, 1864-12-23

increased rather than diminished the friendship
of Japan towards the United States
FLORIDA PORTS.
The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina and Pensa-
cola have been opened by proclamation. 1t is
hoped that foreign merchants will now consider
whether it is not more profitable to themselves,
as well as just to the United States, to resort to
these and other ports than it is topursue through
many hazards, and vast coast cOntraband
trade with other ports which are closed if not
by actual military operations, at least by law
ful and effective blockade.
SLAVE TRADE.
For myself, I have no doubt of the power and
duty of the Executive, under the law of nations,
to exclude enemies of the human race from an
asylum in the United States. If Congre IS should
think that proceedings in such cases lack the
authority of law, or ought to be further regu-
lated by it, / recommend that provisions be
made for effectually preventing foreign slave
traders from acquiring domicile and facilities
for their criminal occupation in our country.
BELLIGERENT RIGHTS.
1t is possible that fit were a new and an open
question, the maritime powers with the light
they now enjoy, would not concede the privil-
eges of a naval beligerent to the insurgents Of
the United States, destitute as they are and al
ways have been equally of ships and ports and
harbors. Dsloyal emmisaries have been less
assiduous nor more successful during the last
year than they were before that time in their et-
forts, under favor of that privilege, to embrolI
our country in foreign wars. Nevertheless, un-
forseen political difficulties have arisen, espe-
cially in Brazfien and British ports and on the
northern boundary ofthe United States, which
have required and are likely to continue to re-
quire the practice of constant vigilance and
just and concilatory spirit on the part of the
United States, well as of the nations con-
cerned and their governments Commissioners
have been appointed under the treaty with Great
Britain on the adjustment of the claims Of the
Hudson Bay Company and the Puget Sound
Agricultural Company in Oregon, and are now
proceeding to the execution of the trustassigned
them.
CANADIAN BORDER.
In view of the insecurity of life in the region
adjacent to the Canadian border, caused by re-
cent assaults and depredations committed by in
imical and desperate persons who are harbored
there, it has been thought proper to give notice
that after the expiration of six months, the pc
riod conditionally stipulated in the existing ar
rangements with Great Britain, the United
States must hold themselves at liberty to in
crease their naval armament in the Lakes, if
they shall find that proceeding necessary. The
condition Of the border will necessarily come
into consideration in connection with the ques
tion of continuing or modifying the rights OF
transit from Canada through the United States,
as well as the regulation Of exports, which were
temporarily established by the reciprocity treaty
of the 5th of June 1854. I desire, however, to
be understood while making this statement, that
the Colonial authorities are not deemed to be
Intentionally unjust and unfriendly toward the
United States, but on the contrary there IS every
reason to expect that with the approval OF the
Imperial Government they win take the neces-
sary measures to prevent new incursions across
the border.
EMIGRATION,
The act passed at the last session for the en-
couragement of emigration has, as far as possi-
BILE, been put into operation. 1t seems to need
amendment which will enable the officers OF the
Government to prevent the practice OF frauds
against emgrants while their way and on
their arrival in port, so as to secure them here
a fair choice of avocations and place of settle
ment liberal disposition toward this great
national policy is manifested by most of the Eu-
ropean States, and ought to be recproe ated on
our part by giving the emigrants effective ma
tonal protection. l regard our emigration as
one of tn principal replenishing streams which
are appointed by Providence to repair the raYa-
Qes of internal war and its wastes of national
strength and health. All that is necessary is to
secure the flow of that stream in its present full
ness. and to that end the Government must in
every way make it manifest that it neither needs
nor designs to impose involuntary military SER
vice upon those who come from other lands to
cast their lot in our country.
FINANCES.
The financial affairs of the Government have
been successfully administered during the last
year. The legislation Of the last session of Con-
eress has benefcially affected the revenue, al
though sufficient time has not yet elapsed to ex-
perence the full effects Of several of the proVs-
ions of the acts of Congress, imposing increased
taxation The receipts during the year. from
all sources upon the basis signed by the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, including loans and the
balance in the treasury or the lst day OF July,
1864, were 81 394 ,796,OO7 g. The aggregate
disbursements on the same basis were 81, 1885,
058lOl SO, leaving balance in the treasury,
as shown by the warrants, of Sl96, ,737, ,905 79.
Deduct from this the amount of public debt re-
deemed and the amount of issue in substitution
therefor, and the actual cash operations of the
treasury were: Receipts 1884, 7646 n; dis
bursements $s65, ,234, ,O87 So, which leaves
balance in the treasury of SIS, ,55S 9l- Of
the receipts there were derived from customs,
SIO2. .3l6. 1852 80; from lands, S588, ,333 %; from
direct taxation, S575, GAS SO; from internal rev.
enue, SlO9,74l,l34 10; from miscellaneous
sources, $47,5l1 ,4l2 10; and from the loans ap-
Piled to actual expenditures including the for
mer balance, 1923 ,443,929 49, There were dis
bursed for civil services, S27,5O5599 46; for
pensions and Indians, , ,0O ,JoO . lot Lue
War Department, S687 100 1872 80; for the Navy
Department, S85, 733, ,292 10; for the interest on
the public debt, $53, ,585 ,42l 69-making anag-
gregate of $s62, 233 ,O92 76, and leaving bal
ance in the treasury of $l8, ,842 ,558 H. as be-
fore stated. For the actual receipts and dis
bursements for the first quarter, and the esti-
mated receipts and disbursements for the three
remaining quarters of the current fiscal year.
and the general operations Of the treasury in
detail / refer you to the report Of the Secretary
of the Treasury. ! concur with him in the opin-
ion that the proportion of money required to
meet the expenses consequent upon the war, de-
rived from taxation should be still further in
creased, and l earnestly invite your attention to
this subject, tc the end that there may be such
additional legislation as shall be required to
meet the Just expectations of the Secretary
The public debt on the 1st day Of July last, as
appears by the books of the Treasurer, amount
ed to ST. 749, $50 489 40 Probably, should the
war continue for another year, that amount may
be increased by not far from $500, ,O00,O OO0 Held
for the most part by our own people, it has be-
come a substantial branch of national, though
private property For obvious reasons, the
more nearly this property can be distributed
among the people the better. To favor such
general distribution, greater inducements to be-
come owners might perhaps, with good effects