The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-12-16
= Aatiunal lutumrnt
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Fciio,r. CHi,ca's Of he Senate and House
IF Representatives:
Another year of health and of uIlisicntly
abundant harvcsts has passed. For these
and especially for the improved condition
of our national affairs, our renewed and
profound gratitude to God is due.
FOREIGN NEUTRALITY PRESERVED.
We remain in peace and friendship with
foreign powers. The efforts of disloyal
citizens of tho United States t0 involve us
in foreign wars, to aid an invxcusablc insur-
rection. have been unavailing. Her Brit
anic Maicety's Government, rs was Justly
expected, have exercised their authority to
prevent the departure of new hostile eXpc-
ditions from British ports. The Emperor
of France has, by II like proceeding
promptly indicated the neutrality which he
proclaimed at the beginning of the contest.
THE BLOCKADE.
Questions of great intricscy and impor-
tdnce have arisen out Of the blockade and
other bclligcrcnt operations between the
government and several of the maritime
powers, but they have been discussed. and ,
SO far as was possible, accommodated in a
spirit OF frankncss, justice, and mutual good
will 1t is especially gratifying that our
prize courts, by the impartaity of their ad-
Indications, have commanded the respect
and confidence of maritime powers.
SLAVE TRADE TREATY.
The 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 execu~
ton. 1T is believed that 50 far as American
ports and American citizens are concerned,
that inhuman and barharous traffic has been
brought to an end. | shall submit, for the
consideration of the Senate, a convention
FOR the adjustment of poSsessorv claims i'll
Washington Territory, arising ont of the
treaty of the 18th of June, 1916, between
the United States and Great Britain, and
which have been the source of some dis
quiet among the citizens of that now rapid
~ Improving part OF the country.
SPANISH CLAIM OF MARITIME JURISDICTION
\ novel and important question, involv-
ing the extent of the maritime jurisdiction
of Spain in tho waters which surround the
island Of Cuba, has been debated without
reaching an agreement, ana it is proposed
in an amicablo spirit, to refer it to the az
bitramcnt of friendly power A conven-
ton for that purpose will be submitted to
the Senate.
TUE sCHEI 1T DUTIES.
have thought it proper, subject to the
approval of the Senate, to concur with tho
interested commercial powers in an arrange
ment for the liquidation of the Scheldt dues,
upon the principles which have been here
tofore adopted in regard TO the imports upon
navigation i'll the waters of Denmark.
OUR socTH AMERICAN RELATIONS.
The long pending controversy bctwcon
this Government and that of Chill, touching
the seizure, at Slana, in Peru, 10y Chilian
officers, of large amount of treasure, be
longing to citizens of the United States, has
been brought to close by the award of his
Majesty, the King of the Belgians, to whose
arbitration the question was referred by
tho parties. The subject was thoroughly
and patiently examined by that justly res
pccted magistrate, and, although the sum
awarded TO the claimants may not have been
as large as they expected, there is no rca.
son to distrust the wisdom OF his Maiestys
decision. That decision was promptly com
piled with by Chilli, when intclli igcnco in
regard to it reached that country. The
Joint commission under the act of the last
session for carrying into effect the conver-
tion with Peru, OH the subject of claims, has
been organized at Lima, and is engaged in
the business entrusted to it. The diff
culties concerning intcr-Occanic transit
through Nicaragua aTe in ceWrse of am
icable adjustment, in conformity with the
principles set forth in my last annual mes.
sage. have received a representative from
the United States of Columbia, and have
accredited u Minister to that Republic.
IIEN prrtITc
Incidents occurring i'll the progress of
cur civil war, have forced upon my atten-
tiOn the uncertain state of international
questions touching the rights of foreigners
in this country. and of United States citi-
zcns abroad. In regard to some Govern
ments, these rights are at least par
stance, however, is it expressly stipu-
lated that, in the event of civil war, n
foreigner residing in this country, within
the lines of insurgents, is to be exempted
from the rule Wkick classes him as a bel
ligerent in whose behalf the government of
his country cannot express any privileges or
immunities, distinct from that character. |
regret to say, however, that such claims
have been pat forward, and in some instan-
ces IN behalf Of foreigners who have lived
IN the Emitted States the greater part of
their lives, There is reason to believe
that many persons born in foreign coun-
tries, who have declared their intention to
become citizens, or who have been fully
naturallZed, have cyaded the military duty
required of them, by denying the fact,
and thereby throwing upon the Govern
ment the burden of proof. 1t has been
found difficult or impracticable to obtain
this proof, from the want of guides to the
proper sources of information. These might
be supplied by requiring the Clerks of
Courts, where declarations of intention may
he made, or naturalization effected, to send
periodically, lists Of the names of persons
naturallZed or declaring their intention to
become citizens, to the Secretary of the
Interior, in whose department these names
must he arranged and printed for general
information. There is also reason TO be-
lieve that foreigners frequently become cit
izens of the United States, for the sole pur-
pose of evading the duties imposed by the
laws OF their native country, 10 which, on
becOaing naturalized here, they at once
repair, and though never returning to the
United States, they still claim the nterpro-
lection OF the Government as citizens. Many
alterations and great prejudices have here
totOre arisen out of this abuse. 1t is there
fore submitted 10 your serious cGnsidera-
tion. 1t might be advisable to fix limit
beyond Tkich no citizen of the United
States, residing abroad, may claim the inter
position of his government.
The right of suffrage has often been as
sumed and exercised by aliens under pre-
tense of naturalization, which they have
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