Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-12-17
N ( S S A G (.
Fellow citizens Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives.

valuable blessings of hrnlih, plenty and
peace. Seldom has this favored land
been so generally exempted from the
ravages Of disease, or the labor of the
husbandman more amply rewarded and
never before have our relations with other
countries been placed on u more iavora-
BILE basis than that which they so happily
occupy at this critical conjunctufe in the
affairs Of the world. A rigid and perse-
vering abstinence from all Interference
with The domestic and political relations
Of other states, alike due To the genius
and distinctive character OF our govern
ment and to the principles by which il Is
directed, faithful observance, in the
Management, Of our foreign relations, Of
the practice Of speaking plainly, dealing
Justly, and requiring truth and justice in
return, as the best conservatives Of The
peace Of nations u strict impartiality in
our manifestation Of friendship, in the
commercial privileges we concede, and
those We require from ntbers these uc-
companicd by a disposition as prompt 10
maintain IN every emergency, our own
tights, as We are from principle avcrse
to the INVASION OF those of others, have
given 10 our country and government II
standing IN the great famlly Of nations,
of which we have just cause TO be proud, =,
aud the advantages Of which are expert
enccd by our cuIzeus throughout every
portion OF the earth TO which their enter
prising aud adventurous spirit may carry
them. Few, II any, remalu insensible to
the value oi our friendship, or ignorant
( OF the terms on which IL can be acquired
aud by which it can alone be preserved
A series of questions ol long standing,
difficult in their ad djustment, and inpor-
lant in their consequences, in which the
rights ot our citizens and the honor of
the country were deeply involved, have,
in the course Of few years, (tho most
of them during the successful admins.
tration oi my immediate predecessor,
been brought to satisfactory conclusion
and the most important of those remain.
ipg are, | am happy 10 bel.eve, IN u iui'
way Of being speedily and salisiac,or,l,
settled.
| With all the Powers in the world on
| relations ake those Of honorable peace
Since your adjournment, nothing serious
aias occurred TO interrupt or threaten TIN
desirable harmony. II clouds have low
cred about the other henispheres, the,
have not cast their ro,tentous shadows
upon our happy shores. Bound by nc
entang ling alliances, yet linked by a com
mon nature aud interest with the Other
nations of manklnd, our aspirations are
for the preservation Of peace, in whose
solid aud civlIizing lriumphs all may par
iicipatc with IL generous emulation. -
Yet 1t behooyes us To be prepared Tor an,
event, and 10 be always ready 10 main
tain those Just and Enlightened primer
pies of national intercourse, Tor wh'cI
this government mas ever conte nded. j
the shock Of the conlending empires,
is only by assuming II resoiute bearing
and clothing themselves with de!ensiv
amor, that neutral nations Can mainlai
their independent, rights.
1 The excitement which grew out Of th
territorial controversy between the Un
ted States aud Great Britain having in
great me asuro subsided, II is hoped ihi
favorable period is approaching for j
Gnal settlement. Both governments mu
now be convinced OF The dangers wit
which the question is iraughl and
must be their desire, as II IL their inie
est, that ibis perpetual cause of irritl
,ion should be removed us speedily ,
practicable. In my last annual mcssag
you were Informed that the proposilIc
Tor II commission cf exploration and so
, vey promised by Great Britain had bee
. received, and that a counter project, u
D cluting also n provision for the certaI
4 and 6nal adjustment ol the limits w d.
}, putc. was then before The British govorl
r mrnt for It's consideration. The answ.
OF lha, government, accompanied by a'
ditional propositions of its own, was u
ceiyed through the minister here, sine
o your separation. These were prompt
considered-such as were deemed co
o rect IN principle, and consistent with
v due regard 10 the ust rights of the I'm
ted States and OF the state Of Maipe co
o CURED IN; aud the reason for dissent
u from the residue, with an additional suI
coslion on our part, communicated by II
!. Secretary OF State to MIR. Fox. Th
4, minister, not feeling sufficiently instru
y ted upon some Of the points raised 10 n
!. disc ussiou, iolt II to be his duty To RET
the matter TO his own government Tor
further decision. Having now bccp {
some time under Us advisemen,, n spec,
answer may be confidently expected. .
From the character oi ,bo points still
IS difference, and ihc unJovbted dlsposltl
Of both parties 10 bring the matter 10
c early conclusion, look with entire cn
:, 6Jroce to prompt and satisfactory I,
lnInn,ion OF the ncgoeIation. Three cot
n,ssioners were appointed shortly all
the adjournment of Congress, under Z
ID act Of the last session providing for {,
H. expiration aud survey of tho line VIII
" separates the states of Maine aud n,
~ Hampshire from the British Province
" they have btsn actively employed vr
,ber progress vss interrupted by The