Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-12-15
tercourse among the Western nations.

the action ofthat Empire in performing treaty
stipnlaiiois Is inconsistant and capricious.
Nevertheless, good progress has leen effected
by the Western Powers moving with enlight-
cncd concert. Our own pecuniary claims
have been allowed or put in course Of settle
mcnt. and the Inland Sea has been reopened
to commerce There is reason also to believe
that these proceedings have increased rather
han diminished the friendship of Japan to-
ward the Unitel States. .r.......
The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina and Pen
sacola have been opened by proclamation. 1t
is hoped that foreign merchants will now con-
sider whether it is not safer and more profta-
bic to themselves, as we'll as just to the United
States, to resort to these and other open ports,
than it is to pursue, through many hazards,
and Mt vast cost, a contraband trade with other
ports which are closed, if not by actual mill
tary occupation, at least by lawful and cffcc-
tive blockade
For myself, 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
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 effectially prevent
ing foreign slave traders from acquiring DOM
clc and faculties for their c:lminai occupation
in our country.
1t is possible that if It were new and open
question, the maritime Powers, with the lights
they now enjoy would not conccdc the priv
| ilcgcs of a naval bcliacrcnt I'd the ihsurgotts
Of the United States, destitute as they are,
and always have bcen. equally of ships of war
and of ports and harbors. Disloyal emissarics
have been neither less as, luous hor more
successful during the last year than they were
before that time in their efforts, under favor
of that privilege, to cmbrel our country in
foreign wars.
The desire and determination of the Gov
crnmcnts of maritime States to defeat that de-
| sign arc believed to be as sincere as, and can-
not be more earnest than, our own. Never
thclcss, unforeseen political difficulties have
arisen, especially in Brazilian and British,
! pnrs u d on the Northern boundaries of the
| United etatcs, which have required and are
likely to continue to require the practice of
Cons ant viGilaiite and just and concliatory
spirit oil he pat OF the United stiles, as well
as of the natl ms concerned. and their Gov
crnmcnts Commissioners have been ap-
! pointed Under the treaty OF Great Britain on
the adjustment of the claims of the Hudson
Bay aud Puget Sound Agricultural Compan-
les, i'll Oregon, and are now proceeding to the
execution of HE trust assigned to them. In
view of tAe insecurity Of life and property in
the region adjacent to the Canddl;.;l border,
! by reason OF rcnct assaults and depredations
committed by inimical and desperate persons
who are llarbored there, it hds hcen tlought
proper to give notice that after the expiration
Of six hdrths--the period conltionally sip-
ulated under the cx listing agreement with
Great Brtain-the United States must hold
/ themselves at Ill erty to increase their rathl
armament NJ o. the Lakes, if they shall lind
that pfdct cdng necessary. The condition of
the border will necessarily come into consider
alton in rpiiuection with the question of con-
,nuing 5r Modifying .rc rights Of transit from
Canada through the United States, as we'll as
the regulation Of inposts. which were Tempo
rariy established by the rccirfbcity treaty of
the 9th Of June, 1854. desire, however, to
be understood; While making this statement,
that the Colonial authorities of Canada are not
deemed TO be Intentionally unjust or unfrithd-
: " towards the United States. but; on tie con-
trary, there is every II a'on td expect thnt;
with the approval of the Imperial Government
they will take the necessary measures to PR
vent new incursions across the borders
The act passed at the last session for the
encouragement of c"igration has, so far as
was possible, been put into operation. 1t
seems to need amendment which will enable
( the officers of the Government to prevent the
practice Of frauds against the emigrants while
on their way and on their arrival i'll the ports,
so as to secure them here free choice ofaro.
cations and places of settlement. A liberal
disposition towards this great national policy
is manifested by most Of the European States,
and ought to be. especially on our part, by
giving the cmigrants effective national protec-
tion regard our cmigrants as one of the
principal reple nishing streams which arc ap-
portoned by Providence to repair the ravages
of internal war and its wastes of national
,trcngth and health. All that is necessary is
to secure the flow of that stream in its present
fulness, and to that end the Government must
in every way make it manifest that it neither
needs nor designs to impose involuntary mill
tary service upon those who como from other
lands to cast their lot in our country.
The financial affairs of the Government
have been successfully administered during
the last year. The Legislation of the last seq
sion of Congress has benefcially affected the
e,enucs, although sufficient time has not yet
elapsed to experience the full effect of several
of the provisions Of the acts Of Congress i'm
posing increased taxation.
The receipts during the year from all