The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-01-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FelloV Citizens ofhe Senate and House
Of Representatives.

these, and for the improved condition of
our National affairs, our renewed and
profound gratitude to God is due
We remain in peace and friendship
with foreign powers The efforts of dis
loyal citizens of the United States to in
volve us in fereign wars to aid inexcusa-
BILE insurrection, have been unavailing.
Her Brittanic Majesty's G verDment, as
was justly expected, have exercised their
authority to prevent the departure of new
hostile expeditions frow British ports.
The Emperor of France has b. like pro
ceeding promptly vindicated the neutral
ity which he proclaimed at the beginning
of the contest. Questions of great intrl-
cacy and importance have arisen out of
the blockade and other belligerant opera
tIons between the Government and several
of the maratime powers, but they have
been discussed. and, So far as was poss
Bile, accommodated IN spirit of frankness,
justice aud mutual good will 1t is es
pecially gratifying that our Prize Courts,
by the impartlality of their adjudication,
have commanded the respect and conf
dence of maritime powers
}he Supplemental treaty between the
United States and Great Britain for The
suppression of the African Slave trade,
made ou the 18th of February last, has
been duly ratified and carried into execu
tiou. 1t is believed that so tar as Auer
lean ports aud American citlseus are con-
cerned, that inhumao and barbarous
traffic has been brought to an eud.
| shall submit for the consideration of
the Senate convention for the adjust
ment of Possessory Claims in Washington
Territory, arising out Of the treaty of the
18th of June, 1854, between the United
States and Great Britain, aud which
have been the source of some disquiet
among t e citizeus OF that nov rapidly
Improving part Of ;he country.
! A novel and important question. in
voivIng the extent of the maritime juris
round the Island of Cuba. has been deba-
ted without reaching any agreement, and
II l. prop"-ed in an anicable spirii. to
retrr 1t % thr al biiralneut of a friendly
power. a convention for that purpose
will be submitted to the Senate,
have Thought 1t proper. subject to the
approval of tie Senate, to concur with
the interested Commercial Powers 10 an
arrangement tor the liquidation of the
Scheldt dues upon the principles which
have been heretofore adopted in regard
to the impast' upon naviga ion in the
waters of Denmark The long peuding
controversy between this Government aud
that of Chill touching the seizure at
Gitana, 10 Peru. bv Chllan officers, of a
large amount 10 treasure, belonging to
citizens of the United States. has been
brought to a close by the award of his
majesty the King of the BeIgians, to
whose arbitration the question was refer
red by the parties. The subject was
thoroughly aud patiently examined BY
that justly respected magnate, and altho'
the sun awarded to the claimants NAV
not have been as large as they expected.
there is no reason to dlstrust the wisdom
of his majesty's decision. That decision
was promptly complied with by Chill,
when Intelligence in regard TO it reached
that country.
Incidents occurring in the progress of
our civil war have forced upon INV atten
tlon the uncertain state of International
questions touching the rights of foreign
ers Ia this country, and of the United
States citizens abroad. In regard to
some governments these rights are at
least partially defined by treaties To no
instance however, is it expressly stipula-
ted, that in the instance of civil war a
foreigner residing in tn country, within
the lines of the insurgents: is to be ex
empted from the rule which classes him
as a belligerant, in whose behalf the Gov
ernmeet Of his country cannot express
any privileges or immunities distinct from
that character. / regret to say, however,
that such claims have been put forward
and in some Instances in behalf of for
eigners who have lived in the United
States the greater part Of their lives
There is reason to believe that maoy
persous born in foreign countries who
have declared their intention to become
citizens on who have been fully natural,
lied. have evaded the military duty re-
qured of them in denying the fact, and
thereby throwing upon the Government
the burden of proof. 1t has been found
difficult or impracticab'e to obtain the
proof fron tf4e want of guides to the
proper sources of information These
might be supplied by requiring the Clerks
of Courts where declarations of intention
may be made or naturalization effected, to
send periodically ists-of the names of the
persons naturalized or declaring their In
tention to become citizens, to the Secre-
]