The Shasta courier., 1863-12-19
SHASTA COURIER
The Presidents Message.

This concise and able document was laid
before both Houses of Congress on the 9Th
inst, at II NJ, ana after being repeated but
twice, was received by the Associated Press
of this State. via the Overland Telegraph, at
y o'clock, P. NJ, of the same day.
On the subject of our foreign relations the
President says:
We remain at peace and friendship with
foreign Powers. The efforts of disloyal citi-
zens Of the United States to involve us in
foreign wars, to aid an inexcusable insurrec-
tlon, have been unavailing.
Speaking of foreign born citizens claiming
exemption from the draft, he says:
There is also reason to believe that for
eigners frequently become citizens of the
United States for the sole purpose of evad
ing the duties imposed by the laws of their
native country, to which, after becom-
ing naturalized here, they at once repair,
and, though never returning to the United
States, they still claim the interposition Of
the Government as citizens. Many alterca-
tions and great prejudice have heretofore
grown out of this abuse. 1t Is, therefore.
submitted to your serious consideration. 1t
might he advisable for q limit to be fixed
ICY bhu hitA Ao CAti@Ch Va tue CHllCu JtebtCS
residing abroad may claim the interposition
of this G )vernmcut. The right Of suffrage
has often been assumed and exercised by
aliens under pretense Of naturalization, which
they have disayOwed when drafted into the
military service. | submit the expediency
Of such an amendment to the laws as Will
make the act Of voting an estnppel against any
plea CT exemption from military service, or
ether civil obligation, on the ground Of alien
aye
In speaking Of the greatest Geographic
project Of the age, he says:
SATISFACTORY arrangements have Ieea nade
with the Emperor Of Russia. which it il be
lieyel Will result in ehectins the construction
of continuous line Of telegraph through
that empire from our Pacific coast.
He recommends Congress to make provision
for the encouragement of immigration; says
the operations of the Treasury Department
during the year have been successfully con
Quoted says that the canal enlargement
scheme for the improvement of communiea-
tions between the Mississippi river and the
northern lakes and the eastern seaboard will
ere long force its own way TO success speaks
in high terms of the favorable and rapid
work upon the Pacific Railroad, and says
'Enlarged navigation becomes prospective
need Of the great road"
Speaking of the Navy Department, he says:
The duties deyolyi. on the naval branch
of the service during the year, and through
out the whole Of this unhappy contest, have
been discharged with fidelity energy and
success. The blockade has been constantly
increasing in efficiency, as the navy has ex-
panded yet, on so long a line. it has 50 far
been impossible to entirely suppress illicit
trade From the returns received at the
Navy Department, 1t appears that more than
one thousand vessels have beel captured since
the blockade instituted, and that the
value OF the prizes sent in tor adiudiction
amounts TO over thirteen million OF dollars
fh . Aal force OF the United States consists,
mt TINS time, Of j55 vessels cvmpeteI and in
c1arse oI completion, aH Of these - are iron
cilds -armured steamers. The events of the
war give an increased interest and impor-
tndoe TO the navy, which will probably ex-
tend beyoaI the WIr Itself. he armored
vessels IN our navy completed and Ia service
~ which are undtr contract aad urproacL.
ius completion, are believed to exceed in
number those of uay other Power; but while
these may be relied upon for har5or defense
and sea coast survey. others OF greater strength
aud capacity will DE necessary for cruising
purposes and 10 maintain our ghtful position
on the ocean. Tue change that has taken
place in navy Vessels and naval warfare since
tae introduction of steam as a motive power
flr ships Of war, demands ether cnrrespon-
dung change in some Of our existing Navy
Yards or the establishment Of new ones for
the construction and necessary repar Of
modern var vessels No ineonsiderabe en-
barraSSmeut, delay and public injury has
been experienced from the want of such Gov
ernmeHt establishments. The necessity Of
such Il navy yard. SO furnished. ut some suit
able place upcn the Atlantic seaboard. mas
on repeated occasions, been brought to the 40
tice OF Congress by the Navy Department. and
is again presenEed in the report Of the Secre-
tary, which accompanies this communication
| thlnk il my duty to invite your special at
tentlun 20 this subject; and also 10 that Of
establishing yard or depot for naval pur-
poses upvu one of the Western rivers. 4 ua.
val force has been created oH these interior
waters, 1nd under maay disadvantages, with
in litji- more than Two years-eXceeding in
number the whole naval force OF the country
at the commencement of the present Admin.
istration. SatiSta, tory and important IS
have been the performances oftac heroic men
OF the navy at tais Interesting period, they
are scarcely ml.e wonderful than the service
OF our mechanics and artisans i9 the produc-
ton of war vessels which have created new
form of naval power. Our country has ad-
vantages superior TO any other country in
resources Of iron and timber. with inexhaus-
tible quantities of fuel. in the immediate Vi
cinity OF both, and all available aa1 in close
proximity TO nayigabla waters. Without the
advantage of public works, the resources of
the nation have been developed andits power
displayed in the construction Of navy OF
such magnitude, which has at the very peri
cd Of its creation rendered signal service to
the Union. The increase OF the number o!
seamen in the public service-from seven
thousand men, in the Spring Of lS6l, to about
twenty four Thousand at the present time
has been accomplished without any special
legislation or extraordinary bounty to promote
that increase. 1t has been found, however.
that the operation of the draft, with the high
bountieS maid for army ra,rFffS. IS as~ipnfnu O