The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-12
The Presidents Message.
THIRD SESSION OF THE TIM El.
TY-SEVENTHI CONGRESS,
DEC. list, 1862.

Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of
Representatives:
Since your last assembling another
year of health and bountiful harvests has
passed, and while it has not pleased the
Almighty to bless us with a 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,
all will be well.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The correspondence touching foreign
affairs which has taken place during the
last year, is herewith submitted, in virtual
compliance with request to that effect,
made by the House of Representatives
near the close Of the past session of Con-
gress. If the condition of our relations
with other nations is less gratifying than
it has usually been at other periods it has
certainly been more satisfactory than a
nation so unhappily distracted as we are,
might have reasonably apprehended.
In the month of June last there were
some grounds to expect that the mari
time powers which at the beginning Of
our domestic difficulties so unwisely and
so unsuccessfuliy as we think, recognized
the insurgents as a belligerent power,
would soon recede from that position
which has proved only less injurious to
themselves than to our own country, but
the temporary reverses which afterwards
befel the national arms and which were
exaggerated 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 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
creasing throughout period of half a
century. 1t has at the same time excited
political ambitions and apprchcnsions
which have produced profound agitation
throughout the civilized world.
In this unusual agitation we have for
borne taking part i'll any controversy be-
tween parties and factions in any such
States. We have attempted no propa-
gandism and acknowledged no revolution
but we have left to every nation the ex-
own affairs. Our struggle has been, of
course, contemplated by foreign nations
with reference less to its own merits than
to its supposed and often exaggerated
effects and the consequences resulting to
those nations themselves. Nevertheless,
complaint Oh the part of this government.
even if it were Just, would certainly be
unwiSe.
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 of
special pleasure to acknowledge that the
execution Of it on the part of Her Maj es-
ty's government has been marked with a
Jealous respect for the authorities of the
United States, and the rights of their NOR
al and loyal citizens.
The convention with Hanover for the
abolition of the State dues has been car
ried into full 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 inficting
unintentional injuries upon foreign nations
and their subjects. A civil war, occurring
in country where foreigners reside and
carry on trade under treaty stipulations
is necessarily fruitful of complaints of the
violations of neutral rights. All such COL
lisions tend to excite misrepresentation
and possibly to produce national reclama-
tons between nations which have COM
mon interest in preserving peace and
friendship.
In clear cases of these kinds I have, so
far as possible, heard and redressed COM
plants which have been preferred by
friendly powers. There is, however, a
large and augmenting number of doubtful
cases upon which the Government is una
BILE to agree with the Government 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 au-
thorities of foreign nations, which the
government of these States are not pre-
pared to redress.
AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION.
l have proposed to some of the foreign
States thus interested mutual conventions
to examine 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 kindly
received, but has not yet been formally
adopted.