December 6, 1864---The State of The Union: A Path Between The Seas. A Gunboat For Liberia.The Transcontinental Railroad. The Transatlantic Telegraph. Encouraging Immigration. Abolishing Slavery. Increasing The National Wealth. And A Great Civil War.

DECEMBER 6, 1864:         

President Lincoln delivers his fourth State of The Union Address. As was the tradition of the time, it was submitted as a report, not as a speech, to Congress. And as with many 19^th Century writings it is long and convoluted and lacks much of the fire of Lincoln’s famous remarks. However, some echoes of the Second Inaugural can be heard. What is most interesting is Lincoln’s lengthy disquisition on foreign affairs --- it is often forgotten that besides being the Civil War President he was also the President, and concerned with issues of foreign trade, U.S. international prestige, and the expansion of American influence, right down to discussions about an isthmian canal in Central America. 

It reads in part:

Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives:

Again the blessings of health and abundant harvests claim our profoundest gratitude to Almighty God.

The condition of our foreign affairs is reasonably satisfactory.

Mexico continues to be a theater of civil war. While our political relations with that country have undergone no change, we have at the same time strictly maintained neutrality between the belligerents.

At the request of the States of Costa Rica and Nicaragua a competent engineer has been authorized to make a survey of the river San Juan and . . .  [i]t is a source of much satisfaction that . . . the interoceanic transit route . . . is a good prospect . . . We could not exaggerate either the commercial or the political importance of that great improvement.

It would be doing injustice to an important South American State not to acknowledge the directness, frankness, and cordiality with which the United States of Colombia have entered into intimate relations with this Government . . .  The new liberal constitution of Venezuela having gone into effect . . . the Government under it has been recognized and diplomatic intercourse with it has opened . . . Mutual payments have been made . . . for the settlement of claims between the United States and Peru . . . Our relations are of the most friendly nature with Chile, the Argentine Republic, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, San Salvador, and Hayti. 

Official correspondence has been freely opened with Liberia . . .  [the United States should] furnish to the Republic a gunboat . . . for the safety of that State against the native African races . . .  

The proposed overland telegraph between America and Europe, by the way of Behrings Straits and Asiatic Russia . . . has been undertaken, under very favorable circumstances . . . I learn . . . that the noble design of a telegraphic communication between . . . America and Great Britain has been renewed, with full expectation of its early accomplishment . . .

Thus it is hoped that with the return of domestic peace the country will be able to resume with energy and advantage its former high career of commerce and civilization . . .'

[O]ur relations with Egypt, as well as our relations with the Barbary Powers, are entirely satisfactory.

The rebellion which has so long been flagrant in China has at last been suppressed, with the cooperating good offices of this Government and of the other Western commercial States . . . [T]he friendship of Japan toward the United States [has only increased] . . . 

 . . . I recommend that provision be made for effectually preventing foreign slave traders from acquiring domicile and facilities for their criminal occupation in our country.

. . . Disloyal emissaries have been neither less assiduous nor more successful during the last year . . . in their efforts . . . to embroil our country in foreign wars. Th[is] desire and determination . . . [is] likely to continue to require[ ] the practice of constant vigilance . . . on the part of the United States . . . In view of the insecurity of life and property in the region adjacent to the Canadian border, by reason of recent assaults and depredations committed by inimical and desperate persons who are harbored there, it has been thought proper to give notice that after the expiration of six months . . . the United States must hold themselves at liberty to increase their naval armament upon the Lakes if . . . necessary . . . I desire, however, to be understood while making this statement that the colonial authorities of Canada are not deemed to be intentionally unjust or unfriendly toward the United States . . .  

The act passed at the last session for the encouragement of immigration has . . . been put into operation . . . I regard our immigrants as one of the principal replenishing streams which are appointed by Providence to repair the ravages of internal war and its wastes of national strength and health. 

The financial affairs of the Government have been successfully administered during the last year . . . The receipts during the year from all sources . . . were $1,394,796,007.62, and the . . . disbursements . . . were $1,298,056,101.89, leaving a balance . . . of $96,739,905.73 . . .

 . . . It is a subject of congratulation and laudable pride to our countrymen that a Navy of such vast proportions has been organized in so brief a period and conducted with so much efficiency and success . . . [We have now] 671 vessels, carrying 4,610 guns, and of 510,396 tons . . .The total number of men at this time in the naval service, including officers, is about 51,000  . . . I cordially concur in the recommendation of the Secretary [of the Navy] as to the propriety of creating the new rank of vice-admiral . . . 

It is of noteworthy interest that the steady expansion of population, improvement, and governmental institutions over the new and unoccupied portions of our country have scarcely been checked, much less impeded or destroyed, by our great civil war . . . {We have admitted] the State of Nevada [to the Union, and t]he Territories of . . . Idaho and Montana . . . 

The great enterprise of connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific States by railways and telegraph lines has been entered upon with a vigor that gives assurance of success . . . The route of the main line of the road has been definitely located for 100 miles westward from the initial point at Omaha City, Nebr., and a preliminary location of the Pacific Railroad of California has been made from Sacramento eastward . . .  

It was recommended in my last annual message that our Indian system be remodeled . . . Much yet remains to be done to provide for the proper [security of the frontier] . . .  and to provide for the welfare of the Indian. 

The liberal provisions made by Congress for paying pensions to invalid soldiers and sailors of the Republic and to the widows, orphans, and dependent mothers of those who have fallen in battle or died of disease contracted or of wounds received in the service of their country have been diligently administered . . .  {T]he number of Revolutionary pensioners was . . .  12 . . . soldiers, of whom 7 have since died . . .

The war continues. Since the last annual message all the important lines and positions then occupied by our forces have been maintained and our arms have steadily advanced . . .  

The most remarkable feature in the military operations of the year is General Sherman's attempted march of 300 miles directly through the insurgent region. It tends to show a great increase of our relative strength that our General in Chief should feel able to confront and hold in check every active force of the enemy, and yet to detach a well-appointed large army to move on such an expedition. The result not yet being known, conjecture in regard to it is not here indulged.

 . . . 12,000 citizens in each of the States of Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal State governments, with free constitutions . . . Maryland presents the example of complete success. Maryland is secure to liberty and union for all the future. The genius of rebellion will no more claim Maryland . . .  

At the last session of Congress a proposed amendment of the Constitution abolishing slavery throughout the United States passed the Senate, but failed . . . in the House of Representatives. Although the present is the same Congress and nearly the same members . . . I venture to recommend the reconsideration and passage of the measure . . . It is the voice of the people now for the first time heard upon the question. In a great national crisis like ours unanimity of action among those seeking a common end is very desirable--almost indispensable . . .  

 . . . While it is melancholy to reflect that the war has filled so many graves and carried mourning to so many hearts, it is some relief to know that, compared with the surviving, the fallen have been so few . . . [T]housands, white and black, join us as the national arms press back the insurgent lines. . . . [W]e have more men now than we had when the war began; that we are not exhausted nor in process of exhaustion; that we are gaining strength and may if need be maintain the contest indefinitely. This as to men. Material resources are now more complete and abundant than ever.

The national resources, then, are unexhausted, and, as we believe, inexhaustible. The public purpose to reestablish and maintain the national authority is unchanged, and, as we believe, unchangeable. The manner of continuing the effort remains to choose. On careful consideration of all the evidence accessible it seems to me that no attempt at negotiation with the insurgent leader could result in any good. He would accept nothing short of severance of the Union . . . It is an issue which can only be tried by war and decided by victory. If we yield, we are beaten; if the Southern people fail him, he is beaten. Either way it would be the victory and defeat following war. What is true, however, of him who heads the insurgent cause is not necessarily true of those who follow. Although he can not reaccept the Union, they can. Some of them, we know, already desire peace and reunion. The number of such may increase. They can at any moment have peace simply by laying down their arms and submitting to the national authority under the Constitution . . . If questions should remain, we would adjust them by the peaceful means of legislation, conference, courts, and votes, operating only in constitutional and lawful channels . . .  

A year ago general pardon and amnesty, upon specified terms, were offered to all except certain designated classes, and it was at the same time made known that the excepted classes were still within contemplation of special clemency. During the year many availed themselves of the general provision . . . no voluntary application has been denied . . . It is still so open to all . . . I mean simply to say that the war will cease on the part of the Government whenever it shall have ceased on the part of those who began it.

President Lincoln's political nemesis, former Secretary of the Treasury, and nominee to succeed Roger B. Taney, Salmon P. Chase, becomes Chief Justice of the United States.