The Portland daily press., 1862-12-02
Presidents Message.

press on, guided by the best light he gives us
trusting that in His own good time and wise
way all will be well.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The correspondence touching foreign affairs
| which has taken place during last year is
herewith submitted, in virtual compliance
| with a request to that effect made by the
House of Representatives near the close o.
last session of Congress. If the conditions
of our relations with other nations is less graf
| flying than it has usually been at former
| periods, 1t is certainly more satisfactory than a
nation so unhappiy distracted, as we might
reasonably 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 diff
ficulties, so unwisely and unnecessarily, as we
think, to recognize tie insurgents rs bellig-
erent, would soon recede from that position
which has proved only less injurious to them
| selves than TO our own country, but the tenn
porary reverses which afterwards beiell the
national arms, and which were exaggerat-
ed by our own disloyal citizens abroad, have
hitherto delayed that act of simple justice.
The civil war whichhas so radically changed
for the moment the occupation and habits OF
the American people, has necessarily disturbed
the social condition, and affected very deeply
the prosperity of the nations with which we
nave OH Il lnat HIS DecIl
steadily increasing throughout period of halt
a century. 1t has at the same time excited
political ambitions and apprehensions which
have produceda a profound agitation throughout
the civilized world.
In this unusual agitation we have forborne
taking part in any controversy between for
eign States, and between parties or factions in
such States we have attempted no propagan-
dism, and acknowledged no revolution, but
have laff m na fha ayetusiya
duct and management of its own affairs. Our
struggles have been of course contemplated
by foreign nations with reference less to its
supposed, and often exaggerated effects, and
the consequences resulting to those nations
themselves.
Nevertheless, complaint on the part of this
Government, even il it were just, would GER
tainly be unwise. The treaty with Great Brit
ain for the suppression of the African slave
trade has been put into operation, with good
prospect of complete success. 1t is an occa-
sion OF especial pleasure to acknowledge that
the execution OF it on the part of her Maies-
tvs Government, has been marked with jeal-
Gus respect for the authority of the United
States, and the rights OF their moral and loyal
citizens.
The convention with Hanover for the aboi-
tion of the Stadt Dues, has been carried into
full effect under the act Of Congress for that
purpose.
DIFFICULTIES ARISING FROM THE BLOCK
AIDE.
A blockade of three thousand miles of sea-
coast could not be established and vigorously
enforced in season OF great commercial ac-
tivity, like the present, without committing
occasional mistakes and inllicting unintention-
al injuries upon foreign nations and their sub
jects.
A civil war occurring in country where
foreigners reside aud carry on trade under
treaty stipulatons, is necessarily fruitful of
complaints OF the violation of lie ltral rights.
All such collisions tend to excite misapprehen-
sions and possibly to produce neutral recama-
tions between nations which have common
interest in preserving peace and friendship.
ln clear cases of these kinds have so far AS
possible heard and redressed complaints which
have been presented by friendly powers. l have
proposed to some OF the foreign States thus
interested mutual conventions to exchange 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.
There is, howeysr large and augmenting
number OF doubtful cases, upon which the
Government is unable to agree with the Gov
ernments whose protection is demanded by
the claimants. There are, moreover, many
cases in which the United States, or their citi-
zens, suffer wrongs from the naval or military
authorities of foreign nations, which the Gov
ernments of those states are not at once pre-
pared TO. redress.
deem it my duty to recommend an appro-
priation in behalf Of the owners of the Nor
wegian bark Admiral p. Tordeurriola, which
vessel was, in May 1861, prevented by the
commander of the blockadng force off Charles
ton from leaving that port with a cargo, not
withstandng similar privilege had shortly
before been granted an English vessel. have
directed the Secretary of State to cause the
papers in the case to be communicated to the
proper committees.
AFRICAN COLONIZATION.
Applications have been made to me by many
free Americans of African descent to favor
their emigration with view to such coloniza-
ton as was contemplated in recent acts of
Congress. Other parties at home and abroad.
some from interested motives, others upon pa
triotlc considerations, and still Others infiu-
eneed by philanthropic sentiments, have sug-
gested similar measures; while, on the other
hand, several of the Spanish American repub-
les have protested against the sending of such
coionlsts 10 their respective territories. Un-
der these circumstances i have declined to
move any such colony TO any such State with
out first obtaining the consent of its govern
and protect such emigrants in all their rights
as freemen, and have at the same time offered
several States, situated in the tropics, or hav-
ing colonies there, 10 negotiate with them
subject TO the advice and consent of the Sem
ate, to favor the voluntary emigration of per-
sons TO their respective territories, upon con-
ditions which shall be equal. just and humane.
Liberia and Hayti. as yet, are the only countries
to which colonists of African descent from
here could go with the certainty Of being re-
ceived as citizens, and l regret to say that
such persons contemplating colonization do not
seem so willing TO emigrate TO those countries
as to some others, nor SO willing as think their
interests demand. l believe, however, the
opinion among them in this respect is improv-
ing and that ere long there will be an aug
mented and considerable emigration to both
those countries from the United States.
COMMERCIAL RELATIONS.
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 Senates consent, with Liberia, and
a similar negotiation is now pending with the
Republic of Hayti.
A considerable improvement of the national
commerce is expected to result from these
measures. Our relations with Great Britain,
France, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Prussia, Dem
mark, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy,
and some of the other European states, re-
main undisturbed. Very favorable relations
also continue to be maintained with Turkey,
Morocco, China, and Japan.
During the last year there has not only been
no change OF our previous relations with the
independent states of our own continent. but
more friendly sentiments than have heretofore