Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Fel1ow-citisens or the Senate
80 y and House OF Representatives ::

III
Again the blessings of health and album
dantharvests claim our protoundest grati-
tude to Almighty God. ~
The condition of our foreign affairs Is
reasonably satisfactory. Mexico continues
to he n theatre of civil war. While our
political relations with that country have
Undergone no change, we have, at the same
time. strictly maintained neutrality be-
tween the belligerents.
At the request of the States of Costa Rica
and Nicarauga, a competent engineer has
5 been authorized to make survey OF the
river San Juan and the port of San Juan.
1t is a source of much salts faction that the
difficulties which for moment excited
some political apprehensions, and caused a
closing of the inter-oceanic transit route,
have been admirably adjusted, aud that
there is good prospect that the route will
soon be reOpened with an increase OF capaci-
ty and adaptation. We could not exagger-
ate either the commercial or the political
Importance of that great improvement. 1t
would be doing injustice to an important
North American State not to acknowledge
the directness, frankness and cordiality
with which the United States of Columbia
have entered into intimate relations with
this Government.
A claims convention has been constituted
which closed its session in 1861. The new
liberal constitution of Venezuela, having
gone into effect with the universal acqui-
escence of the people, the Government un-
der it has been recognized, and diplomatic
intercourse with it has been opened in a
cordial and friendly spirit. The long de-
ferred Aris Island claim has been satisfac-
torily paid and discharged. Mutual pay
ments have been made of the claims award
ed by the late Joint Commission for the
settlement of claims between the United
States and Peru. An earnest and cordial
friendship continues to exist between the
two countries, and such efforts as were in
my power have been used to remove mis-
understanding and avoid threatened war
| between Peru and Spain.
Our relations are of the most friendly
nature with Chilli, the Argentine Republics
of Bolivia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, San
Salvador, and Hayti. During the past year
no differences of any kind have arisen with
any OF these Republics; and on the other
hand, their sympathies with the United
States are constantly ex pressed.
The claim arising from the seizure of the
cargo of the brig, Macedonian, in 1851 has
been paid in full by the Government OF
Chill.
Civil war continues in the Spanish port
of San Domingo, apparently without pros
pect of an early close. Official correspon-
dence has been freely opened with Liberia,
and it gives us pleasing view of social
and political progress in that Republic. 1t
might be expected to derive new vlgor from
American influence, improved by the rapid
disappearance of slavery in the United
States. solicit your authority to furnish
the Republic with gunboat, at moder-
ate cost, to be reimbursed to the United
&c Z.
necdful TOR the safety of that State against
the native African races, and in Liberian
hands it would be more effective in arrest
ing the African slave trade, than squadron
in our own hands. The possession of the
least organized naval force would stimu-
late generous ambition in the Republic;
and the confidence which we should mani
fest by furnishing it would win forbearance
and favor towards the Colony, from all civ
ilized nations.
The proposed overland telegraph between
America and Europe, by the way of Beh-
rings Straits, and Asiatic Russia, which
was sanctioned by Congress at the last ses-
sion, has been undertaken under very fa-
vorable 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
sia. Assurances have been received from
most of the South American States of their
high appreciation of the enterprise, and
their readiness to cooperate In construct
ing lines tributary to that world-encircling
communication,
learn with much satisfaction that the
noble design of n telegraphic communica-
tion between the eastern coast of America
and Great Britain, has been renewed, with
full expectation of its early accomplish
2 IL n ha
turn of domestic peace, the country will be
able to resume, with energy and advantage,
her former high career of commerce and
civilization.
Our very popular and estimable Repre-
sentative in Egypt, died in April last. An
unpleasant alteration which arose between
the temporary incumbent of the Office and
the government of the Pacha, resulted in
suspension of intercourse. The evil was
promptly corrected on the arrival OF the
Successor iii the Consulate, and our rela-
tions with Egypt, as well as ourrelations
with the Barbary powers, are entirely satis-
factory.
The rebellion which has so long been fla
grant in China, has ut last been suppressed,
with the cooperating good offices of this
Government and of the other western COM
mercial States. The Judicial Consular es-
tablishment has become very difficult and
onerous; and it will need legislative restric-
tion to adapt it to the extension OF our COM
merce and to the more intimate Intercourse
which has been instituted with the Govern
ment and people of that vast empire.
China seems accepting, with hearty good
will, the conventional laws which regulate
commerce and social intercourse among the
Western nations. Owing to the peculiar
situation of Japan, and the anomalous form
of its government, the action of that EN-
pire in preserving treaty stipulations is in
consistent and capricious; nevertheless,
good progress has been effected by the
Western powers moving with enlightened
concert. Our own pecunary claims have
been allowed or put in course of settlement,
and the inland sea has been re-opened to
commerce. There is reason also to believe
that these proceedings have increased,
rather than diminished, the friendship of
Japan towards the United States.
The ports of Norfolk, Fernandina and
Pensacola, have been opened by proclama-
tion. 1t is hoped that foreign merchants
will now consider whether it is not safer
and more profitable to themselves, as well
as just to the United States, To resort to
these and other open ports, than it is to pur-
sue through many hazards, and at vast cost,
a contraband trade with other ports which
are closed, If not by actual military occu-
patton, at least by lawful and effective
blockade. For my part, / 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. If Congress should think
IL -.