The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1863-12-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,


Of Representatives
Another year of health and of sufficiently
abundant harvest, has passed. For these
and especially for the improved condition o
our nationsl affairs, our renewed aud pro-
found gratitude to God is due. We remain
in peace and friendship with foreign powers
The efforts of dsloysl citizens of the United
States to involve us in foreign wars to aid il
inexcusable instruction, have been unsvail'
ing. Her Britannia Msjesty's Government
rs was justly, expected, have exercised Their
thority to prevent the departure Of new
lSa. lie expeditions from British ports The
80. u', or Of France has, by like proceed
;na ' y romptly indicated the neutrality
i,ns;.t s h, proclaimed at the beginning OF
.ha .a,,'s :, Qusstions Of great intricacy
snS .rS ;mr.rt. nee have arisen out of the block
sas & AK 9th 81 beligsrent opsrstious be-
tssen Tho GOV srument and several of the
nsr;t;ma r nowen ; but they have been dis
ouss.1 ] snd 90 "a, as was possible, accom-,
moda,sd [ in a sn;rit of frsukness, justice and
mutual good wills. .u 's eSPeI's'iy gta.ny-
inc that our Prize Cou. IT'S ny the impartial
ity of their adjudication, nave commanded
the respect and confidence 81 maritime pow
ers. The supplemental tres y os'"een 'ne
United States and Crest Brita n LOT 'lie sup
nressiou of the African slave ira de-, made on
the 18th day Of February last, Mas been
duly ratified and carried into execn n'n' IL
is believed that 80 fur as America po''s
md American citizens are concerned, that
inhumsn aud barbsrous traffic has b. vi
brought to an end shall submit, for tn
consideration of the Senate. a convention for,
the adjustment Of pesssssorv claims ln Wash
iucton Territory, arising out Of the Treaty
of the 14th Of June, 1884, between the
United States and Great Britain, and which
have been the source of some dsquiet smong
the citizens of that now rapidly ly-improvinE
part Of the country. A novel and import
ant question, involving the exteut Of the
maritime jurisdiction Of Spain, in the waters
which suwoundsd the Island of Cubs, has
been debated without reaching an sgree-
msnt, and it is proposed, in an am'cable
spirit, to refer it to the arbitrsment Of a
friendly power A convention for that pdr-
pose will he submitted to the Senste.
have thought il proper subject for the
approval of the Senate to concur With the
interested Commercial powers in an arrange
rnent of the principles which have been
heretofore adopted in regard to the imposts
upon nsvip alton in the waters Of Denmark.
The long pending controversy between this
Govern ment aud that Of Chill, touching the
seizure of Silsns, in Peru, by Chilisn Off
gers. of large amount in treasure belong
;,y to citissns of the United States, has been
bro,rpht to q close By the award Of His
Msia,ty, the King Of the Belgisus, to whose
arbitration the question was referred by the
parties. The subject was thoroughly and
patiently examined by that justly respected
magistrate, and although the sum awarded
to the clsima nts may not have been IS large
as they expected, there is no reason to dis
trust the wisdom, of His MGesty's decision.
That decision was promptly complied with
by Chill when intelligence in regard to it
reached that country. The Joint Commis
sion, under the act Of the last session, for
carving into effect the Convention with
Peru on the subject Of claims, has been
organized at Lima, and is engaged in the
business intrusted to it. Difficulties con,
corning inter oceanic transit through Nicar'
aqua, are in course of amicabls adjustment.
In conformity with principles SGT forth in
nv last Message, l have received rspre-
sentative from the United States of Orluln
bis, and have credited Minister to hhat
Republic.
Incidents occurring in the progress of our
civil war have forced upon my attention the
uncertain state Of international questions
souching the rights Of foreigners in this
country, aud Of United States citizens
abroad. In regard to some Governments
these rights are at least partially defined by
treaties; in no instance, however, is it ex-
pressly stipulated that OF the instance Of
civil war foreigner residing in this country
within the lines Of insurgents is to be ex
smpted from the rule which classes him as
a belligerent, in whose behalf the Govern
ment of his country can not express any
privileges or immunities from that charac.
ter. / 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 daclared their intention to become
citizens, or who have been fully naturalized,
have svaded the miGtr-y duty required of
them by denying the fact sad thereby
throwing upon the Government the burden
of proof. It has been found difficult or
imrracticabls TO obtain this proof from the
want Of guides to the proper of information.
These might be supplied BY requiring the
clerks Of courts, where declarations Of iuten.
,;,, NAV he sade. oy natiopsliysd effected. to !