The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-12-10
The Presidents Message.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE N 1oUsl
oF REPRESENTATIVES:

abundant harvests has passed for tnese,
and especially for the improved condition OF
orr rational affairs, our renewed and profound
Gratitude to God is due.
Q We remain in peace and friendship with
fore;pu powers. The efforts of disloysl I'll
zeng Of the, United States to involve "a in for-
eign wars, to aid an inexogabl~ ,ns,rraction
have been unavailing, He, Britanic Maiestv's
Government, as was irstly expected, have ex-
ercised their authority to prevent the depar-
of new hostile expeditions from British ports
The Emperor Of France has, by a like proceed
ing, promptly indicated the neutrality which
he proclaimed at the beginning Of the contest.
Questions of great i~ntricacy and importance
| have arisen out of the blockade and other be-
! ~ligerent operations between this Government
and several of the maritime powers, but they
have been discussed, and,s SO far as was posi-
bic. accommodated in spirit Of frankness, JUS
tice and mutual good will. 1t is especially
gratifying that our prize courts, by the impair
| tiality of their adjudication, have commanded
the respect and condence of maritime powers.
The supplemental treaty between the Uni
eds tates and Great Britain for the suppress
ton of the slave trade, made on the 18th day
of January Last, has been duly ratified and car
ried into execution. 1t is believed that 80 far
as American ports and American citizens are
concerned, that inhuman and barbarous trat-
ic has been brought to an end.
l shall submit for the consideration OF the
Senate, the Convention for the adjustment OF
possegsory claims in Washington Territory,
arising out of the treaty of the 18th OF June,
1916, between the United States and Great
Britain, and which nave been the source of
some disquiet among the citizens OF that now
rapidly improving part Of the country.
A novel and important question, involving
the extent of the maritime jurisdiction OF
Spain in the waters which surround the is
land Of Cuba, has been debated without reach
ing an agreement, and it is proposed, in an
amicable spirit, to refer it to the arbitrament
Of a friendly power. A convention for that
purpose will be submitted to the Senate.
l have thought it proper, subject to the ap-
prevail of the Senate, to concur with the III,
t~erested commercial powers in an arrange,
ment for the liquidation of the Scheldt dues
upon the principles which have been hereto
fore adopted in regard to the imposts upor
3 navigation, in the watersof Denmark.
The long pending controversy between this
Government and that of Chill, touching the
seizure at Silina, in Peru, by Gillian officers
of large amount in treasure belonging tx
: citizens of the United States, has been brough'
to a close by the award of His Majesty, the
King of the Belgians, to whose arbitration
t the question was referred by the parties. Th'
subject was thoroughly and patiently exam
ined by that justly-respected magistrate. al
though 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 M aiesty's decision. That decision wa
.o..-4 o..-J:ol ...+l H. Cl;I1 ,rI,, -,
telligence in regard to it reached that coun-
try.
The joint commission, under the last SEES
sion, for carrying into effect the convention
with Peru, on the subject of claims, has beef
organized at Lima, and is engaged in thu
business entrusted to it.
Difficulties concerning !nter-oceanit
transit through Nicaragua are in course 0
amicable adjustment.
In conformity with principles set forth in
my last Annual Message, [ have received q
representative from the United States of Co.
lumbia, and have credited a minister to thai
Republic.
Incidents occurring in the progress of oul
civil war have forced upon my attention the
uncertain state of the international question
touching the rights of foreigners in this coun
( try or of United States citizens abroad. Ii
regard to some Governments, these rights are
at least partially defined by treaties. In nc
instance, however, is it expressly stipulated
that on theinstance of civil war, a foreigner
residing in this country within the lines o
D the insurgents, is to be exempted from the
rule which classes him as a belligerent, il
whose behalf the Government of his country
cannot express any privileges or immunitie'
distinct from that character, [ regret to say
Z however, that such claims nave been put for
Z ward. and in some instances in behalf Of for
eigners who have lived in the United States
the greater part of their lives. There is rea
son to believe that many persons, born il
foreign countries, who have declared their in
~tention to become citizens, or who AVE beer
fully naturalized, have evaded the military
] duty required of them by denying the fact
S and thereby throwing upon the Government
the burden Of proof.
g e 1t has been found difficult, or impractical
BILE, to obtain this proof, from the want o
- guides to the proper sources of information
J, These might be supplied by requiring the
: clerks of courts where declarations Of inten
ton may be made, or naturalization effected
to send, periodically, lists of the names of per
SONS naturalized or declaring their intention
to become citizens, to the Secretary of the In
terror, in whose department these names mus
be arranged and printed for general informa
ton. There is also reason to believe that for
eigners frequently become citizens Of the Uni
ted States for the sole purpose of evading the
duties imposed by the laws of their native
country, to which, in becoming naturalizeC
here, they at once repair, and though neve,
returning to the United States, they still claim
the interposition of the Government as citi
zens. Many alterations and great prejudice
have heretofore grown out of this abuse. 1t i
, therefore submitted to your serious considera
\ ton. 1t might DO advisable to fix a limit be
yond which no citizen of the United States
residing abroad, may claim the ~interpositiol
n of this Government. The right of sutfrag
= has often been assumed and exercised by
aliens, under pretense of naturalization, which
they have disavowed when drafted into tn
military service. I've submitted the expedien
cy of such an amendment of the laws as vii
, make the fact of voting an estoppel agains
any plea of exemption from military service
+ Or other civil obligation, on the ground Of al
ienage.
In common with other Western Powers, oul
relations with Japan have been brought int
serious jeopardy through the perverse opposi
? ton of the hereditary aristocracy of the em
2 pire to the enlightened and liberal policy o.
the Tycoon, designed to bring the country
into the society of nations. 1t is to be hoped
although rot with entire confidence, thai
these difficulties may be peacefully overcome.
ask your attention to the Minister residing
there, for 'the damages he sustained in the
destruction by fire of the residence of the LIE.
cation at Yeddo.
Satisfactory arrangements have been made
: with the Emperor of Russia, which, it is be
ieved, will result in etfecting a continuous
; line of telegraph through that empire, from
our Pacific coast.
l recommend to your favorable considera
ton the subject of an international telegraph
across the Atlantic Ocean, and also of a teIe-