Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-12-10
Thursday Morning, Dec 70, 1868.
.PPREsIDENT'S MESSAGE.
E.uo,,. citisens of ths Senate

n. 81 81
Another year of health and ofs9fciently
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS has passed. For these
and especially for the improved Condition
Of our national affairs, our renewed and
profound gratitude to God is due. We
remain in peace aud friendship With foreign
movers. The efforts of disloyal citizens of
The United States TO involve as 10 foreign
Vars. 10 aid in iuexcusable instruction
have been uuavailiug. Her Britapie Ma
iesty's Government, as was justly expected,
have exercised their authority 70 prevent
the departure of new hostile expeditions
from British ports. The Emperor of France
has by a ike proceeding promptly lindica-
ted the neutrality which he proclaimed at
the beginning of the contest.
Questions of great iutricacy audfmpor+
lance have arisen out of the blockade and
other bslltgerent questions between the
Government and several of the maritime
powers, but they have been discussed, and
so far ne was possible, accommodated in a
shirt of frankness, justice and mutual
good will. II is especially gratifying that
our prize courts, by the impartiality of
their adjudication, have commanded the
respect and confidence OF maritime pow
ers. The supplemental treaty between the
United States and Great Britain, for the
snppressf6n of the African slave trade,
made on'the 18th day of February last, has
been duly ratified and carrledtnto effect.
II ia believed that SO far as American
norts and American citizens are concerned,
that inhuman aud barbarous traffic haS
been brought to an end. shall submit
for the consideration of the Senate a con-
vention for the adjustment of possessory
claims in Washington Territory arising
ont Of the treaty ofths 18th of June, 1s46,
between the United States and Great, Brit
ian. and which have been the source OF
some disquiet among the citizens OF that
now rapidly and improving part Of the
country. novel and important question
involving the extent of the Maritime turls-
diction Of Spain ia the waters which sur
round the Island of Cuba, has been de-
bated without reaching an agreement and
It is proposed in an amicable spirit, to re-
fer it TO the arbitrament OF a friendly power.
convention for that purpose Will be
spbnoftted to the Senate. have thought
n nronsr TO subject ito the approval OF
fbe senate, TO concur with the interested
commercial powers in an arrangement for
the liquidation of the Scheldt dues, upon
the principles which have been heretofore
adopted in regard to the imPosts upon
navigation ia the waters OF Denmark.
The long pending controversy between
this Government and that, of. Chilli to urge
the seizure at SilAna in Perm, by CHILEAN
officers, of a large amount in treasure be-
longing to citizens of the United States,
has been brought to close by the award
of His Majesty, the King of the Belgtans,
to whose arbitrament the question was
referred by the parties.
The subject was thoroughly and patient.
lysexamined by that justly respected Ma
iesty, and although the sum awarded to
the Claimants may not have been as large
as they expected, there is no reason to dis
trust the wisdom of His Majesty's decision.
That decision was promptly complied with
By Chilli when intelligence in regard 70 it
reached that country. The joint commits
ZION under the act Of tue last session, for !
,arryiug into effect the convention with
Peru on the subject of claims, has been orr
at Lima, and is engaged in the
business entrusted to 1t.
Difficulties concerning inter-oceanic
transit through Nicarauga, are In course
of amicable adjustment In conformity with
principles set forth in my last annual mes.
sage, lhave received representatives from
the United States of Colombia, and have
credited minister to that republic.
Incidents occurring in thezprogress of
our civil war have forced upon my atten-
ton the uncertain state of International
Questions, touching therights of foreigners
in this country and of United States citi=
gems abroad.
rights are at least partly defined by treaties.
In no instance, however, is il expressly
stipulated that on the instance of civil war
a foreigner residing in this country, within
the lines of the insurgents, Is to be ex-
4empted from the rule which classes him as
belIigersnt, in whose behalf the govern
ment Of his country cannot express any
privileges or immunities distinct from that
character.
1 regret to say, however, that such
claims have been put forward. and, in some
instances, 10 behalf of foreigners who have
lived in the United States the greater part
of their lives There is reason tofbelieve
that many persons born in foreign c0un.
tries. who have declared their intention to.
become citizens, or who have been fully
naturalized, have evaded the military duty
required of them by denying the fact,
thereby throwing upon the Government the
burden of proof It has been found diff
cult or impraeticable to obtain,
This proof, from the want of guides to
the proper sources of information, might
be supplied by requiring the clerks of
courts where declarations of intention may
be made, or naturalization effected, to send
periodical 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 for
eienefs frequently become citizens of the
United States, for the sole purpose of'eya-
ding the duties imposed by the laws of
their native country, to which, in becom-
ing natnraliled here, they 81 oneeirepair,
and though never returning to the United
States. they still claim the interpositton of
die government as citizens. Many alter
cations and great prejudice have 3t1ereto+
fore arisen out of this abuse. II is there
fore submitted to your serious considera-
ton. 1t might be advisable Il, FIX q limit