American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1863-12-16
THE AMERICAN CITIZEN,
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,: An0thel
year of health and sufficiently abundan
harvests has passed. For these, and es
pecially for the improved condition of oul
national affairs, our renewed and our pro
found gratitude to God is due We re
main in peace and friendship with foreign
powers. The efforts of disloyal citizens
of the United States to involve us in for.
eign wars, and to aid in inexcusablc in
surrection, have been unavailing. Her
Majesy's Government, as was justly ex-
pected, have exereized their authority to
prevent the departure of new hostile ex-
peditions from British ports. The Empe-
ror Of France has by like proceeding
promptly indicated the neutrality which
he proclaimed at the beginning Of the
contest Questions of great intricacy and
importance have arisen out of the block
AIDES and other bclligerent operations be-
tween the Government and several of the
maritime powers; but they have been dis
cusscd, and so far as was possible, accom-
modated in spirit of ftankness, justice
and good will. It is especially gratifying
that our prize courts, by the impartiality
of their adjudications, have commanded
the respect and confidence of the maritime
powers.
ON FOREIGN TREATIES.
Tho 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 cx-
ecution. 1t is believed that so far as A.
merican ports and American citizens are
concerned, that inhuman and barbarous
traffic has been brought to an end. shall
submit, for the consideration of the Sen
ate, Convention for the adjustment of
possessory claimsin Washington territory,
arising out of tie treaty of the 18th Of
june, 1916, between the United States
and Great Britain, and which have been
the source of some disquiet among the cit
izens of that now rapidly improving part
of the country A novel and important
question, involving the extent of the mar
itime jurisdiction of Spain, in the waters
which surround the island of Cuba, has
been debated, without reaching an agree
ment; and it is proposed, in an ainieable
spirit, to refer it to the arbitrament of a
friendly Power. A Convention for that
purpose will be submitted to the Senate.
I have thought it a proper subject to sug-
gest for the approval of the Senate to con-
cur with the interested commercial powers,
in an arrangement for the liquidation of
the Scheldt dues, on the principles which
have been heretofore adopted in regard to
the imports upon navigation in the waters
of Denmark.
- The long-pending controversy between
this Government and that of Chill touch
ing the seizure Of selana, in Peru, by Chill
ian officers, of large amount of treasure
belonging to citi Nsof the United States,
has been brought Saclose, BY the award
of His Majesy,A Wing of the Belgi-
ans, to whose arbh alton the question was
referred by the parties. The subject was
thoroughly and patiently examined by
that justly respected magistrate, although
the sum awarded to the claimants may not
have beon as largeas they expected, there
Is no reason to distrust the wisdom of His
Majesty's decision That decision was
promptly complied with by Chill when in
;tclligenoe in regard to it reached that
country. The joint commission, under
the act of last session, for carrying into
effect the convention with Peru on the
subject of claims, has been organized at
Lima, and is engaged in the business en-
trusted to it. The difficulties concerning
inter-ocianic transit through Nicaragua,
are in course of amicable adjustment. In
conformity with the principles set forth
in my last annual message, ] have received
q representative from the United States
of Columbia, and have accredited a Min
lister % that republic, -
@R ON NATURALIZATION.
Incidents occurring in the progress of
our civil war have forced upon nv atten-