Year: 1868

The President next makes reference to
the reports Of the Secretaries OF War, Navy
and Postmaster General.


Our foreign relations are said to he friend
ly, except that in regard tp Paraguay, the
controversy between the President ct that
country and Mr.. Washburn has led to in.
structirns TO onr newly appointed minister
10 Paraguay, Mr.. McMahou, to proceed to
Asuncion and investigate the whole matter,
aud the rear admiral of our squadron on
that station has been directed to attend the
new minister with proper naval force to
sustain such just demands as the occasion
NAV re quire.


Oar relations with MeSico during the
past year are said to have been mar.
ked by an increasing growth of natural
confidence. Neg citations are said 10 be
pen dug with a view 10 the survey sud con.
struction of q ship canal across the Isthmus
of Darien under the auspices of the United
States. The President has been reuctat-
ly obliged to ask explanation aud satisfac
ton for national injuries committed by the
President Of Hayti.


Reference is made TO the acquisition ot
Alaska, which it is said was made with the
view OF extending national jurisdiction and
republican principles in the American hem-
isphere, and as a stepin the same direction
a reaty was made for the purchase of st.


Thomas, which remeins under consideration
in the Senate.


The President holds that comprehensive
national policy would seem TO sanction the
acquisition and Incorporation into our fed.
eral Union of the adjacent continental and
inSular communities rs speedily as it can be
done peacefully and lawfully, an idea which
will take hold upon the popular mind. In
tins connection the President says:
"lt cannot be long before il will become
necessary for this government to lend some
effective aid to the solution of the political
and social problems whicn are continually
kept before the world by the two republics
Of the Island Of ST. Domingo, and which are
now disclosing themselves more distinctly
than heretofore in the Island Of Cuba. The
subject is commended to your considers alton
VITA all the more earneStness because | am
satisfied that the time has asrived when
even so direct a proceeding as a proposition
for an annexation of the two republics of
the Island of St. Domingo would not only
receive the consent OF the people interes-
ed, but would also give satisfaction TO all
other foreign nations"


With the increased facilities for inter
communication, the President thinks that
| our political system can be successfully ap-
Piled 10 an area more extended than our
continent.


Reference is next made to treaties with
the Hawaiian kingdom, with Germany aud
Bavaria regarding the rights OF naturalized
citizens, and to the important questions re-
naming open between the United States
and England for adjustment. In reference
to these last, the President expresses the
hope that he shall be able to lay before the
Senate during the present session protocles
calculated to bring these controversies TO
au end.


The President renews the recommends
tiOn OF his last message ia relation to
amending the constitution for the election
of President and Vice President for sin
gle term by a direct vote Of the people, &C.,
and closes with the expression OF hope
that the counsels of Congress will be so
guided as to preserve the Union and restore
prosperity aud happiness to the people.