Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-10
PRESIDENT MESSAGE.
FellO,O- Citizeas of the Senate

aud. House Of Representatives
Another year of health and of sufi-
cieRtly abundant harTests has passed
Fol. these, and especially for an improved
condition of our national affairs, our re-
newed and proper gratitude to God is
due. We remain in peace and friend
ship With foreign powers. The efforts of
disloyal citizens of the United States to
involve US in foreign wars, to aid mex
eusable insurrection, have been unavail-
ing. aesafsss se-l.F
Her Brittanic Majesty's Government,
as was justly expected, have exercised
their authority to prevent the departure
ct hostile expeditions from British ports
The Emperor of France has, by like
proceeding, promptly INDICATED the neu-
trality, which he proclaimed at the be-
ginning of the contest.
Questions of great intricacF and i'm
portance have arisen out of the blockade,
and other belligerent operations, between
the Government and several of the mari
time powers, but they have been dis
eussed, and, so far as was possible, ac-
eommodated, in spirit of frankness,
justice and mutual good will = lgoJ
It is especially gratifying that our
Prize Courts, by the impartiality of their
adiudications, have commanded the re-
spect 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 18th day Of February last,
has been duly ratified and carried into
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American ports and American citizens
are concerned, that inhuman and barba-
rous traffic has been brought to an end
Ishall submit, for the consideration of
the Senate, convention for the adjust
ment of possessory claims in Washing
ton Territory, arising out of the treaty of
the 18th of June, 1916, between the Uni
ted 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. q -
A novel and important question, in
volying. the extent of the maritime 'iu-
risdiction of Spain in the waters which
surround the Island Of Cuba, has been
debated, without reaching an agreement,
and tits proposed in an amicable spirit
to refer it tothe arbitrament of friend
ly Power. A convention for that. pur-
pose, viii be submitted to the Senate.
/ have thought proper TO subject to
the approval of the Senate, to concur
with the interested Commercial Powers,
In an arrangement for the liquidation OF
Seheldt dues, upon principles which have
been heretofore adopted in regard to the
impOsts upon navigation in the waters oil
Denmark
The long pending controversy between
this Government and that of Chilli
touching the seizure at Silena in Peru
By CHILEAN officers, of 3 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 of the Belgian's, to whose arbitra
ton the question was referred by the
parties. The subject was thoroughly
= and patiently examined by that Justly
respected magistrate, 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 decis
ion was promptly complied with by Chi
reached hatSeountEy re9Ffz
The joint commission under the act Of
the 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 business entrusted
toit
Difficulties concerning the inter-oceani,
transit through Nicaragua, are in courst
of amicable adjustment, in conformity
with the principle set forth in my las
annual message ~ - - -.,-
l have received the representative from
the United States of Columbia, and hay.
accredited Minister to that Republic
Incidents occurring in heprogress oil
orr civil war, have forced upon nv atten
ton the uncertaiA state of Information
al questions touching the rights o.
foreigners in this country, and OF
United States citizens abroad. In re
gard to some governments, these right.
are, at least7partially, defined BY treafies
In no instance, however, is it expressly
stipulated that, 7on,the INSTANCE Of. civil
war, forei gner residing in this country
within the lines of the insurgents
is to be exempted from the rul,
which classes him as belligerent, il
whose behalf the Government of hi!
country cannot expect any privileges
or immunities from that character. ]
regret to say, however, that such claim!
have been put forward, and IN some in
stanceslin behalf of foreigners who hav.
hved IN the United States for the great
er part of their lives. -.
There is reason to believe that man
persons born in foreign countries, WHIT
have declared their intention to become
citizens, or who have been fully natural
lied, have evaded the military duty re
quired of them, by denying the fact, ant
thereby throwing upon this governmen
the burden of proof 1t has been fotinC
difficult or impracticable to obtain thi
proof from the want of guides to tn.
proper sources of information Thes,
might be supplied BY requiring the clerkl
Of courts where a declaration of inten
ton may be made or naturalization eli
fected, to send periodically lists of tn,
names Of persons naturalized, or declar
ing their intention to become citizens
20 the Secretary of the Interior, Ii
whose Department these names mus
be arranged and printed for gen
eral information. There is also reason
to believe that foreigners frequently be
come citizens of the United States. 70
the sole purpose Of evading the datie
imposed by the laws of their native couu
try, TO which, after becoming naturalize'
here, they at once repair, and thougl
never returning to the United States
they ssiIi claim the interposition of thi
Government So citizens Many altera
tions and great preiudices have hereto
fore arisen Out Of this abuse. 1t i
therefor, submitted 70 your considers
ton. It might Be advisable to fix
limit beyond which no citizen Of tn
United States, residing abroad, ma
claim the interposition of this Covers
ment The right Of suffrage has ofte
been assumed and exercised By alien,
under pretense of naturalization. whie
they have disayo~ed when drafted int
the military service.
/ sEbmit the expediency of such a
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