Weekly Trinity journal. [volume] (Weaverville, Calif.) 1857-1972, 1864-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Again the blessing of health and abundant
harvests claim profoundest gratitude to Al
mighty God.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The condition of our foreign affairs is reason
ably satisfactory. Mexico continues to be a
theater of civil war. While our political rela-
tons with that country have undergone no
, change, we have at the same time strictly main
tanned neutrality between the belligerenis.
At the request of the States of Costa Rica and
Nicaragua, competent engineer has made a
survey of the river San Juan and the port of San
Juan. 1t is source of much satisfaction that
the difficulties which, for moment excited some
political apprehension and caused losing OF the
. inter-oceanic transit route have been amicably
adjusted and that there is good prospect that
the route will soon be re-opened with an increase
of capacity and adaptation. We could not ex-
aggerate either the commercial or the political
Importance of this great improvement
1t would be doing injustice to an important
South American State not to acknowledge the
directness, frankness and cordially with which
the United States of Columbia have entered into
intimate relation with this Government.
Claims Convention has been constituted to COM
plete the unfinished work of the one which closed
its session in 1861.
The new liberal Constitution of Venezuela
having gone into effect, with the universal &C
quiescence of the people, the Government under
it has been recognized, and diplomatic inter-
course with it has been opened in cordial and
friendly spirit. The long deferred Avis Island
claim has been satisfactorily paid and dis
charged.
Mutual payments have been made of the claims
awarded by the late joint Commission for the
settlement of claims between the United States
!, ND Dar, An and fri ch N
continues to exist between the two countries,
!, and such efforts as were in my power have been
used to remove misunderstanding and avoid
threatened war between Peru and Spain.
Our relations are Of the most friendly nature
| with Chile, the Argentine Republic, Bolivia,
Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salvador and Hayti.
During the past year no differences of any kind
5 have arisen with any of these republics On the
} other hand, their sympathies with the United
t States constantly expressed. The claim
arising from the seizure of the cargo of the brig
Macedonia, in 1921, has been paid in full by the
Government of Chile.
Civil war continues in the Spanish port of San
Domingo apparently without a prospect of an
? carly close.
Official correspondence has been freely opened
with Liberia, and it gives new and pleasant
view of social and political progress in that re-
public 1t may be expected to derive new vigor
from American influence, improved by the rapid
: disappearance of slavery in the United States.
solicit your authority to furnish the republic a
gunboat at moderate cost, to be reimbursed to
the United States by installments Such YES
sci is needed for the safety of that State against
the native African race, and in Lberian hands 1t
would be more effective i'll arresting the African
slave trade than squadron in our own hands.
The possession of the least organized naval force
would stimulate generous ambition in the re-
public, and the confidence which we should mani
in rhnlr
favor toward the colonies from all civized ma
tiOns.
The proposed overland telegraph between
America and Europe, by the way of Behring
Straits and arctic Russia, which was sanctioned
by Congress at the last session, has been under
taken, under very favorable circumstances, by an
association of American citizens, with the cor
dial good will and support as well of this Gov
J ernment rs of those of Great Britain and Russia
Assurances have been received from most of the
South American States of their high apprecia-
ton of the enterprise and their readiness to CO.
operate in constructing lines to connect with y
that world encircling communication.
learn with much satisfaction that the noble
, design of a Geographic communication between
the Eastern coast of America and Great Britain
has been renewed with full expectation of its
early accomplishment. Thus it is hoped that
with the return of domestic peace the countr y
will be able to resume with energy and advan-
, tage her former high career of commerce and
civilization.
u 4
Owing to the peculiar situation of Japan and
the anomalous form of its Government, the ac-
, ton of that empire in performing treaty stipu-
l lations is inconsistent and capricious. Never
theless good progress has been effected by the
Western Powers moving in enlightened concert
Our own pecuniary claims have been allowed OF
put in course of settlement, and the Inland Sea
has been re-opened to commerce. There is rea-
son also to believe that these proceedings have
increased rather than diminished, the friendship
of Japan towards the United States.
The ports of Norfolk, Fernandna and Pensa.
cola have been opened by proclamation. 1t il
hoped that foreign merchants will now consider
whether it is not more profitable to themselves
as well as just to the United States to resort tt
these and other open ports than it is to pursue
through many hazards and at vast cost, con
traband trade with other ports which are closed
if not by actual military operation, at least by
D lawful and effective blockade.
For myself have no doubt of the power anc
, duty of the Executive under the law of nations
to exclude enemies Of the human race from ar
asylum in the United States. If Congress should
think that proceedings in such cases lack thu
I authority of law, or ought to be further regula
ted by it, I recommend that provision be made
for effectually preventing foreign slave traders
from acquiring domicil and facilities for theil
I criminal occupation in our country.
1t is possible that if it were a new and an open
question the maritime powers, with tne Hen
they now enjoy would not concede the pri'iiee.es
of a naval belligerent to the insurgents OF the
United States, destitute as they are ana away Sd
have been, equally of ships and OF ports a ana
u harbors. Disioyai emissares have been neither
Iess ass;duous nor more successful during the
Ia st wear than they were before tnat Time III .he
If as' dar favor of that privilege, to embroil
e omr country in foreign Nevertheless un
political difficulties have arisen sen es pc
.r,Lern boundary of the United States, which
have required, and are likely to continue to re-
= ouire, the practice of constant vigilance and
o inst and concilatory spirit on the part of the
limited States as well of the nations con-
cerned and their Governments Commissioners
have been appointed under the treaty with Great
. Britain on the adjustment of the claims of the
Hudson Bay and Puget Sound Agricultural Com
panies in Oregon, and are now proceeding to the
: execution of the trust assigned them.
In view of the insecurity of life in the region