Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1840-01-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FeIIo15- Citizens Of The Senate
And House of REPRESENTATIVES

cong ratui0te you tndt the past year nus
been one Of unaIloyed prosperity. The
ravages Of fire and disease have painful
Nv afflicted otherwise flourishing portions
Of our country; and serious embaFrass-
ments yet derange the trade OF many OF
our cities. But, Notwithstanding these
adverse circumstances, that general pros
perity which has been heretofore so
bountifully bestowed upon us by the Au-
thor of all Good, still continues TO call
for our warmsst gratitude. Especially
have We reason 10 rejoice in the exube-
rant haryests which have lavishly recon-
pensed we'll directed industry, and given
10 it that sure reward which is vainly
sought in visionary sPeculations. | cam
not indeed view without peculiar salts
faction, the evidences afforded by the
past season OF the benefits that spring
from the steady devotion of the husband
man to his honorable pursuit. No means
of individual comfort is more certain,
and no source OF national prosperity Is
so sure. Nothing can compensate a
people for dependence upon others for
the bread they eat; and that cheerful
abundance on which the happiness of
every one SO much depends, is to be look
ed for no where with such sure reliance
as in the industry of the agrlcuturist
and the bounies OF the earth.
With foreign countries our relations
exhibit the same favorable aspect which
was presented in my last annual message,
and afford continued proof Of the wisdom
of the pacific, just and forbaaring policy
adopted by the first administration Of the
Federal Government, and pursued b. lis
successors. The extraordinary powers
vested in me by an act of Congress
for the defence Of the country, n an
emergency considered so far probable a.
to require that the Executive should pos
sess ample means 10 meet it, have been
exerted. They have therefore, been at
tended with no other result than 10 in
crease, by the confidence thus reposed
In me, my obligations TO maintain, wi
religious exactncss, the cardinal princi-
pies that govern our intercourse with
other nations. Happily, in our pending
questions with Great Britain, out OF
which this unusual grant of authority
arose, nothing has occurred 10 require
lis exertion; and as il is about TO return
to the Legislature. trust that no future
necessity may call for its exercise By
them, or its delegation 10 another de-
partment of the Government.
For the settlement Of our north-eas-
tern boundary the proposition prolfared
by Great Britain for a commission oil
exploration and survey, has been receiv-
ed, and a counter project, including also
provision for the certain and final adj
iustment of the limits in dispute, is now
before the British Government for It's
considerations. A just regard TO the de-
licate state of this question, and Pfoper
respect for the natural impotence of the |
State Of Maine, not less than n conyic- |
ton that the negotiation has already |
pfotracted longer than is prudent on the
part of either governments, have led
me to believe that the present favorable
momennshould on no account be suffered
10 pass without putting the question for |
ever al rest. ! feel confident that the !
government of her Britannia Majesty |
will take the same view of this subject |
as | am pursuaded it is governed by de- |
sires equally strong and sincere for the !
emicable termination Of the controversy. |
To the intrinsic difficulties Of ques- |
lions of boundary lines, especially those |
described in regions unoccupied, and but |
partially known, IS 10 be added in our |
country the emba rrassment necessarily |
arising out Of our constitution, by which |
the general government is made the or |
gan of negotiating and deciding upon the |
particular interests OF the Safes, On |
whose frontiers these lines are TO be |
traced. To avoid another controversy |
in which a State government might |
rightfully claim to have her wishes con
suited, pre- viously to the conclusion of
conventional arrangements concerning
her rights of jurisdiction or territory
| have thought it necessary 10 call the |
attention of the government Of Great
Britain to another portion of our confer
minous dominion, of which the division I
still remains to be adjusted. | refer to
the line from the entrance of Lake Supe-
rior to the most north western point of
the Lake of Woods, stIpulations for the
settlement of which are 10 be found in
the seventh article % the treaty of Client
The commissioners appointed under tina,
article by the two governments having
diffe red in their opinions, made separate
reports, according TO its stipulaiions.
upon the points of disagreement, and
these differences are now 10 be submit
ted TO The arbitration of some friendly
sovereign or state. The disputed points
should be settled. and the line desiGnat
ed, before the territorial government, of
which it is one Of the boundaries, takes
its place in The Union as State; and
rely upon the cordial corporation Of the
British government to effect that object.
There is every reason 10 believe that
disturbances like those that lately agi-
,ated the ncighboring British Provinces
will not again prove the sources Of bor-
der conrentions or interPose obstacles to
the continuance OF that good understand
ing which it IS the mutual interest Of
Great Beitain and The United States 10
preserve and maintain.
Within the Provinces themselves tran
guilty is restored, and on our frontier !
that misguided sympathy in favor Of
what was presumed 10 be a general CT
fort ia behalf of popular rights, and !
which in soma instances nisled a few OF ,
our more inexperienced citizens, has :
subsidized insoa rational convictions strong :
" opposed TO ell iDterneidling with The {