Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,

Representatives.:
Again the blessings Of health end sbund-
ant harvests claim our profouudest gratis
tude to Almighty God.
The condition of our foreign affairs is
reasonably satisfactory.
MEXICO.
Mexico continues to be the theatre of
! civil war. While our political relations
with that country have undergone no
change, We have at the same time strictly
maintained neutrality between the btlig.
erents.
- CENTRAL AMERICA.
At the request Of the states Of Costa Ri-
CO and Nicaragua, a competent engineer
has BEEN authorized to make Q survey of
the river San Juan and the port of San
Juan. Il ise source OF much satisfaction
that the diiheultiee which for o moment
excited some political appreheDsions, and
caused losing of the inter oceanic transit
route have been amics5ly adjusted, and
that there Is good prospect that the route
will soon be rsopened, with an increase Of
capacity aud adaptation. We could not
exagsrate either the commercial or the
political Importance of that great inn
| provement.
SOUTH AMERICA.
II would be doing injustice to an impo
tant South American state not to &C.
knowledge the directness, frapkuess, and
cordialIty with which the United States of
Colombia have entered into intimate re-
lotions with this government. A claims
convention has been constituted to CONF
! plete the unfinished work of the one which
| closed lite session in 1861
The lew liberal constitution of Veneuu.
ella having gone into effect with the uni
versal acquiesceuce of the people, the gov
eminent under it has been recognized, and
! diplomatic intercourse with it has been
| opened in cordial and friendly spirit
| The long deferred Avis island claim has
been satisfactorily paid ard discharged.
Mutual payments have been made Of
| the claims awarded 10y the lste joint COM
mission for the settlement Of claims be.
| tween the United States and Pe:u. An
earnest and cordial friendship continues to
exist between the two countries, and such
efforts as were 10 my power have been used
to renoes Misunderstanding and avert q
threatened war between Peru aud Spain.
| Our relations are Of the most friendly
nature with Chill, the Argettiue republic,
Bolivia, Costa RIGA, Paraguay, San Sal
vacOr. and Hsyti. During the past year
no differences Of any kind have arisen
with any of thrse republics. and, on the
other hand, thei. sympsthies with the
United States are constantly expressed.
The claim arising from the seizure Of
the cargo of the brig Macedonian lie 1921
has been paid in full by the government of
Chill.
| SAN DoNINco-
Civil war continues in The Spanish POI
of Snu Domingo. apparently without a
prospect Of an early close.
LIBERIA.
Official correspondence has been Frcslr
opened with Liberia, and il gives us q
pleasing view of social and political pro-
gress IN that republic. Il may be expect
ed to derive pew vigor from American in
huence. improved by the rapid disappear-
ancs Of slavery in the United States.
solicit your authority to furnish the repub-
lie q guubeat at q moderate cost, to be
reimbursed to the United States by INSTALL
ments. Such q vessel 10 n eded for the
safety OF that state against the native
African race, and 10 Liberian hands il
would be more effective in srresting the
African slave trade than 9 squadron in our
own hands The possession of the least
organized naval force wouh stimulate q
generous ambition 10 the republic, and the
confidence which we should manifest ty
furnishing it wouli win forbearauce and
favor towards the colony from al civilized
nations.
TELEGRAPHIc COMMUNICATION WITH THE
EASTERN HEMISPHERE.
The proposed overland telegraph be.
tween America and Europe, BY way Of
Behring's straits and Arctic Russia, which
was sanctioned by congress ct its last SEES
sion, has been undertaken under very fsv-
orable circumstances by an association Of
American citizens, with the cordial good
will and support, as well Of this govern.
ment as Of those Of Great Britain and Rus
STA. Assurances have been received from
most Of the South American states of their
high appreciation Of the enterprise, and
their readiness to cooperate 10 construct
ing lines to that woodworking commu-
DieatioD.
/ learn with much satisfaction that the
noble design of telegrsphic communies
tion between the eastern coast Of America
and Great Britain has been renewed, With
full expectation of its early accomplish
ment. Thus it is hoped that. with the
return Of domestic peace, the country will
be able to resume with energy and sGvsu-
tage her former high career Of commerce
and civilization.
EGYPT.
Our very popular and estineble repre-.
sentative in Egypt died in April last year
An unpleasant sltercstion which arose
between the temporary incumbent of the
| he e
resulted in suspension of Intercourse. -
This was promptly corrected on the arrival
OF the successor to the consulate. Our re-
latioBs with Egypt, as well as our relation,
with the ssibary powers, are entirely
satisfactory.
The rebellion which has 90 long been in
progress in China has at last been sun.
pressed, with the cooperating good Offices
of this government and OF the other foreier
commercial states. The Judicial consuisl
establishment has become very difficult anC
and onerous, and it will need legislativ,
regulation to adapt it to the extension Of
our commerce, aud to the more iutimat.
intercG urss which has been instituted will
the government and people of that vas
empire. China seems to be aeceptionc
with hearty good will the conventional IaWl
which regulate commerce and social inter.
course among the western notions.
JAPAN.
Owing 10 the peculiar situation Of Japar
and tbe.auomalous form of iss government
the action Of that empire in performing
treaty stipulatioDs is inooDstant and capri
ciOus. Nevertheless. good progress bst
been effected by the western powers, NOV
ing with enlightened concert. Our OWL
pecuniary claims have been allowed or pu
10 course Of settlements, and the Inland eel
has been rsopened to commerce. There i
reason also 10 believe that these proceed
ings have increased rather than Diminish