The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizens cftAs Ssns,s and
House of Repysssnfdtirss

Again the blessings OF health ana aounuahs
harves,s claim our profoundsst gratitude to
Almighty Gcd.
soREioS AyTAiRs.
The condition Of our foreign ahairs 10 fsa.
sonsbly satisfactory. Mexico continues to DO
theatre Of civil war. while our political 70.
ls,ions with that country have undergone no
change. We have at the same time msintain.
ed neutrality between the belligerents. AT
the request OF the States Of Costa RIGA and
Nicaragua . competent engineer has been
authorized To make q survey Of the river San
Juan. II is source OF much satisfaction that
the difficulties which for q moment excited
sdme political apprehension, and caused .
closing Of the inter- Oceanic transit route have
been smcsbly adjusted. and that there 10 =
good prospect that tho route will soon be re.
opened with an increase Vf capacity and
adaptation. We could not cxaygerats either
the commercial or the political Importance Of
that great improvement. Il would be doing
injustice to an important State not to &C.
knowledge the directnss,, frankness, and cor.
dislity with which the U. 8. Of Columbis
have entered into intimate relations with this
government. A claims convention has been
constituted TO complete the unfinished work
Of the one which closed its session in 1861.
The claim arising from the seizure Of the brig
Macedonian in 1921 has been paid in full by
the government OF Chill. Civil war contin-
ues in the Spanish part Of st Domingo. up.
parently without prospect of an early close.
Mutual payments have been made If
claims awarded by the late joint commission
for the settlement OF claims between the u.
\. and Peru. An earnest and cordial friend.
ship continues to exist between the two coua.
tries, and such efforts as were in my power
have been used 70 remove misunderstanding
and avert a threatened war between Peru and
Spain. Our relations ore OF the most friend
ly nature with Chill, the Argentine Republic,
Boliver. Costa Ries. Paraguay. San Salvador.
and layu. During the past year no differ.
ence OF any kind has arisen with any OF these
republics, and on the other hand they syinps.
,hiEo with the United States. and are con.
stantly expressing cordiality and earnes,nes.
Official correspondence has been freely oIcn-
ed with Liberia and it gives US a pleasing
view OF social and political progress in that
Republic. II may be expected TO derive no
visor from amnesty influence improved by tie
rapid disappearance OF slavery in the United
States, and solicit your authority to furnish
to the republic gunbost al moderate cost.
TO be reimbursed to the United States by in.
stslments. Such u vessel is needed for the
safety OF that State against the native African
race, and in Liberian hands il would be more
effective in arres'ing the African slave trade
than . squadron in our own hands. The pos.
session oil the least organized naval force
would stimulate generous ambition in the
republic and the confidence which we should
manifest by furnishing il would win oibear.
anee and favor towards the colony from all
civilized nations.
The proposed overland telegraph between
America and Europe by the way OF Behring's
strait. and Aslstic Russia which was second.
ed by Congress NJ the last session. has been
begun under very favorable appreciation OF
the entei prise and their iealnes, TO cooper.
ate IN constructing lines tributary to tina,
world encircling communication and lean
with much satisfaction IL at the noble design
OF = telesraphc communication between the
eastern coast OF America and Great Britain
has been revived with full expectation of its
early accom- plishmeut. Thus 1t is hoped that
with the return of domestic peace u coun.
try will resume with energy and advantages
our former high care Ut commerce and civil.
ration. Our very popular aud estimable rep.
resen,aiive in Esp, died in April last. an
unpleasant alteration which arose between
the temporary incumbent OF the office, and
the government OF the Pacha. resulting in a
suspension OF intercourse. The evil was
probably remedled on the arrival of the sue
cessor in the consulate. aud our relations viii.
Egypt. rs we'll Is our relations with the Bar.
barry pow.us are entirely satisfactory.
The rebellion which has so long been Ia
grant in China. has al last been suppressed
with the operating good offices OF this gov.
eminent, and vi the other wes'eIn commercial
States. The Judicial Consulate establish.
ment there has become very difficult and
onetous and IL will need legislative revision
for the extension OF our commerce and the
more intimate intercourse which has been in.
tsrrup'ed with the government and people of
thst vast empire. Chins seems TO be accept.
ing with hearty good will the conventional
laws which regulate commercial and social
intercourse among western nations. Owing
10 the peculiar situation OF Japan aud the
anomlous form OF the government, the action
OF that Empire In performing treaty stipula.
tons IL ineonstant and caprIcious- neverthe-
less good progress has been effected by the
Western powers moving with enlightened
concert. Our own pecunisry claims have been
allowed or put in course OF settlement, and an
inland sea has been Ie.opehed TO commerce,
There Is reason also TO believe that the pro.
cecdings have increased rather tina, diminish.
ed the friendship OF Japan towards the Unit
cd States.
Commissioners have been appointed under
the treaty with Great Britsin on the adjust,
msnt OF the claims OF the Hudson's Bay and
Puget Sound Agricultural Companies in Or.
egon. and they are now proceeding TO the ex.
ecution Of the trust assigned TO them.
oYESiNo oy SOUTHERN FORTS.
The ports OF Norfolk. Fernsndina and Pen.
sacola have been opened by proclamation.
II Is hoped tina, foreign merchants will con.
slider whether il is not safer aud more proH,s.
BILE &c themselves as well as jus; to the U. s.
to resort to these and other open ports than il
10 TO pursue through many hazards and ut
vast cos; q con,rsbsnd trade with other ports
which were closed II not by actual occups.
ton at least by lawful and eHectual block.
ado.
HARDoRiSo roREioS SLAVE TRADERS.
For myself ! have no doubt OF the power
and duty OF the executive under the law of
nations to exclude enemies Of The human race
from an asylum in the United States. II
Congress should think that proceedings in
such cases lack the authority OF law or ought
TO be further regulated by IL. I rec" mmend
that provision be made Tor eifeetuslly prevent.
ing foreign slave traders from acquiring dom.
icils aud facilities icr their criminal occupa.
ton IN our country.
iSsrroAriSo FOREIGN INRRooLios.
It's possible IL IL were new and open ques.
ton, the maritime powers With the light they
now enjoy would not conccds the privileges
OF naval belligsrsnt to the in. suryents oi
the United States. destitute 90 they are end
al~aya have hs.,, .r,.il. 80