, 1862-12-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


Representatives 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 Q return Of peace, we cannot
but press on, guided by the best light He gives
US, trusting that 10 His own time and wise way
all will be we'll.
The correspondence touching foreign affairs
which has taken pla:e during the last year is
herewith submitted, in compliance with re-
quest to that effect made by the House Of Re-
representatives. near the close Of the past session
Of Congress. II the condition OF our relations
with other nations is less gratifying than it has
usually been at other periods, i is certainly more
satisfactory than nation 50 unhappiy distracted
as we are might reasonably have Spprehended,
In the month OF June last, there were some
grounds to expect that the maritime powers,
which at the beginning Of our domestic differ
ences so unwisely and SO unnecessarily, 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 temporary reverses
which afterwards befel the National arms, and
which were greatly exaggerated by our 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 abits Of the American people, has necesSa-
rily disturbed the social conditions and affected
very deeply the prosperity Of the nations with
which we have carried on commerce that has
been steadily increasing throughout a period Of
half a century 1t has at the same time excited
the political ambitious and apprehensions which
have p oduced profound agitation throughout
the civilized world. In this unusual agitation
we have fjrbOrne taking part in anv controver-
sizes between parties aud factions in any such
States. We have attempted no propagandism
and acknowledged no revolutions. We have left
to every nation the executive conduct and arrange
ment Of its own affairs. Our struggle has been,
Of course, contemplated BY foreign nations with
Inference less TO It's own merit than 10 lis sup
posed and often exaggerated effects and conse'
quences resulting to those nations themselves.
Nevertheless, complaint on the part Of this Gov
ernment, even II il were just, would be unwise.
The tr, aly with Great Britain for the suppress
sion Of the slave trade has been put into opera
ti0R with good prospect Of complete success.
Il Is an occasion Of real pleasure to acknowledge
that the execution OF it on the part Of Her Ma
jesty's Government has been marked with zeal
Gus respect for the authorities Of the United
States aud the rights Of their moral and loyal
citizens. The convention with Hanover for the
abolition Of the Stadt dues has been carried into
fall effect under the Act Uf Congress Tor that
purpose. blockade Of thrre thousand miles
Of seacoaSt could not be established and vigor-
Ously enforced in o season Of great commercial
activity, like tho present, without committing oc
CasOnal mistakes, and inilicting unntentionAl in-
jurieS upon foreign nations and their subjects.
civil war, occurringina country where foreigners
reside and carry on trade pnder treaty stipu,
latiuns, Is necessarily fruitful Of complaints Of
the violation Of neutral rights All such COLI
sinns tend TO excite misapprehensiOns and possi-
bly, to produce recriminatiOns between hationS
wich have a common interest in preserving
peace and friendship. In clear cases Of these
kinds have, as far as p0sSible, heard and re-
dressed the complaints which have been pre-
ieTred by forvign powers. There Is, however, q
large and augmenting number OF doubtful cases,
upon which the Government Is unable 10 agree
with the governments whose protection is de
manded BY the claimants. There are, moreover,
many cases in which the United States or their
citizens suffer wrongs from naval or military au'
th0rities Of ioreign nations, which the govern
ments Of thOSe States arr not prepared 70 re-
dress | have proposed to sonIc Of the torrign
ministers thus introduced mutual conventions
to examine aud adjust such complaints. This
lropostion has been made especially to Great
britain, to France, to Spain and to Prussia. In
each case Il has been kindly received, but has
not yet ben formally adopted. deem It my
duty to recommend nm appropriation in behalf
Of the owners Of the Norwegian barque admiral
P. T0rceRs RiOLd, which vessel was, In May, 1861,
prevented by the commander Of the blockade
force of Charleston from leaving that port with
a cargo, notwithstanding a similar privilege had
bcfre been granted to an English vessel. have
directed the papers In the case to be communi.
Gated to the proper committees.
Applications have been made to me by many
free Americans Of African descent, to favor their
emigration, with view TO such colonization as
was contemplated in recent Acts Of Congress.
Other parties at home and abroad, some from
motives Of prejudice, others upon patriotic prin'
ciplcs and still others influenced by philanthro-
pic sentiments, have suggested similar measures,
while on the other hand, several Of the Spanish
American republics have protested against the
sending Of such colonies to their respective ter
ritories. Under these circumstaneesS have de-
elned to give any such colony to any State with
out first obtaining the consent Of is Govern
ment, with an agreement on its part to receive
and protect such parties in all their rights as iree
men, and have at the same time offered to the
several States situated In the tropics, or having
colonies there, TO negotiate with them, subject to
tlNe SIlVice and consent Of the Senate, to iavor
The voluntary removal Of portions Of that class
to their respective territories, upon conditions
which shall be equally Just and humane. Li6e-
ria and Hay ii are yet the only countries to which
coiOhfSts Of African descent could go from here,
with certainty Of being received and adopted
as citizens and regret 10 say that such persons
contemplating colonization do not seem so will.
ing To- emgrate to these countries not 81 willing
as think theit interests demand. ! believe,
however; that their opinion is improving, and
thAt ere long there will be an augmented and
cOtriderable emigration TO both these countries
from the Gnited State&