Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-09
THE EVENING STAR,
WASHINGTON CITY,
=. DECEMBER 0, 1855,
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
= fellos1-ettire's Of D.. Seaoie

these,
and especially for the improved condition OF
our national affairs, our rene wed and pro.
foIncest gratitude to God Is due.
We remain In peace and friendship with
The efforts Of disloyal citizens OF the United
states TO involve us in foreign wars, to aid an
ing Her Britannia Majesty's government, as
was Justly expected. have exercised their au /.
taority TO prevent the departure OF new hos
peror of France has, by a like proceeding,
promptly indicated the neutrality which he
proclaimed at the beginning Of the contest
Questions Of great intricaey and Importance
have arisen out OF the blockade, and other bsi-
fiserent operations, between the government
and sev,Y 4 Of tie maritime powers, but they
have been discussed, aud, as far AS was d ossi.
BILE. accommodated in q spirit OF frank ness
Justice, and mutual good viii. 1t is especially
gratifying that our liz courts, by the Impair
uAlity of their adjudications, have commanded
tha respect and confidence OF maritime powers.
The supplemental treaty between the United
States and Great Britain Tor the suppression OF
the Africa" slave trade, made on the Il tn day
of FebI nary last, h rs been duly ratified, and
carried into execution. 1t is believed that, so
Tar as American ports and Amer can citizens
are concerned, that inhuman and odious traffic
has been brought 10 IN end.
thall submit, for the consi 1eration Of the
Senate, a convention for the adj in stn,eut Of
possessory claims in Washington Territory,
arising out OF the treaty of the 18th OF June
,Hi6, between the United States and Great BIZ
tain, aud which have been the source Of some
disQuiet among the citizens of tina, now rapidly
imprCyi ng part OF the country.
a noTai and Important question, involving
the extern of maritime jurisdiction OF Spain in
the waters which surround the island Of Cuba.
Las been deh@ted without reaching an agree
nent- ana 1t L proposed, in TT annie able spirit,
II r fer ittorfe arbirament Of friendly 20 wer
cor vention for that purpose will be submit
I'D 10 the Senate.
have thought it proper, subject to the ap-
pFoval OF the Senate, to concur with thu inter.
tsted con mercial powers In an arrange ment
the principles which have been heretofore
adopted In regard TO the mposts upon nayipa.
lion in the waters of Denmark.
The long-pendlng controversy between this
government and thar of Chilli, teaching the
seizure at Siana, In Peru, by Chiian officers
of Il large amount in treasure belongin t. citi-
zens OF the United States has been brought to
close by the award of his Majesty the king
of the Relgians, to whose arbitration the oues-
ton " IS referred by the parties The subject
was thoroughly and patiently examined by
that Justly respected magistrate, and aithou ii,
the sum awarded TO the claimants may not have
been as large as they expected, there is no rea.
son to distrust the wisdom of his Majestys de-
cision. That decision was promptly complied
with by Chill, when intelligence Ia regard 10
il reached th?t country.
The joint commission, under the act of the
last session for carrying Ito effect the conyen-
ton with Feru on the SUBJECT OF claims, has
been organized at Lima, and is engaged in tn.
business Entrusted 10 it,
DIM ulies concerning inter.o ,aanic transit
adjustment
In conformity with prin cipics set forth in m,
last annual message: have received a repre-
sentative from the United States of Colombia
and have accredited q minister 10 that republic .
incidents occurring in the progress of our
civil war have forced upon my attention the
uncertain state OF in ernational ues tons tou.h
ing the rights Of foreigners in this country and
OF Unitsd States citizens abroad. In regard to
ONE governments there rights are at least par
TALLY de fined by treaties. In no instance, no y.
ever, is /: express 1t pulated that, In the event
~ civil war. foreigner residing in this conn.
Try, within the lines OF the iu urgents is to be
exempted from the rule which classes him as a
helligerent, in whose behalf the government OF
his country cannot expect any privileges or n-
munities distinct from tina: character. regret
10 say, however that such claims have been
put forward and in some instances, in b,half
of foreigners who have lived in the United
states the greater part OF their lives.
There is reason 10 believe that many pArsous
born Ia foreign couaEief, who have declared
their intention TO become citizens, or who hav.
been fully naturalizsd, have eyaded the mill
tafy duty required OF them BY denying the
fact. and thereby throwing upon the Govern
ment the burden of proof II has been found
difficult or impractcable to obtain this proof
from the want OF guides to the proper sources
of information. The Sc might be supplied by
requiring clerks of courts, where de :larations
OF intention may ba mad. nAturalizations
effected, TO send, periodically, lists Of the
names OF the persons naturaliEed, or declaring
their ntention 70 ecome citizens, TO the Score
iary OF the Interior, in whose department those
eral Information.
There is also reason to belle ve that FOREIGNER.
equenuy becomn citizens Of thu United States
to' me cole purpose OF waiting duties imposed
BY the laws OF thei- native countries, TO which
on becoming natUralized here, thsy a. on "a
repair, and though ne yer retQrning to The uted
STATE, they still claim the intsrposition of this
Government rs citizens. MANY altarcations And
great pIejudces have heretofore arisen out of
this abuse. 1t Is, therefore, submitted 10 your
serious confederation. 1t might be advisable 10
1A nml', beyond which no citizen Of the
United States residing abroad may claim the
iLterpcsition of his Government
The right OF suffrage has often been assumed
sno exercised ry sliens, under pretences OF ma
turanzation, which they have dsavowed when
Draft. d into tho military service. I summit
lhs eGpt diency OF such an amendment OF tn,
iaW as viii make the fact of voting an estop-
pei against any plea or exemption from mill
fary service, or other civil obligation Ga the
ground Of aiienage.
In common with olhsr western powers, our
relations with Japan have been brought into
serious jeopardy, through the perverse oppo-
sation Of the hereditary aristocracy of the en-
pre- 10 the enlightened an liberal policy of
the Tyc BON, dssi snei 70 bring the country into
the society Of nations. II Is hoped, although
not with entire confidence, that these difficult
nes may be peacefully overcome. ask your
aitentiC n " the clam of the minister residing
there for the damages he sustained in the de-
strrc,ion by IRE OF the residence Of the lesa-
rion At Yedo.
Satisfactory arrangements have been made
with The Emperor of Russia, which, it is be-
lieved, Will result in effecting = continuous
line Of IL graph through that empire from our
Pacific coast
| recommend 10 your favorable considera-
lion the subject Of an International telegraph
;ISross the Atlantic ccean; and also & telegraph
Ss,WFeu this capital and the national forls
along the Atlantic ses-board and tho q uIf OF
Mexico. Such comm unications, established
with Any reasonable outlay, would bs econo-
inic6l swell e. elective g. DIS to the diploma
tic. military, aud naval service -
thr consular system OF tbs United Statas.
III der the enactmsn' S OF the last Congress, ha-
gins To be sizing; aud there is. reason
70 hope That II may beconlee entirely so, with
Siie increase OF trade which will ensua when
syer peace is restored. Our ministers abroad
have teen faithful in defending American
riEh's. Ia protecting commercial interests
Our consul j. have necessarily had to encounter
n re6ssd lab re aad . Jo;isi silities growing
out OF the war. These they have, for the Inost
part met sud discharged with zeal aud efh
esncy. This a2kno vie igment Justly includes
those consuls who. res ding in Morocco Ecyp.
Turkey. Japan, Chins, and other Oriental
eonnu rs, arr charged with compex tunctious
eNtrRnFdtnart-