Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-06
ABRAHAM LINCoLNS MESSAGE.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S MESSAGE.
Fl!oE-Cai'>Hs Of TIE Senate and House Of Reprssehta-
hFss:
Since your last annual assembling another wear OF
health and boun.ftIl hsryests has passed: and whilst il
has not pleased the Almighty TO bless Us with a return
HI gives Us, trusting that in HisoNu good time and wise
way all will vet be we'll
The correspondence touching foreign Affairs which has
taken place during the last wear, j. herewith ubmitted,
IN virtual compliance With a request 10 that effect made
by the House OF representative near the close OF the
las. session Of Congress.
II the condition Of our relations With other nations is
les gratifying Than &c baSusuall, been 81 former periods,
it's certainly more satisfactory than a nation 50 unhap
puy distracted a. We are, might reasonably have appre-
headed In the month OF June last there we're some
grounds % expect that the maritime powers which, at
she beginning OF our domestic difficulties, so unwiscly
and unnecessarily, As We think, recognized the insur-
gents a. . hrlI-ereuJ would soon recedc from that Do
siion, which has proved only les injurious 70 them,
selves than 70 our own country. But the temporary re-
verses which afterwards beGel the national arms aud
which were exaggerated by our oSn iiSOyal citizens
abroad, have hitherto DELAYED that act Of simple Justice.
The civil var, which hss 50 radically changed for the
moment the occupations and habits Of the American peO-
pie, 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 Increasing throughout 4 period OF halt d ceuul-
~. 10 has 80 thy same time excited political ambition
aud spDrgheusioas Witch have produced d profound agi.
Htio1 throughout the civilized world In this unusual
agitation We have iOrhOrnr from taking part il auy cOu-
Toversy betwerg foreign State. We have attempted no
propasantism AMI acknowledgel no revolution. But e
have left TO every nation the exclusive conduct aud man
agement Of It's own affairs. Our sfruggl, has been. OF
course, contemplated 5y foreign nations With reference,
less 20 it, own merits. than 10 its supposed. and often
exaggerated, effects and consequences re uling TO those
nations themselves Nevertheless, complaint on the part
Of this Government even It il were just, would certainly
Be uuwise.
The treaty with Great Britain for the suppression Of
the slave trade hTs been pm. into operation with a good
prospect Of cOnp.rte success Il ban occasion OF special
pleasure % acknowledge that the execution Of t. on the
part Of Her Majesty Government haS been marked wiki
4 Jealous respect for the authority Of the United States,
and the rights OF JLrir moral sud loyal citizens.
The convention vita Hanover for the abolition Of the
S,att dass has been carried into full effect under the ac;
Of Congress for thar purpose.
A blockade Of three thousand miles Of sea coast could
20; BE- established and vigorously enforced in a season Of
great commercial activity, ike the present, without com
hitting occasional mistakes and injecting uuinteatOna
injuries upon foreign nations aud their subjects.
A civil war occurring 10 d country where foreigners
reside and carry on trade under treaty sylpulatiOus, is
necessarily frIittll Of complaint, of the violation Of neu-
trail rights AL such collisions teud to excite misAppre-
pensions, and possibly 10 produce mutual reclAmsious,
between nations which have a common interest in pre-
serving peace and friendship, In clear cases Of thee
kinds ! have, 50 far as possible, heard aud redressed com
plants which have been presented by friendly powers
TheN rstl, however, a large and al augmentug number
Of dplbuul cases upon which the Governments unable tn
agree with the Government whose protection i demanded
by the claimant, There are. moreover, many cases in
which the JuitelStatc. Or their citizens suffer wrongs from
She uayalor military authorities OF foreign nations, which
She Governments of those StsteSA not AZ once prepared
30 redress. / have proposed TO some Of the foreign
Satez. thus Interested, mutual conventions 10 examine
and adjust such complaints. This proposition has been
male especially Co Great Britain, 20 France, to Spain, and
So Prussia. In chcls, il ha, been kindly received, but
has not vet been formally adopted
deem IL INV duty O., recommend an appropriation in
behalf Of the owners OF the Norwegian bark Admiral 7.
Tordsaskiold, which vessel VA in Nav, 1861, prevented
BY tle commander Of the b,Oc.alig. force Of Charles
ton from leaving that port with cargo, Notwithstanding
similar privilege had shortly before, been granted TO an
English vessel have directed the Secretary Of State
20 cause the papers in the ease 70 be communicated to
the proper authorities
Applications have been made to me by many free
Americans OF African descent TO favor their emigration.
with a view to>1ch colonization a. was contemplated IN
rrcsat acts of Congress. Other parties, at home and
abtSld-some from lat crested motive, Others upon pa
rotc cOnsderatiO.s , aud stu others influenced by phil
alih-ophic -rutimru.S-htve suggested similar measures;
while, on the other hand. several OF the Sp~ansh-AmeTicau
F.pubics have protested against the sending OF such colo
mes 10 their respective territories. Under these circuu-
stances, | have declined 90 move any such colony to any
STATE without first obtaining the consent OF it, Govern
ment, with an agreement onits part TO receive and protect
slch ~emigrInts in al the rights Of frecmcn; aud | have,
~ the same time, offered to the several States situated
within the tropics, or having colonies there, to uegoti-
ate With them, subject TO the advice and consent OF the
Senate, 20 favor the voluntary emigration of persons Of
that class 10 their respective territories, upon conditions
wh,ch shall be equal, Just and humane.
Liberia aud Hayti 49,, a. yet, the only countries 10
which coiOnists OF African descent from here, could 90
with certainty OF being received aud adopted a. cii-
Gems and I regret TO say such persons, contemplating
colonization, DO not seem willing TO migrate to those
countries a. 20 some others, nor so willing as | thing
their interest demands, | believe, however, opinion
among them in this respect is improving, and that ere
long there will be augmented and considerable migration
20 both these countries from the United States.
Here follows an sllusion to treaties and relations with
foreign countries, aud suggestions relating to the de
v~elopment Of the mineral resources of the Territories Of
the United States.
Tx FINANCES.
The condition Of the finances will claim your most
dligrnt consideration. The vast expenditures incident
10 the military and naval operations required for the
suppression Of the rebellion, have hitherto been met
with a prOmputude and certainty, unusual in similar
circumstances; and the public credit has been fully
maiuIA.ne ed. The continuance Of the war, however, aud
the increased disbursements made necessary by the aug
mentsd forces nov in the field, demand your best re-
sections a. to the best modes Of providing the necessary
revenue, without injury to business, and with the lea,t
possible burdens upon labor.
The suspension Of specie payments by the banks, soon
after the commencement OF your last session, made large
nsoss Of United States notes unavoidable. In no oths'