True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1838-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
DEC. a, 1888.
Gentlemen Of kte Senate

| congratulate you on the favorable clrcunstan-
COS in tho condition of our country, under which
YOU re-. assemble for the performance of your off,
cial duties Though the an,icipatons OF an abnn-
dant harvest have not every where been realized,
vet, on the whole, tho labors Of the husbandmnn
are rewarded with a bountiful return; industry
prospers in its various channels of business and en-.
terprse; general health again prevails through our
vast diversity of climate; nothing threatens from
abroad, the continuance of external peace; nor has
any thing at home impaired the strength of those
fraterna and domestic ties which constitute the
only guaranty to the success and permanency of
our happy Union, and which, formed in the hour
of peril, have hitherto been honoraby sustained
through every vicisstude in our national nffairs-
These blessings, which evince the care and beneh.
cence of Providence call for our devout and fervont
gratitude.
We have not less reason to be grateful for other
bounties, bestowed by tho same munihcent hand
and more exclusively own.
Tho present year closes the first half century of
our federal institutions; and our system-diferng
from all others in tho acknowledged, practical, and
unlimited operation which it has for so long Pc
riod given to tho sovereignty of the people-las
now been fully tested by experienced
The constitution devised by our foretathcrs as
the framework and bond of that system, then I'M
tried, has become settled form of government;
not only preserving and protecting tho great prin-
cpcs upon which it was founded, but wonderfully
ests. Though subject to change and entire revo-
cation. whenever deemed inadequate to all these
purposes, yet such is the wisdom of its construction
and so stable has been the public sentiment that it
remains unatered, except in matters of detail, COM
paratively unimportaat. It has proved amply suf
hcsnt for the various emergencies incident to our
condition nation. formidable foreign
war, agitating collisions between domestic, and,
in some respects, rival sovcregnties; temptations
to Interfere in the intestine commotions OF neigh
boring countries; the dangerous influences that
arise in periods of excessive prosperity; and the
anti-repuhcaH tendencies Of associated wealth
these, with other trials not less ornda 10, have all
been encountered, and thus far successfully resists
ed.
II was reserved Tor the American Union to test
the advantages of n Government dependent on
tho continual exercise of The popular will, and our
experience has shown il as henefcent in practice
as il is Just in theory. Each successive change
made IN our local institutions has contributed to
extend The right OF suffrage has increased the di-
rect influence IF the community, given greater
freedom to individual exerion, and restricted,
more and more, the power of Government; yet the
intelligence, prudence and patriotism of the people
have kept pace ith this augmented responsibility.
In M country has education been so widely
ditfused. Domestic peace has nowhere so largely
reigned. The close bonds of social intercourse
nave III no instance prevailed win s'rh harmony
over space vast. All forms at religion have
uhleo' Tor the ilTSt llne, TO olf1nse cha'y ana Pr
Gtv, because, for the first lime in the history Of
ha'inhs, all nave been totally hh'rammehpu, ana
absolutely free. The deepest recesses OF 'he vii
derness have been penetrated: yet, instead OF the
f"o.hess III the soc'ni condislon consequent upon
-" "u.r"'"tes Sc" he'e' .," =;
,,a, vi ; ,+ ~ 49,. i ,.,,;li;,Y ,r1 *
;a -. ~ '"i .:i I,,,I -;
pavement, The fruit Of individual enterprise, tos-
na ri ~" W. 90 " wy , ,.L .t
-, ~ w : w." r ~,
m es,;c noI;a, ha,s hoo a,;a,, ,a,.,ed nv n,n,n,I
srha,rapna ,'' nl' Wv 9" 49, '.,ao ,nJ ma
80 $50" 49,: nv, ~ n ~ ,; J
,uhl;c Jnh, ,hn h, eae" ,L;,t hoar ca bo,v;l,
nnon mi o,ho, ,,'.;aa rs ,,.,..od ,v;,h com.
no,,,;vo ,;oh,ros. ,,,a' ~, ~" wi,h,n, ,no entan1
ling alliance, nur FRIENDSHIP, is priced by every ma
lion nd the rph,s of our ci,izens are everywhere
respected. because ,hey are known 10 he guarded
by a unitcd sensitive and wa,chful people,
To this practical npcraiion of cur ins,itutlons so
evident and successful. we owe ,ha, increased at
,achment TO Them which is among the m ost cheer.
ing exhibitions If porular sentiment and will prove
their best secnrtv in time to CONF, against for.
eign or domestic assault
This review of The results ofour institutions far
half n century. without cxcit,n, a sniri, of win
exultation, should serve TO iirnress unon ms the
great principles from which they have soruny, con.
stant and direc, Supervision by The people over
avery public measure; strict forbearnnce on the
part OF Government from exercising any doubtful
or d 's9u'cd powers; and cautions abstinence from
all inte' i'rence with concerns which properly be-
long, and nc best left 10 STATE regulations aud in
dlVduaI enterprise.
Full information of the s,ate of our for,ion f.
fairs HAVING been .ccnIIv. on ,vo diGcrsn, area,
sinns, submitted TO Copuress, deem it necessary
now 10 hrnu 20 ynur malice oniy surh events ~
have subsequently, occurred. or are NJ sn,,h n,,nr
lance ns TO require purticu'arattention.
The mos, nnicah!o disposit,ons continue 10 he
exhibited by all the nations with wrom the Gov
,rnment a d ci,izens of The United States have an
lahitual intercourse. At the date of NV last an
nual message, Mexico was the only nation which
,ould moi he included in SO gratifying a reference
10 orr foreign relations.
am hanpv IN he now able n i,rrn, WIN thu,
an advance has been made towards the ,dins,
ment of our difficulties with tEo, Renublic md
The restoration nj rho custn,n,rv no III f,I,rn ho
,ween the ,wo na,ions. This imnnrtant rh,nr.
mas been ,cied bv cunciIiororv mountainous ,ha,
,ave resulted in he conclusion If tro,,v hs,woan
he two Governments which wben r,;;,G.,J u;ii
refer 10 the orhirament Of lriendlv nnwar All no
,nbec,s of con,r,ycrsv b.,we.nus ornw;nr on, ni
pinri,s IN individuaIs Tb.ra is nj ,r.s.rt ,ls,
eason TO belicyc that an sonit,bie set,,emen, or
m disnn,ed noin,s vill he o,,aiped ,y;thon, f,r
her dif;cnry nr ,nrecass,rv dslav "nJ ,t,u
,u,h,r;ze Tho rr, r..nn,,, Of d;,ln,,,;. ;,,r
.on,.e v;,h onr s;s,e, Rornhlc
So, NV
-, WIN .esPfc' 70 me norheastern no"ndary OF the
I.i'eo H'a'cS' no on'cihi correspondence between
ms Cover nht III ana mat OF ur'at britain mas pass.
~ si'ce '"a' c"h'h"h'ca''on 10 Cnhsfess TOWARDS
ne ci"se OF 'heiF last session. otter to ne
o.. - 49,: - ~ 49, 49,, - Ip " " " jun
n'h''ee""o " survey """ eA p'"'a'lon' am, ho"'
ven assured WIN ne met ny her majesty govern
III nm MI