The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-22 00:00:00

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES TO THE TWO HOUSES OF
CONGRESS, DEC. 4, 1838.
FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND
HOUSE OF REPESENTATIVES—
I congratulate you on the favourable circumstances in
the condition of our country, under which you reassemble
for the performance of your official duties. Though the
anticipations of an abundant harvest have not everywhere
been realised, yet, on the whole, the labours of the husband-
man are rewarded with a bountiful return ; industry pros-
pers in its various channels of business and enterprise ; ge-
neral health again prevails through our vast diversity of
climate ; nothing threatens from abroad the continuance of
external peace ; nor has anything at home impaired the
strength of those fraternal and domestic ties which consti-
tute the only guarantee to the success and permanency of
our happy union, and which, formed in the hour of peril,
have hitherto been honourably sustained through every vi-
cissitude in our national affairs. These blessings, which
evince the care and benificence of Providence, call for our
devout and fervent gratitude.
We have not less reason to be grateful for other bounties
bestowed by the same munificent hand, and more exclusively
our own.
The present year closes the first half century of our fe-
deral institutions ; and our system—differing from all others
in the acknowledged, practical, and unlimited operation
which it has for so long a period given to the sovereignty of
the people, has now beea fully tasted by experience.
The Constitution devised by our forefathers as the
frame-work and bond of that system, then untried, has be-
come a settled form of Government, not only preserving
and protecting the great principles upon which it was
founded, but wonderfully promoting individual happiness
and private interests. Though subject to change and
entire revocation, whenever deemed inadequate to all these
purposes, yet such is the wisdom of its construction, and
so stable has been the public sentiment, that it remains
'unaltered, except in matters of detail comparatively un-
important. It has proved amply sufficient for the va-
rious emergencies incident to our condition as a nation.
A formidable foreign war ; agitating collisions between do-
mestic and, in some respects, rival sovereignties ; tempta-
tions to interfere in the intestine commotions of neigh-
bouring countries; the dangerous influences that arise in
periods of excessive prosperity ; and the anti-Republican
tendencies of associated wealth--these, with other trials
not less formidable, have all been encountered, and thus
far successfully resisted.
It was reserved for the American Union to test the ad-
vantages of a Government entirely dependent on the con-
tinual exercise of the populur will ; and our experience has
shown that it is as beneficent in practice as it is just in
theory. Each successive change made in our local institu-
tions has contributed to extend the right of suffrage, has
increased the direct influence of the mass of the community,
given greater freedom to individual exertion, and restricted,
snore and more, the powers of Government ; yet the intel-
ligence, prudence, and patriotism of the people kept pace
with this augmented responsibility. In no country has edu-
cation been so widely diffused. Domestic peace has no-
where so largely reigned. The close bonds of social inter-
course have in no instance prevailed with such harmony
over a space so vast. All forms of religion have united,
for the first time, to diffuse charity, because, for the first
time in the history of nations, all have been totally untram-
melled, and absolutely free, The deepest recesses of the wil-
derness have been penetrated ; yet,instead of the rudeness in
the social condition consequent upon such adventures else-
where, numerous communities have sprung up, already unri-
valled in prosperity, general intelligence, internal tranquil-
lity, and wisdom of their political institutions. Internal im-
provement, the fruit of individual enterprise, fostered by
the protection of the States, has added new links to the
Confederation, and fresh rewards to provident industry.
Doubtful questions of domestic policy have been quietly
settled by mutual forbearance ; and agriculture, commerce,
and manufactures minister to each other. Taxation and
public debt, the burdens which bear so heavily upan
all other countries, have pressed with comparative light-
ness upon us. Without one entangling alliance, our
friendship is prizel by every nation , and the rights of
our citizens are everywhere respected, because they are
known to be guarded by a united, sensitive, and watch-
ful people.
To this practical operation of our institutions, so evident
and successful, we owe that increased attachment to them
which is among the most cheering exhibitions of popular
sentiment, and will prove their best security, in time to
crime, against, foreign or domestic assault.
This review of the results of our institutions for half a
century, without exciting a spirit of vain exultation, should
serve to impress upon us the great principles from which
they have sprung ; constant and direct supervision by the
people over every public measure ; strict forbearance on the
part of the Government from exercising any doubtful or dis-
prited powers ; and a cautious abstinence from all interfer
ence with concerns which properly belong, and are best left
to state regulations and individual enterprise.
Full information of the state of our foreign affairs having
been recently, on different occasions, submitted to Congress,
I deem it necessary now to bring to your notice only such
events as have subsequently occurred, or are of such im-
portance as to require particular attention.
The most amicable disposition continues to be exhibited
by all the nations with whom the Government and citizens
of the United States have an habitual intercouse. At the
date of my last annual message, Mexico was the only nation
which could not be included in so gratifying a reference to
our foreign relations.
I am happy to be now able to inform you that an advance
has been made towards the adjustment of our difficulties
with that republic, and the' restoration of the customary
good feeling betweeen the two nations. This important
change has been effected by conciliatory negotiations, that
have resulted in the conclusion of a treaty between the two
Governments, which, when ratified, will refer to the
arbitration of a friendly power all the subjects of contro-
versy between us growing out of injuries to individuals.
There is at present, also, reason to believe that an equi-
table settlement of all disputed points will be attained
without further difficulty or unnecessary delay, and thus
authorise the free resumption of diplomatic intercourse with
our sister republic.
With respect to the north-eastern boundary of the
United States, no official correspondence between this Go-
vernment and that of Great Britain has passed since that
communicated to Congress towards the close of their last
Session. The offer to negotiate a Convention for the ap-
pointment of a joint commission of survey and exploration,
I am, however, assured will be met by her Majesty's Go-
vernment in a conciliatory and friendly spirit, and instruc-
tions to enable the British Minister here to conclude such
an arrangement will be transmitted to him without needless
delay. It is hoped and expected that these instructions
will be of a liberal character, and that this negotiation, if
successful, will prove to be an important step towards the
satisfactory and final adjustment of the controversy.
I had hoped that the respect for the laws, and regard
for the peace and honour of their own country, which has
ever characterised the citizens of the United States, would
have prevented any portion of them from using any means
to promote insurrection in the territory of a power with
which we are at peace, and with which the United States are
desirous maintaining the most friendly relations. I regret
deeply, however, to be obliged to inform you that this has not
been the case. Information has been given to me, derived
from officialand other sources,that many citizens of the United
States have associated together to make hostile incursions
from our territory into Canada, and to aid and abet insur-
zenetiiton there, in violation of the obligation and laws of the
United States, and in open disregard of their own duties as
citizens. The information
made
ben part confirmed by
a hostile invasion actually ehy citizens of the United
States, in conjunction with Canadiansd
of and others, and ac-
companied by a forcible seizurethe property of our
t
citizens, and an application thereof to e
prosecution of
military operations against the authorities
and people of
Canada.
The results of these criminal assaults
been,
the peace
misguided or and order of a neighbouring country e have
sg
deluded
to
be expected, fatally detructive to
persons engaged in them, and highly injurious to those in
whose behalf they are professed to have been undertaken.
The authorities in Canada, from intelligence received oi
such intended movements among our citizens, have
themselves obliged to take precautionary measures against
them—have actually embodied the militia, and assumed
an attitude to repel the invasion to which they be-
lieved the colonies were exposed from the United
States. A state of feeling on both sides of the fron-
tier has thus been produced, which called for prompt
and vigorous interference. If an insurrection existed
in Canada, the amicable dispositions of the United
States towards Great Britain, as well as their duty to
themselves, would lead them to maintain a strict neutrality,
and to restrain their citizens from all violations of the laws
which have been passed for its enforcement. But this Go-
vernment recognises a still higher obligation to repress all
attempts on the part of its citizens to disturb the peace of
a country where order prevails, or has been re-established.
Depredations by our citizens upon nations at peace with
the United States, or combinations for committing them,
have at all times been regarded by the American Govern-
ment and people with the greatest abhorrence. Military
incursions by our citizens into countries so situated, and
the commission of acts of violence on the members thereof,
in order to effect a change in its Government, or under
any pretext whatever, have, from the commencement of our
airitnigotn e
in them,beenheldaner
aasllynthcreiinnieaserovnin,t
ofe of
. he the disturbance of the public peace by
;! (.;-Aiicte.i5►'eflittit4of similar acts within our own territory.

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