Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-06-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, JuNE /, 1871.
10 the Senate and House

FELLOW CITIZENS - You have been
assembled in your respective halls Of lie.
gislatIon under n proclamation bearing
the signature of the illustrious citizen,
who was so lately called by the direct
sutfrages Of the people to the discharge Of
the important functions of their chief Elk.
ecutive office-upon the expiration Of a
single month from the day Of his installa.
ton he has paid the great debt Of nature.
leaving behind him name ass ,ciated
with the recollection of numerous benefits
conferred upon the country, during long
life of patriotic devotion. With this pub.
lie bereavement are connected other con-
sideraiions which will not escape the at.
ten,ion of Congress. The preparations
necessary for his removal to the seat OF
Government, in view of residence OF
four years, must have devolved upon the
late President heavy expenditures, which,
if permitted to burden the limited resources
of his private fortune, may tend seriously
to the embarrassment of his surviving
lamil y and it is therefore respectfully
submitted to Congress whether the ordI-
nary principles Of justice would not dc
tate the propriety of its legislative inter-
position. By the provisions of the fun.
damenta law, the powers and duties Of
tho high station to which he was elected,
have devolved upon me and in the
dispositions Of the representatives OF the
States and Of the people, will be found, to
a great extent, solution Of the problem
to which our institutions are, for the first
time subjected.
In entering upon the duties Of this office,
| did not feel that il would be becoming
in me to disturb what had been ordertd
by my lamented predecessor. Whatever,
therefore, may have been my opinion ORR
rlginally as to the propriety of converting
Congress at so early day from that Of its
late adjournment, found new ard con-
trolling inducement not 10 interfere with
the patriotic desires OF the late President,
in the novelty of the situation in which
was so unexpectedly placed. My first
wish, under such circumstances, would
necessarily have been to have called to
my aid, in the administration of public af.
tairs, the combined wisdom of the two
Houses Of Congress, in order TO take their
counsel and advice as to the best mode Of
extricating the Government and the coun-
try from the embarrassments weighing
heavily on both. am then most happy
in finding myself so soon, after my access
sion to the Presidency, surrounded by the
immediate representatives Of the States
and people.
No important changes having taken
place in ouraloreign relations since the
last session of Congress, it is not deemed
necessary on this occasion, to go into u
detailed statement in regard to them.
am happy TO say that see nothing TO de-
stroy the hope of being able to preserve
peace.
The ratification of the treaty with Por.
tugal has been duly exchanged between
the two governments. This Government
has not been inattentive TO the interests
OF those of our citizens who have claims
on the Government Of Spain, founded on
express treaty stipulations and hope
is INDUCED that the representations which
have been made to that Government on
this subject, may lead, ere long, to benef-
cial results.
A correspondence has taken place be-
tween the Secretary of State and the Min.
lister OF Her Britannia Majesty accred ted
to this Government on the subject Of Al
exander McLeod's Indictment and inn
prisonment, copies Of which are herewith
communicated to Congress.
In addition TO what appears from these
| papers, II may be proper TO state, that AL.
exander Mcleod has been heard, by the
Supreme Court of the State of New York,
on his motion to be discharged from i'm
prlsonment, and that the decision Of that
court has not as yet been pronounced.
The Secretary of State has addressed
to me paper upon two subjects, interest.
ing to the commerce Of the country, which
will receive my consideration, and which
have the honor to communicate to Con.
gress.
So far as it depends on the course OF
this Government, our relations ofgood will
and friendship will be sedulously culivat-
ed with all nations. The true American
policy will be found TO consist in the exer.
else of spirit Of justice, to be manifested
IN the discharge Of all our international
obligations, TO the weakest Of the family
OF nations as well as to the most pow.
ertul. Occasional conflicts of opinion
may arise, blu; when the discussions Incl.
dent to them are conducted in the lam
guage OF truth, ind with strict regard
to justice. the scourge of war will for the
most part be avoided. The time ought TO
be regarded as having gone by when
resort to arms is to be esteemed as the
only proper arbiter of national differences.
The census recently taken shows reg
ularly progressive increase in our popula.
ton. Upon the breaking out of the war
of the revolution, our numbers scarcely
equalled 5000, 900 Of souls; they already
exceed 1900, 900, and will continue to
progress in ratio which duplicates in a
period of about 80 years. The old States
contain territory sufficient in itself to
maintain population Of additional mil
lions, and the most populous OF the new
States may even yet be regarded as but
partially settled, while of the new lands
on this side Of the Rocky Mountains, to
say nothing Of the immense region which
stretches from the base Of those mountains
N the x,anuth IS The Cclra,h;a r.uar .ha,,s