Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-06-05
MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House of Representatir
the United States.

NlEOCAUL.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States.
Fellow CITIZENS You have been assembled in
your respective halls of legislation under proclama
ton bearing the signature Of the iustrious citizen
who was lately called by the direct safrages of the
people to the discharge of the important functions Of
their chief executive Office. Upon the expiration of
single month from the day of his installation he has
paid the great debt OF nature, leaving behind him
name associated with the recollection Of numerous be-
nefits conferred upon the country during long life of
patriotic devotion With this public bereavement are
connected other considerations which will not escape
attention of Congress. The preparations necessary
for his removal to the scat of Government in view Of
a residence Of four years. must have deyolyed upon
the late President heavy expenditures, which, if per-
nted to burden the limited of his private
fortune may tend seriously to the embarrassment of
his surviving family; and ii is therefore respectfully
submitted to Congress- whether the ordinary princi-
pies of justice would not dictate the propriey of its
legislative nerposition. BY the provisions of the
fundamental law the powers and duties of the high
station to which he WINS elected have deyolved upon
me, and in the dispositions of the representatives of
the States and of the people, will be found to great
extent solution of the problem, to which nst-
tuons are for the first time subjected.
In entering upon the i,ics of this Office did not
feel that would be becoming in Inc to disturb
what had been ordered by my .lamented predeces-
sor. Whatever, therefore, may have been my opn-
ion, originally, 10 the proprlety Of converting Con
gress at SO carly aday from that of its late ADJOURN
ment, found new aud controlling inducement not
10 interfere with the patriotic desires of the late Pre-
aidcnt, in the novelty OF the situation in which was
8, unexpectedly placed. My first wish under such
circumstances would necessarily have been to have
called 10 my aid, in the administration public affairs
the combined wisdom of the two Hous'sof Congress
an order to take their counsel and advice TO the best
mode of extricang the government and the country
from the embarrassment weighing heavily on both.
mn then most happy in finding myself so soon after
my accession to the Presidency surrounded by the
immediate representatives of the states and people.
No important changes having taken place in onr
foreign relations since the last session Of Congress- II
is not deemed necessary this occasion TO 60 into n
detailed statement in regard TO them. ! am happy to
any that sec nothing TO destroy the hope OF being able
1oprcscrve pea"e.
been duly exchanged, between the two Governments.
This Government has not been inattrnlive to the in
tercsts of those of citizens who have claims on
the Government Of Spain founded on express treaty
stpualions and hope INDUCED that the rcprcscn
tatOns which have been made 10 that Government on
this su5cc, may lead long to beneficial results.
corrcspon cnce has taken place between the Sc
cr,tary OF State and the Minister of Her Britannia
Majesty accredited 10 this Government, on the sub
jcct of Alexander McLeod's indictment and imprson-
inen', copies Of which arc herewith communicated tc
Congress
In addition TO what appears from these papers, il
may be proper to state that Alexander Mcleod has
been heard by the Supreme Court of the state Of New
York on his motion to he discharged from imprison
,,en and tina, the dcci.ion Of tina, court has not n
vet been pr uounccd.
The Secretary of State has addressed TO nae pnyc
country which will receive nv consideration an
which have the honor to communicate 10 Congress
So fur as il depends on the of this Govern
msnt, our relations of good will and friendship will
sc,ulously cultivated with all nations. The true AmiC
rican policy will lie found TO consist in the
spirit of justice TO be mantle ted in the discharge
all our international obligations, to the weakest Of II
family of nations as well us to the most powerful
Occasional conflicts If opinion may arise, but whe
tho discussions incident to them conducted IN tn
Language of truth and with strict regard to justice
tho SEQ ,rpc of war will for the most part be idet
The time ought 10 be regarded as having gone by whc
nrcsor, 10 arms is to be esteemed as the only prort
arbitcr of national differences.
The census recently taken shows regularly pr,
rrcs.ye ucrea SC in our popuaton Upon the breakr
Out of the revolution our numbers scsrcely equalt
,hreo millions Of souls, they already exceed scvence
,ullions and will continue 10 progress in rat
which duplicates in period of about twenty thr,
wears The old States contain territory sufficient
;,selfio maintain n population of additional million
ard tho mos, nopulous of the new States NAV eve
Wv, kn ron,rded as hu, oar,iailv set,led while of II
new lands on this side of the Rocky Mountains,
eav nothing of the immense region which stretch
from the lase of those mountains to the mouth Of Il
Columbia river about TO 600 900 of acres coded al
uncoded still remain to be brought in to market.
hold out to the people of other countries an nvita,
10 come and settle omong members of Our r
r;lIv GROWING family and for these blessin
,,c yeoi,;re Of Them 10 look upon our country and
unite with us in the great task of preserving
,m,on" and thereby nerpe,uatinp our liberties
,no,;yo a ysts for foregn conouest We desire but
,;, "'r .Imos, ;llm;,obIe wilderness and 70
. I. 80 ,hor " n,hs tho l;obts of civl;,ai;r
tUuu.o M y, n, 80 h nronerod N vnd;c,,c ,
WINE We shaii al a." .n,.' oe p dasr. si ho
national honor our mos eai'e'' ue'"e VIII W
MAINTAIN an unpIoken peace, ,o, ,,,
In presenting the foregoing views ! canno' ""
hold the expression OF the OPINION tna' mere eA
nothing in the extension OF our empire over our !
knowledged possessions TO excite the alarm OF
patriot for the safety OF our institutions. The iedel
tive system leaving to each state the care OF MS
mestic concerns, and devoving on the Federal &c
ernmcnt those of general import, admits in safety
ehe greatest expansion, but, at the same tme dc,