New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-07
MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
FsRor-C:ti=eas Of the Senate :,

mighty God.
The condition Of our foreign affairs is reasonably
satisfactory.
| Mexico continues to be theater of civil war
While our political relations with that country
have undergone no change, We have at the same
time strictly maintained neutrality between the
bclligerents.
! At the request Of the States Of Costa Rca and
Nicaragua, competent engineer has been
authorized TO make survey of the river San Juan
and the port OF San Juan. 1t is source Of much
satisfaction that the difficulties, which for q mo-
ment excited some political apprehension and
caused closing Of the inter-oceanic transit route
have been amicably adjusted, and that there is
good prospect that the route will soon be re0pened
with an increase Of capacity and adaptation.
| We could not exaggerate either the commercial
Oh the political importance of that great improve
ment. 1t would be doing injustice to an importans
1 South American State not TO acknowledge ths
drectncss frankness and cordiality with which the
United States Of Colombia have entered into init
mate relation with this Government. A Claim
Convention has been constituted to complete the
unfinished work of the one which closed its session
in 1861
/ Inc new liberal tOnStItutioA Va 'encNuV" b
having gone into effect with the universal acquies
cence of the people, the government under 1t n"
been recognized, and diplomatic intercourse with
has been opened in cordial and friendly spirit;
! The iong-deferred Avis Island claim has been
satisfactorily paid and discharged. Mutual pay
meuts have been made OF the claims awarded by
the Late Joint Commission for the settlement OF
GLANDS between the United. States and Peru. An
earnest and cordial friendship continues TO exist
| l. fha and such efforts as
were in my power have been used to remove misun-
Outstanding, and avert threatened war between
| Peru and Spain. go.
Chill, the Argentine Republic, Bolivia, Costa Rica,
Paraguay, san Salvador and Hayti. During the
mast wear no differences OF any kind have arisen
with any of these Republics. And, on the other
| hand their sympathies with the United states are
constantly expressed with coriality and earnestness.
The claims arising from the seizure of the cargo
Of the brig Macedonian, in is2l, have been pad IN
| full by the Government OF Chlli.
Civil war continues In the Spanish port of San
Domingo, apparently without prospect OF an early
close.
Official correspondence has been freely opened
with Liberia and it gives pleasing view Of So
cal ard political progress IN that Republic III may
be expected 20 derive yigor from American IN.
hgence. improved by the rapid disappearance OK
Slavery in the Unitcd States.
I solicit your authority TO furnish to the Republic
a gl,nboat az moderate cost, to be reimbursed 10
the United States BY installments. Such vessel
is needed for the safety of that state against the
| native African races, and in Liberian hands il
would be more effective in arestlng the African
! sIaye-trade than squadron in our own hands.
The possession OF the least organized naval force
would stimulate generous ambition IN the repnp.
| lie and the confidence which We should maniiess
by furnishing il would win forbearance ana fayOr
toward the colony from all civilized nations The
proposed overland telegraph between America and
Europe by the way of Behring Straits and AslatIc
Russia. which was sanctioned BY Congress at the
last session. has been undertaken under very favor
able circumstances by an association OF American
citizens with the cordial good will and support as
well OF this Government as of those or Great Britain
and Russia. .
! Assurances have been received from most of the
South American States. Of their high appreciation
of the enterprise and their readiness 10 cooperate
in constructing lines tributary to that world encir
| cling communication.
| learn with much satisfaction that the noble de.
sign OF teegraphc communication between the
eastern coast Of America and Great Britain mas
been renewed with fun eypecta'ionot us early ac'
complishment.
Thus il is hoped that with the return of domestic
peace the country will be able To resume with energy
and advantage her former high career Of commerce
and civilization. Onryery popular ana estimaols
representative in Egypt died in April last.
| An unpleasant alteration which arose between
the TEMPORARY incumbent OF the office and the Gov.
crnment of the Pacha, resulted IN suspension OF
intercourse. The evil was promptly corrected on
the arrival of the successor in the Consulate, and
our relations with Egypt well IS ourrelatlons witB
the Barbary Powers. are entirely satisfactory.
The Rebellion which has so long been fiagrant IN
China has at last been suppressed with the coop
Grating good offices of this Government and OF the
other Western commercial States. The Judicial cons
sular establishment has become very difficult ana
onerous and it will need legislative re1uisitlon u
adopt TO r4e extension our commerce, and to the
more intrinsic intercourse which has been insti.
tufed with the Government and people OF that vast
empire
China seems 10 be accepting with hearty good
will the conventional laws which regulate CONE
merce and social intercourse among the western
nations. -
Owing 10 the peculiar situation of Japan, and the
anomalous form of its Government the action Of
that Empire in performing treaty stipulations "a
inconsistent and capricous Nevertheless, gooo
progress has been effected by the Western Powera
moving with enlightened concert. Our own pecu.
MARY claims have been allowed, or put in course OF
settlement, and the Inland Sea has been reopened
to commerce.
| There is reason also 10 believe that these pro-
ceedincs have increased rather than diminished the
friendship of Japan toward the United States.
| The ports OF Norfolk FeITandina and Pensacols
| have been opened by proclamation.
| 1t is hoped that foreign merchants will now con-
slider whether il is not safer and more prohtape 70
themselves IA well As Just to the United states 10
resort TO these and other open ports than ~ Is 70
pursue, through many hazards and az Vast cost,
contraband trade with ether ports which are
closed if not by actual military operation, al least
| by lawful and effective blockade.
! Eor myself have no doubt of the power and
dnty 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 thinh
that proceedings in such lack the authority OF
law OK ought 20 be further regulated by it, recon.
,nan5 tbaf proyision be made for efectually pre-.