The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Fellotc- Citizens oftbe Senate
and House Of Representatives.
Since your last annual assembling an
other year of health and bountiful har-
vests has passed. And while it has not
pleased the Almighty to bless us with a
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
affairs which has taken place during the
last year is herewith submitted, in vir-
tual compliance with a request to that
effect, made by the House of Represen-
tatives near the. close of the last session
of Congress.
If 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
reasonably have apprehended. In the
month of June last there were some
grounds to expect that the maritime
powers which, at the beginning of our
domestic difficulties, so unwisely and
unnecessarily, as we think, recognized
the insurgents as belligerent, would soon
recede from that position, which has
proved only less injurious to themselves,
than TO our own country. But the tenn
porary reverses which afterwards befell
the national arms, and which were eX-
aegerated by our own disloyal citizens
abroad, have hitherto delayed that act OF
simple justice.
The civil war, which has so radically
changed, for the moment, the occupation
and habits of the American people, has
necessarily disturbed the social condi-
tion, and affected very deeply the pros
pcrity of the nations with which We
have carried on commerce that has
been steadily increasing throughout 8
period of half century. 1t has, a
the same time, excited political ambi
tiops and apprehensions which have
produced profound agitation through
out the civilized world. In this unusua
agitation we have forborne from takin!
part in any controversy between foreign
States, and between parties or faction
in such States. We have attempted
no propagandism, and acknowledged
no revolution. But we have left l.
every nation the exclusive conduc
andd management of its own AFFAIRS
Our struggle has been, of course
contemplated by foreign nations wit
reference less to its own merits, than I
its supposed, and often exaggerated eff
fccts and consequences resulting to thos
nations themselves. Nevertheless, com
plant on the part of this government
even if it were just, would certainly b
unwise.
The treaty with Great Britain for th
1 suppression Of the slave trade has bee
put into operation with a good prospeC
of complete success. 1t is an occasiO
of special pleasure 10 acknowledge tina
the execution Of it, on the part of he
Majesty's government, has been marke
= with jealous respect for the authorit
: Of the United States, and the rights
their moral aud loyal citizens.
The conventinn with Hanover for th
abolition Of the stade dues has been ear
e ried into full effect, under the act (
y Congress for that purpose.
> A blockade of three thousand miles
sea- coast could not be established, an
n vigorously enforced, in a season Of grei
rs commercial activity like the presen
e without committing occasional mistake
and inficting unintentional injuries upo
"a foreign nations and their subjects.
VI A civil war occurring in a ceuntr
b, where foreigners reside and carry q
=; trade under treaty stipulatiOns, is necei
sarily fruitful Of complaints Of the VII
NJ lation Of neuIralrights. All such coll
! sions tend TO excite misapprehensions, an
}. possibly TO produce mutual reclamation
y between nations which have a commC
interest in preserving peace and frien'
ship. In clear cases Of these kinds
lo have, so far as possible, heard and r
y dressed complaints which have be,
.1' presented by friendly powers. There
a still, however large and an augmentil
number OF doubtful cases upon viii