The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-12-23


MENcEMENT THE SECOND sEseIoN OF THE
rwENTY-F1FTH CONGRESS.
FellOlc- CHizens oftbe Senate,
and House Of Representatives.
We have reason to renew the expression of our
devout gratitude to the G1vER or ALL coon for his
benign protection. Our country presents, on eve
ry side, the evidences of that continued favor un-
der whose auspices it has gradually risen from a
few feeble and dependent Colonies to a prosperous
and powerful Confederacy. We are blessed with
domestic tranquility, and all the elements of ma
tlonal prosperity. The pestilence which invading.
for time, some lourishing portions of the Union,
interrupted the general prevalence ofunusual health.
has happily been limited in extent and arrested in
its fatal career. The industry and prudence ofour
citizens are gradually relieving them from the Pc
cunlaTy emharrassments under which portions of
them have labored; iudicious legislation, and the
natural and boundless resources of the country.
have afforded wise aud timely aid to private enter
prise; and the activity always characteristic of our
people has aheady, in great degree, resumed its
usual and profitable 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 efforts my part, consistent with
the preservation Of our rights and the honor of the
country, shall be spared to maintain a position so
consonant to our institutions. We have faithfully
sustained the foreign policy with which the United
States, under the guidance of their first President
took their stand in the family of nations-that OF
regulating their intercourse with other powers by
the approved principles of private life; asking and
according equal rights and equal privileges render
ing and demanding justice in all cases; advancing
their own, and discussing the pretensons of Others
with candor, directness, and sincerity; appealing at
all times TO reason, but never yielding to force, nor
seeking to acquire any thing for themselves by its
exercise.
rigid adherence to this policy has left this Gov
ernment with scarcely claim upon its Justice, for
injuries arising from acts committed by its author
ity. The most imposing and peTpleXing of those OF
the United States upon foreign Governments, for
aggressions upon our citizens were disposed of by
my predecessor. independently of the benefits
conferred upon our citizens by restoring 10 the
mercantile community so many many millions q
which they had been wrongfully divested, great
service was also rendered to his country by the sat
isfactory adjustment of so many ancient and irrta-
ting subjects of contentious and it reflects ordi
nary credit on his successful administration of pub
lie affairs that this great object accomplished
without compromising, on any occasion, either the
honor, or the peace Of the nation
With European powers no new subjects Of diff.
Guilty have arisen; and those which under dis
cussion, although not terminated, do not present
unfavorabe aspect for the future preservation
of that good understanding, which it has ever been
our desire to cultivate.
Of pending questions, the most important is that
which exists with the Government of Great Britain
in respect to our northeastern boundary 1t is
with unfeigned regret that the people of the United
States must look back upon the abortive effort.
made by the Executive, for period Of more than
half century, to determine what no nation should
suffer long to remain in dispute the true line
which divides its possessions from those of othel
powers The nature of the settlement on the Dor
ders of the United States, and of the neighboring
territory, was for such, that this perhaps
was not indispensable to a faithful performance o
the duties OF the Federal Government Time has
however, changed this state of things; and has
brought about a condition of affairs, in which tn,
true interests of both countries imperativey require
that this question should be put at rest. Ii is no
to be disguised, that with full confidence, often eX
pressed in the desire of the British Government tC
terminate it, we are apparently as far from its ad
iustment as we at the time OF signing the
treaty Of peace in 1888. The sole result Of long
pending negotiations, and perpleXing arbitration
appears to be a conviction, on its part that con
ventional line must be adopted, from the impossl
bIty of asceraining the true one, according to th
description contained in that treaty. Without co
incding in this opinion, which is not thought to b
we'll founded, my predecessor gave the stronges
proof of the earnest desire of the United States
terminate satisfactorily this dispute, by proposing
the substitution of conventional line, if the con
sent of the States interested in the question coul
be obtained.
To this proposition no answer has as yet bee
received. The attention of the British Govern
ment has however, been urgently invited to tn
subject and its reply cannot, lam confident,
much longer delayed The general relations be
tween Great Britain and the United States are {
the most friendly character, and am well satisi
ed of the sincere disposition of that Government
maintain them upon their present footing IN
disposition has also, / am persuaded, become mol
general with the people of England than at an
other previous period 1t is scarcely necessary
saw to YOU, how cordially it is reciprocated by u
Government and people ofthe United States. III
conviction, which must be common to ALL oil Il
injurious consequences that result from keepir
open this irritating question, and the certainty tn
lis final settlement cannot be much longer deerre
will trust lead to early and satisfactory adJu,
ment. At your last session had before you u
recent communications between the two Cover
ments. and between this Government and lhat
the State of Maine in whose soicitude, concemn
subject in which she has so deep an interest,"
cry portion ofthe Union participates
The feelings produced by temporary lnterrl
ton of those harmonious relations between fraL
and the United States, which are due as wei
A. to pAT