The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-12-19
MESSAGE

From the President Of the United States,
10 the two Houses of Congress, at the
commencement OF Second Session Of the
Twenty-Sixth Congress.
Fellow- Citizens qf the Senate
and House Of Representatives.
Our devout gratitude is due 10 the Su-
preme Being for having graciously contin-
ued te eur beloved cOu niry, through the vi
cissitudes oil another year, the invaluable
blessings of health, plenty, and peace. -
Seldom has this favored land been so gen.
orally exempted from the ravages of disease,
or the labor Of the husbandman more amply
lewarded; and never before Dave our rela-
items with other countries been placed on a
more favorable basis than that which they
SO happily occupy at this critical conjecture
in the affairs of the world. A rigid and
persevering abstinence irem all interference
with domestic aud political relations of 9th.
er States, alike due to the genius and dis
tinctive character of our Government and TO
the principles BY which it is directed; a
faithful observance, in the management Of
our foreign relations, of the practice Of
speaking plainly, dealing justly, and requir-
ing truth and justice In return, as the best
conservatives of the peace Of nations; strict
imparliahty IN our manifestations ot friend
ship, in The commercial privileges we con-
cede, and those we require from others
these, accompanied by disposition as prompt
10 maintain, in emergency, our own rights,
as we are from principle averse to the inva-
sion of those of others, have given to our
4 ~ eto,Iin,r a.
great family of nations, of which we have
lust cause TO be proud and the advantages
of which are experienced by our citizens
throughout every portion oil the earth to
which their enterprising and adventurous
spirit may carry them. Few, if any, re.
main insensible 10 the value of our friend.
ship, or ignorant of the terms on which il
can be acquired, and by which it can alone
be preserved.
series Of questions Of long standing,
difficult in their adjustment, and important
in their consequences, in which the rights
of our citizens and the honor of the coun-
Try were deeply involved, have, in the
course of few years, (lhe most Of then,
during the successful administration Of my
Immediate predecessor,) been brought TO a
satisfactory conclusions; and the most impor.
tant Of those remaining are, am happy to
believe, ia a fair way Of being speedily and
satisfactorily adjusted.
With all the Powers OF the world our re.
lalions are those Of honorable peace. Since
your adjournment, nothing serious has oc,
Cured 10 interrupt or threaten this deslra
bic harmony. If clouds have lowered above
the other hemisphere, they have not cas-
their portentous shadows upon our happy
shores. Bound by no entanging alliances
yet linked by common nature and interes
with the other nations of mankind, our as
pirations are for the preservation OF peace
in whose solid and cyilizing triumphs al
may participate with generous emulation
Yet il behooves us to be prepared for any
event and to be always ready to maintain
those Just and enlightened principles Of ma
Nonal intercourse, for which this Govern
menl has ever con,ended In the shock O
conlending empires, it is only by assuming
resolule bearing, and clothing themselve:
with defensive armor, that neutral nations
can maintain their independent rights.
The excitemeHts which grew cut Of the
the territorial controversy between the UNI
led States and Great Britain having in
great measure subsided, ii is hoped that
favorable period is approaching for its ina
settlement. Both Governments must nov
he convinced of the dangers with which tht
question is fraugh!; and ii must be their de
sire, as il is their interest, that this perpet
ual cause of irritation should be removed
as speedily as practicable. In my last an