The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-12-06
The Presidents Message,

the pIeSI0eatS message
Third Session Of the Thirty-seventh Con-
gress, December LIST, 1860.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Rep
reseutatiyes:
Since your last assembling another year
of health and bountiful harvest has passed,
and while it has not pleased the Almighty
to bless Us with return of peace, we can
not but press OH, guided by the best light
he gives Us, trusting that in his own good
time and wise way, all will be we'll.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The correspondence touching foreign
affairs which has taken place during the
last year is herewith submitted, in com
plisnce with a request to that effect. If
the condition of our relations with other
nations is less gratifying than formerly, it
is certainly more satisfactory than nation
90 unhappily distracted might have rea-
sonably apprehended-
In the month of June last there were
some grounds to expect that the maritime
powers which, at the beginning OF our do
mestlc difficulties, SO unwissly and so UNI
successfully az we think, recognized the
insurgents as belligerent power, would
soon recede from that position which has
proved only less injurious to themselves
than to our own country, but the tempo
rary 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 a commerce that has been steadily in
creasing throughout period of half a
century. 1t has at the same time excited
political ambitions and apprehensions
which have produced profound agitation
throughout the civilized world.
In this unusual agitation we have for
borne taking part in any controversy be-
tween parties and factions in any such
States We have attempted no propagand
linn aud acknowledged no revolution, but
We have left to every nation the exclusive
conduct and management of its own affairs.
Our struggle has been of course contem-
plated by foreign nations with reference
less to its own merits tkan to its supposed
and often exaggerated effects and the
consequences resulting to those nations
themselves. Nevertheless, complaint on
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
of the slave trade has been
put into operation with good prospect of
complete success. 1t is an occasion of
especial pleasure to acknowledge that the
execution of it on the part of Her Majestys
has been marked with jeal-
Gus 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 full effect under the act Of Con- !
gress for that purpose
THE COAST BLOCKADE.
blockade of 5000 miles of sea coast |
could no. be established and vigorously en-
forced, IN a season of great commercial
activity like the present, without commit
ling occasional mistakes, and inti!cting
injuries upon foreign nations
Ind their subjects. a civil war, occurring
IN a country where foreigners reside and |
carry on q trade under treaty stipulations. !
violations of neutral rights. All such col |
isions tend to excite misarprehen.ions |
md possibly to produce national reclama |
lions between nations which have COM |
non interest in preserving peace and /
In clear cases of these kinds, have so for
Is possible, heard and redressed complaints
BY friendly powers. There is, however. a
arge and augmenting numder of doubtful |
Eases, upon which the government is un- |
lble to agree with the governments whose |
protection is demanded by the claimants. |
There are, moreover, many cases in which |
he United States or their citizens suffer |
wrongs from the naval or military authori- |
lies of foreign nations, which the govern- |
nents of these States are not at once pre- |
pared to redress.
Az INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION.
l have proposed to some of the for
,ign States interested mutual eonven-
IONS to examine and adjust some COM
,laints. This has been made especially |
% Great Britain, France, Spain, and
Prussia In each case 1t has been |
<indly received, but not yet formally
.dopted
THE CASE OF NORWEGIAN BARK.
deem it my duty to recommend an
in behalf of the owners t
If the Norwegian bark Admiral p. For |
liens Riola, which vessel was In May, 1861, |
by the commander of the biloxi
lding force of Charleston, from leaving |
hat port with a cargo, notwithstanding a
imilar privilege had shortly before been
granted te an English vessel. have di-
'ected the Secretary of State 10 cause the
70 10
he proper committee.
AFRICAN EMIGRATION
Applicatiens have been made to mo by
many free ATnericans Ct Africa descent to
avor their emigration, with a view to such
as was contemplated in recent
cts of Congress. Other parties at home
md abroad, some from Interested and
'ther motives, have suggested similar
measures; while, on the other han6, sevs-
al of the Spanish American Republic
rave protested against the sending of such
to their respective territories
Under these circumstances / have declIn
ID to move any such colony TO any State
Without first obtaining the consent of its
oVernment, with an agreement on its part
o receive and protect such emigrants in
IL their rights as freemen; and have, at
he same time, offered to- the several States
ituated in the tropics or having coloLies
here to negotiate with them, subject to
he advice and consent of the Senate, to
avor the voluntary emigration of persons
# that class to their respective territories,
,pon conditions which shall be equal, just,
nd humane Liberia and Hayti are yet
he only countries to which coloists of
African descent from here could go with
certainty of being received and adopted as
itizens, and l regret to say that such per
ons contemplating colonization do not
eem willing to emigrats to these countries
8 to some others, as l think their inter
sts demand believe. however, that the |
pinion is improving. and that ere long |
hers will be an augmented and consid-
-.blo nm ;nr. tinn to fhasfa tries from