The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-12-16
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

December, and opens by expressing profound
gratitude TO Heaven for the blessings of health
and an abundant harvest. Although the Mes
our limited space, and are therefore compelled to
limit our readers 10 the prominent features of the
document.
The president says "the condition of four foreign
nffiirs is reasonably satisfactory" Our political
relations with Mexico have undergone no change
and this country has strictly maintained neu-
trality between the beligerents.
The difficulties which caused the closing of the
inner oceanic transit route across the isthmus
have been amicably adjusted and that great
commercial and political improvement will soon
be- reopehed.
Telegraphic communication with Great Britain,
ii is expected, will soon he renewed, and the pro-
posed telegraphic communications with Europe
by way of Behring's Straits, is also in prospect
ofaccompishment.
Tbs relations of this country with Japan Chi
ma, Egypt. the Barbary Powers, the State of Cen
trail America, and the republics of South Ame-
RIGA, are generally of the most friendly charac-
ter.
The President desires the authority of Congress
to furnish gunboat to the Liberian Republic to
aid in arrcstipg the slave trade.
The president refers TO the opening of the ports
of Norfolk Fcrnandina and Pensacola, and horcs
are expressed that foreign merchants will consii.
er it safer to resort 10 these open ports than to
pursue contrabard trade. He recommends that
foreign slave traders be prevented from acquiring
domicil, &c, in this country. He says that ''it
it were new and open question, the maritime
powers would not concede the principles ola M
val beiigercnt to the insurgents OF the United
States" He refers to the unforeseen difficulties
which have arisen in brazilian and British ports,
and on the northern boundaries of the United
States.
He recommends the encouragement OF emigra-
tion as most important TO this government and
Gays:
The act passed at The late session for the en-
couragcment of emigration has, so far as was
possible, been put into operation. 1t seems TO
need amendment which will enable tie officers Of
Government to prevent the practice of frauds
against the immigrants while on their way, and
ON their arrival in the ports; so as to secure them
here free choice Of avocalons and places of set
Element. a liberal disposition towards this great
national policy is manifested BY most of the Eu-
ropean States and ought to be rcciprocated on
our part, b. giving the immigrants effective ma
ticnal protection.
regard our immigrants rs one Of The princ-
pal replenshing streams which are appointed by
Providence TO repair The ravages Of thermal war
and its wastes OF national strength and health
All that is necessary ia TO secure the flow of that
stream in its present fullncss and to that end the
Government must in every way make it manifest
that it neither needs nor designs TO impose in
voluntary military service upon those who come
from other lands to cast their lot in our coun-
try.
The President states that the financial Affairs
OF the government have been successfully admin
istered. The receipts from NIL sources during the
year, including loans and balances in the treasu-
ry, July LIST, 1863, were 81, 304 1856 OO7 co, aud
the aggregate disbursements upon the same ba-
sis were ST, 20s, O5G, l0l 89-leaving balance
in the treasury of SOC, 739, sos 70. The public
deb: on the lst of July last was Sl,74o, Co.,
49o 40 and should the war contaue for anoth-
er year, the debt may be Increased by about five
hundred millions. The President saws. "As the
debt is held for the most part by our own people
1t has become substantial branch Of national
though private, property }" and certain srgges-
mi c,gny do inf
general distribution among the people.
The National Banking system, he says, is prov.
ing 10 DC greatly acceptable 10 capitalists and the
people ; and he hopes that very soon there will
be in the United States no banks of issue not au-
thorized by Congress, ard no bank-note circula-
ton not secured BY the government. Five hun.
d:ed and twcnty-lour national banks have alrea.
dy been organized.
The reports of the Secretaries of War and
Navy are referred to for de:aiIs Of military OPERA
tons. The President says ''he coucurs with the
Secretary Of Tie Treasury in the opinion that The
proportion of moneys required TO meet the expen.
ses consequent upon the war, derived from taxa
ton, should Le still further increased"
The number ofnavnl captures, since hosilities
commenced, is ,379--of which 2G7 are steamers.
The proceeds Of condemned prize property thus
fur reported is Sl4, 1896 $50 81.
The postal revenue for The year ending juno 30.
1864, amounts to Sl9, 1873, 25s rs, and the expen-
diture TO $l?, 644,75G 20-the excess of cxpendi-
lures over receipts being S2OG,6 az.
The report of the Secretary of the Interior, in
relation TO Indian affairs the Pacific railroad,
mineral discoveries, &C., is commended to tie at
tention Of Congress.
There have been 1921 ,342 acres of public land
disposed of during the five quarters ending Both
Of September last, of which 1913, GA acres were
entered under he homestead law. The cash re-
eeived was $l,0l9, 446. There is now open to
settlement about l3s, 600, eco acres of surveyed
land.
The President refers TO the IMPORTANCE Of re
modelling our Indian system. Also, 10 the re.
parkable features in military operations of tn,
-, ,..l..