The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1864-12-31
PRESIDENTS
N9B 80 % - @ N =
fsllow- citizens Of the Senate and House of
Representatives - u a.. .Tl--OS'019 y

representatives: t- tA-- T'-
] Again the blessings of health and ,bun-
dant hasvests claim cur profoundest craft.
tude to Almighty God. .,r 59 fS :"
j The condition of our foreign affairs is
reasonably satisfactory. Mexico continues
to be theatre Of civil war, and while our
polltlcal relations with that country have
undergone no change, we have at the Same
time strictly maintained neutrality between,
the beligerents at the request of the states
or Costa Rica and Nicaragua. 4 comnstent
engineer has been authorized to mako q
survey OF the river San Juan and the mort
OF oan Juan, 1t is a source of mucb aot-
lsfactlon that the difficulties winch for q
moment excited some political apprehension
ana caused losing of the inter oceanic
transit route, have been amieably adjusted.
and that there is Il good prospect that the
route will soon be re-opened with an in
crease of capacity and adaptation. We
could not exaggcrate either the commercial
or the political Importance of the great i'm
provement. 1t would be doing Injustice to
az important South American State not IN
acknowledge the directness. frankness and
cordiahty with which the United States of
Columbia have entered into intimate rela-
tions with this Government. A Claims
Convention has been constituted to com
plete the unfinished one which closed it's
session in 1861. The new liberal constitu
tian of Venezuela having gone into effect
with tee universal acquiescence of the peo-
pie, the government under it has been rec
ognized, and diplomatic intercourse has
been opened in 3 cordial and friendly spirit
The long deferred Avis Island claim has
hao &c oIn ,,l I
Mutual payments have. been made of the
| claims awarded by the late joint commits
sion for the settlement of claims between
the United States and Peru. An earnest
and cordial friendship continues to exist
between the two countries, and such efforts
as were in my power have been used TO re-
move misunderstanding and avert threat
ened war between Peru and Spain. Our
relations are of the most friendly nature
with Chill, the Argentine Republic, Bolivia,
Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salvador and
Hayti; during the past yeSc no differences
| of any kind have arisen with any OF ssiiiiSs
! Republics, and on the other hand their
sympathies with the United States. are
constantly expressed. Tho claim arising
from the seizure OF the brig Macedonian in
1921, has been paid in full by the govern
ment of Chill.
Civil war continues in the Spanish port
OF st. Domingo apparently without sros-
pect of an early close. Official correspon-
dence has been freely opened with Liberia,
and It gives us pleasing view Of social and
political progress in that Republic. 1t may
be expected to derive new yigor from Amer
lean influence, improved by the rapid dis
appearance of slavery in the United States
solicit your authority to furnish the re-
public gunboat at a moderate cost, to be
reimbursed to the United States By INSTALL
ments. Such a vessel is needed for the
safety of that Statesagainst the native Af-
rican race, and in the Liberian hands il
would be more effective in arresting the
African slave trade than squadron in our
own hands. The possession of the least
organized naval force would stimulate n
generous ambition in the republic, and the
] confidence which we should manifest by
furnishing it, would win forbearance and
favor towards the colonies from all civiliz-
ed nations.
The proposed overland telegraph between
America and Europe, by the way Of Behr-
ing's Straits and Artic Russia, which was
sanctioned by Congress at the last session,
circumstances, by an association Of Amer
icar citizens, with the cordial goodwill
and support, as well of this Government. as
of those of Great Britain and Russia. As
surances have been received from the most
of the South American States of their high
appreciation of the enterprise, and their
readiness to cooperate in constructing
lines to that world-enciroling communica-
| IL, H. :, ~. IL,
the noble design of a atelegraphic communi-
cation the eastern coast OF America and
Great Britain has been renewed, with full
expectation Of early accomplishment; thus
it 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
Ourvery popularand estimable representa-
tive in Egypt, died in April last, and an
unpleasantal taltercation which arose between
the temporary incumbent of the office and
the government of the Pasha, resulted in Q
suspension of intercourse. This was
promptly corrected on the arrival of the
successor of the consulate. Our relations
with Egypt, as well as our relations with
/ the Barbary Powers, are entirely satisfac-
tory. eg-al rGsr er
| The rebellion which has SO long been in
progress in China, has at last been sup
pressed, with the cooperating good Offices
of this Government, and of the other for
| eign commercial States. The Judicial Con-
sular establishment has at last become very
difficult and onerous, and it will need leg.
islative regulation to advert it 10 the ex.
tension of our commerce and to the more
intimate intercourse which has been insti
tuted with the government and people o.
that vast empire. China seems to be &C
cepting with hearty good will the convsn.
tiol al laws which regulate commerce ane
social intercourse among the western ma
tions.
! Owing to the peculiar situation of japan
4 and the anomalous form of its government
, and the action of that empire in perform
ing treaty stipulations is inconsistent anC
capricious, nevertheless, good progress ha
been effected by the western powers NOV
ing with enlightened concert. Our owl
paeuniary claims have been allowed, or pu