Charles City intelligencer., 1865-12-14


duction will diminish the total amount
of interest TO be paid, and so enlarge
the means OF still further reductions,
until the whole shall be liquidated |;
and this, as will be seen from the es-
Inmates of the Secretary Of the Treasu.
ry, may be accomplished by annual
payments even within period not ex-
cceding thirty years. | have faith
that we shall do al this within a rea.
sonable time that, as we have amaz-
ed the world by the suppression of
civil war which was thought to be be-
yond the control Of any Government,
30 we shall equally show the supcriori-
ty of our institutions by the prompt and
faithful discharge Of our national OBJ
legations.
The Department of Agriculture, un-
der the present direction, is accom-
plishing much in developing and util.
iziDg the vast agricultural capabili.
ties Of the country, and for informa-
ton respecting the details OF its man
reference is made to the an
nual report Of the Commissioner.
Ihavc dwelt thus fully on our do
mestic affairs because Of their trans
cendent Importance. Under any cir
cumstances, our great extent of terri.
tory and variety of climate, producing
almost every thing that is necessary
for the wants, and even the comforts
of man, make us singularly indepen-
dent Of the varying policy Of foreign
powers, and protect US against every
temptation to "cntangling alliances,
while at the present moment the re.
establishment of harmony, and the
strength that comes from harmony,
will be our best security against ma
tions who feel power aud forget right"
For myself, it has been and it will be
my constant aim to promote peace
and amity with all foreign nations
aud powers and have every reason
to believe that they all, without ex-
ccption, are animated by the same
disposition. Our relations with the
Emperor of China, SO recent in their
origin are most friendly. Our COM
merce with his dominions is receiving
new developments and It is very
pleasing to find that the Government
Of that great Empire manifests salts.
faction with our policy, and reposes
lust confidence in the fairness which
marks our intercourse. The unbroken
harmony between the United States
and the Emperor of Russia is receiv,
ing new support from an enterprise
designed to carry telegraphic lines
across the continent Of Asia, through
his dominions, and 80 to connect us
with ell Europe by new channel OF
| intercourse. Our commerce Will
South America 10 about to receive en-
couragemcnt by a direct line Of mai
steamships to the rising Empire Q
Brazil. The distinguished party Q
:. meu OF science. who have recently lei
our country to make scientific explc
ration of the natural history and river
and mountain ranges Of that regic.
have received from the Emperor tha
generous welcome which was to hav
been expected from his constant friend
ship for the Umited States, and hi
5 well-known zeal in promoting tho az
e vancement Of knowledge. A hope
:, entertained that our commerce wit
d the rich and populons countries thu
e border ON the Mediterranean sea ma
+ be largely increased. Nothing wi
. be wanting, on the part Of this Go'
i ernnent, to extend the protection
: our flag over the enterprise OF our fe
. low-citizens. We receive from Il
b Powers in that region assurances
l. good will; and it is worthy OF mol
! that . special envoy has brought
J. messages of coincidence on the deaf
: of our late Chief Magistrate from tn
! Bey Of Tunis, whose rule includes tn
' old dominions of Carthage, on the Afr
: can coast.
Our domestic contest, now happil
ended, has left some traces in our r.
lations with one at least OF the gre;
: maritime Powers. The formal acco
). dance of bclligerent rights to the il
surgent States was unprccedente'
and has not been justified by the issu'
= But in the systems of neutrality pu
!. sued by the Powers which made tina
concession, there was marked dife
! ence. The materials of war for the il
surgcnt States were furnished, in
great measure, from the workshops {
: Great Britain; and British ships, maj
: ned by British subjects. and prepare
!, for receiving British ornaments. sale
from the ports Of Great Britain to max
war on American commerce, under tn
shelter Of commission from the ia
surgent States. These ships, having
once escaped from British ports. eve
afterwards entered them in every par
Of the world, to refit. and SO to renew
their depredations. The consequence,
J Of this conduct were most disastrous Il
the States then in rebellion, increasing
: their desolation aud misery by the pro
longation Of our civil contest. 1t had
moreover, the effect. to a great extent
. to drive the American flag from TIN
5 sea, and to transfer much Of our ship
: ping and our commerce to the yer,
: Power whose objects had created tll
necessity for such change. Thes
!; events took place before | was calle'
: to the administration Of the Govern
} ment. The sincere desire for peace b,
: which I am animated led me to approv
, the proposal, already made, to submit
the questions which had thus arisen be
, tween tue countries to arbitration. Tn
questions are of such moment tina
they must have commanded the atteu
tion Of the great Powers, and are 81
interviewer with the peace and inter
ests of every one Of them as to hav'
insured an impartial decision. ] re
gret to inform you that Great Brta;I
declined the arbitrament, but, on tht
other hand, invited Ms to the formation
Of joint commission TO settle mutua
claims between the two countries, from
which those for the depredations befor,
! mentioned should be excluded. Th,
proposition. in that very unsstisfacto
/ ry form. has been declined.
The United States did not prescn
the subject as an impeachment of the
1 c..sk 1. x~c ~