The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-18
The Presidents Message.
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Another year of Lealth aud of sufficient,
abundant harvest has passed: for this, and
especially for the improved condition of our
national affairs, our renewed and profoundest
gratitude to God is due.
! FOREIGN RELATIONS.
We remain in peace and friendship with
foreign powers. The efforts of disloyal citi-
zens OF the United States to involve US in for
elgn wars to aid the insurrection at home
have been unavaiiing. Her Britannia maies-
tvs government, as was justly expected, have
exercised their authority TO prevent the
departure OF n.w hostile expedition from
the british ports: the emperor of France
mas, by Ike proceeding. promptly vindicaied
his neutrality which he proclaimed in the
beginning OF the contest.
! Questions OF great intricacy and impor-
tance have arisen out OF the blockade and
other beiligerent operations between this
government aud several o. the maritime
powers, but they bave been discussed and,
as lar as was possible, accommodated in a
spirit OF ifankUess, justice and mutual z ,oh
viii. II Is especially gratifying that our
prize courts, by the lmpartidllty of their ad-
JuQlcatlonS, have commanded the re ,pect and
c2n.lIenCe OF the maritime powers
| lGe supplemental treaty, between the
! United States and Great Britain for the sup
preston of ti.e African slave trade, made on
the seventeenth day of February last, has
been duly ratified and carried into execution :
and 1t is believed that, SO far as American
| ports and citizens are concerned, this nhu-
man aid odious traffic has been brought to
an end.
| shall submit, for the consideration of
The StEate, proposition for convention
Tor the adjustment OF the possessory claims
IN Washington territory. arising out OF the
treaty ui the ljth OF June, 1916. between
the nltei States and Great Britain and
winch nave been Il source OF some dlsquiet
among the citizens OF that rapidly improving
part of the country.
a novel and important question, involving
the extent OF the maritime jurisdiction of
SPAN IN the waters which sur OUT i the island
OF Cuba. has been debated wi.nout reaching
any agreement, and it is proposed, in ali
amlcahle spirit. to refer it to the arbitrament
OF some friendly power. A convention Tor
that purpose will be submitted to the Selate.
| have thought it proper, subject TO the
approval of tie Senate, TO concur with in
tereSt"d commercial powers in al arrange
ment for the liquidation Of the Scheldt dues,
lpon the principles which have been hereto
tJre adopted N regard to imposts on nariga-
ton in the waters of Denmark.
Ihe long pending controversy between
ths government and that of Chill, touching
/ the seizure. at Setana in Peru, by the ChiIiln
officers, of large amount in treasure be-
longing to citizens Of the United States, has
Deen brought to close by the award of his
majesty the king OF the Belsians, TO whose
arbitration the question was reierr,d by
the parties. The subject was thorough
iy and p...ently examined by that justly
respected magistrate, and, although the
sum awarded to the claimants may not
have been as large as they expected, there is
no reason to dlstrust the wisdom OF his maj
esty's decision. That decision was promptly
complied with by Chill when the Intelligence
in regard to it reached that country. The
Joint commission under the act of the last
session for carrying into effect Ih- convection
with Peru on the sunj-ct of claims, has been
! organized at LIMA and is engaged IN the
business entrusted TO it. The difficulties
concerning inter-oceanic transit through Nc
aragua, are in coul Sc of amcable adjustment.
/ IN Conformity with the principle set forth IN
my last annual message. | have received a
representative FROM the United States of Co.
/ uimhla, and have accredited 4 mIn.s!er 10 that
republic.
Incidents occurring in the progress of cur
EVIL war haze forced upon my attention the
uncertain state Of International questions
touching ri ghts o! foreigners III this country
md Ci United States citizens abroad. In
r~gard to some governments, these rights
lre, at least partially, detin:j by treaties, In
no instance, hHwever, IS 1t expressly st!pu-
lated that, in the event of cisll war, d for
cgn2r residing IN this country, wltiln the
iiueo Of the insurgents, is tn be exempted
from he rul: ahioA classes MIN rs bellis-
eceni, 10 whose behalf the government of
his ceuntry cannCt eXpec, any privileges or
inmuGitles distinct from that character. L
regret to say, however, that such claims have
be. ii ;.ut forth. and in some instances in be-
fial. OF foreigners Wh0 have lived in the
United States the gre&ter part OF their ilve>.
There Is reason TO believe that many persons
norm in foreign countries, who nave declared
their intention to become ciiZens, or who
have been fully naturalized, have evaied the
military duty required Of them by denying
,hr fact Of their residence, and thereby
throwing upcl the government the burden
OF proof. 1t has been found difficult or I'M
practlble 10 OBTAIN this proof from the want
OF guides to the proper sources OF intorma-
tion. These might De supplied Oy requiring
, me clerks of courts where the declarations
Of intention may he made or naturalization
effected. to send, periodically, lists OF the
names OF the persons naturalzed or declar-
: iny thtir intention to become citizens, to the
secretary OF the interior, In whose depart
ment those names might be arranged and
printed for general Information. There Is
also reason 10 believe tLat foreigners ire
uuently become citizens OF the United States
for the sole purpose Of evadlng the dutle:
imposed by the laws Of their native couLtry
to which on becoming naturailzed here, they
! at once repair and, though never returning
: to the United States, they still claim, as citl
zens, the interposltion OF this government
Many alterations and great prejudlces have
l heretofore arisen out Ot this aOuse, and It l:
i therefore submitted to your serious cons d
eration that it might be advisable to Tx (
2 limit beyond which no citizen of the Unite,
| States, residing abroad, may claim the later
position of mis- government. Tie right 0
: suffrage has often Teen assumed and exer
| cised BY aliens under the pretenses OF nat
: uralizalion, when they have oisayowed whel
4 drafted into militsry service. | submit tn
! rxpedenc OF such an amendment OF tn
law as will make the fact of voting an estOp
S pei against any plea of exemption from mill
/. ..u;na OF any civil nhgatinn ON th