The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-12-16
The Presidents Message.

Again the blessings OF hcaItn and abundant
harvests claim our profoundest gratitude to Al
mighty God
The condition of our foreign affairs is reason
ably satisfactory. Mexico continues to be a
theatre of civil war; while cur political rela-
tions with that country have undergone no
change, We have at the same time strictly main
tanned neutrality between the belligerents.
At the request o. the States of Costa Rica
and Nicaragua, q competent engineer has been
authorized 10 make a survey Of the river San
Juan and the port of San Juan
1t IS a source of much satisfaction that the
difficulties which at one moment excited poIifi-
cal apprehensions and caused a closing of the
inter-0ceanic transit route, have been amieably
adjusted, and that there is q good prospect that
the route will soon be re-opened with an in
crease Of capacity and adaptation We could
not exaggerate either the commercial or politi-
cal Importance Of that great Improvement
The new liberal Constitution of Venezuela
having gone into effect with the universal ac-
quiescence Of the people, the government under
il has been recognized and diplomatic inter
course with 1t has opened in cordial and friend
iy spirit. The long deferred Aux Island claim
has been satisfactorily paid and discharged
Mutual payments have been made of the claims
awarded by the late joint committee for the set
tlernent of claims between the United States
and Peru.
An earnest and cordial friendship continues
10 exist between the two countries, and such
Efforts as We're in my power have been used to
remove In; understanding and avert threaten
ed war between Peru and Spain.
Our relations are of he most friendly nature
with Chill, tho Argentine Republic, Bolivia,
Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salvador and Hayti.
During the past year 10 differences OF any k,sd
taye arisen with any Of those Republics, and
on the ether hand their sympathies with the
United States are constantly expressed with
cordiality and earnes:ness
1t would be doing injustice TO an important
South American State not to acknowledge the
directness, frankness and cordiality with which
the United States Of Colombia have entered in
20 intimate relations with this Government. A
claims convention has been constituted to COM
pleta the unfinished work Of the one which
closed lis session ia S6l.
The claim arising from the seizure Of the
cargo Of the brig Macaoman, in 82l, has been
paid in full by the government of Chilli
Civil war continues in tie Spanish part Of
San Domingo, apparently without prospect Of
an early close. Official correspondence has been
freely opened with Liberia, and il gives Us a
that Republic. It may be expected to derive
new vigor from American influence, improved
by the rapid Disappearance of slavery in the
United States.
/ solicit your authority to furnish to the re-
public a gunboat at moderate cost, to be reim-
bursed to the United States by instalments.
Such a vessel is needed for the safety of that
State against the native African races, and in
nfIa
resting the African slave trade than squadron
in our hands The possession of the least or
ganized naval force would stimulate a generous
ambition in the republic, and the confidence
which we should manifest by furnishing it would
win forbearance and favor towards the colony
from all civilized nations.
The proposed overland telegraph between A.
merica and Europe, by the way of Behring's
Straits and Asiatic Russia, which was sanction
ed by Congress at the last session, has been
dertaken under very favorable circumstances by
an association of American citizens with the
cordial good will and support well of the
Government as of those Of Great Britain and
Russia.
Assurance has been received from most Of the
South American St9tes Of their appreciation of
the enterprise, and their readiness to cooperate
in constructing lines tributary to that world en-
circling communication. | learn with much
satisfaction that the noble design of n telegraph
ic communication between the eastern coast of
America and Great Britain has been renewed,
with full expectation of IFS early accomplish
ment. Thus il IS hoped that with the return
Of domestic peace, the country will be able to
resume with energy and advantage its former
high career Of commerce and civilization, ,6ce
Our very popular and estimable repg1 tive
in Egypt died IN April An pfr,la. .sant al
tercation which arose between the to poraryin-
cumbent of the office and the GoverIlQent of the
Pacha resulted in a suspension of intercourse.
The evil was promptly corrected on the arrival
of the successor in the consulate, and our rela-
tions viii Egypt, as well as our relations with
the Barbary powers, are entirely satisfactory.
The rebellion which has so long been fragrant in
China has at last been suppressed under the CO.
operating good offices of this Government and
Of the other Western commercial States.
The Judicial Consular establishment has be-
come very difficult and onerouS, and it will need
legislative revision to adapt it to the extension
Of our commerce, and to the more intimate in
tercourse which has been instituted with Gov
ernment and people of that vast empire. Chi
ma seems to be accepting with hearty good will
the conventional laws which regulate CONNER
cia and social intercourse among the western
nations.
Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan, and
the anomalous form of its government, the ac-
ton of that empire in performing treaty stiPu-
la;ions is inconstant and capricious. NeVerthe-
less good progress has been effected by the West
eFn powers moving with enlightened concert.
Our own pecuniary claims have been allowed