The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-01
VOLUME |.
Presidents Message.
Fcllow citizens Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives. -


tnued to our beloved country, through
the vicssitudes of another year, the IN
valuable blessings of health, plenty, and
peace. Seldom has this favored land been
so generally exempted from the ravages OF
disease, or the labors OF the husbandman
more amply rewarded and never before
have our relations with other countries
been placed on more favorable basis
than that which they so happily occupy
at this critical conjuncture in the affairs OF
the world. A rigid and perseverlng abb
s,inence from all interference with the
domestic and political relations of other
States, alike due to the genius and dlstlnc-
tive character of our Government, and to
the principles by which 1t is directed !;
a faithful observance in the management
of our foreign relations, of the practice of
speaking plainly, dealing justly, and re-
quiriug truth and justice in return, as the
best conservative of the peace of nations !;
a strict impartlality in our manifestations
of friendship, in the commercial privileges
we concede, and those we require from
others: these, accompanied by DISPOSE
ton as prompt to maintain, in every emer-
gency, our own rights, as we are from
principle averse to the invasion OF those
of others, have given TO our country and
government a standing in the great family
of nations, of which we have just cause to
be proud, and the advantages OF which are
experienced by our citizens throughout
every portion of the earth to which their
enterprizing and adventurous spirit may
carry them. Few, if any, remain nsensl-
bic to the value of our friendship, or lgnor-
ant of the terms on which it can be
acquired, and by which alone i! can be
preserved.
A series of questions Of long standing.
difficult in their adjustment, and impor-
tant in their consequences, IN which the
RIGHTS of our citizens and ,he honor OF the
country were deeply involved, have, IN
the course Of few years, (the most OF
them during the successful administration
of my immediate predecessor,) been
brought to a satisfactory conclusion; and
the most important of those remaining
are. | am happy to believe, in fair way
of being speedily and satisfactorily adj
lusted,
With all the Powers of the world our
relations are those Of honorable peace.
Since your adjournment, nothing serious
has occurred to interrupt or threaten this
desirable harmony. If clouds have low
cred above the other hemisphere, they
have not cast their portentous shadows
upon our happy shores. Bound by no
enlanglng alliances, yet linked by com
mon nature and interest with the other
nations of mankind, our aspirations are
for the preservation of peace. in whose
solid and civilizng triumphs all may par
ticipac with generous emulation.
Yet it behooves us to be prepared Tor
any event and to be always ready to
maintain those Just and enlightened prin-
ciplcs of national intercourse, for which
this government has ever cOntended. In
the shock of contending empires, 1t is on
ly by assuming a rcsolute bearing, and
clothing themselves with defensive armor,
that neutral nations can maintain their
independent rights.
The excitement which grew out Of the
territorial controversy between the United
States and Great Britain having i'll great
measure subsidized, it is hoped that iov'
orable period is approaching for It's final
settlement. Both Governments must now
be convinced of the dangers with which
the question is fraught; and it must be
their desire, as it is their interest
that this perpetual cause OF Irritation
should be removed as speedily as practi
cable. In my last annual message yo,
were informed that the proposition for ;
commission of exploration and survey
promised by Great Britain had been re
ceived, and that a counter project, includ
ing also provision for the certain ant
final adjustment of the limits in dispute
was then before the British Government
for its consideration. The answer o
that Government, accompanied by addi
tional propositions of its own, was receiv
ed through its minister here, since you
separation. These were promptly con
sdered such as were deemed correct il
principle, and consistent with due re
gard to the just rights Of the Unite
States and of the State of Maine, con
Cured in and the reasons for dissent
ing with the residue, with additional sug
gestions on our part, communicated b.
the Secretary of State TO Mr.. Fox. This
minister. not feeling himself sufficient
instructed upon some of the points raise
1 1 I