Year: 1868




American hemisphere. Believing that q
further step could be taken in the same
direction, l last year entered into treaty
with the King Of Denmark for the pur-
chase of the Island Of St. Thomas and ST..
John, on the best terms then obtsinable,
with the express consent Of the people OF
the island. This treaty still remains
under consideration in the Senate. A
new Convention has been entered into
between Denmark, extending the time
fixed for final ratification Of the original
treaty. A comprehensive national pol
icy would seem to sanction the acquisi-
ton and incorporation into our Federal
Union of the several adjacent CONT
mental and insular communities as
speedily as it can be done peacefully and
lawfully, and without any violation OF
national justice, faith or honor. For
cign possession or control of these COM
munities has hitherto hindered the
growth and impaired the influence OF
the United States. Chronic revolution
and anarchy thus would be equally ipju-
rious. Each one of them, when firmly
established as an independent republic,
when incorporated wholly, would be a
new source of strength and power. Con-
forming my administration to these prin-
ciples l have on no occasion counte-
nanced support or federation to unlawful
expeditions set ON foot upon the plea of
republican propagandism, or of national
extension or aggrandizement. The me-
cessity, however, of repressing such un-
lawful movements clearly indicates the
duty which rests on us of adopting our
legislative action to new circumstances,
to decline of European monar-
chial power and influence and the
increase of Oriental Republics, in
terests and sympathies. 1t cannot be
long before it will become necessary for
this Government to lend some effective
aid to the solution of the political and
social problems which are continually
kept before the world by the two Repub-
lies of the Island of st. Domingo, and
which are now developing themselves
more distinctly than before. In the
Island of Cuba the subject is commended
to your consideration with all earnest
ness, because am satisfied that the time
has arrived when even SO direct pro-
ceeding as the annexation of the Repub-
lie of the Island of St. Domingo would
not only receive the consent of the people
themselves but would also give satisfac-
ton to all other foreign nations. am
aware that upon the question of further
extending our possessions it is appre-
headed by some that our political system
cannot fully be applied to an area more
extending than our continent, but the
conviction is rapidly gaining ground in
America, that with the increased facili-
ties for ntercommunication between all
portions of the earth, the principles of
our Government are embraced in our
Constitution, and if faithfully maintained
and carried out, would prove of sufficient
strength and breadth to comprehend
within thoir sphere and influence the
civilized nations Of the world.


The attention of the Senate and of
Congress is again respectfully invited to
the treaty for the establishment of COM
mercial reciprocity with the Hawaiian
Kingdom, entered into last year and
already ratified by that government. The
attitude of the United States toward
those islands is not different to that in
which they stand toward the West In
dies. 1t is known and felt by the Hawaii
an government and institutions are feeble
apd precarious, and that the United
States being SO near neighbor, would be
unwilling to see the island pass under
foreign control Their prosperity is con-
tinualy disturbed by expectations aud
alarm of unfriendly and political pro-
ceedings as we'll from the United States
as from foreign powers. A reciprocity
treaty while it could not materially
diminish the plea of the United States,
would be a guarantee of the good will
and forbearance of ell nations, until the
people of the islands of themselves at
no distant day voluntarily apply for ad-
mission into the Union.


Irenew the Recommendation contained
in my communication to Congress, dated
the 18th of July last, copy of which
accompanies the message, that the Judg-
ment of the people should be taken on
the eropriety of so amending the Federal
Constitution that it shall provide, first,
for an election of President and Vice
President by direct vote Of the people,
instead of through the agency of Electors,
and makisg them ineligible for election
to second term second, for distinct
designation of the person who shall dis
charge the duties of President. in the
event Of q vacancy of that office by
death, resignation or removal OF both the
President and Vice President; third, for
the election Of Senators Of the United
States, direct, by the people of the sew
eral States, instead Of by the Legisla-
lures; and fourth, for the limitation to
period of years, of the terms of Federal
judges.


Profoundly impressed with the propri-
ETY. Of making these important moditca-
tions in the Constitution, respectfully
submit them for the early and mature
consideration Of Congress. We should,
as far as possible, remove all prstext for
violation Of the organic law By remedy
ing such imperfections as time and expe-
rience may develop, ever remembering
that the Consultation, which any rime
exists unchanged except by explicit and
authentic act Of the whole people, is sa-
credly obligatory upon All.


In the performances Of duty laid upon
me BY the Constitution / have thus com
municated to Congress information Of
the state Of the Union, and recon-
mended for their consideration such
measures as have seemed 10 ne neces-
sary and expeSisut- II carried into
effect they will hasten the accomplish
ment Of the great and benehceut par
poees for vHch the Constitution vas
mn