Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-05-19
politital,
From the Statesmanl
The Presidents Message.

Fello,0 Citizens Of the Senate
and House of Representatives.
In conformity with the requirements Of
the Chicago Platform, | now lay before
your honorable bodies" an annual state.
ment of the condition of the country, to.
gether with such suggestions as are deemed
prudent for your consideration at your
present session. The relations of the United
States with foreign nations are on the mos,
friendly footing,' with the exception Of
the southern ederaey--England, France,
Spain, Russia, Mexico, Austria, Hayti, and
the copperheads. Hayti, in particular,
seems to be regardless of her treaty stipula-
tions with this Government. When She
"war for the Union" was first hatched into
its proper proportions, the President of
that interesting republic, bya solemn treaty,
agreed to receive and colonize all persons Of
African descent who might fall victims to
the irrepressible conflict through "milita-
ry necessity" Accordingly, I despatched
two vessel loads of freedmen" to that
country, such as had been captured in the
District of Columbia, with the ''desire"
that they be received and cared for, as the
first installment of series of accessions to
their superior race. This desire was fatty
secuted, and was informed by the "Gov-
ernment' there, that ''it' would ''see me
id first" Wherefore, the Captains of
said ships were forced to sell their cargoes
to Cuban planters. I would earnestly rec
ommend such action in the case as your
wisdom shall deem proper. L, at the time,
issued proclamation to that Govern
ment, but there being | 100 miles of cher
ring pond between us, and they, knowing
little or nothing of my military sagacity,
took it for shotgun wadding.
Our financial condition continues in a
very favorable plight. Since the last ad-
journment of Congress, Secretary s. P.
Chase has issued seven thousand millions of
tons of paper currency, to be soon followed
by six, thousand five hundred and eighty
four quarter sections of $4,000 bonds
This, with the eighteen hundred millions of
sore shin currency, and the internal reve-
nue." will be sufficient to carry on the war
for the present year, provided | succeed in
keeping Gen. Simon Cameron out of the
Treasury buildings, and the rebels lay down
their arms, But, as the "best laid schemes
of mice and men gang aft aglee;" or, as my
expectations in this respect may not be re-
allied, | would recommend the passage Of
on act authorizing him lin case the necessi
ty arise) to set afoat few thousand mil
lions during the recess of Congress. Eel
low citizens! there is dreadful rebellion
existing! and we should shape our policy to
meet it. have done all my means woulC
warrant me in doing to crush it out Six
hundred and thirty proclamations foul
hundred and eleven bulls, and nineteer
edicts have l issued in vain. would there
fore recommend an increase of the army tt
prosecute the war against armed Treason
with greater vigor than heretofore 1t il
thought by the Secretary of War (whost
report is herewith transmitted that eighteeI
hundred thousand men, between the age'
of thirty-fve and thirty-six, together witt
all the women in Massachusetts,, should b
enlisted for forty-five years or during th'
war to render the Army Of the Potoma
effective. In addition to this, woult
suggest the propriety of enlisting the bal
ance Of the population for like period
which, together with the entire population
OF the Chinese Empire, would form tn
nucleus OF an army, around which the res
OF mankind would rally, and secure Wash
ington from demolition by the rebels, ant
secure the November elections in favor o
the loyal candidates; besides, it would serv
a better purpose still, by checking the au
dacity OF the copperheads. The operation
of the navy, although efficient in some ca
ses, is far from being satisfactory. woul
recommend the purchase and arming of Al
the Cape Cod fishing craft, for harbor de
fense, and the immediate construction o
fifteen thousand iron-clad ''rams," of TWEEN
ty-fve thousand tons each, encased with a
least sixteen feet of wrought iron, to pro
tect New England interests at the mackere
fishery from the awful onslaught of the Ala
bama, Capt Semmes, 'the id rascal