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December, 1862      DOUGLASS MONTHLY.      759
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
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Fellow Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:

Since your last annual assemblage, another year of health and bountiful harvest has passed, and while it has not pleased the Almighty to bless us with a return of peace, we can but press on, guided by the best light He gives us trusting that in His own good time and wise way, all will be well.

Correspondence touching foreign affairs which has taken place during the last year is herewith submitted, in virtual compliance with a request to that effect made by the House of Representatives near the close of the last session of Congress.

If the condition of our relations with other nations is less gratifying than it has usually been at former periods, it is certainly more satisfactory than a nation distracted as we are might reasonably have apprehended.

In June last there were some grounds to expect that the maratime powers, which, at the beginning of our domestic difficulties so unwisely, as we think, recognized the Insurgents as belligenents, would soon recede from that position which has proved only less injurious to themselves than to our own country; but the temporary reverses which afterwards befel the national arms, and which were exaggerated by our disloyal citizens abroad, have hitherto delayed this act of simple justice.

The civil war which has so radically changed for the moment the habits and occupation of the American people, has necessarily disturbed the social conditions and affected very deeply the prosperity of the nations with which we have carried on a commerce which has been steadily increasing throughout the period of half a century. 

It has, at the same time excited political ambition and apprehension, which have excited profound sensations throughout the civilized world.  In this unusual agitation we have forborne taking part in any controversy between foreign states and parties or factions in any such states.  We have attempted no propagandism and acknowledge no revolution, but have left to every nation the exclusive conduct and management of its own affairs.

Our struggle has, of course, been comtemplated by foreign nations with reference less to its own merits, than its supposed and often exaggerated effects and consequences resulting to those relations themselves.  Nevertheless, complaint on the part of this government, even if it were just, would certainly be unwise.

The treaty with Great Britain for the suppression of the slave trade, has been put into operation with good prospects of complete success.  It is an occasion of special pleasure to acknowledge that the execution of it on the part of Her Majesty's Government, has been marked by a zealous respect for the authority of the United States Government, and the rights of their moral and loyal citizens.

The convention with Hanover for the abolition of the Statd dues, has been carried into full effect under act of Congress for that purpose.

The blockage of 3,000 miles of sea coast could not be established and vigorously enforced in a season of general commercial activity like the present, without committing occasional mistakes, and inflicting unintentional injury upon foreign nations and their subjects.

The civil war occurring in a country where foreigners reside and carry on trade under treaty stipulations is necessarily fruitful of complaints of violations of neutral rights.  All such collisions tend to excite misapprehensions, and possibly to produce mutual reclamations between nations, having a common interest in preserving peace and friendship.  In clear cases of these kinds, I have so far as possible redressed the complaints which have been presented by friendly powers.——There is, however, a large and augmenting number of doubtful cases, upon which Government is unable to agree with Governments whose protection is demanded by the claimants.  There are moreover many cases in which the United States and their citizens suffer wrongs from the naval military authorities of foreign nations, which the government of these States are not once prepared to redress.

I have proposed to some of the foreign states thus interested mutual conventions to adjust such complaints.  This proposition has been especially to Great Britain, France, Spain and Prussia.  In each case it has been kindly received, but not yet formally adopted.

I deem it my duty to recommend an appropriation in behalf of the Norwegian bark Admiral P. Torceins Riola, which vessel was in May, 1861, prevented by the Commander of the blockading force off Charleston from leaving that port with cargo, nothstanding a similar privilege had been granted to an English vessel.  I have directed the Secretry of State to have the papers in the case submitted to the proper committees.

Applications have been made to me by persons
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of African descent to favor their emigration with a view to such colonization as was contemplated in recent acts of Congress.

Other parties, at home and abroad, some from interested motives, others, upon patriotic principles, and still others influenced by philanthropic sentiments, have suggested similar measures, while on the other hand, several of the Spanish American Republics have protested against sending such colonists to their respective territories.  Under these circumstances, I have declined to move any such colonists to any such state without first obtaining consent of its government with an agreement on its part to secure and protect such emigrants in all their rights as freemen; and I have at the same time offered to the several states situated in the tropics or having colonies there, to negotiate with them, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, to favor voluntary emigration of persons of that class to their respective territories, upon conditions which shall be equal, just and humane.

Liberia and Hayti are as yet the only countries to which colonists of African descent could go from here with certainty of being received, and adopted as citizens; and I regret to say that such persons contemplating colonization do not seem so willing to emigrate to those countries as to some other, nor as willing as I think their interests demand.  I believe, however, the opinion is improving, and that ere long there will be an augmented and considerable emigration to both these countries from the United States.

The new commercial treaty between the Sultan of Turkey and the United States, has been carried into execution. 

A commercial and consular treaty has been negotiated, subject to the Senate's consent with Liberia, and a similar negotiation is now pending with the Republic of Hayti.  Considerable improvement of the National commerce is expected to result from these measures.

Our relations with Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Russia, Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, and Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Rome, and the other European States, remain undisturbed.——Very favorable relations also continue with Turkey, Morocco, China and Japan.

During the last year there has not only been no change of our previous relations with the independent States of our own continent, but more friendly sentiments than have been heretofore existing, are believed to be entertained by these neighbors whose safety and progress are so intimately connected with our own.  This statement especially applies to Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru, and Chili.

The Commission under the Convention with the republic of New Grenada closed the session without having credited and passed upon all the claims which were submitted to it.

A proposition is pending to revive the convention that it may be able to do more complete justice.  The commission between the United States and Costa Rica has completed its labors and submitted its report.  I have favored the project of connecting the United States and Europe by an Atlantic telegraph and a similar project to extend the telegraph from San Francisco to connect by a Pacific telegraph, to connect with a wire which is being extended across the Russian Empire.  The Territories of the United States, with an unimportant exception, have remained undisturbed by the civil war, and they are exhibiting such evidence of prosperity as justifies an expectation that some of them will be organized as States, and will be constitutionally admitted into the Federal Union.

The immense mineral resources of some of those Territories ought to be developed as rapidly as possible. Every step in that direction would have a tendency to improve the Revenues of the Government, and diminish the burdens of the people. It is worthy of your serious consideration whether some extraordinary measures to that end cannot be adopted. The means which suggests itself as most likely to be effective is a scientific exploration of the mineral regions in these localities, with a view to the publication of its results at home and in foreign countries--results which cannot fail to be auspicious.

The conditions of the finances will claim your most diligent consideration. The cast expenditures incident to the Naval and Military operation, required for the suppression of the rebellion, have hitherto been met with a promptitude and certainty unusual in similar circumstances, and the public credit has been fully maintained.

The continuance of the war, however, and increased disbursements made necessary by the augmented forces now in the field, demand your best reflections as to the best method of providing the necessary revenue, without injury to business and with the least burden upon labor. The suspension of specie payment by the bankers, soon after the commencement of your last session made large issues of U.S. notes unavoidble. In no other way could the payment of the troops, and satisfaction of other just demands, be provided for. The judicious legislation of Congress securing the receivibility of the dues for loans and internal duties, and making them a legal tender for other debts has made them universal currency, and has satisfied partially at least, and for the time the long felt want of an uniform circulating medium, saying to the people
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thereby immense sums in discounts and exchanges.

A return to specie payments, however, at the earliest possible period compatible with a due regard to all interests, should be ever kept in view.

Fluctuations in the value of currency are always injurious, and to reduce the flunctuations to the lowest possible point, will always be a leading purpose in wise legislation; convertability and prompt and certain convertability into coin, is generally acknowledged to be the best and surest safegaur against them; and it is extremely doubtful whether a circulation of U.S. notes payable in coin, and sufficiently large for the wants of the people, can be permanently, usefully and safely maintained. Are there then other modes in which the necessary provision for the public wants can be made, and the great advantages of a safe and uniform currency secured? I know of none which promises so certain results, and at the same time so unobjectionable, as the organization of banking associations, under general act of Congress, well guarded in its provisions.

To such an Association the Government might furnish circulating notes on the Treasury of the United States, deposited in the Treasury. These notes prepared under the supervision of proper officers, being uniform in appearance and security and convertible always into coin, would at once protect labor against the evils of a vicious currency, and facilitate commerce by cheap and safe exchanges.

A moderate reservation from the interest on the bonds would compensate the United States for the preparation and distribution of the notes and a general supervision of the system, and would lighten the burden of that part of the public debt employed as securities. The public credit would be moreover greatly improved, and the negotiations of new loans greatly facilitated by the steady market demand for government bonds, which the adoption of the proposed system would create.

It is an additional recommendation of the measure, of considerable weight in my judgment, that it would reconcile, as far as possible, all existing interests by the opportunity offered to existing institutions to reorganize under the act, substituting only the secured, uniform, national circulation, for the local and various circulation, secured and unsecured, now issued by them.

The receipts into the Treasury from all sources including loans and balance from preceding year for the year ending June 30th, 1862, were: $583,885,247 66, of which sum $49,056,397 62 were derived from the customs; $1,795,331 73 from the direct tax on public lands; $152,203 77 from miscellaneous sources; $931,787 64 from loans in all forms; $529,692,460 50. The remainder 2,257,065 50 was balance from last year.

Disbursements during the same period were for Congress, Executive and Judicial purposes $133,971,035. For miscellaneous expenses, including mints, loans, post office deficiencies, collection of revenue, and other like charges, $14,429,771,50. For expenses under Interior Department, $3,162,987,52. Under War Department, $394,368,407,36. Navy Department, $42,674,569.69--
For interest on the public debt, $13,190,324,45.--
For payment of the public debt, including re-imbursement of temporary loans and redemptions, $96,096,923,09, making an aggregate of $570,841,700,25, and leaving balance in Treasury, July 1st, 1862, $1,304,354.68. It should be observed that the sum of $96,096,822,09 expended for reimbursement and redemption of the public debt being included also in the loans made, may be properly deducted both from receipts and expenditures, leaving the actual receipts for the year, $487,788,324,97, and expenditures, $474,744,788,16.

Other information on the subject of the finances will be found in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, to whose statement and views I invite your most candid and considerate attention.
The Reports of the Secretaries of the Navy and War are herewith transmitted. These reports, though lengthy, are scarcely more than briefs of the very numerous and extensive transactions and operations conducted through these Departments; nor could I give a summary of them here upon any principle which would admit of its being much shorter than the reports themselves. I therefore content myself with laying the reports before you, and asking your attention to them.

It gives me pleasure to report the decided improvement in the financial condition of the Post Office Department, as compared with several preceding years.

The receipts for the fiscal year of 1861 amounted to $834,920,640, which embraced the revenue from all the States of the Union for three-fourths of that year. Notwithstanding the cessation of revenue from the so called seceded States during the last fiscal year, the increase of the correspondence of the loyal States has been sufficient to produce a revenue during the same year of $829,982,092, being only $50,006 less than was derived from all the States of the Union during the previous year.

Expenditures show a still more favorable result. The amount expended for 1861 was $13,606,759 11.

Last year the amount has been reduced to $11,125,364 13, showing a decrease of about $2,481,000 in the expenditures, as compared with
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