The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-12-11
Nj IL s S A G. e,
Fetioio- Citisens ofhe Senate,

upon your return to the Seat of Govern
ment, for the purpose of dlschargingf your
duties to the people of the United States.
Althcrgh the pestIence which bad travers-
ed the Old w ord has entered our limits,
and extended its rayages over much of our
land, it has pleased Almighty God to mit-
gate its severity and lessen the number of
its victims, compared with those who have
fallen in most other countries over which it
has spread its terrors. Notwithstanding
this visitation, our country presents,o eve-
ry side, marks of prosperity and happiness,
unequalled, perhaps, in any other portion OF
the world. five fully appreciate our COM
para,ive condition, existing causes of DIS
content will appear unworthy Of attention,
and with hearts of thankfulness to that Di-
vine Beng who has filed our cup of pros
perity we shall feel our resolution strength
cned to preserve and hand down to posterity
that liberty and that union which we have
received from our fathers, and which con-
stitute the sources and shield Of all our
blessings.
The relations OF our country continues to
present the same picture of amicable inter-
course that had the satisfaction to hold up
TO your view at the opening of your last ses-
same desire to participate in our fourishing
commerce, the same disposition to refrain
from resentiug injuries unintentionally offer
ed, are, with few exceptions, evinced by
all nations with VIII ON we have any inter-
course. This desirable state ofthings may
be mainly ascribed to our underwriting prac-
tice ofthe rule which has long guided our
national policy, to require no exclusive
privileges in commerce. and to grant none.
1t is daily producing its beneficial effect in
the respect shown TO our flag, the protec.
tion Of our 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 increase
during the last preceding year of more than
eighty thousand tons in our shipping. and of
near forty millions OF dollars in the aggre-
gate of our imports aud exports.
Nor have we less reason to felicitate our
selves on the position of our political, than
of our commercial concerns. They remain
in the same state in which they were when
! last addressed you-a state of prosperity
and peace, the effect of wise attention to
the parting advice Of the reverend Father Of
his country on this subject, condensed into
a maxim for the use Of posterity by one of
his most distinguished SUCCESSORS, to cuti-
vate free commerce and honest friendship
with all nations. and to make entanglIng
alliances Xith none. A strict adherence TO
this policy has kept us aloof from the per.
picking questions that now agitate the Eu-
ropean world, and have more than once
deluped those countries with blood. Should
those scenes unfortunately recur the parties
to the contest may count on faithful per-
formance 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 was our earliest
friend and ally in he infancy ofour political
existence, the most friendly relations have
through the late revolutions of its
Government, and, from the events OF the
last, promise permanent duration. 1t has
made an approximation in some Of its polti
cal institutions TO our own, and raised
monarch to the throne who preserves, it is
said, friendly recollection OF the period
during which he acquired among our citi-
zens, the high consideration that could then
have been produced by his personal qualiti-
cations alone.
Our commerce with that nation is gradu-
ally assuming a mutually beneficial charac-
ter, and the adjustment ofthe claims of our
citizens has removed the only obstacle there
was, to an intercourse not only lucrative,
but productive of literary and scientific
From Great. Britain ! have the satisfac-
tion to inform you, that continue to receive
assurances of the most amicable disposition,
which have, on my part, on all proper occa-
sons, been promptly and sincerely reclpro-
Gated The attention OF that Government
has latterly been so much engrossed by mat
ters ola deeply interesting domestic charac-
ter, that we could not press upon it the re-
newal Of negotiations which had been un-
fortunately broken off by the unexpected
recall of our Minister who had commenced
them with some hopes OF success. My great
object was the settlement ofquestions 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 in.
violate, cemented as it Is by community Of
language, manners and social habits, and by
the high obligations we owe to our British
ancestors for many of our most valuable In
stitutions, and for that system OF Represen-
;ative Government which has enabled us to
preserve and improve them.
The question Of our North Eastern boun.
dary still remains unsettled. In my last
annual message, explained to you the stu-
alton In which found that business on my
coming INTO Office, g. the measures thought
1t my duty topursue for asserting the rights
OF the United States before the Sovereign
who had been chosen by my predecessor to
determine the question and also the man.
ner in which be had disposed of it. A spe.
cial message to the. Senate IN their execu-
two capacity, afterwards brought before
them the question, whether they would sd.
yise submission to the opinion Of the sove-
reign arbiter. That body having considered