Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-12-08
Presidents Message.
Felo,o- Citizens of the Senate
and House Of Relressnfof;p.s

a
Again the blessings Of health and abupd.
ant harvcsts claim our profoundest gratitude
to Almighty God. The condition of our
foreign affairs is reasonably satisfactory. -
Mexico continues TO be the theater of civil
war. While our political relations with that
country have undergone no change, we have
at the same time strictly maintained neutral
ify between the belligercnts Atthe request
OF the States OF Costa Rica and Nicaragua
competent engineer has boen authorized
to make a survey Of the river San Juan and
the port OF San Juan It's source of much
satisfaction that the difficulties which, fer
q moment, excited some political apprehen-
sion, and caused a closing of the inter -oce anic
transit route, have been amicably adjusted,
and that there is good prospect that the
route will soon be re opened, with an in
crease OF capability and adoption. We
would not cxaggerate either the CONNER.
cial or the political importance of that gre at
improvement. 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 into intimate re.
lations with this Government A claim con-
vention has been constituted to complete
the unfinished work Of the one which closed
its session in 1864. The new Liberal Con-
stitution of Venezuela having gone into ef-
feet with the universal acquiescsnce OF the
people, the Government under it has been
recognized and diplomatic intercourse with
it has been opened in a cordial and friendly
spirit. The long deferred Avis Island claim
has been satisfactorily paid and discharged
Mutual payments have been made of the
claims awarded by the Joint Commission
fnr ln - al -. - a
United States and Peru. An earnest and
cordial friendship continues to exist between
the two countries, and such efforts as were
in my powlr have been used to remove mis-
understanding and avert threatened war
between Peru and Spain. Our relations
are Of the most friendly nature with Chill,
the Argentine Republic Bolivia, Costa Rica,
Paragua, San Salvador and Hayti. During
the past year no differences Of any kind have
arisen with any of these Republics, and on
the other hand their sympathies with the
United States are constantly expressed.
The claim arising from the seizure of the
cargo Of the brig Macedonian, in 1861, has
been paid in full by the Government of
Chill.
Civil war continues in the Spanish coast
Of San Domingo, apparently without pros
pert OF an early close.
Oiheial correspondence has been opened
with Liberia, and it gives pleasing view of
social and political progress in that Repub.
lie. 1t is expected to derive new vigor from
American influence. improved by the rapid
disappearance OF slavery in the United
States.
| solicit your authority to furnish the Re-
public gunboat at moderate cost, to be
reimbursed to the United States in install
ments. Such q vessel is needed for the
safety Of that State against the African
race, and in Liberian hands it would be more
effective in arresting the African Slave Trade
than squadron in our own hands, The pos
session OF the least organized naval force
should stimulate generous ambition on the
part Of the Republic, and the confidence
which we should manifest by furnishing it
would win forbearanoe and favor towards the
colonies IRON all the civilized nations.
The proposed overland telegraph between
America and Europe, by way Of Behring'
Straits and ASiatic Russia, which was sane
toned by Congress at tho last session, has
been undertaken, under, very favorable cir.
cumstances, by an association of American
citizens, with the cordial good will aud sup
port OF this Government, as well as those
OF Great Britain and Russia. Assurances
have been received from most OF the Amer.
lean States of their high appreciation of
the enterprise, and their readiness to CO.
operate in constructing lines tributary to
that world.encircing communication. /
learn, with much satisfaction, that the no.
be design of q telegraphic communication
between the Eastern coast of America and
Great Britain has Lee renewed, with full
expectation Of its early accomplishment. =
Thus II is hoped that, with the return of
domestic peace, the country will be able to
resume with energy and advantage their for.
mer high career of commercial civilization.
Our very popular and eslimable represent
tative in Egypt died in April last. An un-
pleasant alteration which arose between
tha temporary incumbent of the office and
the Government OF the Pasha. resulted in
suspension OF intercourse. The error was
promptly corrected on the arrival of the
successor in the Consulate, and our relations
with Egypt, rs well rs the relation with the
Barbary powers, are en- ntirely satisfactory.
The rebellion which has 80 leng been fla.
grant In China, has at last beea suppressed,
with the cooperating good Offices of this
Government and Of the other commercial
States. ...-.
The Judicial Consular establishment has
become very difficult and onerous. and il
Wui leeu lcRlSIatlOn TO auapt X 10 the eX-
tension OF our commerce and to the more
intimate intercourse which has boen insti-
tuted with the Government and people of
that vast empire, China seems to be 40.
cepting with hearty good will the oonven-
tional laws which regulate comm ercial and |
social intercourse among the Western ma
tions Ia .I.. II '.--.'
Owing to the peculiar situation of japan
and the anomalous form of this Government,
the action of that Empire in performing
treaty stipulations is inconstant and capri.
,ious. Nevertheless good progress has been
effected by the Western Powers. Moving
With enlightened concert. our own peculiar
'laims have been allowed, or put in course
'f settlement, and tho inland sea has been
e.opened to commerce. There is renson,
llso, to believe that those proceedings have
increased rather than dimished the friend.
hin OF Japan towards the United States.
!. The ports Of Norfolk. Fernandina, 'snd
Pensacola have been opened by proclama.a
ion. II is hopcd that foreign merchants
will now consider whether il Is not safer and
more profitable To themselves, as well 4,
l. 4. n ~