Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


abundant harvests has passed For these,
and especially for the improved condition Of
onr national affairs. our renewed and pro-
found gratitude 10 God is due We remain in
peace aud friendship with foreign powers,
The efforts Of disloyal citizens of the United
States to involve us in foreign wars, TO aid in
inexcusablc insugrecton, have been unavail'
ing Her Britannia Majesty's Govern nment, as
was Justly expected, have exercised their au-
thority to prevent the departure Of new hos
tile expeditions from British ports The EN-
peror of France has, by like proceeding
promptly indicated the neutrality which he
proclaimed at the beginning of the contest
Questions Of great ntricscy and Importance
have arisen out OF the blockade and other
bellVerent operations between the Govern
ment and several of the maritime powers
but they have been discussed, and, so far as
was possible accommodated in spirit of
frankness, Justice and mutual good will It
is especially gratifying that our Prize Courts,
by the impartishly of their adjudication, have
commanded the respect and confidence Of
maritime powers. The supplemental treaty
between the United States and Great Britain
for the suppression of the African slave trade,
made on the l7th day Of February last has
been duly ratified aud carried into execution.
1t is believed that so far us American ports
and American citzens are concerned, that ir-
human and barbarous traffic has been brought
to an end | shall submit for the cousidera-
tion of the Senate, convention for the ad-
lustment OF possessory claims in Washington
Territory, arising out OF the Treaty Of the
18th Of June, 1916, between the United States
and Great Britain and which have been the
source of some disquet among the citizens
OF that now rapidly improving part of the
A nd -,
volyiug the extent Of the maritime iurisdic-
ton Of Spain in the waters which surrounded
the Island of Cuba has been debated without
reaching an agreement and it is proposed, in
an amicsble spirit, to refer it TO the arbitra.
ment OF friendly power. A convention for
that purpose will be submitted to the Senate
| have thought it proper subject for the
approval of the Senate to concur with the in.
terested commercial powers in an arrangement
for the liquidation of the scheldt dues upon
the principles which have been heretofore
adopted in regard to the ilnposts upon naviga-
tion in the waters of Denmark The long
pehding controversy between this Govern
ment and that Of Chilli, touching the seizure
of Slan, in Peru, by Gillian officers, OF q
large amount in treasure belonging to citizens
OF the United States, has been brought TO a
close by the award of His Majesty, the King
VI AHG d taHat " WhOsd dtDltIhllOu Lub
question was referred BY the parties The
subject was thoroughly and patiently examin.
ed by that Justly respected magistrate, and al
though the sum awarded to the claimants may
not have been as large as they expected there
is no reason to dstrust the wisdom of His
Majesty decision, The decision was prompt
ly complied with by Chill when intelligence
in regard to it reached that country. The
Joint Commission under the act o. the last
session, for carrying into effect the Conven.
ton with Peru on the subject of claims. has
been organized at Lima, aud is engaged in
the business intrusted to It, Difficulties con.
cerning in,er-oceanc transit through Ncars
qua, are in course ofamicabIe adjustment IL
conformity with principles set forth ia my las
Message, have received a representative
from the United States Of Columbia, and hay,
credited Minister TO that Republic
Incidents occurring in the progress of oui
civil war have forced upon nay attention tn,
uncertain state of International question.
touching the rights of foreigners in this coun
try, and of United States citizens abroad In
regard to some Governments these rights ara
at least partially defined by treaties in M
instance, however, is 1t expressly stipulated
that on the instance of civil war a foreigne
residing in this country within the lines OF in
surgents is to be exempted from the ru
which classes him a belgerent, in who's
behalf the Government OF his country can ne
express any privileges or immunties from
that character | regret to say however tha
such claims have been put forward, and il
some instances in behalf Of foreigners VIII
have lived in the United States the create
part of their lives There is reason TO beliey
that many persons born in foreign countrie
who have declared their intention 20 becom
citizens, or who have been fully naiuralized
have syaded the military duty required o
them by denying the fact, and thereby throw
ing upon the Government the burden of proc
1t has been found difficult or impracticabe t
obtain this proof, from the want of guides t
the proper sources of information Thes
might be supplied by requiring the clerks O
courts, where declarations Of intention ma
be made, or nstionalized effected to send, pc
iodieslly lists Of the names Of persons natu
rallied or declaring theiriintention to beeom
rcitizens to the Secretary Of the Interic
10 whose Department these names must
arranged aud printed for general information
There ia also reason to believe that foreigner
frequently become citizens ofthe United State
tor the sole purpose OF evading the dutit
imposed by the laws of their native country
10 which, on becoming naturalized here, the
at once repair, and though never returnin
to the United States, they still claim the il
terpostion Of the Government as citizens
Many alterations aud great prejudice hay
heretofore arisen out OF this abuse IL
therefore submitted to your serious COZ
sideration. 1t might be advisable to fix
limit beyond which no citizen of the Unite
States residing abroad NAV claim the interDos