Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-06-10
WASHlNGiON.ClrY, JUNE l, lsil.
At III O'Clock this dav, ,hc President
Of tho United States Transmitted to boIh
Houses of Congress. the following
Nj { S 5 A G {.
Tr the Scnr,c and Hjase Of Representa-
tires of The United states.

Fellow CITIZENS
You have been assembled in your re-.
spec i've halls Of legislation under II pro.
rInmailon bearing the signature ot The
illustrious citizen who was so lately call
ed by the direct sulirages of the people to
The discharge Of the important functions
Of their chict executive offer. por
the expiration OF a single moorb from The
day Of his installation. he has paid the
great debt Of naiure, leaving behind him
a. name associated with the recollection
nf numerous bene fits conferred upon the
country during long life Of patriotic
devotion. With this public bereavement
are connected other considerations which
uill no, escape the attention at Congress.
The preparations necessary for h re.
mo,ul 10 the seat Of government in view
oi residcDce of four years, must have
devolved upon the President heavy ex.
penduurcs, which, if permitted 10 burden
the limited resources Of his private for
tune.may tend seriousl TO tho emil urrass
m,ut Of his surviving family and il is
therefore respectfully submitted 10 Com
gress, whether the ordinary principles of
justice would not dictate The proprleiy Of
1t. legislative interposliIon. By the pro.
visions oflhe fundamental law, the pow
ers and duties ol The high station 10 which
he as elected have d,yOlvcd upon me,
and IN the dispositions Of the representa-.
tiyes OF the States and oi the people, will
be found toa great extent solution Of
the problem 10 which our Institutions are
for the iirs, time subjected.
Ia entering upon the duties Of this Office
! dId not ieel that ii would he becoming
in me 10 disturb what bad been ordered
by my lamented predecessor. Whatever
therefore, may have been my opinion,
originally, as to the prcprciy Of conven.
inS Congress al so cnIly day from thai
otis late adjournment, | found new
and ii controlling inducemcnt moi TO inter.
iere with the patriotic desires ofihe late
President. in the novelty of the situation
ia which was 50 Unexpectedly placed.
My first wish der such circumstances
woLld necessarily have been to lave
called TO my and, ia the admins! ration of
public affairs, the combined wisdom oi
the two houses oi Congress, in order to
take their couIsel and advice us TO the |
best mode of extrichtng lie Government
and the County from The elnbarrassmeuts
Weighing heavily on both. am then
most happy in finding myself, So soon
after my accession to the Presidency, sur
rounded By The immediate representatives
vi the States aud people.
No important changes having taken
place in our lo,eign relations SINCE the
last session Of Congress, II is not deemed .
u, ccssary OH this occasion 20 90 into .
detailed statement in regard to then,.-
am happy TO say tha, | see nothing to
destroy The hope y! being able to preserve
peace.
The ratification Of The treaty with Por.
rgal has been duly exchanged between
Ii: TWO governments This Government
has not been inaltcntive 10 the interests \
'f those OF our citizens who have claims
'n the government ot Spain founded on
express treaty sl,pulatiuns, and IL hope is
ndu'ged that the representations which
have been made to that government on
hls subject may lead ere long TO benei.
;iul rcsul :.
a correspondence has taken place be.
ween the Secretary of State and the
Minister Of Her Britannia Majesty ac.
'rcdl:ed TO this Government, on the sub
C, Of Alexander McLcod's Indictment
nd Imprisonment, copies Of which are
erewith communicated TO Congress.
In addition to what appears from these
apers, II may be proper To state that
alexander Mcleod has been heard by
&c Supreme Court Of the State of New
ork on his mullo1 To be discharged
rom Imprisonment, aud that the decision
i that Couit has noi us yet been pro
ounccd. Il
The Secretary Of State has addressed
me paper upon two subjects, interest
1g TO the Commerce Of the country,
hich will receive my Consideration, and II
bich have the honor to communicate
} Congress.
50 far as it depends on the course of
'is Government, our relations Of good.
Ill ard friendship will be sedul Jusly
lllivatcd with all nations. The true II
merlcan policy viii be found to consis,
the exercise oi spirit Of justice TO be =
III tho discharge ut all our in. {
rnalional Obligations, to the weakest OF Z
IL fainily of nations as well us the mos, HI
,werful. Occasional conflicts oi opinion Il [
ny arise, but hen the discussions inci.
mt to them are conducted in the Ian.
'agc of truth, aud with strict regard
justice, the scoursc Of war will iol
e most part be avoided. The time ought
be regarded as having gone by when
resort ~ arms is 10 be esteemed as the
'ly proper arbiter o national differences. ,
The census recently taken shows re.
Ilarly progressive increase in our po. d
ilallon. Upon the breaking out OF our 4
evolution our numbers scarcely cqual .
ih'c" millions ot souIs they already n
,cecd seventeen millions, aud will con. g
luc To progress 10 a ratio which dupli. "A
ties ma period Of twenty three years. "
he old State, conta!n territory suffi. I
nt IN I'seIl 10 maintain II population Of ii
ditIonal millions, aud the most popu- III
Is OF the new States may even vet be 10,
garded as but partially settled, vhile Of In