, 1863-12-26

Eet(O10 Ctt1zeas Of the Senate ana House o.
Representatives.:
Another year of health and sufficiently abundant
harvests has passed. For these, and especially tor
the improved condition Of our National affairs,
renewed and profound gratitude to God is due.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
We remain in peace and friendship with foreign
Powers. The efforts of dislOyal citizens of the Uni
ted States to involve in foreign wars, to aid in
inexcUsabe insuTection, have been unavailing. Her
Brtanic Majestys Government as was justly expect
ed have exercised their authority to prevent the de-
parture of hostile expeditions from British ports.
The Emperor of France has, by al like proceeding,
promptly indicated the neutrality which he pro-
claimed at the beginning of the contest Quest ons
of great intrcacy and Importance have arisen out of
the blockade and other beligerent operations, be-
tween this Government and several of the maritime
powers but they have been discussed and, so far
possible accommodated in spirit OF trankness,
justice and mutual good viii, 1t Is especially graft
flying that cur prize Courts by the imparuaIty OF
their adjudication, have commanded the respect
and confidence of maritime Powers. The supple
mental treaty between the United States and Great
Britain for the suppression Of the African slave trade
made the 7th day of February last, has been duly
ratified and carried into execution. 1t IS believed
that so far as American ports and American citizens
are concerned, the inhuman and barbarOus traffic has
been brought to end. l shall submit for the con-
sderatOn of the Senate, the convention for the ad-
iustment of pOssessOry claims in Washington Terri
tory arising out of the treaty of june 1885, between
the United States and Great Britain, and which have
of that rapidly improving part OF the country.
A novel and important question, involving the ex
tent of the maritime jurisdiction Of Spain in the wa
ters which surround the Island of Cuba has been de-
bated without reaching an agreement and it is pro-
posed in amieable spirit, TO refer it to the arblta
ment of friendly power. convention fOl that
purpose will be submitted to the Senate.
have thought it proper subject to the approval OF
the Senate, to concur in an arrangement for the lq-
uidation of the Scheldt dues, upon the principles
which have been heretofore adopted in regard to the
n4aNr Of
The long pending controversy between this Gov
ernment and that Of Chile, touching the seizure at
Sbra, in Peru, by Chilean officers, of a large amount
in treasure belonging citizens of the United States,
has been brought a close by the award OF His Mai
esty the King of the Begians, to whose arbitration
the question referred by the parties The sub
ject was thoroughly and patiently examined by that
justly respected magistrate. Although the sum award
ed to compainans may not have been large they
expected there IS no reason to distrust the wisdom
of His Majestys decision. That decision was prompt
ly responded to by Chile when intelligence in regard
to it reached that country.
The Joint Convention, under the Act of last ses
sion for carrying into effect the convention with Pc
Fu on the subject of claims, has been organized at
Lima, and is engaged in the business intrusted to it,
Difficulties concerning inteTOceanic transit through
Nicaragua are in course Of amicable adjustment, in
conformity with the principles set forth in my last
have received representative from the United
States of Columbia, and have credited Minister to
that Republic.
injuries. unlOfSeeQ Dy the Government, ana ulln-
tended, may in some cases have been inflicted upon
the subjects citizens of foreign countries both at
sea and on the land and by persons in the service of
the United States. While this Government expects
redress from other powers when similar injuries
inflicted by persons in their service citizens of the
United States must be prepared to do justice TO
foreigners. If the existing judicial tribunals are in
adequate to this purpose, special Caurt may be
thorized with power to hear and decide such claims
Of the character referred to- as may have arisen un
der treaties and public law. Conventions fer ad-
justing claims by joint commission have been pro
posed to several Governments, but no definite
swer to the proposition has yet been received from
any. During the Of the session in all prOba
bity, will have occasion to request you to provide
Naturalization to claimants, where DEGREES oil resti
tuition have been rendered and damages awarded by
the Admiralty Court, and in other cases where this
Government may be acknowledged to be liable in
principle and where the amount Of that liability has
been ascertained by formal arbitration.
THE INCOMES OF FOREIGN coNsULs
The proper officers of the treasury have deemed
themselves required by the laws of the United States
upon the subject to demand tax upon the incomes
n may not in strict terms, be the indcaiion Of
the public law, or perhaps of any existing treaty be-
tween the United States and any foreign country,
the expedlency OF so far modifying the Act as to
empt from tax the income of such COnsuls as are not
citizens Of the United States derived from the emo
uments OF their Office, deserves your serious consd
Grafton. make this suggestion upon the ground
that courtesy which ought to be reciprocated ex-
empts our Counsuls in all other countries from taxa
ton to the extent indicated. The United States,
think, ought not to be exceptionally iiberal to in
ternatIonal trade and commerce
THE RIGHTS OF FOREIGN BORN RESIDENTS
Incidents occurring in the progress of our civil
war nave forced upon my attention the uncertain
state OF the international question touching the rights
of foreigners in this country and Of United States
citizens abr DAD. In regard to 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 resi-
ding ID this country, within the lines of the insur-
gents is to be exempted from the rule which classes
him belgerent, in whose behalf the Government
OF his can expect any privilege immunities dis
tinct from that character. l regret to say however,
that such claims have been put forward, and, in
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 declared their intention
to become citizens, or who have been fully natu-
rallied, have evaded the military duty required of
them by denying the fact, and thereby throwing up
on the Government the burden Of proof. 1t has been
found difficult or impractcabe to obtain this proof
from the want Of guides to the proper Of in
formation. These might be supplied by rec uiring
the Clerks Of Courts where declarations of inten-
tons may be made or uralizaton effected to send,
periodically, lists of the names Of persons natTalzed
Secretary of the INTERIOR in whose department those
names must be ranged and printed for general in
formation. There is also to believe that for
eigners frequently become citizens Of the United
States for the sole purpose Of evading the duties i'm
posed by the laws Of their native country to which,
after becoming naturalized here they at repair,
and, though never returning to the United States,
they still claim the interpositiOn Of the Government
citizens Many alterations and great prejudice
have heretofore grown out Of this abuse Its, there
fore, submitted to your serious consideration. 1t
might be advisable for a limit TO be fxedJ beyond
which citizen Of of the United States residing
abroad may claim the interposition Of this Govern
ment The right Of suffrage has often been assumed
and exercised by aliens under pretense Of naturali
zaon, which they have disavowed when drafted into
the military service. ! submit the expediency of
such amendment of the laws will make the act
of voting estOppel against any plea Of exemption
from military service other civil Obligation on
the ground Of alienage.
TIE JAPANESE TROUBLES.
In common with other Western Powers, our rela-
tons with Japan have been brought into serious eop-
ardy, through the perverse opposition Of the hered
itary aristocracy of the empire to the emil ghtened
and liberal policy Of the Tycoon designed to bring
the country into the society Of nations. 1t is hoped
although not with entire cOnfdence-that these
difficulties may be overcome. I ask your attention
to the caim of the Minister residing there for the
damages he sustained in the destruction by fire of the
Legation at Yedo.
THE TELEGRAPH PROJECTS.
Satisfactory arrangements have been made with
the Emperor Of Russia which, it is believed will re-
suit in effecting 1.-THE construction of a continuous
line of telegraph through that Empire from our Pa
cifc coast I recommend to your favorable consider
alton the subject of International Telegraph across
the Atlantic Ocean, and also Of Telegraph between