Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-11
MESSAGE or TUE PRESIDENT.

MESSAGE Or THE PRESIDENT.
The following Message from the President Of the
United States was received by Mr. Van Buren,, his
Private Secretary:
Fetioac- Cit-ens Of Tic Senate
and House Of Representatives,:
Our devout gratitude is due 10 The Supreme Being
for having graciousy continued to our beloved coun-
try through the vcsstades oil another year, the inva
luable blessings Of health, plenty and peace Seldom
has this favored land been generally exempted from
the ravaces Of dsease the labor OF the husbandman
more amply rewarded: and never before have our
latons with other countries been placed on ia
vorabe basis than that which they happily occupy at
this critical conuncture in the affairs Of the world
rigid persevcring abstnenc from all interference
with the domestic and political relations of other states,
alike due the genius and distinctive character OF our
Government and to the principles by which 1t is d.
rccted faithful observance, in the management OF
our foreign relations of the practice of speaking plain
w. dealing justly, and requiring truth and justice IN re-
torn the best conservatives OF the peace OF nations
strict importantly in our manifestations oil friendship,
in the commercial privileges we concede, andithose we
REQUIRE from others; these accompanied by dsposi-
ton as prompt maintain, in every emergency our
own rights as from principle averse to the inva-
sion OF those of others, have given to our country and
Government standing in the great family OF nations
of which we have Just TO be proud, and The adj
yantarcs of which are experienced BY our citizens
throu shout every portion Of the earth TO which their
cn,erprsing and adventurous spirit may carry them
Few if any, remain insensibe to the value OF our
\
ACQUIRED and BY which it alone be preserved
series Of questions Of long standing difficult in their
adjustment, and important III their consequences IN
which the rights of citizens and the honor of TIE
country deeply involved, have IN the course Q.
few wears, (the Of them during tic successful
administration Of my immediate predcceSSor,) been
brought to q satisfactory conclusions and the most IN
portant of those remaining am happy to believe
in fair way of beng speedily and satisfactorily az
iusted.
With all the powers of the world relations are
those Of honorable peace Since your adjournment,
nothing serious has occurred 10 interrupt or threaten
this desirable harmony If clouds have lowered above
the other hemisphere they have not cast their poren
tous shadows upon our happy shores. Bound BY no
enancling alliances, vet linked ~ common nature
and nte.cs, with The other nations OF mankind our as
piralions FOR the preservation Of peace IN whose
solid and cyilizng tIamphS all may participate " I'll
generous emulation. Yet it behooves Us to DC pre-
paTed fer any event and TO be always ready 10 nam
tain those just aud enlightened principles oil national
intercourse for which this Government has ever con-
tended In the shock Of contendng empires IL IS only
by assuming resoue bearing, ana clothing themselves
with defensive armor, that neutral nations can mann
tain their independent rights :.
The excitement which grew out Of the territorial
controversy between the United States ana Great
, Britain having in great measure subsidized, 1t IS
hoped that favorable period is approaching for IT'S
final settlement. Both Governments must new be con-
WINGED Of the dangers with which the question IS
raneh and must be their desire Il their interest
as speedily as practicable. In my last Annual Mes
sage YOU were informed that the proposition Tor
commission Of exploration and surrey promised BY
Grea, Britain had been received, and That counter
project, including also provision tor Inc certain
. aud final adjustment Of the limits IN dispute, was
then before the British Government for It's conside-
ration The answer Of that Government, accompa
MED By additional propositions OF MS own, was re-
| ceved through lis minister here, sirce your separa
ton These were promptly considered; such as
| in nru consistent
with due regard to the just rights OF the lntec
States and OF the State of Maine, concurred IN
and the reasons for dissenting from tie residue, with
an additional suggestion part, communicate by
the Secretary of State 10 Mr.. Fox THAI Minister mol
feeling himself sufficiently instructed upon some o.
the points raised in the discussion, felt Il 10 be ms duty
10 refer the matter 10 his own government tor 'is ur
u Their decision Having now been Tor some lime unde
lis Amusement, speedy answer may be confidently eS
pec,ed From the character Of the points stu IN dii
ference and the undoubed disposition oi both parties
bring the matter TO early CONCLUSION, look WIN en-
,lre confidence prompt and satisfactory termination
o the negotiation. Three commissioners were appoint
ed shortly after the adjournment Of Congress under The
the last providing for the exploration ane
survey OF the line which separates the States Of Maine
and New Hampshire from the British frovnces thel
= have been actively employed until their progress wa
y interrupted by the ncemency Of the season, and VII
u resume their labors practicable IN the e!su
:, ing
< IL is understood that their respective examinations
will throw HIGHT subject IN controversy
= and TO any erroneous impressions wh'e
e may have been made elsewhere prejud.cial 10 INT
" rights of the United States. ii vas, among other rea
. sons with of preventing ihc Embarrassment,
which in peculiar system OF Government 'mpea
: and compcae negotiations involving the teTritoria
II rights of State that thought II iny duty as yo
have been informed previous o1cas;on, to Propos
= To the British Government, through IT'S Minister
Washington, that early steps should be taken 10 aaIus
J. the points of difference the line of boundary iron
J. the entrance of Lake Superior to the most northwest
ern point of the Lake of the Woods by the arbtratlo
. of friendly power, in conformity with Inc seVen'
article of the treaty of Ghent NO answer mas ye
been returned by the rtish Government TO tins pro
" position
J. With Austria France, Prussia, Russia, and the re
) naming powers Of Europe, am happy TO INFORM yo
= relations continue to be of the most friendly cha
i ractcr. With belgium, treaty OF commerce ana IA
- vcation, based upon liberal principles OF reciproct
" and equality, concluded in March last, and havln
y been ratified by the Belgian Government, will be dui
laid before the Senate II is subject OF congratuia
ton that provides for the satisfactory adjustment
long standing question Of controversy, thus remoyin
" the only obstacle which could obsruct the friendly an
:" mutually advantageous intercourse between the wv
~ nations A messenger has been despatched with tn
- Hanoverian treaty TO Berlin where according 10 stpu
." laon, the ratifcatons TO be exchanged am hap
d ~ you that, after many delays and d
" culties treaty of commerce and navigation betwee
: the United States and Portugal, concluded an
g signed al Lisbon the 10th OF August last, ~ IN
y penipotentiares OF the Governments It's silpu
" latons founded upon those principles Of mutual
herality and advantage which the United States nav
:" always sought make the basis Of their lntcrcours
y with foreign powers: and il hoped they will tend
&c foster and strengthen the commercial intercourse
: the two countries.
n Under the appropriation of the last session Of Con
20 press an agent has been sent Germany, for the pur
" pose of promoting the interests of tobacco trade
: The Commissioners appointed under the conventio
for the adjustment of claims of citizens Of the Unite
States upon Mexico having met and organized at Wash
IS ngton in August last the papers in the possession
=, the Government relating to those claims were comm
J ncaed the Board The claims not embraced By tina
y Convention the subject of negotiation betwee
;. the Governments, through the medium of our NJ
~ mister al Mexico.
Nothing has occurred to disturb the harmony Of ou
u relations with the different Governments of Sout
=, America regret, however to be obliged to intorr
~ YOU that the claims of citizens upon the late Re
n public of Colombia have moi yet been satisfied by til