The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


The following Message was, on Tuesday,
transmitted by the President ofthe United States
TO both Houses of Congress, by the hands Of
ROBERT Tyler, Esq:
To the Senate and House
Of Representatives. of the United States.
FELLow-C CITIZENS You have been assem-
bled in your respective halls OF legislation UNI
der proclamation bearing the signature OF the
ilustrious citizen, who was so lately called by
the direct SURFACES of the people, to the dis
charge of the important functions of their chief
Executive Office. Upon the expiration OF sim
gle month from the day of his installation ne
has paid the great debt of nature, leaving be-
hind him name associated with the recollec-
ton If numerous benefits conferred upon the
country, during long life of patriotic devotion.
With this public bereavement are connected
other considerations which will not escape the
attention of Congress. The preparations ne
cessary for his removal TO the seat OF Govern
ment, in view Of a residence Of four years, must
have deyolyed upon the late President heavy ex-
penditures, which, if permitted to burthen the
limited resources of his private fortune, may
tend to the serious embarrassment of his sur
viving family !; and il is therefore respectfully
submitted to Congress whether the ordinary
principles of justice would not dictate the pro-
priety Of its Legislative interposition. BY the
provisions of the fundamental law, the powers
and duties Of the high station to which he was
elected, have devolved upon me, AMI in the dis
positions ofthe representatives. Of the States and
Of the people, will be found, to great extent, q
solution Of the problem to which our institutions
are, for the first time, subjected.
1 In entering upon the duties Of this office,
did not feel that il would be becoming in me 10
disturb what had been ordered by my lamented
predecessor. Whatever, therefore, may have
been my opinion originally as to the propriety
of converting Congress at so early day from
that of its late adjournment, / found a new and
controlling inducement not to interfere with the
patriotic desires Of the late President, in the no
velty Of the situation in which was so unex-
pectedly placed. My first wish, under such cir
cumstances, would necessarily have been to
have called to my aid, in the administration Of
public affairs, the combined wisdom of the two
Houses of Congress, in order to take their coun-
sci and advice as to the best mode Of extricating
the Government and the country from the EN-
barrassments weighing heavily on both. ] am
then most happyin finding myself so soon, after
my accession to the Presidency, surrounded by
the immediate representatives of the States and
people.
4 No important changes having taken place in
our foreign relations since the last session OF
Congress, it is not deemed necessary, on this
occasion, to 60 into detailed statement in re-
gard to them. / am happy to say that see mo-
thing to destroy the hope of being able to pre-
serve peace.
The ratification of the treaty with Portugal
has been duly exchanged between the two Go
vernments. This Government has not been In
attentive 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 SUBJ
iecf, may lead, ere long, to beneficial results.
A correspondence has taken place between
he Secretary of State and the Minister of Her
Britannia Majesty accredited to this Govern
nent on the subject Of Alexander McLeod's in
iictment and imprisonment, copies Of which
are herewith communicated to Congress.
In addition to what appears from these papers,
i may be proper to state, that Alexander Nc
Leod has been heard, by the Supreme Court Of
the State Of New York, on his motion TO be
from imprisonment, and that the de-
cision Of that court has not as vet been pro-
nounced. f 45i
The Secretary Of State has addressed to me
a paper upon two subjects, interesting to the
commerce Of the country, which will receive
my consideration, and which have the honor
to communicate to Congress. As st
vernment our relations Of good will and friend
ship will be sedulously cultivated with all ma
tons. The true American policy will be found
to consist in the exescise Of spirit of justice TO
be manifested in The discharge of all our inter
national obligations to the weakest of the family
ofnations as wellas to the most powerful. Occa-
sional conflicts of opinion may arise, but when
the discussions incident to them are conducted
in the language Of truth, and with strict re-
gard to justice, the scourge Of war will for the
most part be avoided. The time ought to be re-
garded as having gone by when a resort to arms
IS to be esteemed as the only proper arbiter Of
national differences. .ys
The census, recently taken, shows regularly
progressive increase in our population. Upon
the breaking out Of the war of the revolution
our numbers scarcely equaled 5000, 600 of souls,
they already exceed $4,000 900, and will con-
tinue to progress in ratio which duplicates in
a period Of about go years. The old States
containa territory suf6,i mt in itself to main
tain population of additional millions, 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,
tosay nothing of the immense region which
stretches from the base of those mountains to
the mouth Of the Columbia river, about TO-
000,0 900 Of acres, coded and unceded, still re-
main to be brought into market We hold out to
the people OF other countries an invitation to
come and settle among us as members of our RAJ
pidly growing family, and for the blessings which
we offer them, we require Of them to look upon
our country as their country, and to unite with
as in the great task Of preserving our institu-
lions and thereby perpetuating our liberties. No
motive exists for foreign conquests--we desire
but to reclaim our almost llimitable wildernesses,
and to introduce into their depth the lights Of
civilization. While we shall at all times be
prepared to vindicate the national honor, our
most earnest desire will be TO maintain an UNI
broken peace.
In presenting the. foregoing views, | cannot
withhold the expression of the opinion, that there
exists nothing In the extension of our empire,
over our acknowledged possessions, to excite the
alarm Of the patriot for the safety of our institu-
tons. The Federative system, leaving 10 each
State the care Of its domestic concerns, and de-
volving on the Federal Government those Of
general import, admits in safety Of the greatest
3 xnansion but. al the same time, / deem il