Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-01-03

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10 The t,co Houses Of Congress, at the
commencement Of the Second Session OF
the 26M Congress.
Fellow CITIZENS OF THE SENATE
AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
We have reason TO renew the expression
Of our devout gratitude to the Giver of all
good for his benign protection. Our coun-
try presents on every side, the evidences
Of that continued favor, under whose aus
pieces it has gradually risen from few fee.
BILE and dependant colonies to a prosper.
Gus and powerful Confederacy. We are
blessed with domestic tranquility, and all
the elements OF national prosperity. The
pestience which invading, for time some
Aourishing portions of the Union, interrup.
ted the general prevalence of unusual
health, has happily been limited in extent,
and arrested in its fatal career. The in
dustry and prudence Of our citizens are
gradually relieving them from the pocunia-
ry embarrassmcnts under which portions
of them have labored; judicious legislation
and the natural and boundlcss resources Of
the country, have afforded wise and timely
aid to private enterprise, and the activity al.
ways characteristic Of our people has al.
ready, in great degree, resumed itsSusual
and proper channels.
The condition of our foreign relations is
not materially changed since the last annu.
al message Of my predecessor. We 70.
main at peace with all nations; and no ef.
forts on my part, consistent with the pre-
servation of our right and the honor of the
government, shall be spared TO maintain
position so cOnsonant to our institutions.
We have faithfully sustained the foreign
policy with which the United States, under
guidance of the first President, took their
stand in the family of nations-that Of reg.
ulating their intercourse with other powers
by the approved principles Of private life |;
asking and according equal rights and e.
quail privileges; rendering and demanding
Justice in all cases advancing their own,
and discussing the pretensions Of others
with candor, directness, and sincerity up.
peallng at all times to reason, but never
yielding to force, nor seeking to acquire
any thing for Themselves by its exercises.
A rigid adherence to this policy has left
this Government with scarcely claim up.
on its justice, for injuries arising from acts
committed by its authorities. The most i'm.
posing and perplexing ofthose Of the United
States upon foreign governments, for ag.
gressions upon our citizens were disposed Of
by my predecessor. independently of the
benef inferred upon our citizens by res.
torin9 lie mercantile community so many
millr (which they had been wrongfully
dives great service was also rendered
10 hi .ntry by the satisfactory adjust.
men. q 80 many ancient and irritating sub.
iects ofic'intention and it reflects no ordi-
nary credit on his successful administra.
ton Of public affairs, that this great otjec,
was accomplished, witlou compromising
on any occasion, either the honor or the
peace of the nation.
With European powers no new subjects
of difficulty have arisen; and those which
were under discussion, although not termi,
mated, do not present more unfavorable
aspect for the future preservation ofthat gooc
understanding, which it has ever been oul
desire to cultivate.
OFFENDING questions, the most importan
is that existing with the government Of
Great Britain, in respect to our north east
ern boundary. II is with unfeigned regret
that the people of the United States, mus
look back upon the abortve efforts made
by the Executive, for period Of more thar
half century, to determine what no natior
should suffer long to remain in dispute, tn,
true lines which divide its possessions from
those Of other powers. The nature of the
settlements on the borders of the United
States. and Of the neighboring territory
was for a season SUCH that this, perpaps, wa
not indispensable to faithful Performance,
of the duties of the Federal Government
Time, however, changed this state Of things
and has brought about condition of affairs
inwhich the true interests Of both countrie
imperatively require that this question shoul,
be put at rest. 1t is not to be disguised
that with full confidence, often expressed
in the desire of the British Government Il
terminate it, we are apparently as far froT
its adjustment as we were at the time q
signing the treaty of peace in 1888. TIL
sole result of long pending negotiations, an
perplexing arbitration,appears TO be cor
viction on its part, that conventional lin
must be adopted from the impossibiity {
ascertaining the true one, according TO III
description contained in thai treaty. With
out coinciding in this opinion, which is ne
thought TO be well founded, my prcde
cessor gave the strongest proof of the cal
nest desire ofthe United States to terminal
satisfactorily this dispute, by proposing III
.. substitution of conventional line, if the COZ
sent Of the States interested in the questio
could be obtained.
To this proposition no answer has as y,
been received. The attention of the Bri
ish Government has, however, been urgen
" invited to the subject, and its reply cal
, not, am confident, he much longer della,
ed. The general relations between Gre
Britain and the United States are of Il
most friendly character, and | am we'll sa
isfied Of the sincere disposition of that G,
!, vernment to maintain them upon their pr
sent footing. This disposition has also,
am persuaded, become more general wi
the people of England than at any previo,
, period. 1t is scarcely necessary to say
J you, how cordially it is reciprocated by II
!. government and people ofthe United State
o The conviction which must be common
o all, Of the injurious consequences that r
: suli from keeping open this irritating que
!. ton, and the certainty that its final seitl