The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

being considered candidate for that honor The
Message was delivered on Tuesday, at IL o'clock, M.
MESSAGE.
Fellou Citisens Of the Senate and
House of Representatives -
1t gives me pleasure to congratulate you upon
your return to the seat of Government for the pur-
pose of dischargng your duties to the people of the
United States. Although the pestilence which had
traversed the Old World has entered our limits and
extended its ravages much of our land, it has
pleased Almighty God to mitigate its severity and
lessen the number of its vctms compared with those
who have fallen in most other countries which
it has spread its terrors.
Notwithstanding this visitation, our country pre-
sents on every side marks of prosperity and happi
ness, nnequalled perhaps, in any other portion of
the world. If we fully appreciate our comparative
condition, existing causes of discomfort will appear
unworthy of attention, and with hearts of thankful
ness to that Divine Being who has filled our cup of
prosperity, shall feel resolution strengthened
to preserve and hand down to PosteIity That liberty
and that union which we have received from our
fathers and which constitute the sources ana shield
of all our blessings
The relations of our country continue to present
the same picture of amcabe intercourse that had the
satisfaction to hold up to your view at the opening
of your last session. The same friendly professions,
the same desire to participate in our fourshing
merce the same disposition to refrain from resenng
injuries unntentionally offered, are, with few ex-
ceptions evinCed by all nations with whom we have
any intercourse. This desirable state of things may
be mainly ascribed to our undertaking practice of
the rule which has long guided national policy,
TO REQUIRE no exclusive privileges commerce, and
to grant none. 1t is daily producing its beneficial
effects in the respect shown to our flag, the protec
ton of citizens and property abroad and in the
increase of our navigation and the extension of our
mercantile operations. The returns which have
been made out since we last met, will show an in
crease during the last preceding year of more than
eirhtv thouSaOd n Of
forty millions of dollars in the aggregate of our i'm
ports and exports.
Nor have we less reason to fecitate ourselves on
the position of political, than of our commercial
concerns They remain in the same state in which
they when last addressed you-a state of pros
perity and peace, the effect of wise attention to the
parting advice of the revered Father of his country
this subject, condensed into maxim for the
ofposterity by of his most distinguished success
sors, to cultivate free commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations, and to make entangling ALI
ances with none. strict adherence to this policy
has kept aloof from the perplexing questions that
agitate the European world, and have more than
once deluged those countries with blood. Should
those scenes unfortunately recur, the parties to the
contest may count on faithful performance of the
duties incumbent on us as neutral nation, and our
own citizens may equally rely on the firm assertion
of their neutral rights
With the nation that earliest friend and
ally in the infancy of political existence the
most friendly relations have subsisted through the
late revolutions of its Government, and, from the
events of the last promise permanent duration. 1t
has made approximation IN of its political in
situations to our own, and raised monarch to the
throne who preserves, it is said, friendly recolec-
ton of the period during which he acquired among
our citizens the high consideration that could then
have been produced by his personal qualifications
alone.
Our commerce with that nation is gradually as
Stunning mutually beneficial character, and the
adjustment of the claims of our citizens has
ed the only obstacle there was, to intercourse
not only lucrative, but productive of literary and
scientific improvement.
From Great Britain / have the satisfaction to in
form you that continue TO receive assurances
of the most amicable disposition, which have,
my part, on all proper occasions, been promptly
and sincerely reciprocated.
The attention of that Government has lattery been
so mich engrossed by matters of deeply interest
ing domestic character, that could not press up
on it the renewal of negotiations which had been
unfortunately broken off by the unexpected recall of
Minister who had commenced them with some
hopes of success. My great object was the settle
ment of questions which, though now dormant might
hereafter be revived under circumstances which
would endanger the good understanding which it is
the interest of both parties to preserve inviolate
cemented it is by community of language,
manners and social habits, and by the high obliga-
tons we owe to our British ancestors for many of
valuable institutions, and for that system
of Representative Government which has enabled
us to preserve and improve them.
The question of our North Eastern boundary still
remains unsettled. In my last annual message, [
explained to you the situation in which found that
business my coming into office, and the mea-
sures thought it my duty to pursue for asserting
the rights of the United States before the Sovereign
who had been chosen by my predecessor to deter
mine the questions and also the manner in which he
had disposed of it. A special message to the Sen
ate in their executive capacity, afterwards brought
before them the question, whether they would advise
submission to the opinion of the sovereign arbiter
That body having considered the award as not obi
gatory, and advised to open further negotiation
the proposition Immediately made to the British
Government but the circumstances to which have
alluded have hitherto prevented any answer being
given to the overture. Early attention, however
has been promised to the subject, and every effort
my part will be made for satisfactory settlement
of this question, interesting to the Union generally,
and particularly so to one Of its members.
The claims of our citizens on Spain are not yet
acknowledged On a closer investigation of them
than appears to have heretofore taken place. it was
discovered that some of these demands however
strong they might be upon the equity of that govern
ment were not such as could be made the Subject
of national interference. And faithful to the prn-
cple of asking nothing but what was clearly right
additional Instructions have been sent, to modify our
demands so as to embrace those only on which, ac-
cording to the laws of nations had strict right
to insist. An inevitable delay in procuring the
documents necessary for this review of the merits
of these claims retarded this operation, until an UNI
fortunate malady which has afflicted his Catholic
Majesty, prevented an examination of them. Being
now for the first time presented in an unexception-
able form, it is confidently hoped the application will