Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FsHotc-citisenS Of the Senate
and HOUSE Of Representatives

Again the blessings OF health and abun-
dant harvests claim our profoundest graf
irude to Almighty God. The condi-
ton of our foreign affairs is reasonably
satisfactory. Mexico continues to be the
theatre of civil war While our political
relations with that country have under
gone no change, we have at the same time
strictly maintained neutrality between the
belligerents. AT the.'request of the States
of Costa Rica and Nicaragua competent
engineer has been authorized to make a
survey of the river San Juan, and the port
of San Juan. 1t is a source of much sat
isfaction that the difficulties which, for a
moment, excited some political apprehen-
sions, and caused closing of the inter
oceanic transit route have been amicably
adjusted, and that there is good prospect
an increase of capability and adoption.
We would not exagerate either the COM
mercial or the political importance of that
great improvement. 1t would be doing
injustice to an important South American
State not to acknowledge the directness,
frankness and cordially with which the
United States OF Columbia have entered
into intimate relations with this govern
ment- A claim convention has been con-
stituted to complete the unfinished work
of the one which closed its sessions in
1861. The new liberal constitution of
Venezuels having gone into effect with
government under It has been Recognized
and diplomatic intercourse with it has
been opened in cordial and friendly
spirit. The long deferred Avis Is
land claim has been satisfactorily
paid and discharged. Mutual payments
have been made of the claims awarded by
the Joint Commission for the settlement
of claims between the United States and
Peru. An earnest and cordial friendship
continues to exist between the two coun-
tries and such efforts as were in my power
have been used to remove misunderstood
ing, and avert threatened war between
most friendly nature, with Chill, the Ar
gentine Republic, Bolivar, Costa Rica,
Paragua, San Salvador and Hayti. Dur
ing the past year no differences of any
kind have arisen with any of these repub
lies, and on the other hand their sympa-
thies 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, apparent
ly without prospect of an early close.
Official correspondence has been open
ed with Liberia, and it gives us pleasing
that Republic. 1t is expected to derive
new vigor from American influence, i'm
proved by the rapid disappearance of
slavery in the United States.
l solicit your authority to furnish the
Republic gunboat at a moderate cost, TO
be reimbursed to the United States in in
stallments. Such a vessel is needed for
the safety of that State against the Afri-
can race, and in Liberian hands, it would
be more effective in arresting the African
Slave Trade than squadron in our own
hands. The possession of the least Or
sanized naval force should stimulate gem
erous ambition on the part of the Repub-
lie, and the confidence which we should
manifest by furnishing it would win for
bearance and favor towards the colonies
from all the civilized nations.
The proposed overland telegraph be-
tween America and Europe, by way of
Behriug Straits, and Asiatic Russia, which
was sanctioned by Congress at the last
session, has been undertaken, under very
favorable circumstances, by an association
of American citizens, with the cordial
good will and support Of this Government,
as well as those of Great Britain and Rus
sia. Assurances have been received from
Vi Tue AnGEAGEL4 AoA4bbEn va knCAA AASA
appreciation of the enterprise, and their
readiness to cooperate in constructing
lines tributary to that world enciTcling
communication. learn, with much sat
isfaction, that the noble design of a tele-
graphic communication between the East
ern coast Of America and Great Britain
has been renewed with full expectation of
its early accomplishment. Thus it is
hoped that, with the return of domestic
peace, the country will be able to resume
with energy and advantage, their former
high career of commerce and civilization.
Our very popular and estimable represen-
tative in Egypt died in April last. An un-
pleasant aItercation which arose between
the temporary incumbent of the Office and
the Governments of the Pasha, resulted in
a suspension Of intercourse.
The error was promptly corrected on the
arrival of the successor in the Consulate,
and our relations with Egypt as well as
the relation with the Barbary powers are
entirely satisfactory. The rebellion which
has so long been fragrant in China has at
last been suppressed with the CO. operating
good offices of this Government and of
the other commercial States. -a,s
The Judicial Consular establishment
has become very difficult and onerous, and
it will need legislation TO adapt it to the
of O..r ooy,ouaaFsrR6,. and IN the