Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Eytiotp Citizens or he Senate dhd We HoHse V nc
preisHtdhpeA:
dant harvest claim our lroiouhues' Bt""'uN'
Almighty God.
The Condition of our foteign.hfairs is reason
Mexico continues to be theatre Of civil war
While our political relations with that countr.
havo undergone no change, we have, at the sam
time, maintained a neutrality between the bel
liReren'B
Nicaragua, a competent engineer has been au-
thorized to make o survey Of the river oat
Juan and The port Of San Juan II is source
of much satisfaction that the difficulties which
for a moment excited some political apprehen-
siOns and caused closing Of the Inter ocean, I
Transit Route have been amiosbly adjusted, and
that there is good prospect that tue route VII
soon be opened with au increase OF capacity anu
adaptation.
We could not exaggerate either the CONNER
oia or the political Importance Of that crest
improvement.
ii would be doing injustice to an important
South American State not to acknowledge the
direotness, franknsss and cordially with which
the United States Of Colombia have entered into
Intimate relations with this Government
Claims Convention hns been constituted to COM
plete the uniniehed work Of the Que which closed
it's session 10 1861.
The new liberal constitution OF Venezuela
having gone into effect with tho universal ac-
quiescence Of the people, the government under
Il has been recognized, and diplomatic inler-
course with it has been opened In cordial and
friendly spirit. The long deferred OVesis land
claim has been satisfactorily paid aud dis
charged. Mutual payments have BEEN neue OI
The claims awarded by the late joint commission
for the settlement of claims between the United
States and Peru. An earnest and cordial friend
ship continues TO exist between the two conn
tries, and such Efforts as were in my poNer have
been used 10 remove Misunderstanding aud
avert q threatened war between Peru and Spain.
Or relations are Of the most friendly nature
with Chilli the Argentine Republic, bolivia,
Costa Rlca, Paraguay, San Salvador and llayt
During the past year no Differences OF any
Kind have arisen with any OF those Republics,
and on the other hand their sympathies with the
UDied States are constantly expressed with
cordislity aud earnestness. The claims arising
from tbs seizure Of the cargo Of the brig Mace.
ionia, in 1891. have been paid In full by the
Government Of Chill.
Civil war continues in the Spanish part OF
San Domingo, apparently without prospect OF an
early close. Official correspondence has been
freely opened with Liberia, and it gives us
pleasing view of social and political progression
in that Republic. 1t may be expected 10 derive
new vigor from American influence, improved
by the rapid disappearance of slavery in the
United States. solicit your authority TO furnish |
to the Republic a gunbOat Of moderate cost to
DO reimbursed to toe Unted Sinles by install |
ments such q vessel Is needed for the safety |
of that State against the native African races.
snd in Literian hands it would be more effective
IN arrestng the African slaTR trade than 4
squadron IN cur owu hands. The possession OF
the least organized naval force would gtmulnte
generous ambition in the Republic. and the
confidence which We should manifest by fur
nsblng it would win fOrbearanoe and favor
towards the colony from all civilized nations.
The proposed Overland Telegraph between
America and Europe by tbs way Vt Behring's
Straits and Asiatic hussa, which was sanctioned
by Congress at the last session, hos been uDder-
iaken under very favorable circumstances, by
Rn association Of American ctizGns, with the
cordial good will aud support as well of this
government US OF those OF Great Britain and
Russia. Assurances have been received from
most OF the South American States of their ap-
preeiaIion oil tue enterprise and their readiness
10 Cooperate in constructing lines tributary to
that world. encirGling communication. ] learn,
with much satisfaction, that the noble design Of
telegraph communication between the eastern
coast of America and Great Britain has been
renewed with full expectation OF its accomplish
ment.
Thus it Ia hoped that with the return Of do
l
with energy aud advantage its former high
career VI commerce and civilization.
Our very popular aud dhtmable representa-
tive In Egypt died IN April last. An uHplessant
alteration, which arose between the temporary
incumbent OF The office and the Government OF
the Pacha, resulted in a suspension OF inter-
COURSE The evil Wns promptly corrected on
the arrival OF the successor 10 the Consulate and
our relations with Egypt, us we'll sG our relations
with the Barbary powers, are entirely saIis-
factory.
The rebellion which has so long been prevail /
ing 10 Ohina has Mt last been suppressed with
the cooperating good offices of this government
and OF the other Western commercial S;ates. [
The judicial consular establishment there has
become very difficult and onerOus, aud ii will
need legisla i've revision 10 adapt it 10 the
extension Of our commerce aud 10 the more
intimate intercourse which has been instituted {
with the government and people Of that vast
empire 4
China seems to bo accepting with hearty good !
will the conventional lawp which regulate COM
mercal aud social intercourse among the
Western nations. Owing to the peculiar situa. {
tOn Of Japan and the anomalous form Of its
Government, the action of that Empire in per, l
forming treaty stipulatiOns is i1coostaut and /
eapricOus. Nevertheless good progress has
been effected by the Western Powers moving i
with enlightened concert. Our own pecuniary /
claims have been allowed OF put in course uf !
settlement, and the inland sea has been re- I
opened to commerce. There IL reason TO believe q
that these proceedings have increased rather \
than diminished the friendship Of Japan towards |
the United States.
The ports Ct Norfolk Fernandna and Pensa-
cola, have been opened by proclamation. 1t 10
hoped that foreign merchants will now consider 1
whether 1t is not tnfer or moro profitable 10
themselves, as well as juat to the United States,
to resort TO these and other open ports than it a
is to pursue, through many hazsrds, at vast ?
cost, cohtraband trade with other ports which 0
are closed, if not by actual military occupation, I
at least by lawful and effective blockade. For (
myself, have no doubt OF the power and duty '
Of the Executive, under tho law OF Nations, 10 +
exclude enemies Of tho human race from an 0
asylum in the United States lrCongreas should
ihink that The proceedings 10 such cases aek the y
authority Of law, or ought to be further regulated
by il, ! recommend that provision be made for n
sheotually preventing foreign slave traders from
acquiring domiclie mud fAcnties ivi l.4.i crimi n
nal occupation in our country. 1t is possible .
that II 1t were a new aud open question, the n
maritime powers, with the rights they now enjoy,
would not coneede tho privileges Of naval Y
begerent TO the insurgents of tho United States,
destitute Rs they are, and always have been, r
equally Of ships OF war and OF ports and harbors. a
DnlOyal cmlssarles have been neither less q
assiduOus nor moro successful during the last 4
year than they were before that time ID their
efforts, under favor of that privilege, to embroil
our country in foreign war. The desire aud o
discrimination of the government of the maritime 4
seats TO defeat that design believed to be as
sincere, and cannot be more earnest than our c
own. Nevertheless, unforeseen political diff I
eulhes have arisen, especially IN Brazilian and d
and Mn 40 NOpfharn hnu nlau ~ / 3