Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-12-11
STAR AND CHRONICLE.
The Presidents Message
PROCLAMATION OF AMNESTY
WASHINGTON, Dec. 0, 1868.

WASHINGTON, Dec 0, 1863
Fsv5p citizens Of The Senate and House of Repre-
ssakatipes;-Anotler year of health, and of suffi
ci.ntly abundant harvests, has passed. Fol
these. and especial fer the improved condition
If our National affairs, oUr renewed and pro
found gratitude to God is due. We remain il
peacs and fIiondship with foieign powers.
The eff .rts of disloyal citizens of the United
States, TO Involve Us in foreign wars, to aid al
inexcusable instruction, have been unsvsiing
Her Britanuic Msjesty's Government, as wa
justly expected, have exercised their authority
10 prevent the departure OF new hostile expe
ditions from British ports. The Emperor O
France has, by like prcc5 5eding, promptly vim
dica'ei the neutrality which he proclaimed a
the beginning If the contest
Ones;ious of great intriclCy ard importanc,
have arisen out of the blockade, and other bel
ligerent operations between the Government
and several of the maritime powers but they
have been discussed, and a far ss was possible
accommodated in spirit of frankne.s, justice
and mutual good will.
1t especially gratifying thst Our prize courts
by the impartiality of their adj jldications,
have commanded tho respect and confidence Of
maritime poweis.
The supplemental treaty between the United
States and Great Britain for the suppression o.
the African Slave Trade, msde on the 18th day
of february last, has been duly ratified al d
carried into execution. 1t is believed that, 90
far as American ports and American citizens
are concerned, that inhumsn and odions traffic
has been brous sht to an end
shall submit, for the cons deration of the
Senate convention for the adjustment Of pos.
session claims la Washington Territory, nris
ing out of the treaty of the 18th of June, 1916,
between the United States and Great Bsitain,
II,
among the citiz-ns of that now rapidly i'm
proving part OF tue country.
A novel and important question involving
the exteutof the maritime jurisdiction of Spain
on the waters which surround the Island of
Cuba, has been d, baied without reaching IN
agreement. and it is proposed in au ami1able
spirit to re,iir it to the a:birament of q
fiiendy power. a canventiyn for that purpose
will be submitted to the Senate
have thought it proper. subject to the ap-
provai CT the Senate, to CONCUR with the inter
ested commercial poweTs in an arrangement for
the liqric alton Of the Scheldt dues upon the
primo Iples which have been heretofore adopted
in regard to tine iDposts rpcn navigation in
the waters Of Denmark.
The long pending controversy between this
Government and that OF Chill, tCuchiDg the
90 cure at Sitepa. in Peru, by Gillian Officers
of large amount in treasure belonging to citi-
Gems of toe United States. has been brought to
Q close by the award of his N ssty, the King
of the B =lgiaus, to whose arbitration the ques-
tion was referred by the parties Thesutj ct was
thoroughly aud patiently examined by that
Justly respected magistrate, and although the
sum awarded To the claimants may not have
been as largo as they expected there is no
reason to disnust the wisdom of his NJ 4jesty's
decision. That decision was promptly COM
plied with by Chill when intelligence in regard
10 It reached tka: country.
The Joint commission, undor the act of the
last session, for carrying Into effect the conyen
tion with Peru on tie subject Of claims, has been
organized at Lima, end Is engaged III the busi-
ness intrusted 10 it.
Difficulties concerning the inter-oceanic tran
sitthrough Nicirsuga, are 10 cou:se of amic able
adjustment.
In conformity with the principles set forth in
my last annual message, have received rep
resentative from the United States of Co!umbis,
and have accredited mioister to that Republic.
Incidents occurring in the progress of our
civil war have forced upon my attention the
uncertain state of International questions
touching the rights Of foreigners in this ooun-
try, and Of United States citizens abroad, in
regard to some governments. These rights
are at least partially defined by treaties In
no instance, however is 1t expressly stipu
lated that 10 the event Of civil war foreigner
residing in this eeuntry within the lines of the
Insurgents is to be exempted from the rule
which classes him as be;ligerent, in whose
behalf the government OF his country ctnno:
expect any privileges or immuniiies distinct
from that character. l regret t. say, how
ever that such claims have been pat forward,
and in some instances In behalf Of foreigners
Who have lived in the United States egrea or
II A. a. l. S-l Ill;
'tst many persons born 10 foreign COUNTRIES,
Ssve dec!arei the;r Intention to become
s,,;o Suo Hs who have been fully nstura!izsd,
'de military duty required of them
HeG 10 esaaeo tact, and thereby throwing
" oeny'hg the the burden of proof
upon the governmeL. ~sIt or imn,ac,icahla
~ mas os;a sss ,ouna u ut Of guides to the
proper source sof informsti n rrfs wbare
supplied by reqsiring clerks Of Co. ,,.atn.
declarations of Intention may be made, I, e,
ralz atoms effected, to send p=riodically lie.
the names of the persons naturaliZsi or decla
ring their intention to become citizsns, to the
Secretary of the Interior, in whose department.
shese names might be arranged and printed for
yeneral Information. There is also reason to
believe that foreigners frequently become citi-
'ens of the United States tor the sole purpose
u evading duties imposed by the laws of their
1atlve countries, 10 which, on becoming nstu |
alzed here, they at once repair, and though (
,ever returning to the United States they still
;laim the fnterposition of this government as
,itiEens. Many.altercatious and great preiudiceI
have heretofore arisen out of this abuse Isl
= therefore submilted to your serious coasider-
Huo9- IL might be advisable TO fix limit be II
yond which no citizen Of The United States re- II
-,ulng aorosd may claim the ini exposition of bis
Inc nsnt OF suffrage has OF, n been assumed
md exercised by Aliens. uasier nys,snces y,
asfuraliEstion, which they have disavowe,
1hen drafted into ;bo m,rtary service. Isub i
nit the expectancy of sGch an amendm mt oil
he law Is will make the fact Of voting IA es
opel aesipst any plea of exemption from
military service or 9th or civil Obligation on the
Iround Of alienage.
In common with o ther Western PoSers, our |
with Japan have been brought into |