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6 Their ports will also be open to foreign commerce, subject only to revenue laws which apply equally and uniformly to all parts of our common country. Mail and telegraph communications will very soon be established between Sitka and San Francisco, and thence with all parts of America, Europe and Asia. With these facilities for trade and commerce with other parts of the world, this new territory must soon become, what nature intended it to be, and what it has frequently been called, "The New England of the Pacific." 16. It may be proper to remark, in this place, that it is a well established principle of international law that a change of sovereignty involves no change in the rights of private property, whether of individuals or of municipal corporations, and that the existing laws of any territory acquired by the United States by conquest or cession which do not conflict with the constitution and fundamental principles of our government, remain in force till suspended, altered, amended, or repealed by proper authority. All citizens of the ceded territory are, therefore, entitled to all the civil rights and liberties which they enjoyed under their former government, and also all the rights and privileges guarantied by the constitution and general laws of the United States. And to these will also be added, in due time, the political rights which belong to citizens in the Territories of the United States. It is important that you make yourself familiar with these principles of international, constitutional and municipal law, so as not only to avoid errors yourself, but to be able to advise and warn others about to emigrate to and settle in that country. 17. In regard to the aboriginal and uncivilized tribes of your District, you will, in the absence of any organized civil Territorial Government, and so far as our laws authorize or permit, act as their general superintendent, protecting