The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-02-07
n - - II ~ n H K

domestic difficulties, l recommend
that adequate and ample measures
be adopted for maintaining the
public defenses on every side.
While, under this general recon-
mendation, provision for defending
our sea-coast line readily occurs to
the mind, / also, in the same con-
nection, ask the attention of Con-
gress to our great lakes and rivers.
1t is believed that some fortifica-
tions and depots of arms and mu-
nitions, with harbor and -naviga-
ton improvements, all at we'll
selected points upon these, would
be of great Importance to the
national defense and preservation.
l ask attention to the views of the
Secretary of War, expressed in his
report, upon the same general SUBJ
ject.
By the act of the 5th of August
last. Congress authorized the Pres
ident to instruct the commanders
of suitable vessels to defend them
selves against, and to capture pi-
rates. This authority has been
exercised in single instances only.
For the more effectual protection
of our extensive and valuable COM
merce, in the eastern seas especi-
ally, it seems to me that it would
also be advisable to authorize the
commanders of sailing vessels to
recapture any prizes which pirates
may make of United States vessels
and their cargoes. and the consular
courts, now established by law in
eastern countries, to adjudicate the
case, in the event that this should
not be objected to by the local
authorities.
If any good reason exists why
we should persevere longer in
Withholding our recognition of the
independence and sovereignty of
Hayti and Liberia. I am unable to
discern it. Unwilling, however, to
inaugurate novel policy in regard
to them without the appreciation of
Congress, [ submit for your con-
sideration the expediency of an
appropriation for maintaining a
CHARGE D'AFFA1REs near each of
these new states. It does not ad-
NIT of doubt that important COM
mercial advantages might be
secured by favorable treaties with
The execution of the laws for
the suppression of the African
slave trade has been confided to
the Department of the Interior.
It is subject of graduation that
the efforts which have been made
for the suppression of this inhu-
man traffic have been recently at
tended with unusual success. Five
vessels being fitted out for the
slave-trade have been seized and
condemned.
Two mates of vessels engaged in
the trade, and one person in equip
ping a vessel as a SLAYER, have been
convicted and subjected to the pen
atty of fine and imprisonment; and
one captain, taken with a cargo of
Africans on board his vessel, has
been convicted of the highest
grade of offense under our laws,
the punishment of which is death.
The territories of Colorado, Da-
kota, and Nevada. created by the
last Congress, have been organized,
and civil administration has been
inaugurated therein under auspices
especially gratifying, when it is
considered that the leaven of trea-
son was found existing in some of
these new countries when the Fed
eral officers arrived there. The
abundant natural resources of these
territories, with the security and
protection afforded by organized
government, will doubtless invite
to them large immigration when
peace shall restore the business of