The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1864-12-10
Presidents MESSAGE.

dant harvests.
The President says the condition of our
foreign affairs is reasonably satisfactory" Our
political relations with Mexico have undergone
no change, and this country has strictly main
tanned neutrality between the begerents.
The difficulties which caused the closing of
the inner oceanic transit route across the 18TH
mus, have been amicably adjusted, and that
great commercial and political improvement will
soou be re-opened.
Telegraphic communication with Great Brit
ain, it is expected, will soon be renewed, and the
proposed teegrapha communication with
Europe by way of Behring's Straits, is also in
prospect of accomplishment
The relations of this country with Japan,
China, Egypt the Barbary Powers, the States
of Central America, and the Republics of South
America, are generally of the most friendly
character.
The President desires authority of Congress
to furnish a gunboat to the Libelian Republic
to aid in arrestng the slave trade.
The President refers to the opening of the
ports Of Norfolk Felnandino and Pensacola,
and hopes are expressed that foreign merchants
will consider it safer to resort to those open
ports than to pursue u contraband trade. He
recommends that foreign slave-traders be pre-
vented from acquiring domicil, &c, in this
country. He says that L" if it were Il new and
open question, the maratime powers would not
concede the principle Of naval bclligerent to
the insurgents of the United States" He refers
to the unforeseen difficulties which have arisen
in Brazilian and British ports, and on the north
ern boundaries of the United States.
The act of the last session for the encourage
ment of emigration has been put in partial
operation, but an amendment Of the act is neces-
sary to prevent fraud, &c. He recommends the
encouragement of emigration as most important
| to this government.
The President states that the financial affairs
of the government have been successfully adj
ministcred. The receipts from all sources dur
ING the year, including loans and balances in
the treasury July LIST, 1863, We're s. 1874 1885,
OO7 62, and the aggregate disbursements upon
the same basis We're 81 Dos ,O56, l0l .S9-leaving
balance in the treasury Of 500, 739 ,9O5. 10
The public debt on the LIST of July last was
81 ,740, SOC. 459 49, and should the war continue
for another year, the debt may be increased by
about five hundred millions. The President
says, GAS the debt is held for the most part by
our own people, it has become substantial
branch of national, through private, property
and certain suggestions are made to Congress
in connection with its general distribution
among the people.
The National Banking system, he says, is
proving to be greatly acceptable to capitalists
and the people; and he hopes that very soon
there will be in the United States no banks OF
issue not authorized by Congress- and no bank
Five hundred and twenty -tour National banks
have already been organized.
The reports of the Secretaries of War and
Navy are referred to for details of military oper-
ations. The President says she concurs with
the Secretary of the Treasury i'll the opinion that
the proportion Of moneys required to meet the
expenses consequent upon the war, derived from
taxation. shall be still further increased"
|. The number of naval captures, since hosi-
ties commenced, is ,H9-ot which 267 are
steamers. The proceeds of condemned prize
property thus far reported is Sl4,396, 250.5l.
The postal revenue for the year ending June
30, 1864, amount to $l2,43o, 2557s, and the
expenditures to $l2,644, 7S6.2O.the excess of
expenditures over receipts being $206652.42
The report of the Secretary OF the Interior, in
relation TO Indian affairs, the Pacific railroad,
mineral discoveries, &c, is commended to the
attention of Congress.
There have been 1921 ,342 acres of public
land disposed of during the five quarters ending
30th of September last, of which ,,3S GA acres
were entered under the homestead law. The
cash received was s ,0l9,446. There is now
open to settlement about l33,000OO0 acres of
surveyed land.
The President refers to the Importance of re-
modelling our Indian system. Also, to the re-
markable feature in the military operations of
the year-being the attempted march OF Gen
Sherman through 300 miles of the insllrgent
region. Also to the fact that 12000 citizens in
ench of the States of Arkansas and Louisiana
have organized loyal governments with free
Constitution.
The present number of army invalid pension
ers is 22.167, and of navy invalids, 7l2. OF
widows, orphans and mothers, %, 1875 have been
placed on the army pension rolls, and PAS on
the navy rolls.
The Message concludes as follows:
RESULTS OF THE WAR.
The war continues. Since the last annual
message, all the important lines and posi-
tons then occupied by our forces have been
maintained and our arms have been steadily
advanced, thus liberating the regions left in
the rear; so that Missouri. Kentucky, Ten
nessee, and parts of other States, have again
produced reasonably fair crops.
The most remarkable feature in the mill
tary operations of the year is General Sher-
man S attempted march Of three hundred
miles directly through the insurgent region.
1t tends to show great increase of our rel
alive strength, that our General in Chief
should feel able to confront and hold in
check every active force of the enemy and
yet detach well appointed large army to
move on such an expedition. The result not
yet being known, conjecture in regard to it
is not here INDUCED.
Important movements have also occurred
during the year to the effect of moulding So
ciety for the durability of the Union. Al
though short of complete success, it is much
in the right direction that twelve thousand
citizens in each of the States Of Arkansas
and Louisiana have organized local State
Governments with free Constitutions and
are earnestly struggling to maintain and al
minister them. The movements in the same
direction, more extensive though less def
mite, in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee,
should not be overlooked; but Maryland
presents the example of complete success.
Maryland is secure to liberty and Union for
no more claim Maryland. Like another
foul spirit, being driven out it may seek to
tear Der, but it will WOO her no more.
At tie last cession of Congress proposed
amendment to the Constitution, abolshing
slavery throughout the United States, passed
the Senate, but failed for want of the requi-
site two thirds vote in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Although the present is the
same Congress and nearly the same mem
bes, ard without questioning the wisdom or
patriotism Of those wio stood in opposition,
venture to recommend the reconsideration
aud passage of the measure at the present
session. Of course, the abstract question is
not changed, but an intervening election
shows almost certainly that the next Con-
gress will pass the measure if this does not