Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
MESSAGE
Oft President Of the United States to
both Houses Of Congress, at the CON.
mencement OF the second session OF the
iwenty.sixth Congress.


4 oaa HoRse ef Representatives.
Oar deyoui gtatitude i due % he supreme be-
Ing Tor having rraeioasls continued 10 our beloved
country, through the seiasiEades OF smother year,
the invaluable blessings e health, plenty and peace,
Seldom has this favored iaud been 80 generally exs
emPted from the rayagcse disease, OF the labor Of
! the husbandman Amply rewarded and never
before have our relations with other countries been
placed on more favorable basis than thsi which
ihey 80 happily accupy ~ this critical ooniuneluts
in the affairs 81 the world. rigid and persrversng
abstinence from ail Interference with the domestic
and political relations ~ other States alike due 20
the genius aad dssinetigc ohstaeter OF our Govern
ment and to rho principles BY which ii is directed ;
faithful observance. ia the management Of our
foreign relations OF the practice Of speaking plainly
dealing justly, and requiring truth and justice IN
return the best conservatives oi the peace OF ma
tions strict impaFlialigs in manifestations OF
friendship, ia the commercial privileges we eoncede,
and those VIC require from others these, uccomPa-
MED BY disposition prompt TO maintain, IN ose-
~ emergency, OUT own rights, az We are from pra-
cpe averse TO the invasion OF those OF others have
given to our country aad Government standing in
the great family of nations, Of which have just
cause be proud, and tho advantages oil which are
experienced by our citizens throughout every por.
ton Of the earth to which their entefpeising and
advenureus sphit may carry them Few II any,
remain nsensble to the value Of cur friendship, OF
/ and b, which it can alone be preserved.
series OF questions OF lopg Standing, difficult in
/ their adjustment and important 10 their censeqnrB.
ces III ghich the rights Of citizens aud the bon
OF of the country deeply involved, have, ~ The
coersaal a few years. the most Of them during the
successful administration OF my immediate Prtde-
cessor) been brought TO a satisfactory conclusion;
and the most important Of those remaining are.
am happy to believe in fair way Of being speedi-
I liz and satisfactorily adjusted.
With all the Powers Of the world our relations
are those Of honorable peace. Since your adjourn
meHt, nothing serious has occurred 10 interrupt or
threaten this desirable harmony. II clouds have
lowered above the other hemisphere, they have not
cas- their portcntous shadows upon our happy
shores. Bound by no entengling alliances, yet l4k
ed by a common nature and interest with the other
nations OF mankind aspirations are Tor the pre-
servation Of peace. n whose solid and ci'ili2ing
triumphs all may participate with generous emu
lation. Yet it beooges MS 10 he prepared Tor any
event and TO be always ready TO maintain those
Just and enlightened principles OF national intef-
coutse, for which this Government has ever con
tended. In the shock II coateading empires, Il Is
only by assuming resoluie b. airing, aud clothing
themselves with defenaiya nrnor. that neutral ma
tions can maintain their Independent rights
The excitement which afew ont Of the territorial
controversy between the-t aited States end tr'nt
Britain having in great measure subsidized, u ~
hoped that favorable period is approaching for its
final settlement. Both Governments mutt now be
convinced Of the dangers with which fhe question
is fraught and it be- their desire il Is their
Interests that this perpetual cause ofirtaion should
be removed as speedily as practicable. In my last
annual messing YOU we're Informed than The propo
stion for a commission Of exploration snd survey
promised by Great Britain had been received and
that a ceanter project including also provision
for the certain aud hnal ud usnent Of the limits IN
dispute, was then before the British Government
| for its consideration.
The answer Of that Government, accomPaaitdb by
additional propositions of its own, was received
through It's Minister here, since your separations
These were promptly considered; such rs were
deemed correct In principle, and consistent with
due regard the Just rights OF the United states
and the State Of Maine, concurred mi and The rea-
sons fof dissenting from the residue with an nddi
tiona suggestion on our part, communicated by the
Secretary Of State 70 MIR. Fox. That Minister, not
feeling himself sufficiently instructed upon soma OF
be points raised in the discussion it 1t TO be his
duty TO refer the matter his own Government iot
It's further decision. Having now been Tor some
time under is advisereBt, speedy answer may
81 confidently expected. From the character OF the
points sill in difference, and the undoubled dspo
stion Of both parties TO bring the matter to an ear
~ conclusion, ! look with entire condolences 10
prompt and satisfactory termination OF the negoiin
( ton. Three commlssio ners we're appointed short
~ after the adjournment Of Congress under the act
! of The last session, providing for the exploration
and survey of the line which separates the States OF
4 Maine and New Hampshire from the British froy-
inces they have been actively employed until tber
progress wa, interrupted by the inclemency Of the
season, and will resume their labors as soon as
practicable in tile ensuing year IL Is Understood
that their respective examinations will throw new
lght upon the subject In controversy, and serve TO
remove any erroneous impressions which may have
been made elsewhere -prejndlcial TO the rights Of
the Omitted States. II was, among other reasons,
with a view Of preventing the enbanassmehts
which, in our peculiar system Of government, inn
pcdc end complicaie negotiations involving the ter
fitorial rights Of State that thought il my duty.
I as you have been informed on previous OCCASION
/ TO propose to the British Government, through us
Minister at Washington, that early steps should be
taken adjust the points OF difference on the liDe
! of boundary from the entrance OF Lake Superior 10
the most north. western point Of the Lake Of the
| Woods, by he arbitration Of friendly Power, n
conformity with he seventh article u the treaty Of
/ Client. No answer has yet been returned by the
I British Government to this propositions
with Austria, France, Prussia, Russia, and the
remaining Powers Of Europe, am happy 10 inform
YOU our relations continue 10 bo 81 the most friend
! IL character With Belgium. Treaty Of commerce.
and navigation, based upon liberal principles y re-
ciprocity and equality. concluded in March
I last, and having been ratified by the Belgian Gov
eminent, will be duly laid before the Senate Ii is
a subject of congratuslon that il provides for the
satisfactory adjustment ofa long standing question
OF controversy: thus removing the only obstacle
which could obslrucI the friendly and mutually ad
van.agcous intercourse between tho two nations.
A messenger has been despatched With the Han
oyerian treaty TO Bertha where, according TO stipu
lation, tho Publications are to be exchanged. Am
happy announce to you that, after many delays
and difficulties treaty ~ commerce and navigation
between the United States and Portugal. was con-
cuded and signed at Isbon. on the goth OF August
last by the pleaipotent'aiies Of the tive Govern
ments. N siphiatiohs are founded upon those
principles ef mutual iihersty and advantage which
ihe United States have always sought % make the
basis Of their intercourse with foreign Powers, and
i, Is hoped they will tend TO foster and strengthen
The commercial intercourse Of the two countries.