Southern telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1834-1838, 1837-12-19
Prcsfdcnt,s Message,
TO THE TWO HOUSES OF CoNGhSss'
pErrvERED DECEMBER 5, 1887.


Fslior- Citizens Of the Senate,
and House of Representatives.:
We have to renew the express.on,,u ga
devout gratitude to the giver "l an
for his benign protection Oar coos''s
presents on every side, the eV"s"e
|, that continued favor, under whose ausp
es il has gradually risen from ie" 'eep'1
and defendant colonies to prosperous "n,
nowerful confederacv. we are blessed
with domestic tranquility, and all the Gle
ments Of national prosperity. Inc Pcs''. j
Ience which, invading tor time some q
| n, fmrishing portions of our Union, inter,
rnp.e.l the general prevalence oil uhus"a'
| heal h, has happily heen limited IN extent
and arrested in its fatal career. Inc IN
dnst,v and prudence Of our ciizens are gra-
dually relieving them from the pecun'ary
emburrass,ncnts under which portions o.
them have laborcd; judcicns Legislation,
and the natural and houndcss resources OF
the country, have afforded wise and tline'y
aid To private enterprise; and the acus's
always characteristic Of our people has at
ready in great degree, resumed Its usuai
and profitable channels.
The condition Of our foreign relations mas
not materially changed since the last anne-
al message ofmy predecessor. we remain
al peace with all nations; and no efforts on
INV pa,t consistent with the preservation oil
our rights and the honor cf The country shall
he s,arcd to maintain position so conso-
nant TO our Institutions. We have faithful
w sustained the foreign policy with which
the u. States, under the guidance OF their
frs, President, took their stand IN the iaml-
" of naiions--,hat of regulating their IN
:ercourse with other powers by the approv-
ed principles Of private life; asking and ac.
cor,,ing equal rights and equal justice IN all
leases; advancing their own, and discussing
the prcteus;ons of others, with candor, di-
RICHNESS and sincerity; appealing atall times
to reasen, but never yielJing to force, nor
seeking to acquire any thing for themselves
| by its exercise.
A rigid adherence TO this policy has left
this government with scarcely claim up
on its Justice, from injuries arising from
acts committed under its authority. The
most imposing and perplexing of those OF
The United States upon foreign govern
| mcn,s. for aggressions upon our citizens,
were disposed of by my predecessor. In
dcpendently Of the benefits conferred upon
our citizens by restoring to the mercantile
community so many millions Of which they
had been wrongfuIly Invested, a great SER
vice was also rendered TO the country by
The satisfactory adjustment of so many
anc;en, and irritating sub jects Of contention
and it reflects No ordinary credit on his sue
ccssfuI administration OF public affairs, that
this great o ject was accomplished, without
| comprom ung, on any occasion, either the
honor or peace of tho nation.
With European powers no new tjcc's
of difficulty have arisen; and those which
were under consideration, although not ter
minated, do not present a more unfavorable
aspect for the future preservation of thai
good understanding, which it has been oul
desire to cultivate.
OF pending questions, the most imporian
is that which exists with the government @
Great b, in in respect to our northeastern
hoandaly. II is with unfegned regret .ha
the people of the United States must lool
back upon the ahortivc efforts made hy tn.
Executive, for period of more than half
century, to determine, what nation shouh
n yer saiier l'ng to remain in dispnte,'he tr,,
line wilrh divides its possessions from thos,
of other powers. The nature Of the settle
ments on the borders of the U. States an.
of:he neighbor;Dg territory, was for a sea
son such that this perhaps was not lnds
. pensabIe to faithful performance Of tn
) duties of the Frcderal Government. Tim,
: has, however, changed this state of things
: and has brought about condition of affair
: in which the true interests of both conn,rie
: imperativcly require that this question
2 should be put to rest.
D 1t is not to he disguised that with ful
d confidence often expressed, in the desire Z
the British go, crnment to terminate it, W.
l. are apparently as far from its adjustment a
If we were at the time Of signing the treaty G
e peace in 1888. The s,!e result of lon
d pending negotiations and perplexing al
] bitration appears to be a conviction on it
o part, that conventional line must be ador
: ted, from the impossihility of ascertainin
t. the true one according TO the dcscripio
J. contained in that treaty. Without coinc
= ding in this opinion, which is not thought
/ be well founded, my predecessor gave tn
G strongest proof Of The earnest desire of til
: y. States to terminate satisfactorily ,hi
s dispute, by proposing the substitution of
:. conventional line, if the consent ofthe State
interested in tie question could be obtaines
To this proposition no answer has yet bee
i received. The attention of the British &c
) vcrnment has, however, been urgently II
> sitcd to the subject, and its reply invite
cannot, | am confident, be much longer d,
= layed. The general relations be.wee
Gree Britain and the United States are .
= he xinnst friendly character, and am we