AMERICA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1836, 28 February 1863, Page 5

AMERICA.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S MESSAGE.

Congress assembled at Washington ou the Ist December. The message delivered by President Lincoln is moderate in tone towards the Scuth, but firm for the maintenance of the Uuion. On foreigu relations he says: —

" The condition of foreign relations is less gratifying than at former periods, it is certainly more satisfactorily than a nation so unhappily distracted might have apprehended. In June last there were some grounds to expect that the maritime Powers, which at the commencement of American difficulties so unwisely and unnecessarily recognised the insurgents as beligerenls, would soon recede from that position, which ha& proved only less injurious to themselves than to America. But temporary reverses which afterwards befel the Federal arras, and which were exaggerated by disloyal citizeus abroad, have hitherto delayed that act of simple justice. Civil war has disturbed the social conditions and deeply affected the prosperity of the nations with which America has carried on an increasing commerce during half a centuiy. It has at the time excited political ambitions and apprehensions, whichhave produced profound agitation throughout the civilised world. In this unusual agitation America has forborne from taking part in any controversy between foreigu States, and between parties or factions in such States. America has attempted no propogandism and acknowledged no revolution, but has left to every nation tne exclusive conduct and management of its own affairs. Foreign nations have, of course, contemplated the American struggle less with reference to its own merits than to its supposed and often exaggerated effects, and the consequences resulting to those nations themselves. Nevertheless, complaint on the part of the Federal Government, even if it were just, would certainly be unwise." President Lincoln acknowledges with special pleasure that the execution of the Slave Trade Treaty by the British Government has been marked with a jealous respect for the authority of the United States and the right of their moral and loyal citizens. " The blockade of 3000 miles of sea coast could not," he says, " be established and vigorously enforced in a season of great commercial activity like the present without committing occasional mistakes and inflicting unintentional injuries upon foreign nations and theirsubjeets. Civil war in a country where foreigners reside and carry on trade under treaty stipulations is necessarily fruitful of .complaints of violations of neutral rights. A.ll such collisions tend to excite misapprehension and possibly, to produce mutual recriminations between nations which have a common interest in preserving peace and friendship. In clear cases of these kinds I have, so far as possible, heard and redressed the complaints presented by friendly powers. There are, however, a large and augmenting number or doubtful cases upon which the Feberal Government is unable to agree with the Governments whose protection is demanded by the claimants. There are, moreover, many cases in which the United States or their citizens suffer wrongs from the naval or military authorities of foreign nations which the government of these States are not at once prepared to redress. I have proposed to some foreign States thus interested mutual conventions to examine and adjust such complaints, This proposition has been made specially to England, France, Spain and Prussia. " In each case it has been kindly received, but uot yet formally adopted. President Lincoln recommends an appropriation for the owners of the Norwegian barque Admiral Iliola. He says that commercial and consular treaties have been negotiated with Turkey, Liberia and Uayti, and continues: — " Our relations with European States remain undisturbed. Our relations with the independent Statfs of the American continent remain unchanged, but more friendly sentiments than have hitherto existed are believe to be entertained by these neighbors, whose safety and progress is so intimately connected with that of America. This statement specially applies to Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Peru and Chili. I have tavored the project of an Atlantic cable, and a similar project to extend the telegraph froui San Francisco to connect by a Pacific telegraph with the wire which is being extended across the Russian empire." The Message recommends extraodinary measures to promote the developement of the mineral regions of the United States' territories and continues: —

"Public expenditures for the suppression of the rebellion have been met with promptness, and public credit has been fully maintained. The suspension of specie payments by the bank's made a large issue of United States' notes unavoidable. The judicious legislation of Congress making these notes a legal tender, has made them tbe universal curreucy, and satisfied partially for the time the long-felt want of a uniform circulating medium. Areturntospecie payments, however, at the earliest period compatible with dne regard to all interests should ever be kept in view. The best means tw reduce the fluctuations in the value of the currency and insure its prompt convertibility into ooin is to organise banking associations under a general act of Congress!. To such associations government might furnish notes on thesecurity of the United States' bonds deposited in the Treasury. These notes, being uniform in appearance and security, and convertible always into coin, would protect labor against the evils of a vicious currency, and facilitate commerce by cheap and safe exchanges. Public credit would be improved, and the negotiation of new loans greatly facilitated by a steady market demand for government bonds, which the adoption of tbe propose! system would create. It would reconcile all existing interest by the op porlunity offered to existing institutions to recogtiise under the act substituting a secured uniform national currency for tbe various circulations now issued." The receipts from all sources for the fiscal year ending June, 1862, were 584,000,000 dollars, being 49,000,000 dollars from customs, 1,800,000 dollars from direct taxes, and from loans, 5,30,000,000 dollars. The remainder was the balance from last year: Theaggregate disbursements during the same period were 570,000,000 dollars. The 96,000,000 expeudod for the reimbursement and redemption ofjhe public debt, being included in the loans made, may be prdperly deducted both from receipts and expenditure. A convention has been proposed to foreign governments to simplify the rates of foreign postage and expedite foreign mails. President Lincoln urges the early completion of the Pacific Kiiilroad, and recommends tbe favourable action 'of Congress on projects for enlarging the great canals in New York and Illinois. The military and commercial iioportance of enlarging the Illinois and Michigan canals ii presented in a report to the Secretary of War.

In accordance wilh the purpose expressed iv tbe second poragraph of the Emancipation Proclauiatiou of September last, President Lincoln calls the attention of Congress to what may be called "compensated emancipation." He then argues upon the impractibilily of disunion, and says :— " There is no line, straight or crooked, suitable for a national boundary upon which to divide, "Our strife pertains to ourselves, to the passing generations of men, and it can Dot without convulsion be hushed for ever with the passing of one generation. In this view the President recommends the adoption of tbe following resolutions and articles amendatory to the Federal constitution : — "Resolved by the Federal Congress, twothirds of both Houses concurring, that the following articles be proposed to the Legislatures or Conventions of the several States as amend meats to the Federal constitution, all or any of which articles," when ratified by three-fourths of these Legislatures or Conventions, to be valid as part 01 parts of the Constitution. " 1. Every State wherein slavery now exists which shall abolish slavery at any time before January of the year 1900 shall receive the following compensation from the United States -■ — "Presidents of the United States shall deliver to every such State Stated bonds, bearing a certain interest, for each slave known to have been therein by the eighth United States' census ; these bonds to be delivered to such State by instalments or in one parcel at completion of abolishment, according 1 as 'abolishment shall have been gradual or at one time. Any State introducing or tolerating slavery after having received tbesß bonds shall refund the bonds and interest in the United States. " 2. All slaves who have acquired freedom by the chances of war at any time before the end of the rebellion shall be for ever free. Loyal owners, will, however, receive compensa* tioii. Congress may appropriate money and i provide for colonising free negroes, with their consent, at places outside the United States." President Lincoln then enters into a long and earnest Argument to prove that the adoption of 1 these amendments to the constitution are politic on the grounds of justice, economy, and interest, and as a means which cannot fail to restore the Union. He, however, says that — " The plan is recommeuded, not but that a restoration of the national authority wouM be accepted without its adoption. Nor would the war nor the emancipation proclamation be stayed because of the recommendation of this plan ; but its timely adoption would no doubt bring restoration, and thereby stay these proceedings. This plan would secure peace more speedily, aud cost less, than if force alone is relied upon. Many objections may present themselves, but the question is, can auything 1 better be imagined or done." The message concludes by saying that — " Other means may succeed — this could not fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, and' just— a way which, if followed, the world will for ever applaud, and God must for ever bless. 1