The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,


dant harvcsts claim our Profoundest graft
tude to Almighty God.
The condition of our foreign affairs Is rea-
sonablv satisfactory.
N&.;co continues 10 be the theatre Oi c'v:i
war. While our political relations VIII: that
country have undergone no change, we haze
at the same time strictly maintained neutral
itv between the bel!igcrents.
At the request of the States Of Costa Rlca
and Nicafa--:, = vNr-petont ~Ir~rncrr has
been authorized TO make survcE OF the river
= IN J uan and the port OF San Juan. IL Is q
source of much satisfaction tat the dIii:cui-
ties which for a moment excited senc p1HiI-
cal ayprehensions. and caused a losing OF the
interoceanic transit route. have been a'"ie5-
bly adjusted, ami th1t there is go'i pros
meet that the route viii soon be rc-",rhe"
with an increase OF capacity AMI a"aL';''i'h'
We could not exacgcratc either the CONNER
cial or the political Importance o. max a''-''
improvement. ...,,,.
Ii would be doing iniust-->e to"" III
South American State. not 10 aSNi'"'''.-
the directness. tranknesS ami cordia!'y VII"
which he United States OF t"LImh.t nave
entered into intimate relations will. ta.s Sow
eminent. \ Claims Convention has been
constituted to complete tie unfinished work
The new liberal Constitution Of Venezuela
having gone into cfs-ct with The univer-a! AZ
eui.scence 81 the pcupl,, the Government
under il has been recognized. and diploma
tic intercourse with it has been opened IN a
cordial and friendly spirit. The long deter
red Avis Island claim has been satisfactorily
paid and discharged. Mutual payments have
beer made of the claims awarded by the late
Joint commission for the settlement OF c.alf,i
between the United States and Peru An
earnest and cordial f-iend-hir- ccH-inucs to
exist between the twp eqpn ihste6 been used
to remove misunderstanding and avert a
threatened war between Peru and SPAN.
Our relations IRE of the most friendly ma
ture with Chi, the Argentine Republic. Boil
via, Costa Rica. Paraguay. San Salyadorand
fIayti. During the past year. no differences
ofanv kind have arisen with any of these
Republic and. on the other hand, their SYM
pathies with the United States are constantly
expressed
The claim arising from the seizure Of the
cargo OF the brig Macedonian III 1871 has
been paid in full by the Government of Chill.
Civil war continues in the Spanish port Of
San Domingo. apparently without prospect
eff an early Geese.
Official correspondence has been freely
opened with Liberia, and it gives Us 4 pleas
ing view of social and political progress in
that Republic. 1t NAV be expected 10 derive
'tey rigor from American influence, imTrov-
ed ~ tho rapid disappearance OF slavery in
hhe Crfs.d States. | solicit your authority
to furni h the Republic u gunboat at a mod
crate cost. to be reimbursed TO the United
States bv installments Such n vessel Is
needed for the safety of that State against
the native African race. and IN LibcriaH
hands ii would be more effective III a~-e-,!ur
the African slave trade than = squadron III
Qua OEn hands. The possession of the lc%s,
organised naval force would stimulate @"u-
erous ambition in the Republic. and tie con-
fidence which W. shouId manifest nr furnish
ing It. would win forjcarauC- and favor To-
wards the COLONY from all civilized nations.
The proposed overland telegraph between
America and Europe. b. the gay of B-Lgi-E
Straits AMI Arctic Russia. Which was sane
toned by Congress at the last session. has
been undertaken under very favorable ci"-
cumstanccs bv an association OF American
citizens. With the cordial good VII and sup
por, rs well = this Gaveru... u "a OF those
OF Grca: Britain AMI Russia. Assvralc
have been received frOE n:-st ot the South
American States OF their high appreciation Of
the enterprise. and their readine.s :. cooper
ate in constructing lines to that worll-car.r-
cling communication.
learn with much satisfaction Jh.t the no.
bic design of tele@raphic communication
between the eastern coast Ot America and
Great Britain has been renewed. with fall ox-
pectation of It's early accomplishment Thus
it IS hoped that. with the return Of domestic
peace. the country viii l. ale to resume
with energy ara Advantage her former high
career uf COR n1erce and civilization.
Our vory popular and c>timablc rsPres'a-
tarve IN E"v''t died il April last. An uI-
pleasant ;.iIcrcatiOu which ..rpse between t,rC
temporary incumbent If the Office and the
Government of the .pacl.a. resulted in :. SIS
pension of intercourse This was promptly
corrected on the arrival Of the successor -
tn, Consulate. Our relations with Eg,ypt. a
well as our relations with the Ba-Larv Pow
,ers are c2tircIy satisfactory. The rebellion
which has 50 long been in progress in China
has at last been suppressed with the cooper
atln@ good Offices ot' this government AMI the
other foreign commercial states. The Judi
cial consular establishment has become very
difficult and onerous. and i viii need le.i-!a-
tive regulation to adapt it to the extension Of
our commerce and TO the more intimate inter
course which has been instituted with TIE
Government and people of that Empire
will the conventional laws which regulate
commerce and social intercourse among the
Western nations.
Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan
and the anomalous form of its Government.
The action of that Empire in performing treit-
= SiipuIa.iaas - inoOHstant ana ctIricipuS-
Nevertheless, good progress has been Effected
bv the Western powers, moving with eniight-
ened concert. Our own pccuHiary claims
have been allowed or put in cours of settle
ment, and the inland sea has been rcopcned
10 commerce. There Is reason also - be-
lievc that these proceedings have increased
rather than diminished the friendship of j.
pan towards the Uni;cl States.
The ports of Norfolk, Feruaud;na and
Pensacola have been opened by rroclana-
ton. 1t Is hoped that foreign merchants viii
now consider whether it - not more safe or
profitable II themselves, as wei! a. last 10 the
United Sse,tes to resort to the and other
Port- ei;am it IS TO pursue, through many laz-
ads, and Ut vast cost. a co"s~t!~.ni trade
with other ports which ere closed, il not by
actual military operation, at least ~ 4 la"-
iuI and effective blockade.
For myself. | haze TO doubt ofthe power
and duty of the Executive. uuicr the ,w Of
nations. to exclude enemies of the human
race from an asylum in the United States
If Congress should think that proceedings
such eases lack the authority OF law. or ought
so be further repuliateI by it, | recommend
that provision be made for eticcutuallv pre-
ventiE" foreign slave traders from acquiring
domicil and facilities .'Jr their criminal occt,-
patton IL orr country
= : possible that lift We're neg all N
open question, maritime poHcrs. with the
light tLey nov ENJOY, would not c3a..:a the
privileges of naval teI!irurca- to the iurur-
gents ofthe Uu:tcc' St-.;e-, destitute, a. they
are aud always have !.geu. equally of ships
and Of ports Az LarbOrs. D.-.aral c:I.ssar.es
have been neither less a.; .G,Gs Nor more
successful daring Il las. Yea. ,asa they were
before that time lii thcit ,..ss.-. uni"r t,~lr