The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-05
KEOKUK IOWA: FRIDAY, DECEMBER s. 1862
THE EPREsIDENTs MESSAGE.
Third Session CT The Thirty Seventh Con-
gress, December Ist, 1862.

gress, December Isl, ls62
Feflo,c Citizens Of The Senate and House ot
Representatives
Since your last assembling another year
Of health and bountiful harvests has pass
ed, and while 1t has not pleased the Al,
mighty to bless US with return of peace,
We cannot but press on, guided BY the
best light he gives us, trusting that in his
own good time and wise way, aIl will be
we'll ,a nea5
OUR ToREIGA RELATIONS.
The e,rrespondencs touching foreign
affairs which has taken place during the
last yesr, is herewith submitted, in yir-
tual compliance with request to tha.
effect, made by the House Of Represen-
tatives near the close Of the past session
Of Congress. If the conditions Of our re-
lations with other nations is less grasify.
ing than it has usually been at other
periods it hiss certainly been more salts
factory than nation 30 unhrppiIy dis
tracted as We are. might have i a. >onably
apprehended. 3s y
ln the month Of June last there werc
some grounds to expect that the maritime
powers which at the beginning Of our
domestic difficulties 80 unwisely and so
unsuccsssfully ~ we think, recognized the
insurgents as belligerent power, would
soon recede from that position which has
proved only. less injurious to themselves,
than 70 our own country, but the tenn
porary reyersea which afterwards beiell lie
national arms and which were exaggerat-
cd by our OWE, ,disiesal citizens abroad !,
have hitherto delayed that act Of simple
justice.
The civil war which has so radically
changed for the monient the occupations
and habits Of the American people has
necessarily disturbed the social condition
and affected very deeply the prosperity Of
the nations with which we have carried
on commerce that has been steadily in
creaslng throughout a period of half a
century. IL has attic same time excited
political sn,lt.o.s a.d appichensions
which have produced y profound agita-
tion throughout the civilized world,
In this unusual agitation We have for
borne taking part IN any controversy BET
ween parties aud factions in any such
States. We have attempted no prcpa-
gandism and acknowledged nor volutiop,
but VIC have left to every nation the ex-
elusive conduct and management of III
own affairs. Our struggle has been If
course contemplated by foreign nations
with reference less to its own merits than
to its supposed and often exaggerated ef.
fects, and The consequences resulting to
those nations themselves. Nevertheless,
complaint on the part Of this government,
even If it were just, would certainly be
unwlse.
SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE.
The treaty with Great Britain for the
suppression of the slave trade has been
put into operation with good prospect
Of complete success. 1t is an occasion ~
especial pleasure 10 acknowledge that tie
execution Of ii on the part of Her AIajrs-
ty's government has been marked with Il
Jealous respect for the authorities of the
United States, and the rights OF their
moral and loyal citizens.
The convention with Hanover for the
abolition OF the State dues has been car
ried into iail effect under the act of Con-
gress for that purpose!
THE COAST BLOCKADE.
A blockade Of 5000 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 inAicting
iunin nteDtional injuries upon foreign ma
tions and their subjects A cival war, oc-
curing in a country were foreigners re-
side and carry on trade under treaty
stipulations, is necessarily fruitful ofcom-
plants Of the violation of neutral rights.
All such collisions tend to excite misap-
prehensions and possibly TO produce ma
tional reclamations between nations which
have . common interest in preserving
peace and friendship, a a8
In clear cases of these kinds I have,
so far Is possible, heard and redressed
complaints which have been preferred by
friendly powers. There is, however, .
largo and aagmsntiDg 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, moreover, many cases in which
the United States or their citizens suffer
wrongs from naval Or military authorities
of foreign nations, which the government
of these States are not prepared to re-
dress.
AN INTERNATIONAL CoSvEHTIoN.
I have proposed to some Of the foreign
States thus interested mutual copyen- I
items to examine and adjust such com
plants. This proposition has been made