Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-12-18
President S Message.
Fslop Citizens Of The Senate

FeHOW CtEt~c"s " Hto oe"uso
and House Of Representatives:
Another year of health and of sulii
ciently abundant harvest has passed; fo
this, and especially for the improved con
dition of our national affairs our renewed
and profoundest gratitude 10 God>is due
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
We remain in peace and friendship
with foreign powers. The efforts of dis
loyal citizens of the United States 10 in.
volve us in foreign wars TO aid the insur'
rection at home, have been unavailing.-
Her Britannia majesty's government, as
was justly expected, have exercised then
authority to prevent the departure of a
new hostile expedition from the British
ports; the emperor of France has, by a
like proceeding, promptly vindicated his
neutrality which he proclaimed in the
beginning of the contest.
Questions of great iniricacy and i'm
portance have arisen out Of the blockade
and other belligerent operations between
this government and several of the mar
itime powers, but they have been discus
sed and, as far as was possible, accom-
modated 10 spirit of frankness, justice
and mutual good will. 1t is especially
gratifying that our prize courts, by the
impartality of their adjudicatons, have
commanded the respect and confidence OF
the maritime powers.
The supplemental treaty, between the
United States and Great Britain for the
suppression of the African slave trade,
made on the seventeenth day of Febru-
airy last, has been duly ratified and car
red into execution; and il is believed
that, SO far as American ports and citi-
zens are concerned, this inhuman and
odious traffic has been brought to an end.
| shall submit, for the consideration Of |
the Senate, proposition for convention
for the adjustment of the possessory
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 a
source of some disquiet among the ciIi-
zens of that rapidly improving part of
the country.
A novel and important question, in
voying the extent of the maritime juris-
dction Of Spain in the waters which sur
round the island of Cuba, has been de-
bated without reaching any agreement,
and it is proposed, in an amicable spirit,
10 refer it to the arbitrament of some
friendly power A convention for that
purpose will be submitted to the SeLate.
l have thought it proper, subject to the =
approval of the Senate, to concur with
interested commercial powers in an ar
rangement for the liquidation of the
Scheldt dues, upon the principles which
have been heretofore adopted in regard n
to imposts upon navigation in the waters i
of Denmark. Q
The long pending controversy between G
this government and that of Chill touch
ing the seizure, at Setana in Peru, by the 4
Chiian officers, of large amount in y
treasure belonging TO citizens of the Uni O
ted States, has been brought to a close II
by the award OF his majesty the king of h
the Belgians, to whose arbitration the @
question was referred by the parties.- 9,
The subject was thoroughly and patients v
y examined by that justly respected ma n
gistrate, and, although the sum awarded
10 the claimants may not have been as S
arge as they expected, there is no reason {
10 distrust the wisdom of his maiesty's Il
iecision. That decision was promptly C,
complied with by Chill when the intelli- tt
sence in regard to it reached that coun- is
ry. The joint commission under the b,
Ict Of the last session for carrying into ri
fleet the convention with Peru on the es
ubject of claims, has been organized at 81
Lima, and is engaged in the business en- bi
rusted TO it. The difficulties concerning tb
nter-oceanic transit through Nicaragua, ct
ire in course of amicable Adjustment aC
n conformity with the principle set forth &C
n my last annual message, have recei- E
red a representative from the United or
states of Columbia, and have accredited w
minister to that republic. nc
Incidents occurring in the progress of
ur civil war have forced upon my atten-
ion the uncertain state Of international
uestions touching rights of foreigners in r
bis country and of United States citi- =
ems abroad. In regard TO some govern
tents, these rights are, at least partially,
ehned by treaties in no instance, how "o
yer, is it expressly stipulated that, in the vi
vent OF civil war, foreigner residing in un
his country, within the lines Of the in mi
nrgents, is to be exempted from the rule go