Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-12-19
The Presidents Message 1!
Fellow Citizens Of The Senate and House Of
Reprsseatdtpes:

Representatives.:
Another year OF health and sufficiently abun
daut harvests has passed. For these, aud espe
cially for the improved condition OF our nation
al affairs, our renewed and profoundest graft
tude is due. We remain in peace aud friend
ship with foreign powers. The efforts Of dis
loyal citizens OF the United States TO involve
us 10 foreign wars, to aid an inexcusable ins1r.
rection, has been unavailiog. Her Majesty
government, as was justly expected, have exer
cised their authority to prev ent the departure
OF new hostile expeditions from Bi tish ports
The Emperor of France has by like proceed
ing promptly indicated the neutrality which he
proclaimed at the beginning Of the contest.
Questions Of great intricacy aud importance
have arisen out OF the blockade, and other be
ligerent operations between the government and
several OF the maratme powers, but they have
been discussed aud as far rs possible, accom-
modated 10 spirit Of frankness, justness and
good will.
1t is especially gratifying that our Prize
Courts, by the impartiality OF their adjudica.
tions, have commanded the respect and conf
dence of maratime powers
The supplemental treaty between the United
States and Great Britain, for the suppression
Of the African slave trade, made on the l1th
day Of February last, has been duly ratified
and carried into execution. 1t is believed that
30 far as American ports aud American citizens
are concerned, that inhuman and odous traffic
has been brought to an end.
shall submit, for the consideration of the
Senate, Convention for adjustment Of the pos.
sessory claims 10 Washington territory, arising
out OF the treaty of the 18th of June, 1876,
between the United States and Great Britain,
md whirh haa haon Of NJ
among the citizens of that now rapidly improv.
ing tract OF country.
A novel and important question, involving
the extent OF the maratime Jurisdiction Of Spain
10 the waters which surround the Island of Gu.
ba, has been debated without agreement, and it
is proposed, 10 an am:cable spirit, to refer j, 10
the arbitrament of friendly power.
A convention for that purpose will be SUBJ
mtted to the Senate.
have thought it proper, subject to the ap-
proyal of the Senate, TO concur with the inter-
ested commercial powers, in an arrangement
for the liquidation Of Scheldt dues upon the
principles which have been heretofore adopted
IN regard TO the imposts upon navigation 10 the
waters of Denmark.
The long pending controversy between this
government and that Of Chill, touching the sei-
zure at Setana in Peru, by the Chilian officers,
OF large amount 10 treasure belonging to cit.
Zens of the United States, has been broue ht to
close by the award of bis Majesty, the King
Of the Belgans, to whose arbitration the ques-
tion was referred by the parties. The subject
was thoroughly and patiently examined by that
justly respected magistrate. aud, although the
sum awarded to the claimants may not lave been
as large as they expected, there is no reason to
dislrust the wisdom of his Mnjesty's decision
That decision was promptly complied with by
Chill, when intelligence in relation TO it reach
ed that county.
Incidents occurring 10 the progress Of our
civil war have forced upon my attention the 10.
certain state OF the international question touch.
ing the rights of foreigners in this country, aud
the United States citizens abroad. To regard
to some governments these rights are at least
partially defended by treaties. In 20 instance,
however. is it expressly stipulated that 10 the
event OF civil war foreigner residing iu this
country, within the lines OF the insurgents, is to
be exempted from the rule which classes him as
q beligerent in whose behalf the Government
oil bis country cannot expect any privileges or
ImmunIies dlsiinct from that character. | re-
gret 10 say, however, that such claims have
been put forward, and in some instances in be-.
half 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 for.
eigD countries who have declared their iGten-
tons to become citizens, or who have been fully
naturallzed, have evaded the military duty re-
CURED Of them by denying the fact and there
by throwing upon the government the burden of
proof. 1t has been found difficult or impract-
cable to obtain this proof for want of guides to
the proper source OF information. These might
be supplied by requiring clerks of courts where
declaring of intention may be made or natur-
al zutious effected, to send, periodically, lists of
names OF the PERSONS naturalized or declaring
their intentions to become citizens, to the Sec.
rotary of the Interior, 10 whose department the
names might be arranged aud pri nted for geuer-
oil formation.
There is also reason to believe that foreign.
ers frequently become citizens of the United
States for the sole purpose of evsdiug duties
imposed by the laws of their natural country,
TO which, on becoming Daturalizsd here, they
OF once repair; and though never returning to
the United States they still claim the interposi-
ton of this government as citizens
Many alterations and great prejudices have
heretofore arisen out Of this abuse. 1t is there.
fore submitted to your serious consideration
1t might be advisable to fix q limit beyond
which no citizen Of the United States residing
abroad, may claim the iaterpositiou of his gov
ernment.
The right Of suffrage has often been assum-
ed and exercised by aliens under pretense of
naturalization which they have disavowed when
drafted into the military service. / submit the
expediency Of such an amendment Of the Law
as will make the fact OF voting an estoppel
against any plea Of exemption from military
service, or civil obligation on the grou-d OF
alienage.
In common with other western powers, our
relations with Japan hsva been brought into
serious jeopardy through the perverse oppos-
ton OF the hereditary aristocracy Of the em-
pire, to the enlightened and liberal policy of
the Tycoon. designed to bring the country into
the society Of nations. 1t Is hoped. although
not with eatire confidence, than these dfhcu.
ties may be peacefully overcome.
] ask your attention to she claim OF the Min
ister residing there for the damages hs SUI.
tsned in the destruction by fire of the real
dsnce of the legation At Yeddo. N[ II
Satisfactory arrangements have been made
with the Emperor Of Russia. which it Is believ.
ed will result in the efsecting Of continuous
line OF telegraph throughtbe Empire. from the
Pacific coast l recommend to your favorable
consideration the subject of an international
telegraph across the Atlantic Ocean. and also
a -. Ia