The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Representdtives: ~ -
Another year of health and of sufficiently.
abundant harvest has passed. For these, ana
tespecially-for the improved condition OF our
national affairs, our renewed and profound
gratitude; to God is due. TE.Tyy. g7'.s,,
We remain in peace and friendship with
foreign powers The efforts of dlsloyal cltl-
zens oEthe United States to involve us In saorz
eIgn wars, to aid an inexcusable lnsurrection,
have been unavailing, Her Britannlc MaJes-
tvs Government, as was justly expected, have
exercised their authority to prevent the de-
parture ofnew' hostile expeditions from BTU
shports. The Emperor of France has, by
like proceeding, promptly indicated the neu
traity which he proclaimed at the beginning
bef the contest iie-l 81 s1oiofspF izoir 3af u
Questions of greatest intricacy and import
ance have arisen out ofthe blockade and other
belligerent operations, between the Govern
ment and several of the maritime powers, but
they have been discussed, and, so far as was
possible, accommodated in spirit of frank
ness, justice and mutual good Will 1t is es-
pecially gratifying that our Prlze COURTS py
the impartiality of their adjudication, have
commanded the respect and, confidence OF
maritime powers. 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 execution
1t is believed that SO far as American ports
and American citizens are concerned, that In.
human and barbarous traffic has been brought
to and end. f.,'-. al. r.l..
l shall submit, for the consideration OF the
Senate, a, convention for the adjustment OF
poesessory claims in Washington Territory,
arising out of the treaty of the 10Th OF June,
1916, between the United States and Great
Britain, and which have been the source OF
some disquet among the citizens OF that now
rapidly improving part of the country.
A novel and important question, involving
the extent OF the maritime Jurisdiction of Spain
in the waters which surround the Island OF
Cuba, has been debated without reaching an
agreement, and it is proposed in an amlcaole
spirit to refer it to the arbitrament OF friend
ly power. A convention for that purpose VIII
be submitted 90 the Senate.
l have thought it proper subject for the
approval of the Senate, to concur with the IN
terested commercial powers in an arran gement
for the liquidation of the Scheldt dues, upon
the principles which have been heretofore
adopted in regard to the imposts upon navlga-
ton in the waters of Denmark.
The long-pending controversy between this
Government and that of Chill, touching the
seizure at Silana, in Peru, by CHILEAN officers,
of large amount in treasure belonging to
citizens of the United States, has been brought
to a close by the award Of His Majesty the
King of the BelGians, to whose arbitration the
question was referred by the parties The sub
iect was thoroughly and patiently examined
by that justly-respected Magistrate, and al
though the sum awarded to the claimants may
not have been as large as they expected, there
is no reason to distrust the wisdom of his
majesty decision. That decision was prompt
ly complied with by Chill, when intelligence
in regard to it reached that country. The joint
commission, under the act of the last session
for carrying into effect the convention with
Peru, on the subject of claims, has been organ
lied at Lima, and is engaged in the business
intrusted to it. r-r.. ..-. e.. .. t...
Tho difficulties concerning inter-oceanic
transit through Nicaragua, are in course of
amicable adjustment. In conformity with the
principles set forth in my lastaunual message
have received representative from the
United States of Columbia and have credited a
minister to that Republic. ..# 80 .
Incidents occurring in the progress OF our
civil war have forced upon my attention the
uncertain state of international questions,
touching the rights of foreigners in this coun-
try and of citizens abroad. In regard to some
Governments, these rights are at least partial
y defined by treaties. In no instance, how
ever, is it expressly stipulated that, on the in
stance of civil war, a foreigner, residing in this
country, within the lines of the insurgents is
to be exempted from the rule which classes
him as belligerent, in whose behalf the Gov
eminent of his country can not express any
privileges or immunities from that character.
regret to say however, that such claims have
been put forward, and in some instances, in
behalf of foreigners who have lived in the
United States the greater part OF their lives
There is reason to believe that many persons,
born in foreign countries, who have declared
their intention to become citizens, or who have
been fully naturalized, have evaded the mill
tary 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 declara-
tons of intentions may be made, or naturaliza-
ton effected, to send. periodically, lists of the
names ofpersons naturalized, or declaring their
intention to become citizens, to the Secretary
of the Interior, in whose department these
names must be arranged and printed for
general information. There is also reason to
believe that foreigners frequently become citi
zens of the United States for the sole purpose
of evading the duties imposed by the laws of
their native country, to which, in becoming
naturalized here, they at once repair, and
though never returning to the United States,
they still claim the interposition of the Gov
ernment Us citizens. Many alterations and
great prejudice have heretofore arisen out of
this abuse. 1t is therefore submitted to your
serious consideration. 1t might be advisable
to fix limit, beyond which no citizen of the
United States, residing abroad, may claim the
interposition of his Government. The right of
suffrage has often been assumed and exercised
by aliens, uuder pretense of naturalization,
which they have disayowed when drafted into
the military service. submit the expedency
of such an amendment of the laws as will make
he Eoo Nf