Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-12-15
President s Message.

10 the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United States;
We have continued reason to express our
profound gratitude to the great Creator OF
all things for numberless benefits conferred
upon us as People. Blessed with genial
seasons, the husbandman has bis gamers
filled with abundance; and the necessaries
of life, not 10 speak of its luxuries, abound
in every direction. While in some other
nations steady and industrious labor can
hardly find the means Of subsistence, the
greatest evil which we have to encounter,
is surplus fproducion beyond the home
demand, which seeks, and with difficulty
finds, partial market in other regions.
The health of the country, with partial
exceptions, has, for the past year. been
we'll preserved; and under their free and
wise institutions, the United States are
rapidly advancing towards the consumma-
ton of the high destiny which an over
ruling Providence seems to have marked
out for them. Exempt from domestic con-
WILSON'S and at peace with all the world,
we are left free to consult as to the best
means Of securing and advancing the hap
piness of the People.
Such as the circumstances under which
you now assemble in your respectivecham-
bers, and which should lead US to unite in
praise and thanksgiving to that Great Being
who made US, and who preserves us
nation.
congratulate you fellow-c citizens, on
the happy change in the aspect of our
foreign affairs since my last Annual Mes
sage. Causes of complaint existed at that
time between Great Britain and the United
States, which, attended by irritating cir
cumstances, threatened most seriously the
public peace. The difficulty of adjusting
amicably the questions at issue between
the two countries, was, in no small degree,
augmented by the lapse Of time since they
had their origin. The opinions entertained
by the Executive on several Of the leading
topics in dispute, we're frankly set forth
in the Message at the opening OF your late
session. The appointment of special
minister by Great Britain to the U. States
with power to negotiate upon most of the
points of difference, indicated desire on
her part amicably to adjust them, and that
minister was met Wy tue IAACCut'O III NV
same spirit which had dictated his mis-
sion. The Treaty consequent thereon,
having been duly ratified by the two Gov
ernments, copy, together with the cor
rcspondence which accompanied it, is,
herewith, communicated. trust that
whilst you may see IN it nothing oblec-
tionabIe, it may be the means Of preserv-
ing, for an indefinite period, the amicable
relations happily existing between the two
Governments. The question OF peace or
war between the United States and Great
Britain, is question Of the deepest interest
not only to themselves, but TO the civilized
world since it is scarcely possible that
war could exist between them without
endangering the peace OF Christendom.
The Immediate effect of the Treaty upon
ourselves, will be felt in the security
afforded to mercantile enterprise, which,
no longer apprehensive Of interruption,
adventures its Speculatlons in the most
distant sea; and, freighted with the diver
sifed productions of every land, returns
to bless our own. There is nothing in the
Treaty which, in the slightest degree, COM
promits the honor or dignity OF either ma
ton. Next to the settlement of the bound
airy line, which must always be matter
of difficulty between States as between
individuals, the question which seemed to
threaten the greatest embarrassment, was
that connected with the African Slave
Trade.
Bv the 10th Article of the Treaty Of
Client, it was expressly declared, that
"Whereas the traffic in slaves is lrrecon-
cieable with the principles OF humanity
and Justice; and whereas both His Majesty
and the United States are DESTROYS Of con-
tnuing their efforts to promote its entire
abolition il is hereby agreed that both the
contracting parties shall use their best
endeavors 10 accomplish so desirable an
object"
In the enforcement Of the laws and
Treaty stipulatlons of Great Britain, pFac-
tlce had threatened to grow up on the part
OF its cruisers of subjectng to visitation
ships sailing under the American flag,
which, while it seriously involved our
maritime rights, would subject 10 vexation
branch Of our trade which was daily in
creasing and which required the fostering
care of the Government. And although
lord Aberdeen, in his spondence with
the American ENJOYS, at London, express
" disclaimed all right to detaiu an Amer-
can ship on the high seas, even il found
with cargo of slaves on board, and re-
stricted the British pretension to mere
claim to visit and enquire, yet ii could not
we'll be discerned by the Executive of the
United States how such visit and enquiry
could be made without detention on the
voyage, and consequent interruption to
the trade. 1t was regarded as the right OF
search, presented only in new form,
and expressed in different words, and |
therefore felt it TO be my duty distinctly to
declare, in my Annual Message TO Con-
CESS, that no such concession could be
Bpatp and MAT fhe ITuited Siatcx had both