The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

4 EfklLeIN ~S<fss~s~
IL Representatives.
III AGAIN .tha blessings of health ano abundant
harvest claims our profoundest gratitude to
Almighty God.
| FOREIGN AFFAIRs.
The condition OF our foreign affairs is rea-
sonabv satisfactory. Mexico continues to be
a theatre OF civil war. While our political re-
lations with that country have undergone no
change, we have at the same time maintained
neutrality between the beligerents. -
Attic request Of the States Of Costa Rica
and Nicarauga competent engineer has been
authorized to make survey OF the river san
Juan. " y a source of much Satisfaction Ina.
the difncultieS which for moment eAoiseu
some political apprehension aud causeu S'os-
ing of the inter-oceaniea transit rouIe, nave
been amicably adjusted, ana tnss tnele ~
good prospect that the route VIII soon os r.
opened with an increase o. capaei.y @nI ~
4 Commercial or the political importance OF that
| .,raat imnrovement. 1t would be doing In
;ns,ica 10 an important state not to acknowl-
adoa the directness, frankness and cordially
| with which the United States of Columbia
/ have entered into intimate relations with this
| Government.
claims convention has been constituted
to complete the unfinished work Of the one
which closed its session In 1861. The claim
arising from the seizure of the cargo of the
| brig Macedonian in 1921, has been paid in full
by the Government of Chill. M saA
Civil war continues in The Spanish part of
St. Domingo apparently without prospect Of
an early close. ts~
Official correspondence has been freely
/ opened with Liberia, and 1t gives US pleasing
! view OF social and political progress in that
Republic. 1t may be expected to derive new
| vigor from American influence, improved by
the rapid disappearance of slavery in the Uni
ted States. i solicit your authority to furnish
to the Republic gunooat at moderate cost,
to be reimbursed to the United States by In
stalments. Such vessel is needed for the
safety of that State against the native African
race, and, in Liberean hands, 1t would be more
effective in arresting the African slave trade
than q squadron in our own hands. The pos
session Of the least organized naval force,
would stimulate generous ambition IN the
Republic, and the confidence which we should
manifest by furnishing it would win forbear-
ance and favor towards the colony from all
civilized nations.
The proposed overland telegraph between
America and Europe by the way of Behring's
Straits and Asiatic Russia, which was second
ed by congress, at the last session, has been
begun under very favorable circumstances by
an association of American citizens with the
cordial good will and support Of this govern
ment, as of those of Great Britain and Russia.
Assurances have been received from most OF
! the South American governments of their
high appreciation of the enterprise, and
their readiness to cooperate in construct
ing lines tributary to that world encircling
i communication. / learn with much sat
isiaction, that the noble design OF tele-
\ graphic communication between the east
4 ern coast OF America and Great Britain, has
been renewed with full expectation of it's
early accomplishment. Thusit is hoped, that
with the return of domestic peace, the caun-
try will be able to resume with energy and
advantage our former high care of commerce,
and civilization. ~ aus n i slsssssss p@
Our very popular and estimable represen-
tative in Egypt died in April last. An I'M
pleasant alteration which arose between the
temporary incumbent of the office, and the
: government OF the Pacha, resulted in sus-
pension of Intercourse. The evil was prompt.
ly reached on the arrival OF the successor iu
the consulate, and our relations with Egypt, as
\ well as our relations with the Barbary powers
are entirely satisfactory.
q 3 The rebellion which has so long been fla
grant in China has at last been suppressed
with the cooperating good officers OF this
government and of the other western COM
merclal states. The judicial consulate estab-
lishment there has become very difficult and
it will need Legislative requistion for the ex-
tension of our commerce, and the more init
male intercourse which has been interrupted
with the port and people OF that vast Empire
China seems to be accepting, with hearty
good will, the Conventional Laws which reg
ulate commercial and social intercourse
among western nations.
Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan
and the anomalous form of its government
the action of that empire in performing treaty
stlpuations Is incOnstant and capricious.- =
Nevertheless, good progress has been effected
fha nnuf,ts rxryffh nlfrvhf
ened concert. Our own pecuniary claims
have been allowed, or put ia course of settle
ment; and an inland sea has been reopened 10
commerce.. There is reason, also, to believe
that the proceedings have increased rather
than diminished the friendship of Japan TO.
wards the United States. aga Aposw
! The new liberal constitution of Nevada
having gone into effect with the universal ac-
4 qulesce1ce of the people, the government I'M
DER it has been recognized, and diplomatic in
tercourse with it has arisen in a cordial and
friendly spirit. The long deferred Ares Is
land claim has been satisfactorily paid and
discharged. Mutual payments have been
made OF payments awarded by the late joint
commission for the settlement of claims be-
tween the United States and Peru. An ear-
nest and cordial friendship exists between the
two countries, and such efforts as were in my
power, have been used to remove misunder-
standings and avert a threatened war between
Peru and Spain. Our relations are of the
most friendly nature with Chill, the Argentine
Republic, Bolivar, Costa Rica, Paraguay, San
Salvador and Hayti. During the past year
no difference of any kind has arisen with any
i of these republics, and on the other hand they
sympathize with The United States and are
constantly expressing cordiality and earne St
ness. III .Ff
Commissioners have been appointed under
/ the treaty with Great Britain on the adjust
ment OF the claims of the Hudson's Bay and
Puget Sound Agricultural Companies in Ore
gon, and they are. now proceeding to the ex-
ecution of the trust assigned to them.
OPENING OF SOUTHERN PORTS.
The pc rts of Norfolk, Fernandina and Pen
sacola have been opened by proclamation. 1t
is hoped that foreign merchants will consider
whether it is not safer and more profitable to
themselves, as well as just to the United
States, to resort to these, and other open ports
than 1t is to pursue, through many hazards and
at vast cost, contraband trade with other
ports, which were closed, if not by actual mill
tary occupation, at least by lawful and efec-
tual blockade. b, ~ -rt4 80
HARBoRING FOREIGN SLAVE TRADERS.
For myself l 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
II Congress should think that proceedings in
such cases lack the authority of law or ought
to be further regulated by it. recommend
that provision be made for ef1ectually prevent
ing foreign slave traders from acquiring DOM
icile and facilities for their criminal occupa-
tion in our country.
INsTIG ATING FOREIGN INRRoGLI0s. s.
1t is possible, that if it were new, and
open question, the maratime powers, with
the light they now enjoy, would not concede
the privileges of naval belligerent to the in
sprgents Of the United States, destitute as
they are and always have been, equally, of
ships OF warand of ports and harbors. Dis
loyal emissarles have been neither less assidu-
Gus nor more successful during the last year
than they were before that time in their eff
forts, under favor of that privilege, 10 en-
broil our country in foreign wars. The desire