Litchfield enquirer., 1831-12-15
aDrest0esrt's messa0e.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.
 This day, at l2 o'clock the President of the United
 States, by his Private Secretary communicated to the two Houses ot Congress the following
 MESSAGE:
 FeLlo,O Citizens the Senate.
 and House of Representatives:
 The representation ot the people has been l renewed for the 22d time since the consti,u- ton they formed has been in force. For near half a century, the chief magistrates who have been successively chosen have made their an nual communications of the state of the nation tO it's representatives. Generally, these com muuications have been of the most gratifying nature. testifying an advance in all the inn provements of social and all the securities of political life. But frequently, and justly, as you have been called on to be grateful for the bonnties of PrOvidencc, at few periods have
 they heen more abundantly or extensively be- slowed than at the present--rarely, if ever, haze we had greater reason tu congratulate each other on the continued and increasing prosperity of our beloved country.
 Agriculture, the first and most important occupation of man. has compensated the la I bors of the husbandman with plentiful crops | of all the varied products of our extensive l country. Manufactures have been established.
 
 ftable investment, and which give employ
 inert and subsistence to numerous and in-
 creasing body of industrious and dexterous
 mechanics. The laborer is rewarded by high l wages, in the construction of works of inter- nal improvement 1; which are extending with
 unprecedented rapidity. Science is steadily
 penetrating the recesses of nature. and discio- sing her secrets, while the ingenuity of free minds IS suhjecting the elements to the power l of man. and making each new conquest auxi
 liary to his comfort. By our mails, whose speed is regularly increased, and whose routes are every year extended, the communication of public intelligence and private business is rendered frequent and safe-the intercourse between distant cities, which it formerly re- l qnred weeks to accomplish, is now effected in l a few days; and by the construction of rail
 roads, and the application of steam power. we 1 have reasonable prospect that the extreme parts of our country will be so much approxi-
 mated, and those most isolated by the Obsta-
 cles of nature rendered so accessible as to re- moye an apprehension, sometimes entertain 1 ed, that the great extent of the Union would endanger its permanent existence.
 If, from the satisfactory view of our agri- ] culture, manufactures, and internal improve ments, we turn to the state of our navigation and trade with foreign nations, and betw cen the states, we shall scarcely find less cause for graduation. A benefcent Providence has 1 provided, for their exercise and encourage
 ment. an extensive coast, indented by capa-
 ciOns bays, noble rivers, inland seas, with q 1 country productive of every material for ship
 building, and every commodity for gainful
 commerce, and filled with population active,
 intelligent. wcll-informed, and fearless of dan ger. These advantages are not neglected; and an impulse has lately been given to commer. cial enterprise, which fills cur ship-yards with | new constructions, encourages all the arts and ] branches of industry connected with them,
 crowds the wharves of our cities with vessels. and covers the most distant seas with our 1 canvass.
 Let US be grateful for these blessings to the 1 benefcent Being who has conferred them, ,and 1 who suffers US to indulge reasonable hope of their continuance and extension. while we neglect no: the means by which they may be preserved. If we may dare to judge of His l future designs, by the manner in which hls 1 past favors have been bestowed, he has made
 our national prosperity to depend on the pre-
 servation of our liberties our national force 1 on our federal union, and our individual hap piness on the maintenance ofl,ar State rights and wise institutions. If we are prosperous at
 home, and respected abroad, it is because we
 are free, united. industrious, and obedient to the laws. While we continue so, we shall, by
 the blessing of Heaven. go on in the happy
 career we have begun. and which has brought
 US, in the short period Of our political exist
 ence, from population of three to thirteen
 millions; from thirteen separate colonies to
 twenty -four United States; from weakness 10
 strength; from rank scarcely marked in the
 scale Of nations, to high place in their re-
 spect.
 l This last advantage is one that has resulted,
 in great degree, from the principles which
 have guided our intercourse with foreign pow ! CTS, since we have assumed an equal station among them: and hence, the annual account | which the Executive renders to the country, l of the manner in which that branch of his dn- ties has been fulfilled, proves instructive and
 salutary..
 The pacific and wise policy of our Govern ! ment kept US in state of neutrality during the ! wars that have, at different periods since our ! political existence, been carried on by other Powers; but this policy. while it gave activity and extent to our commerce, exposed 1t in the same proportion to injuries from belligerent nations. Hence have arisen claims of indem- nifty for those injuries. England, France. Spain. Holland, Sweden. Denmark. Naples, and lately Portugal, had ali. in n greater or less degree, infringed our neutral rights. De- rnands for reparation were made upon all.- They have had ia all, and continue to have in some eases, a leading influence on the nature AL w@NSel skA.nnA