The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-02 00:00:00

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

FAREWELL MESSAGE OF ANDREW JACKSON,
TO THE TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and House of Representatives,
Addressing to you the last annual message I shall ever pre-
sent to the Congress of the United States, it is a source of
the most heartfelt satisfaction to be able to congratulate you
on the high state of prosperity which our beloved country has
attained. With no causes at home or abroad to lessen the
confidence with which we look to the future for continuing
proofs of the capacity of our free institutions to produce all
the fruits of good government, the general condition of our
affairs may excite our national pride.
I cannot avoid congratulating you and my country particu-
larly on the success of the efforts made during my administra-
tion by the Executive and Legislature, in conformity with the
sincere, constant, and earnest desire of the people, to main-
tain peace and establish cordial relations with all foreign
Powers. Our gratitude is due to the Supreme Ruler of
Universe, and I invite you to unite with me in offering to him
fervant supplications that his providential care may ever be ex-
teneed to those who follow us, enabling them to avoid the
dangers and the horrors of war, consistently with a just and
indispensable regard to the rights and honour of our country.
But, although the present state of our foreign affairs standing
without important change as they did when you separated in
July last is flattering in the extreme, I regret to say that
many questions of an interesting character at issue with other
Powers are pet unadjusted. Among the most prominent of
these is that of the north-eastern boundary. With an undimh-
nished confidence in the sincere desire of his Britannic Majesty's
Government to adjust that question, I am not yet in possession
of precise grounds upon which it proposes a satisfactory
adjustment. _ _ _

With France our diplomatic relations have been resumed,
and under circumstances which attest the disposition of both
Governments to preserve a ;mutual beneficial intercourse, and
roster those amicable feelings which are so strongly required
)3T the true interests of the two countries. With Russia,
Austria, Prussia, Naples, Sweden, and Denmark, the best
understanding exists, and our, commercial intercourse is gra-
dually expanding itself with them. It is encouraged in all
these countries except Naples, by their mutually advantageous
and liberal treaties with us.

The claims of our citizens on Portugal are admitted to be
just, but provision for the payment of them has been unfortu-
nately delayed by frequent political changes in that kingdom.
The blessings of peace have not been secured by Spain. Our
connections with that country are on the best footing, with
the exception of the burden still imposed upon our commerce
by her possessions out of Europe.
The claims of American citizens for losses sustained at the
bombardment of Antwerp, have been presented to the Govern-
ment of Holland and Relgium, and will pressed in due sea-
son for settlement.

With Brazil, and all other neighbours of this continent, we
continue to maintain relations of amity and concord, extend-
ing our commerce with them as far as the resources of the peo-
ple, and the policy of their Government will permit. The just
and long-standing claims of our citizens upon some of them,
are yet sources of dissatisfaction and complaint. No danger
is apprehended, however, that they will not be peaceably,
although tardily acknowledged, and paid by all, unless the ir-
ritating effect of her struggle with Texas should unfortunately
make cur immediate neighbour, Mexico, an exception.
It is alreadysknown to you, by the correspondence between
the two Governments, communicated at your last session, that
our conduct in relation to that struggle is regulated by the
same principles that governed us in the dispute between Spain
and Mexico herself, and I trust that it will be found on the
most severe scrutiny that our acts have strictly corresponded
with our professions. That the inabitants of the United
States should feel strong prepossessions for the one party is
not surprising. But this circumstance should, of itself, teach
us great caution, lest it lead us into the great error of suffering
public policy to be regulated by partiality or prejudice ; and
there are considerations connected with the possible result of
this contest between the parties of so much delicacy and im-
portance to the United States, that our character requires that
we should neither anticipate events nor attempt to controul
them. The known desire of the Texians to become a part of
our system, although its gratification depends upon the recon-
cilement of various and conflicting interests, necessarily a work
of time and uncertain in itself, is calculated to expose our
conduct to misconstruction in the eyes of the world. Them
are already those who, indifferent to principle themselves, and
prone to suspect the want of it in others, charge us with
ambitious designs and insidious policy. You will perceive,
by the accompanying documents, that the extraordinary
, mission from Mexico has been terminated, on the sole grounds

that the obligations of this Government to itself and to
Mexico, under treaty stipulations, have compelled me to trust
a discretionary authority to a high officer of our army, to
advance into territory claimed as part of Texas, if necessary
to protect our own or the neighbouring frontier from Indian
depredation. In the opinion of the Mexican functionary who
has just left us the honour of his country will be wounded by
American soldiers entering, with the most amicable avowed
purposes, upon ground from which the followers of his Go-
vernment have been expelled, and over which there is at pre-
sent no certainty of a serious effort on its part being made
to re-establish its dominion. The departure of this Minister
was the more singular, as he was apprised that the suf.F.,:ei.ev
of thecauses assigned for the advance of our troops by the'
commanding General had been seriously doubted by me ; and
that there was every reason to suppose that the troops of
the United States—their commander having had time to
ascertain the truth or falsehood of the information upon
which they had been" marched to Nacogdoches—would be
either there in perfect accordance with the principles
a dmitted to be just in his conference with the Secretary of
St ate by the Mexican Minister himself, or were already
withdrawn in consequence of the impressive warnings their
co mmanding officer had received from the Department of
War. It is hoped , and believed that his Government will
take a more dispassionate and just view of this subject, and
not be disposed to construe a measure of justifiable precaution,
made necessary by its own inability, in execution of the stipu-
lations of our treaty, to act upon the frontier, into an encroach-
ment upon its rights, or a stain upon its honour.
In the meantime, the ancient complaints of injustice, made
on behalf of our citizens, are disregarded, and new causes of
dissatisfaction have arisen, some of them of a character re-
quiring prompt remonstrance, and ample and immediate re-
dress. I trust, however, by tempering firmness which cour-
tesy, and acting with great forbearance on every incident
that has occurred, or that may happen, to obtain justice, and
thus avoid the necessity of again bringing this subject to the
view of Congress.
It is my duty to remind you that no provision has been made
to execute our treaty with Mexico for tracing the boundary
line between the two countries. Whatever may be the pros-
pect of Mexico being soon able to execute the treaty on it::
part, it is proper that we should be, in anticipation, prepared
at all times to perform our obligations, without regard to the
probable condition of those with whom we have contracted
them.
The result of the confidential inquiries made into the condi-
tion and prospects of the newly declared Texas Government
will be communicated to you in the course of the session.
Commercial treaties, promising great advantages to our en-
terprising merchants and navigators, have been formed with
the distant Governments of Muscat and Siam. The ratifica.
tions have been exchanged, but have not reached the depart-
ment of State ,• copies of the treaties will be transmitted to
you, if received before, or published if arriving after, the closr
of the present session of Congress.
Nothing has occurred to interrupt the good understanding*
that has long existed with the Barbary Powers, nor to check
the good will which is gradually growing up in our intercourse
with the dominions of the Government of the distinguished
Chief of the Ottoman Empire.
Information has been received at the department of State
that a treaty with the Emperor of Morocco has just been ne-
gociated, which, I hope, will be received in time to he laid be-
fore the Senate previous to the close of the Session.
You will perceive, from the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, that the financial means of the country continue to
keep pace with its improvement in all other respects. The
receipts into the Treasury, during the present year, will
amount to about 47,691,898 dollars ; those from customs being
estimated at 22,523,151 dollars ; those from lands at about
24,000,000, and the residue from miscellaneous sources. The
expenditure for all objects during the year is estimated not to
exceed 22,000,000 dollars, which will leave a balance in the
Treasury for public purposes, on the Ist, may of January next,.
of about 41,723,959 dollars. This sum, with the exception of
5,000,000, will be transferred to the several States, in accord-
ance with the provisions of the Act regulating the deposits of
the public money.
The unexpected balance of appropriation, on the Ist day of
January next, is estimated at 14,636,062 dollars, exceeding,
by 9,636,062 dollars the amount which will be left in the de-
posit banks, subject to the drafts of the Treasurer of the
United States, after the contemplated transfers to the several
States are made. If therefore the future receipts should not
be sufficient to meet. these outstanding and future appropria-
tions there may be soon a necessity to use a portion of the
funds deposited with the States.
The consequences apprehended, when the Deposit Act of
the last session received a reluctant approval, have been mea-
surably realised. Though an Act merely for the deposit of
the surplus moneys of the United States in the State Trea-
sury, for safe keeping, until they may be wanted for the ser-
vices of the General Government, it has been extensively
spoken -of as an Act to give the money to the several States,
and they have been advised to use it as a gift, without
regard to the means of refunding it when called for. Such a
suggestion has doubtless been made without a due considera-
tion of the obligation of the Deposit Act, and without a proper
attention to the various principles and interests which are
affected by it. It is manifest that the law itself cannot sanc-
tion such a suggestion, and that as it now stands, the States
have no more authority to receive and use these deposits with-
out intending to return them than any deposit bank, or any
individual temporarily charged with the safe keeping or appli-
tation of the public money, would now have for converting the
same to their private use, without the consent and against the
will of the Government. But, independently of the violation
of public faith and moral obligation which are involved in •
suggestion, when examined in reference to the term.
present Deposit Act, it is believed that the con
which should govern the future legislation of Cong
subject will beequally conclusive against the ado!,
measure recognising the principles on which the
has been made.
Considering the intimate connection of the
financial intepests of the country, and its grec,
whatever shape it may be viewed, I have besto
most anxious reflection, and feel it to be n 1
to Congress such thoughts -- have occurred tc
deliberations it, treating it 14 manitc, i
r to the ••••

16,203.