The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-12-15
%.
BOB PRINTING,
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
Citizens of the Senate

(ettcIc Citizens OF the Senate
and House of Representatives,
Again the blessings of health and
abundant harvests claim our profoundest
gratitude to Almighty 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 bellig
ersnts.
At the request of the States Of Costa
Rics aud Nicaragua, competent engineer
has been authorized to make survey of
ste river San Juan and the port Of San
Juan. 1t is a source of much satisfac
ton that the difficulties, which for a mo-
meat excited somc political apprehension
asa caused a closing of the intcr-oceanic
transit route have been amicably adjusted,
and that there is good prospect that the
route slil soon be rcopencd with an in
crease of capacity snd adaptation.
We could not exaggera& either the
commercial or the political Importance Of
that great improvement. 1t wonId be
doing injustice to an important South
American State not to acknow ledge the
dircctness, frauknesS ana cordiality with
which the United States of Columbia have
entered into intimate relation with this
Government. A Claim Convention has
been constituted to complete the unfinished
work of the one which closed its session
in 1861.
The ncw liberal Constitution Of Ven
eEuela having gone into effect with the
universal .cquiescenee of the people, the
government under it has been recognized,
and diplomatic intercourse with it has
been opened in cordial and friendly
spirit.
The long-deferrcd Avis Island claim has
been satisfactorily paid ana discharged
Mutual payments have been made CT the
claims awarded by the late joint Com
mission for the settlement o! claims be
tween the United States aud Peru. An
earnest and cordial friendship continues
10 exist between the two countries ani
such efforts as were in my power have
been used to remove misunderstanding.
and avert a thereatened war between
Peru and Spain.
Our relations are the most friendly ma
lure with Chill, the Argentine Republic,
Bolivia Costa Rica. Paraguay, San Saliva
dor and Hayti. During the past year no
difference 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 cordiality aud carncstness.
The claims arising frem the seizure OF
the cargo of the brig Macedonian, in
1921, have been paid in full By the Gov.
ernment of Chill.
Civil war continues in the Spanish
port of San Domingo, apparently without
prospect of an early close.
Official correspondence has been freely
spened With Liberia, and it gives us i
pleasing view Of social and political pro
grsss in that Republic 1t may be ex-
3e::tteeA tn dArire new vigor from Ameri-
can influence, improved by the rapid dis.
appearance Of Slavery in the Unite
States.
solicit your authority to furnish to
the Republic gunboat, at q moderate
cost, to be reimbursed to the United
States by instaliments. Such vessel IS
needed for the safety of that State against
the native African races, snd in Liberian
hands it would be more effective IN arrest
ing the African slave trade than squad
reu iu our own hands.
The possession Of the least organized
naval force would stimulate generGla
ambition in the republic, and ..,le conf
d.cae which We should manifest Oy fur
niseiug il woul@. win forbesrance and ia
ror to>ard the colony from all civilized ma
tions. The proposed overland telegraph
between America and Europe by the way
Of Behring Straits aud Asiatic Russia
which was sanctioned by Congress at th'
last session, has been undertaken unde
very favorable circumstance by an assocl
alton of American citizens, with the cor
dial good will and support as well Of TIN
Government rs of those Of Great Britain
and Russia.
Assurances have been received fror
most of the South American States, 0
their high appreciation Of the enterprls
and their readiness to cooperate IN con
structing lines tributary to that wori
sncireling communication.
learn with much satisfaction that tn
noble design of telegraphic communic'
ton between the eastern coats of Amerlc
and Great Britain has been renewed wit
full expectation Of its early accomplish
ment
Thus it is hoped that the return {
domestic peace to the country will be abl
to resume with energy and advantage he
former career of commerce and ciyiilz
ton. Our very popular and estimsbl
representative in Egypt died in April las
An unplasant alteration which aro'
between the temporary incumbent of tn
ef6ee and the Government Of the Paeh