Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-12-15
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Eeilow CItizeas Of The Seaate and House OF
Representatives,:
Another year Of health and suilientiy album
dau harvest mas passed. Flr these, and espe-
cially the improved condition Of our National
affairs our renewed and proicundest gratltude
to God is due.
We remain in peace and friendship with for
/ eign powers.
The efforts Of disoyal citizens Of the United
States to involve US in foreign wars to aid an
inexcusable Insurieotlon have been unayaIling.
I Her Brltanic Majesty's Government, as was
las.ly expected, have exercised their authority
to prevent the departure Of rev hostile expedi-
tlons from British ports
The Emperor OF France has, by like pro-
eeedlng, promptly yndicatea the neutrality
which he proclaimed at the beginning oil the
contest.
Questions Of great intricacy and Importance
have arisen out Of the blockade and other bellig-
erent operations, between the government and
several Of The maritime powers; but they have
been discussed and as far as was possible ac-
commodated, in spirit Of irankness, justice and
mutual good will.
1t is especially gratifying that our Prize
Courts, by the impartiality Of their adjuGic.-
lions, have commanded the respect and MI
dence OF maritime powers.
The supp tmsnai ueaty between the Uui,ed
States and Grcai B.lilln for the Suppression Of
/ the African slayr tr.5e, made on the l7tn day
February last, bas been duly rasllol and carried
into execution 10 Is believed that ~ i4f as
American porls and American citizens are
concerned that the lnhnman and od.Ous traffic
has been brought 70 an nd.
Z ] shall submit tor the consideration Of the Sen.
ate convention for III adjustment o possesso-
/ ry claims III Washington te dtory, arising out
/ Of the treaty Of the lj.h June, 1916, between
the United Statet and Great B1tian, and which
have been tn lOurec Of some disquict among
the citizens 81 Chat nov rapidly increasing part
OF the country
novel and important question involving the
extent Of the maatime jurisdiction Of Span 10
the waters Which surround the island OF Cuba,
mas been debated without reaching an ugree-
ment, and 1t IL proposed, 10 on alucab!e spirit,
to refer 1t to lhe arbiIeton Of friendly powers.
convention for that purpose will DO submitted
to the Senate.
baye though u proper, subject to the ap-
proyal OF ths Senate, 70 concur with The inter
ested commercial power ne our arrangement for
the lquldating Ot the du upon the princlp
which nave been heretofore adopted in regard 20
the Isnpos,s upJa navigation Ia tle waters Of
Denmark.
The long pending controversy between this
Government and that of Chill touching the sell
zure at otanain, Peru, by Chilian officers Of
large amount IL treasure belong ~ to citizens
Of the United States, has been brought to a close
by the award OF H. Majesty the King Of the
Bslgians, TO whose arbitration the question was
referred by the parties
The su1ac, Was thoroughly ana patiently ex-
amlned by that justly respected magistrate, and
although the sum awarded to the claimants may
not have been 50 large as they expected, there
is no reason to dlstrust She wisdom Of His Maj
esty's decision. That decision was promptly
complied with by Chill, when intelligence in re-
gard to il reached that country.
The Joint commission under the act Of the
last session for carrying into effect the cOnyen.
ton with them on the birct OF claims has been
organized at Lima, and Is engaged in Toe busi-
ness intrusted TO it, Difficulties concerning
nteT-oceanic transit through Nicaragua are IN
course Of amicable adjustment
Ia conformity with ,he principles set forth in
my last annual message, have received Req.
resentatiye from the United states OF Columbia
and have accredited Minister to that Rspub-
lie.
Incidents occurring 10 Tie progress of our
civil war nave forced upon any attention the ua-
certain state Of internationa! questions, touch
ing ths rights Of foreigners IN ,As country aud
oi United States citizens abroad. la regard to
some States these rights are, al east, partially
dcfnei by treaties.
In no one instance however is 1t expressly
Stipulated that Ia the event of civil war. "a for
elgner residing Ia tins country within the lines
Of the insurgents Is to be exempted from the
rule which classes him as belligerent, on whose
behalf the government OF his country cannl ex-
pect any privileges or immunities distnc, from
that character
| regret to say, however, that such ciaims
have been Iut forward and in some Instances IN
behalf o. foreigners no have lived in the Unit.
ed States the greater part OF their lives.
There Is reason TO Oellcve that mAny persons
born in foreign countries who have declared
their intention to become citizens, and who
have become fully naturAized, have eyadci the
military duties required o them by denying
the fact, and thereby throwing upon Govern.
meut the burden of proc.
" [
obtain this proof from the want of guides to
the proper sources of information. These
might be supplied by requiring clerks of Courts
where declaration OF intention may be made or
naturalizations effected TO send periodically
lists OF the names OF the persons naturalzej
or declaring their intention to become citizens.
to the Sec etary OF the lutorio., ia whose de-
partment those names might be arranged and
printed for general information. There is also
reason TO believe that foreigners frequently be-
come oitlgens of the United States ol the sole
purpose OF eyadlng duties imposed bv the laws
OF their native countries to which, il bfcom-
ing naturalized here, they ut once, aud though
never returning 10 the United States they still.
claim the intefpusltiOn OF the Government as
citizens. Many alterations and great preiu.
dioes have heretofore arisen out of this abuse
IL is, therefore, submitted to your serious con
sideration. L might be advisable TO fix a limit
beyond which Nv citizen Of the United States
residing abroad may claim the interpositon of
his Government. The right OF suffrage has
often been assumed and exercised by aliens un
der pretence OF naturalization which they have
dsayowed when drafted into the military SER
vice. submit the expedlency of such an
amendment Of the law as will make the fact
OF voting an estoppel against any plea of ex
emption from military service, Grover civil OBJ.
legations on the ground OF alienage.
In common with other Western Powers, our
relations with Japan have been brought into
serious jeopardy through the perverse oppos.
ton of the hereditary arstocracy of the empire
to the enlightened and liberal policy of the Ty-
coon, designed to bring the country INTO the So
olbty OF nations.
IL is hoped, although not with entire conf.
dence, that these difficulties may be peacefully
overcome. | ask your attention to the claim
of the minister residing there Tor the damages
! L.. 49, L.. 4 L