Litchfield enquirer., 1836-03-03
o77,5 T0PCION RELATIONS: OUk EOhGI sI, I,.anrSnrON. Heb. 2A.


 ns States to Congress:
 =. 1S rSc Senute and House cf Representatives:
 transmit, herewith. tO Congress, copies ol ,he correspOndenee between the Secretary O State and the Charge d'Affaires of His Brit annie Majesty, relative to the mediation 0I Great Britain in our disagreement with France. and tO the determination Of the French Government to execute the Treaty OI IndemniHcatiOn, without further delay, on the application for pay nent by the agent of the United States.
 The grounds upon which the mediation was accepted will be found fully developed in the correspondence. On the part of France the mediation had been publicly accepted be- fore the offer of it could be received here.- Whilst each of the two Governments has thus discovered just solicitude tO resort to all hon. orable means of adjusting amicaOIy the con- troversy between them, it is matter ot con- rratulatiOn that the mediation has been rem dered unnecessary. Under such clrcumstan- ces, the anticipation may be confidently in- dugrd that the disagreement between the U. Stafes and France will not have produced more than a temporary estr"nsemr"t. The healing effects of time, a just consideration of the powerful motives for cordial good un- derstanding between the two Nations, the strong inducements each has to respect and esteem the other, will DO doubt soon ObIiter- ate from their remembrance all traces of that disagreement.
 or the elevated and disinterested part the Government of Great Britain has acted, and was prepared to act, have already had oc- casion to express my high sense. Universal respect, and the consciousness of merittng 1t, are with Governments as with men, the just rewards of those who faithfully exert theis power to preserve peace, restore harmony and perpetuate goodwill.
 l may be permitted. trust, at this time without suspicion of the most remote desire to throw of censure from the Executive. or to point it to any other Department or branch of the Government, to refer to the want of effective preparation in which our country V as found at the late crisis. From the nature of our institutions, the movements of the Gov crnment in preparation for hostilites must ev- CT be too slow for the exi gencies of unexpee- ted war. l submit it then to you, whether the first duty we owe to the People who have con6ded to US their power is not to place our country in such an attitude as always to be SO amply supplied with the means of self de- fence as to afford no inducement to other na- lions tO presume upon our fOrbearance, or to expect important advantages from sudden assault, either upon our commerce, our sea coast, or our interior frontier. In case of the commencement OfhostiIities during the recess of Congress, the time inevitably elapsing be- fore that body could be called together, even under the most favorable circumstances, w ould be pregnant with danger, and. if we escaped without signal disaster or national dishonor, the hazard of both unnecessarily incurred, could not fail to excite feeling of deep re- prOach. earnestly recommend to you, there fore, to make such provisions, that i6 no fil- lure time shall we be found without ample means to repel aggression even although lt may come upon us without note of warn ing. We are now, fortunately, so situated. that the expenditure for this purpose will not he felt; and, if it were, it would be approved by those from whom all its means are deriv- ed,.and fo: whose benefit only it should be used with a liberal economy and an enlight- ened forecast.
 In behalf of these suggestions, cannot for bear repeating the wise precepts of one whose counsels cannot be- forgotten: "The United States ought not to indulge persuasion that. contrary tO the order of human e, ents. they will forever keep at distance those painful appeals to arms, with which the history ol every other nation abounds. There is rank due tN the United States among nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lust, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to a void insult. we must be able to repel it. we desire to secure peace, one of the mos powerful instruments of our rising prosperity 1t must be known that we are, at all times ready for war; ANDREW JACKSON.
 February 22, l8S6.
 Correspondence cf the W. Y. Duly Advertise'
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 2g.
 MT. Clay, after the Eprccedingl messag had been read, which occupied about ten min otes, called for the reading of the document. The first was from Charles Bankhead, tn British Charge des Affairs. now in this citv.- 1t contained the official offer of mediation ( Great Britain, and somewhat ofa lecture upo war. its consequences and effects, and state moreover, the friendly regard His Majesty h; for France and America, which has cause him to offer mutual mediation, which hopes may be accepted.
 The second document was letter from M Forsyth, in reply to the note of Mr. Ban head. It contains the views Ofthe Presiden and is written by authority. It enters into brief view of the causes of our difficulties vii France, and contains bold but good tempe cd ylndica,ion of the course Ofthe Executiv
 The third Is a letter from France to Gre; Britain, sent as to an interested friend, and ex presses a satisfaction of the explanation con taned in the Message of December sth, and willingness to pay the money.
 The fourth and last is from Mr. Forsyth by authority of the President, and expresse great gratitude in behalf of the President, tha the difficulties are over.
 When the reading was over. MT. Clay ros in his place to cay few words upon ih~ Me. sage. and documents. The Senate Chsmb, was full. most of tee members of the Hou,