Year: 1861

In the midst of unprecedented political
troubles we have cause of great gratitude
to Gcd for unusual good health and most
abundant harvests.


You will not be surprised 20 learn that
in the peculiar exigencies Of the times our
intercourse with foreign nations has been
attended with profound solicitude, chiefly
turning upon our own domestic affairs.
A disloyal portion of the American peo-
pie have, during the whole year, been en-
gagged Ia an attempt to divide and de-
stroy the Union. A nation which en-
dures factious domestic divisions is expos
ed to disrespect abroad, and one party or
both is sure, sooner or later, to invoke
foreign Intervention. Nations thus tempt
ed to interfere are not always able TO re-
sist the counsels of seeming expediency
and ungcnerous ambition, although meas
ures adopted under such influences sell
dom fail to be unfortunate and injurious
to those adopting them. The disloyal
citizens of the United States who have
offered the ruin Of our country in reward
for the aid aud comfort which they have
invoked abroad, have received less pat
ronage and encouragement than they
probably expected. If it were just to sup
pose, as the insurgents have seemed to
assume, that foreign nations in this case,
disregarding all moral, social and treaty
obligations, would act solely and selfishly
for the most speedy restoration of COM
merce, including specially the acquisition
Of cotton, those nations appear as yet not
to have seen their way to their object
more directly or clearly through the des-
truction than through the preservation Of
the Union. If we could dare to believe
that foreign nations are actuated by no
higher principle than this, l am quite sure
a second argument could be made TO
show them that they could reach their
aim moro readily and easily by aiding TO
crush this rebellion, than by giving en-
couragement to the principal. lever relied
on by the exciting Of foreign nations to
hostility against us, as already intimated
in the embarrassment of ofcommerce. Those
nations, however, not improbably saw
from the first that it was the Union which
made as well our foreign as our domestic
commerce. They can scarcely fail TO per-
ceive that the effort for disunion produces
the existing difficulty, and that one strong
nation promises moro durable peace and
more extensive, valuable and reliable com
merce, than can the same nation broken
into hostile fragments. n n =


l deem it of importantance that the
loyal regions Of East Tennessee and
Western North Carolina should be con-
nected with Kentucky and other faithful
parts of the Union by railroad. there
fore recommend, as a military measure,
that Congress provide for the construc-
ton of such road as speedily as posi-
BILE. Kentucky will no doubt co-operate,
and through her Legislature make the
most judicious selection of the line. The
northern terminus must connect with
some existing railroad, and whether the
route shall be from Lexington or Nichols
vile to Cumberland Gap, or from Leba-
non TO the Tennessee line in the direction
of Knoxville, or somo still different line,
can easily be determined. Kentucky and
the general government cooperating, the
work can be completed in very short
time, and when done, it will be not only
of vast present usefulness, but also an
available, permanent improvement worth
its cost in all the future. y n y


l invite your attention To the cores
poudence between Her Britanic Majestys
Minister accredited 10 this government,
and the Secretary of State relative to the
detention Of the British ship Perthshire
in June last, by the United States steam
or Massachusetts, for supposed breach
of the blockade. AS this detention was
occasioned by an obvious misapprehen.
sion of the facts, and as justice requires
that we should commit no belligerent act,
not founded in strict right as sanctioned
by public law, recommend that an ap.
preparation be made 10 satisfy the reason.
able demand of the owners Of the vessel
for her detention.


/ repeat the recommendation Of my
predecessor in his annual message to Con
gress in December last, in regard to the
disposition of the surplus which will prob
ably remain after satisfying the claims o.
American citizens against China, pursu.
ant to the awards Of the Commissioners
under the act Of the Sd of March, 1850
IT. however, it should not be deemed ad'
visable to carry that recommendation into
effect, would suggest that authority be
given for investing the principal over the
surplus referred to in good securities with
view TO satisfaction Of such other just
claims of our citizens against China a:
are not unlikely to arise hereafter in the
course Of our extensive trade with that
empire.


By the act of the 5th of August last
Congress authorized the President to in.
struct the commanders Of suitable vessels
to defend themselves against, and 10 cap
ture pirates. This authority has been ex.
ercised in n single instance only. Fol