East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-12-16
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Telow citizens Of the Senate and House q
RepreSentatres: t...t
Another year Of health, and Of suf-
ficiency and abundance has passed. -
For these, and especially for the i'm
proved condition of our national af-
fairs, our renewed and profound graf
itude to God is due. We remain in
peace and fiedship with foreign pow
ers. nI ftHrJ
RELATIONS OF FOREIGN POWERS TO THE
WAR.
The efforts Of disloyal citizens of the
United States to involve US in foreign
wars, td aid an inexcusable insurrcc-
ton, have been unavailiug. Her
Britanic Majesty's government, MS was
justly expected, have exercised their
authority to prevent the departure of
new hostile expeditions from British
ports. The Emperor of France has,
by like proceeding, promptly indi-
Gated the neutrality which he pro-
claimed at the beginning of the con
test. Questions OF great intricacy and
importance have arisen out of the
blockade and other belligerent opera
tons between the government and
several of the maratime powers, but
they have been discussed, and, SO far
as was possible, accommodated in a
spirit of frankness, justice and mutual
good will. 1t is especially gratifying
that our prize courts, by the imparti-
ality Of their adjudication, have COM
manded the respect and confidence OF
the maritime powers.
TREATY RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
The supplemental treaty between
the United States and Great Britain
for the suppression Of the African
slave trade made on the 18th day of
February last has been duly ratified
and carried into execution. 1t is be-
lieved that SO far as American ports
and American citizens are concerned
that inhuman and barbarous traiiic
has been brought TO an end.
/ shall submit for the consideration
of the Senate convention for the adj
iustment Of possessory claimsin Wash
ington Territory arising out of the
treaty Of the 10th OF June, 1916, be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain, aad which have been the
source Of some disQuiet among the cit
izcns of that now rapidly improving
part Of the country.
SPAIN AND CUBA.
A novel aud important question in
volving the extent of the maratime
jurisdiction of Spain in the waters
which surround the island of Cuba,
has been debated without reaching an
agreement, and it is proposed in an
aInicable spirit to refer it to the arbi-
tramont on friendly power. A con
vention for that purpose will be sub
mitted to the Senate.
THE sCHELDT DUES.
/ have thought it proper, subject TO
the approval Of the Senate, to concur
with the Interested commercial pow
ers in an agreement for the liquida-
ton of tho Scheldt dues upon the
principles which have been heretofore
adopted in regard to the imports upon
navigation in the waters OF Denmark.
SOUTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA.
The long-pending controversy be-
tween this government and that OF
Chill touching the seizure at Setaaa,
in Peru, by Chilian officers, of large
amount in treasure belonging 70 citi-
zens of tho United States, has been
brought to a close by the award Of his
Majesty, the King of the Belgians, to
whose arbitration the question was
referred 10y the parties. Tho subject
was thoroughly and patiently exam
ined by that justly respected magis-
trate, and although the sum awarded
to tho claimants may not have been
as large as they expected, there is no
reason to distrust the wisdom Of bis
Maiesty's decision. That decision
was promptly complied with by Chill,
when intelligence in regard to it reach
cd that country.
The joint Commission, under the
act of the last session, for carrying
into ellect the convention with Peru
OH the subject of claims, has been or
ganized at Lima, and is engaged III
tho business entrusted to il.
Difficulties concerning inter-oceaniC
transit through Nicarauga, are IN
course of am acable adjustment i'll con-
formity with principles set forth in
my last anual message.
THE RIGHTS OF yArURALIZED CITIZENS.
Incidents occurring i'll the progress
of our civil war have forced upon my
attention the Uncertain state ol inter
national questions touching the rights
of foreigners in this country and OF
United States citizens abroad. In ro-
gard to some governments these right'
are at least partially defined by treat
les. In no instance, however, 1t /;
expressly stipulated that on the III
stance OF civil war foreigner res.d
ing in this country, within the line:
ot the insurgents, is to be exempted
/ from the rule which classes him as {
belligcreut in whose behalf the gov
e1uilent OF his country cannot exp, CT
any privileges or inrmunities distinc
from that character / regret TO say
however, that such claims have beei
put forward, and in some instances II
behalf of foreigners, who have live'
in the United States the greater par
of their lives. There is reason to be
lieve that many persons born in ior
eign countries who have declared thei
intention to become citizens, or VIII
have been fully naturalized, hay
evaded the military duty required Q
them by denying the fact, and thereb
throwning upon the government til
burden of proof 1t has been foun
difficult or impracticable to obtain TIN
proof from the want of guides to tn
proper sources of information. Thes
might be supplied by requiring of tn
clerks of courts where declarations {
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