleasure to
acknowledge that the execution of it, on the
part of her N,jesty's Government has been
marked with d jealous respect for the author
ity of the United States and the rights o f their
moral and loyal citizens.
The convention with Hanover for tho ah1li-
ton Of the Stadt dues has been c,rried into
full effect undrr the act of Congress for that |
purpose.
\ blockade OF three thousand miles al s"a- |
coast could not be established and vigorously
enforced in a season of great commercial ac-
iivity like the present without committing oc-
ctSiOnal mistakes, and inficting unntrniion!l
injuries upon foreign nations and their sub
Jecys. A civil war occurring in country
where foreigners reside, aud carry on trade
under treaty Silpuiatiuns, is necessarily fruit
fui of complaints OF the violation of neutral
rights. All such collisions tend to excite
mIsapprehensionS and, possibly, to produce
mutual rec!amations between nations which
nave common interest in preserving peace
aud friendship. In clear Cases Of these kinds
nave, so far as possible, heard aud redressed .
complaints which have been presented by
friendly Powers. There is still, however a
large and an augmenting number OF doubtful
cases, upon which the Government is unable |
10 agree with the Governments whose protec- {
lion Is demanded by the claimants. There
are, moreover many cases in which the Uni
TED Stdtes, or their citizens, suffer wrongs {
from the naval or military authorities of for :
eisn nations, which the Governments of these '
otates are not at once prepared to redress
nave proposed to some OF the foreign States
thus Interested, mutual conventions to exam {
ihe and adjust such complaints. This propo- 9
Slt'on has been made especially to Great Brit '
AIN. to France, to Spain, and to Prussia. In 7
each case it has been kindly received, but has '
rot yet been formally adopted. {
deem it my duty to recommend an anDro G
iration in behalf OF the owners of the Norwe- +
5ldH bark Admiral P. TGrdinskiold. which yes .
s;' Was, IN May, 1861, prevented by the com C
in"Eder OF the biockading force off Charleston c
''onl leaving that port with cargo, notwfth- G
standing similar privilege had shortly be- n
,"'r been granted 10 an English vessel | y
i''e directed the Secretary of State to canse C
'n7 papers IN The case to be communicated TO ! /
iLe proper committees h
Applications have been made to me by many r
,.-1 Americans of African descent To favor c
'Hs'' emlgration, with view to such coloni- {
as lS'''h as was contemplated in recent acts OF O
Sousress Other parties at home and abroad | C
me from interested motives. others upon C
Eiot!c considerations, and still others influ- V
0"cel oy philanthropic sentiments-have sug- | C
sested similar measures; while, the other 4
"snd, several of the Spanish American Re- e
Puohcs nave protested against The sending of Il
9ucn colonies to their respective territories. d
: uder these circumstances have declined to il
move any such colony 10 any State, without t
Hisi obtaining the consent of lis Government, 4
WIN an agreement on its part to receive and n
f'"'ec' such emgrantS in all the rights of free e
- m.nen and have, at the same time offered to n
'ne several States, situated within the tropics a
~ -. having colonies there, to negotiate with c
mem, subject TO the advice and consent of the q
'ehate, to favor the voluntary emigration of 81
persons OF that class to their respective terri f,
.otles, upon conditions which shall be equal. q
,us'; ana humane. Liberia and Hayti are as 81
. ~ 'he only countries to which colonists of
,A.il ilcan descent from here could go with GER c,
,iihty OF being received and adopted as citi NJ
-e"s' ana L regret to say that such persons as ii
E1!on'empiate colonization do not seem so will OF
g IN, 10 migrate TO those countries as to some fr
-, nor so willing as, think. their inter ia
- demands. believe, however the opinion | m
~. them in this respect is improving. and IN
'''A' ere long there will be an augmented and S.