Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-12-11
Presidents Message.
FsHoe- Citizens ofMe Senats

other year Of health aud bountiful har-
vests have passed. And while it has
not pleased the Almighty 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,
and wise way, all will yet be we'll.
The correspondence touching foreign
affairs which has taken place during the
last year is herewith submitted, in vir-
tual compliance with request to that
effect, made by the House of Represen-
tatiVes near the close of the last session
of Congress.
If the condition of our relations with
other nations is less gratifying than it
has usually been at former periods, it is
certainly more satisfactory than nation
so unhappil5 distracted as we are, might
reasonably have apprehecded. In the
month of June last, there were some
grounds to expect that tho maratime
powers which at the beginning of our
domestic difficulties, so unwisely and
unnecessarily, we think, recognized the
insurgents as beligerent, would soon
recede from that position, which has
proved only less injurious to themselves,
than to our country. But the Temporal
ry rcvnrses, which afterwards bofcll the
national arms, and which were s.agera-
ted 10y our own disloyal citizens abroad,
have hitherto delayed that act of simple
ljustice.
The ci:il war, which has so radically
changed, for tho moment, tho occupa-
tons and habits of the American peo-
pie, has necessarily disturbed tho social
condition, and effected very deeply the
prosperity of the nations iti!h ahich we
have carried on u commerce sha. ,!as
been steadily increasing throughout a
period of half century. 1t has. at
the same time, excited political ambi-
tions and apprehensons which have pro-
duced profound agitation throughout
the civilized world. In this unusual
agitation we have forborns from taking
part in any controversy between foreign
states, and between parties or factions
propagandism, and acknowledged no
revolution. But we have left to every
nation the exclusive conduct and man
agemcut of its own affairs. Our strug-
gle has been of course, contem plated by
foreign nations with reference less to it's
own merits, than to its supposed, and Of
TN exaggerated effects and consequences
IcsulinC to those nations themselves.
Nevertheless, complaint on thepart oftllls
government, even If j. were just, would
certainly be rnSiAo.
Ihc treaty With Great Britain for the
suppression Of the slave trade has been
put into operation with good prospect
Of complete success. I. Is an occasion OF
spccial pleasure to acknowledge that the
execution of it, on the part of her Maj
esty's Government, has beer marked
with jealous respect for the authority
of tho United States, and rights Of thcil
moral and loyal citizens.
The convention with Hanover for tho
abolition of the stadt dues has been car
ried into full effect, undor tho act O
Congress for that purpose.
A blockade of three thousand miles o
sea coast could not be established, anc
vigorously enforced, in season of grca
commercial activity like the present
without committing occasional mistakes,
nnd inficting unintentional injuries up
on foreign nations and their subjects.
4 civil war occurring in country
where foreigners reside and carry OF
trade under treaty stipula.ions, is neoes
sarily fruitful Of ocm plants of the vio
lation of neutral rights. All such col.
lisions tend to excite misapprchensions
and possibly to produce mutual re,lama
tions between nations which have Il com
mon interest in preserving peace anc
friendship. In clear cases of these kinds
| have so far as possible, heard and re
dressed complaints Which lave been pre-
sented by friendly powers. There il
still however, large and an augment
ing number of doubtful cases upor
which the Government is unable to ag RET
with the Governments whose protection
is demanded by the claimants. Their
are, moreover, many cases in which tn
United States, or their citizens, suffe
wrongs from the naval or military au
thorities of foreign nations, which th'
Goyerpment of those States are not a
once prepared to redress, l have pro
posed to some of the foreign States thu
interested mutual conventions to exam
inc and adjust such complaints. This
proposition has been made especially tt
Great Britain, to France, to Spain, tt
Prussia. In each case it has been
kindly received, but has not been for
mally adopted.
| deem it my duty to recommend al
appropriation in behalf of the owners o
the Norwegian bark Admiral P Tordens
kiold, which vessel was. in May, 1861
prevented BY the commander Of the block
; aiding force off Charleston from leaving
that port with cargo. Notwithstanding
similar privilege had, shortly before
been granted to an English vessel.
have directed the Secretary to cause th
papers in the case to be communicated
to the proper committees.
Applications have been made to me b,
many free Americans of African descen
to favor their emigration, with view t.
Il - Ia