Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-12-16
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fslzow citizens of the Senate,
and Ho,ise of ReDresenf1ti,,es

blOu VI our ucVOut RrdtiIuuG ~ tlc OlV-
ER or ALL GOOD for his benign protec-
ton. Our country presents on every
side, the evidences of that continued
favor, under whose auspices it has grad
ually risen from a few feeble dependant
Colonies 10 powerful Confederacy.
We are blessed with domestic tranquil
ity, and the elements of national pros
perity. The pestilence which, invading,
Tor time, some flourishing portions of
the Union, intercepted the general prev
alence Of usual health, has happily been
limited in extent, and arrested in its IA
tal career. The industry and prudence
of our citizens are gradually relieving
them from their pecuniary embarrass-
ments under which portions ofthem have
labored judicious legislation, and the
natural and boundless resources of the
country, have afforded wise and timely
aid to private enterprise and activity,
always characteristic of our people has
already in great degree, resumed its
useful andpro6table channels.
The condition Of our foreign relations
has not materially changed since the last
annual message Of my predecessor. We
remain at peace with all Nations; and
no effort on my part, consistent with
the preservation Of our rights and the
honor of the country, shall be spared to
maintain position so consonant to our
institutions. We have faithfully sustain
ed the foreign policy with which the
United States, under the guidance OF
their first Presdent-that Of regua-
ting their intercourse with foreign pow
ers by approved principles of private
life; and according equal rights and
privileges; rendering and demanding
justice in all cases advancing their
own, and discussing the pretensions Of
others, with candor, directness, and sin
cerity; and appealing at all times tc
reason, but never yielding to force, nor
seeking to acquire anything to them,
selves by its exercise.
A rigid adherence to this policy has left
this Government with scarcely a clam
upon its justice, for injuries arising from
acts committed by authority. The
most imposing and perpIexing of those
of the United States upon foreign Gov
ernments fer aggression upon citizens
were disposed Of by my predecessor
independently of the benefits conferred
upon our citizens by restoring to the
mercantile community so many million;
of which had wrongly been divested, q
service was also rendered to this coun
try by the satisfactory adjustment of SC
many ancient and irritating objects o.
contention; it reflects no ordinary ere.
dit on his successful administration o.
public affairs, that this great object was
accomplished without compromising, on
any occasion, either the peace or the ma
ton.
With European powers no new sub
jects Of difficulty have arisen and
those which were under discussion, al
though not terminated, do not present a
more unfavorable aspect for the future
preservation of the good understanding
which it has ever been our desire to cul.
tivate.
OF pending questions, the most impor-
tant is that which exists with the Govern
ment Of Great Britain, in respect to the
northeastern boundary. 1t is with un.
feigned regret that the people of the
United States must look back on the alb
ortive efforts made by the Executive,
for period of more than halfa century,
to determine, what no nation should
suffer long to remain in dispute, the true
line which divides lines from those Of
other powers. The nature ofsettlements
on the borders of the United States,
and of tie neighboring territory, was
for session such, that this perhaps was
not Indispensable TO faithful perform
ance Of the duties of Federal Govern
ment. Time has, however, changed
this state of things; and has brought
about condition of affairs, in which
the interest Of both countries impera-
lively require that this question should
be put at rest. 1t is not to be disguised,
that with full confidence, often express
sed, in the desire of the British Govern
men. to terminate it, we are apparently
as far from adjustment as we were at
the time Of signing the treaty in 1888.
The sole result oflong pending negotia-
tions, and perplexing arbitrations, ap-
pears to be conviction, on its part that
!, ,onyant;onal line p,,let he adonted from
the impossibility Of ascertaining the true
one according to the description con-
tained in that treaty. Without coinci-
ding in this opinion, which is thought TO
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