Year: 1863




Another year Of health and of sufficiently abundant
harvests has passed For these and especially for the
Improved condition of national affairs our renewed
and piofoundest gratitude to God is due.


We remain in peace and friendship with foreign Powers
The efforts of dsoya citizens of the United States to in
vove us in foreign to aid nexcusabIe insurrec-
tion have Teen unavailing. Her Britannia Majesty's
Government was justly expected, have exercised their
authority to prevent The departure of new hostile exped
tions from British ports The Emperor OF France has,
by like proceeding, promptly vindicated the neutrality
which he proclaimed at the beginning Of the contest
Questions of great ntrcacy and Importance have arisen
out of the blockade and other belgeent operations
tween the Government and several Of the maritime
Powers but they have been discussed and far was
possble accommodated in spirit Of fraDkness Justice
and mutual good will II is especially gratifying that
prize courts by the mpartiaty of their adudicatons
have commanded the respect and confidence of maritime
Powers


he supplemental treaty between the United States and
Great Britain for the suppression of The African slave
trade made on the 18th day of February last has been
duly ratified and carried into execution 1t is believed
that far American ports and American citizens are
concerned that inhuman and odous traffic has been
brought to end.


shall submit for the consideration Of the Senate con.
yention for the adjustment of ssory claims Wash
lngton Territory, arising out of the treaty Of the 18th
June 1886 between the United States aud Great Britain
and which have been the of dsquiet among
the citizens of that rapidly improving part OF the
country.


novel and important question: involving the extent of
the maritime Jurisdiction of Spain in the waters which
surround the island of Cuba has been debated without
reaching an agreement and it proposed in an amcabe
spln to refer it to the arbtrament of friendly Power
convention for that purpose will be submitted to the
Senate


have thought it proper subject to the approval of the
Senate to concur with the interested commercial Powers
Arrangement for the liquidation of the Schedt dues
upon the principles which have been heretofore adopted
in regard to the mpos upon navigation the waters of
Denmark


The long pending controversy between this Government
and that of Chill touching the seizure at Stana in Peru
by Chan ocers of large amount of treasure belong
ing to citizens of the United States has been brought to
close by the award Of his Majesty the King of the Bel
sans to whose arbitration the question referred by
the parties The subject thoroughly and patiently
examined by that justly respected magistrate and although
the sum awarded to the claimants may have been
large expected there reason to dstrust the
wisdom Of his Majesty's decision. That decision was
promptly complied with by Chill when intelligence in re-
gard to it reached that country.


The joint commission under the act of The last session
for carrying into effect the convention with Peru on the
subject of claims has been organized Lima and is en-
gagged in the business entrusted to it.


Difficulties concerning nteroceanc transit through Nj
caragua are in of amcable adjustment.


In conformity with principles set forth in my last an
nua message, have received representative from the
United States of Colombia and have accredited minister
to that Republic


Incidents occurring in the progress Of civil have
forced upon my attention the uncertain state of intens-
tonal questions touching the rights of foreigners in this
country and OF United States citizens abroad In regard
to Governments these rights at least partially
defined by treaties In no instance, however, it ex-
pessy stipulated that in the event OF civil war; for
egner residing in this country, within the lines of the in.
surgons is to be exempted from the rule which classes
him belgerent, in whose behalf the Government of
his country cannot expect any privileges immunities
distinct from that character regret to say however,
that such claims have been put forward, and in iu
stances, in behalf of foreigners who have lived the Uni
ted States the greater part of their lives.


There is to believe that many persons born in
foreign countries who have declared their intention to be-
.ctizens who have been fully natursized have
evaded the military duty required of them by denying the
fact and thereby throwing upon the Government the bur-
den Of proof 1t has been found difficult or impraccable
to obtain this proof from the want Of guides to the proper
Of information. These might be supplied by
quirng clerks Of courts where declarations of intention
may be made nsturazsons effected to send periods.
cay lists Of the of the persons natu razed de-
carng their intention to become citizens TO the Secretary
Of the Interior in whore department those might
be arranged and printed for general information.


There is aso bell that foreigners frequently
citizens Of the United States for the sole purpose
OF evadDg duties imposed by the laws Of their native
tres to which, becoming naturazed here they at
repair and, though returning to the United States,
they still claim the interposton Of this G,vernment
czeus. Many alterations and great prejuices have
heretofore arisen out Of this abuse 1t s therefore, sub.
mited TO serious consideration 1t might be advss
bic to fix limit, beyond which citizen of the United
States residing abroad may claim the inerposon of his
Government.


The right Of suffrage has often bsen assumed and exer
csed by aliens under preteDces Of natural 4ton which
they have dsavowed when drafted into the military
vice submit the expedency Of such an amendment Of
the law will make the fact of voting esoppel against
any plea Of exemption from military service, other
civil obligation, on the ground Of asnage.


In d umon with other western Powers our relations
with japan have been brought into serious jeopardy,
through the peryerse opposition Of the hereditary astoc
acy Of the empire to the ghtened and liberal policy OF
the Tycoon designed to bring the country into the society
Of nations 1t is hoped although not with entire conf
dence, that these difficulties may be peacefully


atk your attention to the claim of the minister residing
there for the damages he sustained in the destruction by
FIRE Of the residence of the legation at Yedo.


Satisfactory arrangements have been male with the En-
peror of Russia, which, il believed will result in effect
log continuous liue of telegraph through that empire