, 1864-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

PkENIDENT'N MENNAGE.
Ft1o.o-estr=ens Of The ssnott ard Ropst Of Reprs
eenf6tfpts:
Again tic blessings of health and abundant
harvests claim our profoundcst gratitude to
Almighty God.
The condition OF our i0rclSn a1a1fs u fca-
eonably satisfactory.
RELATIONS WITH NEuco.
Ner1co continues to be the theatre Of civil
I war, While our political relations with that
country hnve undergone no change, We have
| al the samc time strictly maintained neu-
trality between the belligcrents.
TIE NTER-ocEAEIc TRANSIT ROUTE.
At the request of the States Of Costa Rica
and Nicaragua, competent engineer has
been authorized to make survey Of the river
San Juan and the port Of San juan. y is q
source Of much satisfaction that the difficult
ties which for q moment excited some politl-
cal apprehensions, and caused losing Of the
fnter-oceanic transit ronte, have been amica-
bly, adjusted, md that there Is good pros
pect that the route will soon be re-0pened,
with an increase Of capacity and adaptation.
We could not cxaggerate either the CONNER
cial or The political Importance Of that great
improvement.
RELATIONS WITH TIE UNITED STATES or CO.
LUMBIA.
It would be doing injustice to an important
South American Slate, not to acknowledge
the difcctncss fankness and cordiality with
which the United States Of Columbis have
entered into intimate relations with this Gov
ernment- a Claims Convention has been
constituted to compile the unfinished work of
the one which closed its session in 1861. The
new liberal Constitution Of Venezuela having
gone into effect with the universal acquics-
ccnce Of the people, the Government under it
has BEEN recognized, and diplomatic in tier.
course with it has been opened In cordial
and friendly spirit. The long deferred Avis
discharged. Mutual payments have been
| made IL the claims awarded By the late Joint
commission for the settlement of Claims be-
| tween the United States and Peru. An earu-
est and cordial friendship continues to exist
between the two countries, and such efforts
more misunderstanding and avert threaten
| ed war between Peru and Spain.
| RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AMERICAN STATES.
Our relations are of the most friendly na-
turc with Chill, the Argentine Republic, Boil
vim, Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salvador Ind
Hxyn. During the past year no differences
Of any kind have arisen with my Of those
Republics. and, on the other hand their sym
pathics with the United States arc constantly
expressed.
The claim arising from the seizure Of tho
cargo Of the brig Macedonian In 1891 has been
! paid IN full by Inc Government Of Chill
Civil war continues in the Spanish port Of
| San Domingo, apparently without d prospect
| Of an early close.
PRoGKEss OF LIHEn1A.
Official correspondence has been freely
opened with Liberia, add it gives Us pleas
ing view Of the social and political progress
in that Republic. II may be expected to de-
rive new viSor from American influence, I'M
proved BY the rapid disappearance Of slavery
| WI In t4s.4 ] init
ty to furnish the Republic q sunboat at mod
| crate cost, to be reimbursed to the United
States by instG!lnents. Such vessel Is
| needed for the safety Of that Slate against
the native African race, and in Liberian hands
it would be more effective in arresting the
| own hands. The possession Of the least or
ganiZed naval force would stimulate gene
rouE ambition in the Republic, and the conf
dence which nc should manifest by furnishing
it, would win 1orbearance and favor towards
the colony from all civilized nations.
THE OVERLAND TELEGRAPH.
The proposed overland Telegraph between
America and Europe, by the wny Of Bchring
Straits and Arctic Russia, which was sane.
been undertaken under very favorable cir
cumstances by an association Of American
citizens, with the cordial good will and sup
port, rs well Of this Government as Of those
Of Great Britain and Russia. Assur-
ancek have been received from most of the
South American States Of their high apprc-
ciation OF tue enterprise, and their readiness
to cooperate In constructing lines TO that
wo:ldrncirclinS communication.
| lcarn with much satisfaction TINT the no.
bic design d telesTaphic Communication
between the castc1n coast Of America and
Great Britain has been renewed, with full e1.
pectation OF its early accomplishment. Thus
it is hoped TINT, with the return Of domestic
peace, the country will be able to resume
with energy ana advantage her former high
career OF commerce and civilization.
EGYPTIAN AFFAIRS.
Our very popular md estimable reprcscn
tative in Egypt died in April last, An I'M.
pleasant alteration which arose between the
temporary incumbent Of tle Office aud tn:
Government Of the Pacha; resulted in a sns'
pension OF intercourse This was promptly
connected on the arrival Of the successor O
The Consulate Ourrelations with Egypt, c:
we'll ~ our relations with the Barbary Power.
are entirely satisfactory.
CHINA.
The rebellion which has so lon. been 1t
progress in China has at last been suppressed
E'th the cooperating good Offices Of thi
Government 4ud Of the other foreign com
mc,cial States. The judieial consular cstab
l1ebment Las become very difficult and oncr
ous, and 1t will need legislative regulation tt
! adapt it to the extension of our commerce
aud TO the more Intimate intercourse which
las hecn instituted with the Government and
people OF tllut vast Empire. China seems tc
be accepting with hearty good will the con,
vcntionxt ]nws " hich regulate commerce aud
social intercourse anlong the Western IA,
tions.
RELATIONS WITH JAPAN.
Owing 10 the peculiar situation Of Japan
| and the anomalous form Of It's Government,
rFt t1.1fI
stipulations is inconsistent and capTicious.
Nevertheless good progress has been effected
by the Western powers, moving with enli.',t-
encd concert. Our own pecuniary Claims
have been allowed, OF put in course Of settle.
! ment, and the inland sea has been reopened
TO commerce. There Is reason also to believe
that these proceedings have Increased rather
than diminished the friendship Of japan TO-
! ward the United States.
OPENING nEnEL PORTS.
The ports Of Norfolk, FcrnaudlDa and Pen
sacola have been opened by proclamation II
is hoped that foreign merchants will now con
slider whether il Is not more safe or profitable
to themselves rs well as Just to the United
States, to resort to these and other open port
and at vast cost, conrrabaud trade Will
other ports which are closed.
LEGISLATION AGAINST SLAVE TRADERS.
Fer myself, have no doubt Of the powe
and duty Of lhe Executive, under the law 0
nations, 10 exclude enemies of the human
race from an asylum In the United States
Congress should think that proceedings 1t
such cases lack the authority of1nw, or o1gh
to be further rcprdiatcd by 1t, I Recommend
that provision be made for eGectually pre-
venting foreign slnye-traders from ac4uirin:
domicil and facilities for their criminal occu
patton In our country.
RECOGNITION OF SOUTHERN PIRACY.
It is possible that If it we're a new and al
open question, the maritime powers, with tn
light they now enjoy, would not concede til
privileges of naval belligcrent to the insuS
gents Of The United States, destitute as the,
arc, and always have been, equally Of ship
and Of PORTS and larbors. Disloyal emissa
RIGS hive been neither less assiduous normor'
| successful during the last year than they wcr'
Of that privilege. to embroil our country il
foreign Wars. Nevertheless, Unforeseen polit
lcal difficulties have arisen, especially in Bra
lillian Gnd British ports, aud on the northern
boundary OF the United States, which havs
required, and are likely to continue to require
and conciiiatory spirit on the part Of tht
United States, as we'll as Of the nations con
ccrnvd, and their Governments.
ADJUSTMENT or CLAIMS.
Commissioners have been appointed unde
| Inc trcaty with Great Britain on the adjust
1ncnt Of the claims of the Hudson Bay AMI
Puget's Sound Agricultural Companies h
Oregon, and are now proceeding to the exc
cution Of the trust Unsigned to them
> TEE CANADIAN RAIDS,
, In view Of the insecurity of Life IN the re
gon adjacent to the Canadian border, b
recent assaults and depredations committed
! by inimical and desperate persons, who OF
harbored there, it has been thought proper Il
give notice TINT after the expiration Of 81!
months, the period coaditionally stipulated