Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-12-16
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellow citizens of the Senate and House
Of Representatives:
Another year Of health and Of sufficiently abun-
dant harvest has passed for this, and especial
ly for the improved condition of our national af-
fairs, our renewed and profoundest gratitude to
God is due.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
| We remain in peace and friendship with foreign
powers. The efforts of disloyal citizens of the
United States to involve us in foreign wars to
aid the insurection at home, have been unavai-
ing. Her Britannia majesty's government, as
was justly expected, have exercised their author
ity to prevent the departure of a new hostile ex-
pedition from the British ports the Emperor of
France has by like proceeding, promptly vim
dicated his neutrality which he proclaimed in the
| beginning of the contest.
| Questions of great intricacy and importance
| have arisen out of the blockade and other belig-
| erent operations between this government and
several of the maritime powers, but they have
been discussed, and as far as was possible. accom-
modated in spirit of frankness, justice and mu-
tual good will. 1t is especially gratifying that
our prize courts by the impartiality of their ad-
Indications, have commanded the respect and con-
/ fidence of the maritime powers
| The supplementary treaty, between the United
States and Great Britain for the suppression OF
| the African slave trade, made on the seventeenth
day of February last, has been duly ratified and
carried into execution and it Is believed that SO
far as American ports and citizens are concerned,
this inhuman and odious traffic has been brought
| to an end.
l shall submit, for the consideration of the Sen.
| ate proposition for convention for the adjust
ment Of the possessory claims in ashington ter
ritory, arising out of the treaty of the 18th of
June 1916, between the United States and Great
Britain, and which have been source of some
disquiet among the citizens of that rapidly i'm
proving part of the country.
| 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 any agree.
ment and 1t is proposed in an amicable spirit, to
refer it to the arbitrament of some friendly pow
er. A convention for that purpose will be sub
mitted to the Senate.
have thought it proper, subject to the appro.
val of the Senate, to concur with interested com.
mercial powers in an arrangement for the iqui-
datlon of the Schedt dues, upon the principles
| which have been heretofore adopted in regard to
imposts upon navigation in the waters of Den.
| mark. '.-.a.-..
The long pending controversy between this gov.
ernment and that of Chilli touching the seizure at
Setana in Peru, by the Chillian officers, of ltrge
amount in treasure belonging to citizens of the
| United States has been brought to close by the
award OF his majesty the king of the Belglans to
whose arbitration the question was referred by
the parties The subject was thoroughly and pa
tlently examined by that justly respected mags-
trate, and, although the sum awarded to the
claimants may not have been as large as they ex-
pected, there is no reason to iistrust the wisdom
of his maesty's decision. That decision was
promptly complied with by Chill when the intel.
ligence in regard to it reached that country. The
joint commission under the act of the last ses-
sion 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 en-
trusted to it. The difficulties concerning inter
oceanic transit through Nicaragua, are in course
of amicable adjustment. In conformity with the
principle set forth in my last annual message,
have received q representative froIh the United
States of Columbia, and have accredited minis
ter to that republic.
Incidents occurring in the progress of our civil
war have forced upon my attention the uncertain
state Of International questions touching rights
of foreignsrsin this country and of United States
these rights are. at least partially, defined by
treaties in no instance, however, is it expressly
stipulated that, In the event Of civil war for
eigner residing IN this country. within the lines
of the insurgents, is to be exempted from the
| rule which classes him as beligerent, iD whose
behalfthe government of this country cannot ex-
that character. regret to say however. that such
claims have been put forth and in some instances
in behalf OF foreigners who have lived in the Uni.
ted States the greater part of their lives. There
is reason to believe that many persons born in for
| eign countries, who have declared the intention
| to become citizens, or who have been fully natur-
| allied, have evaded the military duty required of
them by denying the fact of their residence and
thereby throwing upon the government the bur-
| den of proof. 1t has been found difficult or i'm
practicable 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 the declarations ofintenton may
be made or naturalization effected, to send, peri
odically. lists of the names of the persons natur-
allied or declaring their intention to become cit
izens, to the secretary Of the INTERIOR in whose
department those names might be arranged
and printed for general information. There is
also reason to believe that foreigners frequently
become citizens of the United States for the sole
! purpose OF evading the duties imposed by the
laws Of their native country to which on becom-
| ing naturalized here, they at once repair and
though never returning to the United States,
still claim as citizens, The intcrposition of this
government. Many alterations and great preju-
dices have heretofore arisen out of this abuse,
and it is therefore submitted to your serious con-
sideration that 1t might be advisable to fix limit
beyond WHICH no citizen of the United States
residing abroad, may claim the interpostion of
| his government The right of suffrage has often
been assumed and exercised by aliens under the
pretenses Of naturalization which they have
disavowed when drafted into military service. |
submit the expediency Of such an amendment Of
the law as will make the fact of voting an estop.
pei against any plea of exemptiin from military
service or any civil obligation on the ground Of
alienage
/ In common with other western powers, our re.
IatiOns with Japan have been brought into seri.
Gus jeopardy through the forcible opposition Of
the hereditary aristocracy Of the empire to the
enlightened and liberal policy ofthe tycoon which
was designed to bring the country into the socie.
ty of nations. 1t iJhoped, however although
not with entire confidence, that these difficulties
may be peacefully overcome. ! ask your atten
tion to the claim Of the minister residing there
for the damages he sustained in the de, truction
by fire of the residence Of the legation at Yeddo
4. Satisfactory arrangements have been made with
the emperor of Russia. which 1t is believed. will
result in efiecting continuous line OF telegraph
through that empire from our Pacific coast.
WOULD recommend to your favorable consideration
the subject Of an international telegraph acros,
the Atlantic ocean, aud also of telegraph be.
tu,.ac th;a an al AND tho uattopaI fa.ta