Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


Since your last annual assembling another
year Of health and bountiiul harvestS has passed
And while it has not 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
vet be well.
ABOUT OUR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The correspondence touching foreign affairs
which has taken place during the last year, is
herewith submitted in virtual compliance with
the request to that effect, made by the House of
Representatives near the close of the last session
of Congress.
If the condition Of ouI relations with other
nations is less gratifying than it has usually been
at former periods it is certainly more satisfactory
than nation so unhappily distracted as we are,
might reasonably have apprehended. In the
month of June last there were some grounds to
expect that maritime powers which, at the begin
ming of our domestic difficulties, so unwisely aud
unnecessarily, as we think. recognized the insur
gents as a belligerent, 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 beiel the
national arms, and whit b we're exaggerated 10y
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 a commerce that has been steadily in
creasing throughout period of half a century.
1t has, at the same time, excited political ambi-
tions and apprehensions which have produced
profound agitation throughout the civilized world.
In this unusual agitation we have forbone from
taking part in any controversy between foreign
states, and between parties or factions in such
states. We have attempted no propagandism,
and acknowledged no revolution. But we have
left 10 every nation the exclusive conduct and
management Of its own affairs. Our struggle
has been, of course, contemplated by foreign ma
tions with reference less TO its own merits, than
to It's 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 unwise.
SLAVE TRADE TREATY WITH ENGLAND.
The treaty with great Britain, for the suppress
sion of the slave trade, has been put into opera
ton 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
Maiesty's Government, has been marked with a
jealous respect for the authority of the United
States. and the rights of their moral and loyal
citizens
sTADT DUES ABOLISHED.
The convention with Hanover for the abolition
Of the stadt dues has been carried into full effect,
under the act of Congress for that purpose.
THE BLOCKADE AND THE TROUBLES 1T OCCASIONS.
A blockade of $500 miles of sel coast could
not be established, and vigorously enforced, in
season of great commercial activity like the pres
ent. without committing occasional mistakes and
inaieting unintentiOnal injuries upon foreign ma
tiOns and their subjects.
A ri. vva in a vha for
egners reside and carry on trade under treaty
stpuatiOns, is necessarily fruitful Of complaints
of the violation OF neutral rights All such col
lisions tend to excite misapprehensiOns, and pos
siby to produce mutual reclamatiOns between
nations which have common interest i'm pre-
serving peace and friendship. Ia clear cases of
these kinds | have, So far as possible, heard and
redTessed complaints which have been presented
by friendly powers. There is still, however, a
large and augmenting number of doubtful cases.
upon which the Government is unable to agree
with the Governments whose protection is de-
niauded by the claimants. There are, moreover.
many cases in which the United States, or their
citizens, suffer wrongs from the naval or military
authority of foreign nations which the Govern
ments OF those States are not at once prepared 10
redress. ! have proposed 10 some of the foreign
States thus interested. mutual conventions to ex
anime aud adjust such compl1ints This prOpO-
10 France, 10 Spain and to Prussia. In each case
il has been kindly received. but has not yet been
formally adopted.
| deem it my duty TO recommend an appro-
pratOn in behalf of the owners of the Norwegian
bark Admiral Z. Tordenskiold, which vessel was,
in May, 1861, prevented by the commander OF
the blockading force off Charleston from leaving
that port with cargo, notwithstanding "A similar
privilege bad, shortly before. been granted 10
English vessel have directed the Secretary OF
State to cause the papers in the ease to be com
mum ;ated to the proper authorities
cOLoNIzArION OF "FREE AMERICANS or AFRICAN
DESCENT"
Applications have been made to me by many
free Americans of African descent TO favor Their
emigration. with a view to such coioniz ton as
contemplated IN recent acts of Congress
Other parties, at home aud abroaG-some from
interested motives, Others upon patriotic ccnsid-
eratiOns, aud still others Influenced by philan-
thropic sentiments-have suggested similar meas
Ires; while on the other hand, several of the
Spanish American Republics have protested
against the sending Of such colonies to their
spectiye territories. Under these circumstance,
| have declined O. move any such colony TO any
State, without first obtaining the consent of its
government, with an agreement on its part 90 re-
ceive and protect such emigrants in all the rights
of treemen; and | have, at the same time of
ferei to the several States situated within the
tropics, OF having colonies there, to negotiate
with them, subject to the advice aud consent of
the Senate, 10 favor the voluntary emigration of
persons of that class TO their respective terrific
res, upon conditions which shall be equal, Just
and humane Liberia and Hayti are, AS yet, the
only countries TO which colonies of African de-
scent from here, could go with certainty OF being
received and adopted citizens; and regret To
say such persoAs contemplating colonization, do
not seem so willing to migrate to those countries,
as 10 some others; nor so willing as think their
interest demands. ! believe, however, opinion
among them. i'm this respect, Is improving; and
that, ere long, there will be an augmented, and
considerable migration to both these countries
from the United States.
COMMERCIAL TREATIES.
ted States and the Sultan of Turkey has been
carried into execution.
A commercial and consular treaty has been
negotiated, subject to Senate's consent, with
Liberia; and similar recognition il now pend
ing with the republic of Hayti A considerable
improvement of the national commerce is ex.
pected to result from these measures.
MORE ABOUT FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with Great Britain, France
Spain, Portugal, Russia, Prussia, Denmark, Swe
den, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Rome, and
the other European States, remain undisturbed
Very favorable relations also continue to bt
maintained with Turkey, Morocco, China and
Japan.
During the last year there has not only beer
no change of our previous relations with the in
dependent States of our own continent, bu
more friendly sentiments than have heretofore
existed are believed to be entertained by these
neighbors, whose safety and progress are so in
timately connected with our own. This state
ment especially applies to Mexico, Nicaragua
Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru and Chill