Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-12-07
EVventy-fifth Congress---2d Sess.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FeHo,o. Citi.ens ofMs Senate

HE for the performance of your official duties Though
the on,icipa"ns of abundant harvest have not every
where been realized yet. the whole, the abors oil the
husbandman rewarded with a bounuiul return; III
usry prospers in its various channels of business and
enprptise general health again prevails through our
vast diversity of climate nothing threatens from abroad
the continuance OF external peace nor has any hg al
home Impaired the strength u" those raterna and dones
tic which constitute the only guaranty 10 the success
and pernanancy of our happy Union, and which, formed
in the hour Of peril have hitherto been honoaoy sus
tanned through every vcissude IN our national afiars
These blessings which evInce The care ana oehehcehce
of Providence call for devout and terven gratitude
We have not less 10 be grateful Tor other boun
ties bestowed BY the same munlhcent hand and more
exclusively our own.
The present year closes the first half century OF our
Federal institutions and differing from all
others in the acknowledged practical, and unlimited
operation which has for so long period given to the
sovereignty The peope-has now been fully tested by
experience
frame work and hoad of that SYSTEM then untried has
become settled form Of Government; not only preserv
ing nd protecting the great principles upon when II
founded, but wonderfully promoting individual hap
poess and private interests Though subject 10 change
and entire revocation whenever deemed inadequate 10
oil these purposes yet such the wisdom OF It's con-
s,rucion, and stable has been the public sentiment
that remains unalteed, except IN matters OF detai
comparatively unnportant. II has proved amply sufi
cien for the various emergencies incident 10 our cond
ton as nation. formidable foreign war; agaung
collisions between domestic and in some respects, rival
soreregRties Temptations TO Interfere IN the intestine
connections of neighborlng countries; the dangerous IN
uences that arise in periods OF excessive prosperity
and the aat republican tendencies OF associated wealth
these, with other trials not less formidable, have all
b>en encountered and thus far successfully resisted
1t was reserved for The American Union to test the
advantages of Government entirely dependent on The
continual exercise OF the popular will and our eXper
ence has shown that it is beuecen in practice as is
just in theory Each successive change made in our 10
cal RsStions has contributed 10 extend the right OF sui
frage has scgeased the direct influence OF the mass OF
the conn,usy given greater freedom to Individual ex
erlion and restricted and more, the powers OF Go
vernment; get the intelligence, prudence, aud patriot
al he people have kept pace with this augmented
responsibility. In country has education been so
widely dffused Domestic peace has nowhere 80 large
" reigned The close bonds of social intercourse have
in no instance prevailed with such harmony over space
go vast All forms of religion have united for the first
time TO duse charity and piety because, for the frs,
time in the history OF Nations all have been totally
untraaneet aud absolutely free. The deepest recssseS
of the wilderness have been penetrated; yet instead ut
the r@deness IN the social condition consequent upon
such adventures elsewhere, numerous communities
have sprung up, already unrlvaed in prosperity, gene
raj intelligence internal tranquility and The wisdom Of
their political institutions. Internal Improvement, the
fruit Of individual PRISE fosered by the protection
Of the States has added links to the confederation
and fresh reWaCds to provident industry. Doubtful
questions of domestic policy have been quietly settled
by mutual forbearance: and, agriculture, commerce,
and manufactures minister 10 each other. Taxation
and public debt, the burdens which bear heavily
upon AZ ether corRtries have pressed with comparative
lghtness upon Without entanglng alliance.
on, friendship is PRICED by every nation; and the ri ghts
Of citizens every where respected, because they
are knowa 10 be gsarded by united, sensitive, and
walchGnl people.
To this practical operation of our Institutions SO evil
dent and successful, that increased attachment
to them which is among the most cheering exhibitions
e pspser sentiment and will prove their best security
time TO against foreign domestic assault.
This of the results OF institutions, for half
cealury, without exciting spirit OF vain exultaon,
should serve 10 impress upon Us the great principles
from which they have sprung; constant and direct su
peIvision by the people every public measure
strict torbelrance the part OF the Government from
exercising any doubtful or disputed powers; and eau
tious abstinence from all interference with concerns
which propery belong and best left to State regula
tons and individual enterprise.
Full! n.or Of the stale OF foreign affairs hav
ing been recently, dereRt occasions submitted To
Congress deem it necessary now to bring 10 your no.
tice only such events have subsequently occurred IL"
Of ssch Importance 10 require particular attention
The most amcable dispositions continue 10 be exhl.
bed by ali the nations With whom the Government and
citizens of the u s. have an habtual intercourse. Al
the dae of my last message Mexico was the only
nation which could no, be incuded in gratifying
ference TO our foreign relations.
| am happy to be able to inform you, that ad-
has been made towards The adjustment Of our dit
fcultIes with that Republic, and The restoration Of the
customary good feeling between the two nations This
important change has been effected by conca,ory ne
gociatoas, that have resulted III the conclusion OF a
treaty between the TIVE Governments which, when rat.
fed will refer TO the arbitraRent Of friendly power all
the subjects of controversy between u.s. growing out oil
injuries 10 individuals. There is at present also reason
TO believe that equitable settlement OF all disputed
points will be attained without further difficulty or un.
necessary delay and thus authorize the free resumption
of diplomatic intercourse with our sister Republic
With sesyect 10 the North Eastern Boundary Of the
u. States Official correspondence between this Go
and that of Great Britain has passed since that
communicated to Congress towards the close OF their
last session The oftS 30 negotiate Convention for
the appointment Of joiNt commission OF survey and
exploration am, however, assured will be met by her
Majestys Government in 4 conciatory and friendly
spiiit and instructions TO enable the British Minister
here 10 coEclede such an arrangement Will be transmit
ted TO him without needless delay. II 10 hoped and ex
pected that these instructions wall De OF liberal cha
racer md that this negotiation st successful will prove
10 be step towards the satisfactory and na
adjust ent Of the controversy.
had hoped thai the respect for the laws and regard
for the peace and honor Of their own country, which
has ever characterized the citizens OF the United States
would have prevented any portion of them from using
any 10 pIeole lnsurIecton IN The territory OF
power with which Eat peace, ADD with which the
States desEons OF inaia'anfos the most friendly e
lations seyret deeFy, Aswever, 10 be obliged to IN
form VOC that this has ROT been ice Information
has been given TO me, derived iEsm official aud other
sources tAat many citizens of the Gned States have
associated together TO make hostile incursions from our
territory into Canada and TO cid and abet instruction
there in violation Of the obligations and laws Of the
United States and IN open disregard ct their own du
ties a citizens. This information has been in part con.
firmed BY a hostile Invasion actually made by citizens
Of the United States in conjunction with Canadians and
Others and accompanied by oreibe seizure of the pro
perry of citizens, axd Application thereof 10 the
prosecution Of iary operations against the authorities
and people OF Canada
The results Of these criminal assaults upon the peace
and order of neghborng country have BEEN as was
to be expected fatally destructive to The misguided or
deuded persons engaeed 20 them and highly injurious
10 those n whose sehaf.hey Sroessed TO have been
undertaken. The suklorilies in Canada, from iniei
pence received of scch intended movements among our
lues nhlined O lake