Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-12-18
President's Message.

4
RepresenGGtiUss
Another year Of health and of sufficient
abundant harvests, has passed. For thes
aud especially for the improved condition of OF
national affairs, our renewed and profound grI
titude to God is due.
We remain in peace and frindshiP wit
foreign powers. The efforts of disloyal cit
sens of the United States to involve Us
foreign wars to aid in an inexcusabls insurrec
tion have been uDaVailiBg.
Her Britanic Majesty's Government, as va
Justly expected, have exercised their authorit
to prevent the departure of new hostile ez
pedition from British ports
The Emperor Of France has, by a like pro
ceeding, promptly Vindicated the neutralit,
which be proclaimed at the beginning of thl
contest.
Questions of great intricacy and import
anCe have arisen ont of the blockade, anC
other belligerens operations, between our Gov
ernment and other maritime powers. But
they have been discussed, and so far as wa
possible, have been accommodated in a spirit oi
frankness, justice, and mutual goodwill. I,
was exceedingly gratifying that our Prize
Courts, BY the impartiality of their adjudica-
tion, have commanded the respect and conf,
dence Of the maratime powers.
| The supplemental treaty between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain for the suppress
sion Of the American Slave Trade, made on the
18th day of February last, has been duly rati-
fed, and carried into execution It is believed
that so far as the American ports and Ameri-
can citizens are concerned that inhuman and
barbarous traffic has been brought to an end.
shall submit for the consideration of the
Senate Convention for the adjustment of pos
sessory claims in Washington Territory, aris-
ing out of the Treaty of 5th of June, 1916, be-
tween the United States and Great Britain !;
and which have been the source of some disquiet
among the citizens of that now so rapidly i'm
proving 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 amicable
spirit, to refer it to an arbitration Of friendly
power. A Convention for that purpose will
be submitted to the Senate.
have thought it q proper subject to be
submitted to the approval Of the Senate, to
concur with interested commercial powers in
an arrangement for the liquidation of the
Seheldt dues upon the principles which have
been heretofore adopted in regard to the i'm
ports upon navigation in the waters Of Den
mark.
The long and pending controversy between
this Government and that of Chill touching the
seizure, at Selana, in Peru, by the ChiIlian Of
fcers, of large amount of treasure belonging
to citizens of the United States, has been
brought to close, by the award of his Ma
jesty the King of the Belgians, to whose ar
bitration the question was referred by the par
ties. The subject was thoroughly and pa
tiently examined by that justly respected Ma
gistrate and although 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's decision. That de-
oisisn was promptly complied with by Chill,
when the intelligence in regard to it reached
that country.
The joint commission under the act of last
session, for carrying into effect the convention
with Peru on the subject of claims, has been
organized at Lima. and is engaged in the busi-
ness entrusted to it. -.
The difficulties concerning inter-oceanic
travel through Nicaragua are in course of ami
cable adjustment, in conformity with princi-
pies set forth in my last Annual Message. 1
have received representative from the IN
tied States Of Columbia, and have accredited j
Minister to that Republic.
Incidents occurring in the progress of our
civil war, have forced upon my attention the
uncertain state of the international question
touching the rights of foreigners in this
country, and 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 expressly stipulated
that on the occurrence of civil war, a foreigner
residing in this country, within the lines OF the
insurgeants, is to be exempted from the rule |
which classes him as belligerent, in whose
behalf the Government of this country cannot
exercise any privileges or immunities distinct
from that character. l regret to say, how
ever, that such claims have been put forward
and, in some instsnces, 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 have been fully naturaliz- |
ed, have evaded the military duty required Of
them by denying the fact, and thereby throw |
ing upon the Government the burden ofproof.
II has boer found difficult, or impossible, to !
obtain this proof from want of guides to the
proper source of information. These might |
be supplied by requiring the clerks of the |
courts Whsre declarations efintention" may !
he made, or naturalization effected, to send, |
periodically, lists OF the names Of persons na-
turaliEsd, or declaring their intention to be-
come citizens, to the Secretary of the Interior.
in whose department these names could be ar
ranged and presented for general information, |
There is also reason to believe that foreign
ers frequently become citizens Of the United |
States for the sole purpose of evading the du-
ties imposed by the laws of their native coun-
try, to which, in becoming naturalizsd here,
they at oHce repair, and, though never return |
ing to the United States, they still claim the
intsrpOsition of the GoVernmsnt as citizens.
Many sltercations and great frauds have here
tofore arisen out of this abuse. II is, there
fore, submitted to your serious consideration.
II might be advisable to fix limit, beyond
which no citizen Of the United States, resid- !
ing abroad, may claim the interposition of his
Government. The right Of suffrage has often |
been assumed and execiSed by aliens under |
pretence Of naturalization, which they have
disayoWed when drafted into the military ser
vice. I submit the expedieDcy of such an
amendment OF the laws as will make the fact
Of voting an estoppel againt any plea OF e1-
emption from military service, or other civil
obligation, on grounds Of alienage. !
In common with other western powers, our
relations with japan have been brought into
jeopardy, through the peFverss opposition Of