Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

| Va.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AMI
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES:
Another year of health and of sufficient.
ly abundant harvest has passed. Fol
these, and especially for the improved con.
dition of our national affairs, our re.
newed and profound Bgra;itude to God ID
due.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
We remain in peace and friendship with
foreign powers. The efforts of disloyal cit.
liens of the United States to involve Us in
foreign wars, to aid an inexcusahls insur-
rsction. have been unavsiling. Her Brit.
anic Majesty's Government, as was iustl 2
expected, have exercised their authority TO
prevent the departure of new hostile expe.
dIhons from British ports. The Emperor
OF France has, by a like proceeding,
promptly indicated the neutrality which be
proclaimed at the beginning of the contest.
Questions OF great intricacy and import-
4 ance have arisen ont of the blockade and
other belligerent operations between this
Government and several of the maritime
powers, but they have been discussed. and
90 far ss was possible, accommodated 10 q
spirit OF frapkness, justice and mutual
good Will. 1t is especially gratifying that
our prize courts, by the impartiality Of
! their adJucatiOn, have commanded the
respect and confidence of maritime DOW
ers.
The supplemental treaty between the
United States and Great Britain for the
suppression ..Of the African elave trade,
made on the 18th day of February last,
has been duly ratified and carried into
execution. 1t is believed that 80 far as
American ports and American citizens
are concerned, that inhuman and bar
barous traffic has been bro bit TO an
end.
1 shall submit for the consideration of
the Senate, the Convention for the adjust
ment OF possessory claims 10 Washington
territory, arising out of the treaty of the
18th OF June, 1886. between the United
States and Great Britain, and which have
been the source of some disquiet among the
citizens OF that now rapidly improving part
of the country.
novel and important question, involv
ing the extent OF the maritime jurie fietion
OF spain IN the waters which surround the
Island OF CUBA, has been debated without
reachlng an agreement, and it is proposed
10 an amlcaole spirit. to refer it to the ar
2itrament OF friendly power. A couven-
ton for that purpose VIII be submitted to
the senate.
have thought it proper, subject to the
| approval OF the senate, tc concur with the
interested commercial powers in an ar
rangement for the Liquidation of theScheIdt
dues, upon the principles which have been
heretofore adopted in regard to the i'm
posts OF navigation, 10 the waters of D en-
mark.
The long pending controversy between
this Government and that of Chill, touch
ing the seizure at Silina, 10 Peru, by Chill
ian officers, Of large amount 10 treasure
belonging to citizens OF the United States,
has been brought to close by the award
OF HIS Majesty, the king of the Bclgians, to
whose arbitration the question was refer
red by the parties. The subject was thors
oushly and patiently examined by that
Justly-respected magistrate 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 decision was
promptly complied with by Chill, when in
telligenee in regard to it reached that couu-
try.
The joint commission, under the last
session. for carrying into effect the con-
vention with Peru, on the subject of
claims, has been organized at Lima. and
is engaged in the business entrusted 20
it.
Difficulties concerning inter oceanic tran.
sit through Nicaragua are in course of am
icable adjustment.
In my last Annual Message, have re-
ceived q representative from the United
States of Columbia, and have credited a
Minister to that Republic.
Incidents occurring in the progrese of
our civil war have forced upon nv attep-
ton the uncertain state of the international
| question touching the rights of foreigners
in this country and of United States citi.
zens abroad, 10 regard to some govern
meDts, these rights are at least partially
defined by treaties. In no instance. how.
ever, is it expressly stipulated that on the
instance OF civil war, foreigner, residing
10 this country within the lines of the in
surgents. is to be exempted from the rule
which classes him as Q belligerent, in
whose behalf the Government of bis coun-
try cannot express any privileges or i'm
munities distinct from that character. I
regret to say, however, that such claims
have been put forward, and in some in
stances 10 behalf offofeiguers who have
lived in the United States the greater part
Of their lives. There is reason to believe
that many persons, born in foreign coun
tries, who have declared their intention to
become citizens. or who have been fully
naturaiiZsd, have evaded the military du-
ty required of them by denying the fact,
aud thereby throwing upon the Govern
ment the burden Of proof. 1t has been
found difficult. or unpracticsble, to obtain
this proof, from the want of guides to the
proper sources Of information. These
might be supplied by requiring the clerks
courts where declarations OF intention
may be made, or naturalization effected,
to send, periodically, lists of the names Of
persons naturalized CT declaring their in
tention to become citizens, to the Secretary
of the Interior, 10 whose department these
names must be arranged aud printed for
general information.
There is also reason to believe that for
eisners frequently become citizens Of the
United States for the sole purpose Of eyad.
ing the duties imposed By the laws oftheiF
native country, to which, in becoming ma
turalized here, they at once repair. and
though never returning to the United
Stotes, they still claim the interposition Of
Government as citizens. Many alterations
aad great prejudices have heretofore grown
out of this abuse. 1t is therefore submitted
20 your serious consideration. 2 might be
advisable to fix the limit beyond which no
citizen Of the United States, residing abroad
may claim the interposihUn of this Govern
ment. The right Of suffrage has often been
assumed and exercised by aliens under the
the pretense of naturalization, which they
have disavowed when drafted into the mil.
itary service. submit the expediency Of
such amendment to the laws as will make
the fact of voting an estoppel against any
plea of exemption from military service OF
other civil Obligation, on the ground Of al
ienage.