Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-12-09
ME s s AGE

PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES,
DELIVERED To
THE TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS-.
DECEMBER list, 1850.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House Of Repre-
4 Bentstives.
Since your last assembling, another year
OF neaith and bountilul harvests has passed,
and, while 1t has not pleased the Almighty
to bless US with return of peace, we can
not but press on. guarded by the best light
de gives US, trusting that. in His own
time and wise way, all will be well.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The correspondence touching foreign Of
fairs which has taken place during the last
year Is herewith submitted, in virtual COM
4 pliAbes vita reausst to that effect made
BY the House Of REPRESENTATIVES, near tbs
close Of the past session of Congress. If
the condition of our relations with other
nations is less gratifying than it has usu-
ally been at other periods, it is certainly
more satisfactory than nation so unhap-
PLY distracted as we are might reanscna5ly
apprehended.
!
some grounds to expect that the maritime
powers, which. at the beginning of our
domestic difficulties, 30 unwisely and g.
unsuccssfully, as we think, recognized the
insurgents as a belligerent power, would
soon recede from that position, which has
proved only less injurious 10 themselves
than to our country but the temporary
reverses which afterwards befell the ma
tional arms, end which were exaggerated
by our own disloyal citizens abroad, have
hitherto delayed tina. act of simple justice.
The civil war which has Sc radically
changed for the moment the occupation
ard habits of the American people has
necessarily disturbed the social conditions.
and affected very deeply the prosperity of
the nations with wbioh we have carried on
a commerce that has been steadily Inc. cas-
ing throughout a period of half a century.
1t has, at the same time, excited political
ambitions and apprehensi0ns, which have
produced profound agitation throughout
the civilized world. In this unusual agi-
tation we have fOrborne taking part in any
controversy between parties and factions in
any such States. We have attempted no
propagandism, and acknowledged no revo-
luton but we have left to every nation
the exclusive conduct and management of
its own affairs. Our struggle has been Of
course contemplated by foreign nations
With reference less to it's own merits than
to its supposed and often exaggerated eff
fects aud the consequences resulting to
those nations themselves. Nevertheless,
complaint on the part of this government,
even if it were just, would certainly be un-
wise.
THE SLAVE TRADE TREATY WITH GREAT BRIT
| AIN.
The treaty with Great Britain for the
suppression of the slave trade has been put
into operation with a coed prospect of CONS
plete success. 1t is an occasion of especial
pleasure to acknowledge that the execution,
of it, on the part of her Majesty's govern
ment, has been marked with Jealous res
pect for the authorities of the United States,
and the rights of their moral and loyal
citizens.
THE ABOLITION OF THE sTADT DUET.
T The convention with Hanover for the
abolition of the Stadt duet has been car
ried into full effect, under the act of Con
gress for that purpose.
THE BLoCADE, AND COMPLAINTS ARISING
/, THEREFRoM
A blockade of three thousand miles o,
, soa coast could not be established and Wig
, orousiy enforced in season of great com
E mercial activity like the present without
committing occasional mistakes and inflict
ing unintentional injuries upon foreign
nations and their subjects. A civil war
occurring ID country where foreigner
reside and carry on trade under treaty
stipulatiaus, is necessarily fruitful of com
plants of the violation of neutral rights. -
All such collisions tend to excite misappre
tensions, and possibly to produce nationa
reclamations between nations which hav,
; a common interest in preserving peace and
: friendship. In clear cases of these kinds
have, so far as possible, heard and redress
ed complaints which have been preferred
by friendly powers. There ia, however
{ a large and augmenting number of doubt
l full cases upon which the government i
unable to agree with the government
whose protection is demanded by the claim
ants. There are, moreover, many cases IL
which the United States or their citizer
suffer wrongs from naval or military au
i thorities of foreign nations which the gov
eminent of these States are not prepared t.
. redress / have proposed to some of tn
foreign States thus interested mutual con
ventions to examine and adjust such com
. plants. This proposition has been mad
: especially to Great Britain, to France, +
y Spain, and to Prussia. In each case it ha
been kindly received, but has not vet beer
e formally adopted.
deem it my duty to recommend an ap
i propriation in behalf of the owners of tn
Norwegian barque Admiral P. Torcien
RiOls, which vessel was, in May, 1861
prevented, by the commander of the block
aiding force off Charleston from leavin
/ that port with cargo, Notwithstanding
. similar privilege had shortly before bee
: granted to an English vessel. have d
10 rected the Secretary of State to cause tn
Il papers in the case to be communicated t
10 the proper committee.
AFRICAN COLONIZATION.
Applications have been made to me b
many free Americans of African decent {
o favor their emigration, with view to sue
Z colonization as was contemplated in recen
y acts of Congress. Other parties, at HON
IS and abroad, some from interested motives
II others upon patriotic principles, and sti
u others Influenced by philanthropic cent
= meDts. have suggested similar measures
while, on the other hand, several Of til
q Spanish American republics have proteste
: against the sending of such colonies I
u their respective territories. Under thes
: circumstances / have declined to move an
L such colony to any State, without first oh
o, tanning the consent Of its government, wi.
IL an agreement on its part to receive and prt
: tect such emigrants In all their rights a
freemen and have, at the same tim,
70 offered to the several States situated in tn
20 tropics. or having colonies there, 10 nego
% tiate with them. subject to the advice an
consent of the Senate, to favor the volun
tary emigration of portions Of that class
e. their respective territories, upon condition
which stall be equal, just, and humane.
y Liberia and Hsyti are yet the onl
r, countries to which colonists of Africa
descent from here could 90 with q certai,