Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1841-01-02
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the Senate

Gentlemen OF me Senate
And House Of Representatives.:
Our devout gratitude is due to the Su.
preme Being for having graciously con
tinued to our beloved country, through
the yicissltudes Of anot her 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 labor Of the
husbandman more amply rewarded; and
never before have our relations with
other countries been placed on a more
favorable basis than that which they SO
happily occupy at tins critical conjunc-
ture in the affairs Of the world A rigid
and persevering abstinence from all in
reference with the domestic and poIiti-
cal relations with other States, alike due
to the genius and distinctive character Of
our Government and to the principles by
which it is directed; faithful obser-
vance, in the management Of cur foreign
relations, Of the practice Of speaking
plainly, dealing Justly, and requiring
truth and justice in return, as the best
conservatives Of the peace Of nations; a
strict impartislity in our manifestations
of friendship, in the commercial prlvl-
leges we concode, and those we require
from others: these, accompanied by a
disposition as prompt to maintain, IN
every emergency, our own rights, IS we
are from principle nyerse 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 enterprlsing
and adventurous spirit may carry them.
Few, if any, remain insensible to the
value of our friendship, or ignorant OF
the terms on which il can be acquired
and by which alone it can be preserved
A series Of questions Of long standing
difficult in their adjustment, and import
ant in their consequences, in which the
rights of our citizens and the honor oil
the country were deeply involved, have,
in the course of few years, (tho most
of them during the successful admins
tration of my immediate predecessor
been brought TO satisfactory conclu-
sion; and the most important of those
remaining are, am happy TO believe IN
fair way of being speedily and salts
fsctorily adjusted.
With all the powers Of the world, our
relations are those of honorable peace
Since your Adjournment nothing serious
has occurred 10 interrupt or threaten this
desirable harmony. If clouds have low
cred above the other hemisphere, they
have not cast their portentous shadows
on our happy shores. Bound by no en-
tangled alliances, yet linked by com
mon nature and interest with the other
nations Of mankind, our aspirations are
Tor the preservation of peace, in whose
solid and civiizing triumphs all may
participate with generous emulation
Yet, it behooyes US 10 DO prepared loT
any event, and 10 be always ready to
maintain those just and enlightened prin
cipes of national intercourse for which
this government has ever contended.-
In the shock of contending empires, II Is
only by assuming a resoIuts bearing
and clothing themselves with defensive
armor, that neutral nations can maintain
their independent rights.
The excitement which grew out o.
the territorial controversy between the
United States and Great Britain having
in a great measure subsidized, IT is hoped
that favorable period is approaching
for its final settlement. Both Govern
ments must now be convinced OF The
dangers with which the question Il
frsught; and it must be their desire, as
Il is their interest, that this perpetua
cause Of irritation should be removed a.
speedily as practicable. In my last an
nual message you we're informed tina
the proposition for a commission OF ex
ploration aud survey promised BY Gres
Britain had been received, and that
counter project, including also Prov
sion for the certain and final adjustment
of the limits in dispute, was then beior'
the British Government for It's console
ration The answer Of that Govern