Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-02
The Presidents Message.

year of health and bountiful harvest has
passed, and while it has not pleased the AL
mighty 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
all will be we'll
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS
The correspondence touching foreign at
fairs which has taken place during the last
year is hereby submitted, in virtual compll-
ance with request to that effect made by the
house of representatives near the close of the
last session of congress. If the condition Of
our relations with other nations is less crafty
ing than it has usually been at formerperiods, it
is certainly more satisfactory than a nation so
unhappily distracted as weare mightreasonably
have apprehended. In the month of June
last, there were some grounds to expect that
the maritime powers, which at the beginning
of our domestic difficulties SO universally and
unnecessarily as we think, recognized the in
surgents belligercnt power, would soon
recede from that proposition which has proved
only less injurious to themselves than to our
own country. But the temporary reverses
which afterward befell 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 chang
ed, for the moment the occupations and hab-
Its OF the American people, has necessarily
disturbed their social condition, and effected
very deeply the prosperity of the nations with
which we have carried on a commerce that
has been steadily increasing throughout Pc
Rod Of halt a century. 1t has at the same
time excited political ambitions and appre-
tensions, which have produced profound
agitation throughout the civilized world. In
this unusual agitation we have forborne from
taking part in any controversy between for
elgn states, and between parties or factions in
such states. We have attempted no propa-
gandism and 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
10 its own merits than to its supposed and Of
ten exaggerated effects, and the consequences
resulting to those nations themselves. New
ertheless, complaint on the part of this gov
eminent, even if it were just, would certainly
be unwise.
The treaty with Great Britain for the sup
preston of the African slave trade, has been
put into operation with a good prospect of
success. 1t is an occasion of special pleasure
to acknowledge that the execution of it on the
part of her majestys government, has been
marked with a jealous respect for the author
ity of the United States, land the rights Of their
loyal citizens. The convention with Hanover
for the abolition of the state dues, has been
carried into full effect under the act of con-
gress for that purpose.
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 committing occasional mis-
takes, infiicting unintentional injuries upon
foreign nations and their safety. A civil war
occurring in a country where foreigners re-
side and carry on trade under treaty stipula-
tons, is necessarily fruitful of complaints of
the violation Of the neutrality rights. All
such collisions tend to excite misapprehen-
sion, and if possiole-to produce mutual re-
clamaton between nations which have a COM
mon interest in preserving peace and friend
ship. | have, so far as possible, heard and
redressed complaints which have been pre-
scented by friendly powers. There is, how
ever, large and augmenting number of
doubtful cases upon which the government is
unable to agree with the governments whose
protection is demanded by the claimants
There are moreover, many cases in which the
United States or their citizens suffer wrongs
from the naval or military authorities of for
eign nations which the governments of these
states not at once prepared to redress.
| 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. l deem
it my duty to recommend an appropriation in
behalf of the owners OF the Norwegian barque
Admiral J. Tordens Rivia, which was in May,
1861, prevented by the commander of the
blockading force of Charleston from leaving
that port with a cargo, Notwithstanding a sim
liar privilege had shortly before been granted
to an English vessel. l have directed the sec
rotary of state to cause the papers in the case
10 be communicated to the proper committees.
The new commercial treaty between the
United States and the sultan of Turkey has
been carried into execution. A commercial
and consular treaty has been negotiated, sub
ject to the senate's consent, with Liberia, and
similar negotiation is now pending with the
republic of Hayti. A considerable improve
ment Of the national commerce is expected to
result from these measures. Our relations
with Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal,
Russia, Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, Austria,
the Netherlands, Italy, Rome, and the other
European states, remain undisturbed. Very
favorable relations also continue to be main
tanned with Turkey, Morocco, China, and
Japan.
During the last year there has not only
been no change Of our previous relation with
the independent states OF our own con-
tnent but more friendly sentiments than have
tanned by these .neighbors, whose safety and
progress are so intimately connected with our
own. This statement especially applies to
Mexico, Costa Rca, Nicaragua, Honduras,
Peru, and Chill. The commission under the
convention with the republic of New Grenada
closed its session without having audited and
passed upon all the claims which were sub
mitled to it. A proposition is pending to re-
yiyc the convention, that it may be able to do
more complete justice. The commission be-
tween the United States and the republic OF
Costa Rca has completed its labors and sub.
Initted its report.
l have favored the project for connecting
the United States with Europe by an Atlantic
telegraph, and a similar project for the tele
graph from San Francisco to connect by Pac
tctelegraph with the telegraph which is being
extended across the Russian empire.
COLONIZATION OF THF BLACKS.
Applications have been made to me by
many free Americans Of African descent, t
favor their emigration, with view to .sucl
colonization as was contemplated in the re
cent acts Of congress. Other parties at hom
and abroad, some from interested motives
others upon patriotic considerations, and still
others influenced by phianthropc sentiments
have suggested similar measures while OF
the other hand several of the Spanish Ameri.
can republics have protested against the send.
ing Of such colonies to their respective terri
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