Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-12-28
PRESIDENTS ESSAG
and House Of Representatives. /.

sage | shall ever present to the congress Of
the United States, it is a source of the most
heartfelt satisfaction to be able to congratu-
late you on the high state of prosperity
which our beloved country has attained I;
with no causes at home or abroad to lessen
the confidence with which we look to the
future for continuing proofs Of the capacity
OF our free institutions to produce all the
fruits Of good government, the general con-
dition of our affairs may we'll excite our ma.
tional pride.
/ cannot avoid congratulating you and
my country, particularly, on the success of
the efforts made during my administration,
by the executive and legislature, in confor.
nifty with the sincere, constant and earnest
desire of the people to maintain peace, and
establish cordial relations with all foreign
powers. Our gratitude is due to the SUI
preme Ruler of the Universe, and invite
you to unite with me in offering to Him fer.
vent supplication, that his providential care
may ever be extended to those who follow
us, enabling them to avoid the dangers and
the horrors of war, consistently with Just
and indispensable regard 70 the rights and
honor of our country. But, although the
present state OF our foreign affairs, standing
without important change, as they did when
you separated in July last, is fatterng in
the extreme, regret to say, that many ques-
tons of an interesting character at issue
with other powers, are yet unadjusted. A
mongst the most prominent of these is that
of our Northeastern Boundary. With an
undiminished confidence in the sincere de-
sire ofhis Brtanic Majesty's Government to
adjust that question, am not yet in possess
ion ofthe precise grounds upon which it pro.
poses satisfactory adjustment.
With France our diplomatic relations have
been resumed, and under circumstances
which attest the disposition of both govern.
ments to preserve mutually beneficial in.
tercourse, and foster those amicable feel.
ings which are so strongly required by the
true interests of the two countries. With
Russia, Austria, Prussia, Naples, Sweden,
and Denmark, the best understanding exists
and our commercial intercourse gradually
expanding itself with them.--It is encour-
aged in all these countries except Naples,
by their mutually advantageous and liberal
treaty stipulations with us.
The claims of our citizens on Portugal
are admitted to be just, but provision for
the payment of them has been unfortunate.
ly delayed by frequent political changes in
that Kingdom.
The blessings Of peace have not been
secured to Spain. Our connections with
that country are on the best footing, with
the exception of the burdens still imposed
upon our commerce with her possessions
out of Europe.
The claims of American citizens for
losses sustained at the bombardment of
Antwerp have been presented to the gov
ernments Of Holland and Belgium, and
will be pressed in due season for settlement.
With Brazil and all our neighbors of
this continent, we continue to maintain re-
lations of amity and concord, extending
our commerce with them as far as the re-
sources of the people and the policy of
their governments will permit. The Just
and long standing claims of our citizens
upon some of them, are yet sources of
dissatisfaction and complaint. No danger
is apprehended, however, that they will not
be peacably although tardily, acknowledged
and paid by all, unless the irritating effect of
her struggle with Texas should unfortunate
ly make our immediate neighbor, Mexico,
an exception.
1t is already known to you, by the cor
respondence between the two governments,
communicated at your last session, that our
conduct in relation to that struggle is regu-
lated by the same principles that governed
us in the dispute between Spain and Mexi.
CO herself, and, trust, that it will be found
on the most severe scrutiny, that our acts
have strictly correspondent with our profess
sions. That the inhabitants of the United
States should feel strong prepossessions for
the one party is not surprising. But this
circumstance should, of itself, teach us
great caution, lest it lead us into the great
error of suffering public policy to be regu-
lated by partiality or prejudice and there
are considerations connected with the pos
sble result of the contest between the two
parties, Of so much delicacy and impor-
lance to the United States that our charac-
ter requires that we should neither antici-
pate events, nor attempt to control them.
The known desire of the Texans to be-
come a part of our system, although its
qualification depends upon the reconcile.
ment of various and conflicting interests
necessarily work of time, and uncertain
in ITSELF is calculated to expose our con.
duct to misconstruction in the eyes of the
world.-There are already these who, in
different to principles themselves, anc
prone to suspect the want of it in others
charge us with ambitious designs and in
sidious policy. You will perceive by the
accompanying documents, that the extra
ordinary mission from Mexico has beer
terminated, on the sole grounds that the OBJ
legations of this government to itself and t.
1 Mexico, under treaty stipulations, have
compelled me to trust discretionary au
thority to higher officer of our army, t.
advance into territory claimed as part O
Texas, if necessary TO protect our own o
the neighboring frontier from Indian depre
dation. In the opinion of the Mexican
functionary, who has just left us, the homo
!; of this country will be wounded by Amer
lean soldiers entering, with the most ami
cable avowed purposes, upon ground from
which the followers of his government ha,
been expelled, and over which there is q
present no certainty Of a serious effort OF
! its part being made to re-establish its do
, minion. The departure of this Mlniste
l H.. I<, xxroc