The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-31 00:00:00

AMERICA.

THE.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

OPENING OF CONGRESS.

LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.

We have this day received advices from New
York to the 9th instant inclusive, by the packet-ship
Ashburton. They contain full accounts of the open-
ing of the United States Congress, and a copy of the
President's Message, which is, as usual, a lengthy
document : a very considerable portion is devoted to
the state of affairs in Mexico, and the glorious deeds
of the army of invasion. The details of Mr. Trist's
mission are also given, and the terms on which he
was authorised to treat with Mexico. The President
recommends the occupation of Mexico until peace is
asked—an indemnity for the past, and security fo
the future; but it is needless thus to refer to the
several topics. 'We subjoin the Message itself, to-
gether with the latest M2xican and commercial news
received.

The steam-ship Britannia arrived at Boston on th;
Bth, after a passage of 18 days. It is reported sh,
was otf Holyhead this afternoon. She will have severs
days' later news from New York.

THE MESSAGE.

FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND Or
THE MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,-

The annual meeting of Congress is always an in
teresting event. The representatives of the State
and of the people come fresh from their constituents
to take counsel together for th common good. After
an existence of near three-fourths of a century as a
free and independent republic, the problem no longer
remains to be solved, whether man is capable of self-
government. The success of our admirable system
is a conclusive refutation of the theories of those it,
gther countries who maintain that " a favoured few"
are born to rule, and that the mas► of mankind must
be governed by force. Subject to no arbitrary or he
reditary authorit3 , the people are the only sovereip,
recognisk d by our constitution.
Numerous emigrants of every lineage and lan
gunge, attracted by the civil and religious free.lon.
we enjoy, and by our happy condition annually crow,'
to our shores, and transfer their heart, not less than
their allegiance, to the country whose domini-in be-
longs alone to the people.
No country has hen so much favoured, or should
acknowledge with deeper reverence the manifestation-
of the Divine protection. An all-wise Creator directed
and guarded u, in our infant struggle for freedom,
and has constantly watched over oar surprising pro
gress, until we have become one of the groat nations
of the earth.

It is in a country thus favoured, and uncle:
Government in which the executive and legislAtiv,
branches hold their authority .for limited periods
alike from the people, and where all are responsible
to their respective constituencies, that it is again no
duty to communicate with Congress upon the stab
of the Union, and the present condition of public
affairs. _

During the past year the most gratifying proofs
are presented that our country h:is been blessed with
a wide-spread and universal prosperity. There ha.,
been no period since the Government was founded,
when all the industrial pursuits of our people have
been more successful, or when labour in all branches
of business has received a fairer or better reward.
From our abundance we have been enabled to perform
the pleasing duty of furnishing food fur the starving
millions of less favoured countries.