The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-05
THE MESSAGE.

II is with feelings Of pride that we lay before
our readers, to day, Mcseogc which. IN re-
spect to the importance Of the matters treated
in il. the manlihess and perspicuty Of its style,
aud, above all the truly American spirit which
it breathes. throughout, will bear favorable
comparison with any similar document which
has ever emansted from Chief Magistrates
our Republic. II will stand the test, we think,
Of any honest criticism, however severe or I'M
charitable. No conscientious man, of any par
~, can read this Message carefully. fiom begin
ming to end, and not confess to himself that if
the author Of it is in any manner unfit for the ex-
allied station to which an everything Providence
so Unexpectedly called him, it is not from want
OF capacity or patriotism and that if, as some
would falter themselves, il is the want OF
party which disqusli6es him. The People will be
likely mos, readily to forgive the defect in the
pleasure of hearing themselves addressed, and
their interests discussed, IN the plain, direct, and
unequivocai language of honesty. It's Mes
sage which the humblest can at least under
stand, and which they will not understand as an
appeal 10 their feelings in contempt Of their in
lellects.
The commencement of the Message, how +.
ought we think, at time like the present, to
awaken the most serious reflections of the Peo-
pie. The land is filed with the murmurs Of
disappointed partisans, and the Chief Magistrate
himself is the object of their unceasing viupe-
rations; yet never were the People--those who
support, instead Of seeking support from, the
Government-more happy and prosperous and
it is, above all, 10 be considered that their pros
perity now rests on a sound basis. What better
could the violence of party spirit have secured
to the People, if its career had not been check
ed2 What better than the reality, now exist
ing, can its boasts and promises accomplish, by
destroying the present sound basis, and intro
In the review Of our foreign relations, the
readers Of the Message will find much cause for
patriotic graduation so far at least, as relates to
the great powers Of Europe, and those of the
Southern portion of our own continent The
Administration has had no national wrongs to
discuss with any foreign government; while it,
attention has been sedulousIy and successfully
directed TO the recovery Of indemnity due 10 in
dividusls, add heretofore withheld, through
want Of a decided and vigorous tone in our Go
vernment. To this gratifying state Of our for
eign relations one exception only exists, bu, that
we think, will be likely to occasion some
surprise by its singulariry, if not to com
mand anxious attention by its import
apce. We hardly need say that we al
lude TO the extraordinary and Unprecedented po-
sition assumed by the Government Of Mexico,
founded upon discussion which it supposes is
likely to take place in our National Legislature.
This sort Of surveillance exercised by one ma
ton over the freedom Of speech and Of debate
in another, would appear little incongruous
with the spirit Of the age, under any crcumstan-
ces, and exercised hsughiily and menacingly,
by weak over powerful nation, would be bet
ter calculated TO excite ridicuIe than serious an
imadversion. This is so obvious, that our PEG.
pie would probably be tempted to laugh At the
arrogance Of their Mexican neishbors. attribute
it to spirit Of rhodomontade Inherited from
their Spanish ancestors, and forgive and forge,
IT. But weak nation may be ms well and
shrewedly governed MS powerful one, bv men
OF as strong minds and as far-reachino views
and weakness Is never so apt to buster as when
1t is secretly Supported by strength. Before con
sderlng these menacss Of our neighbor in mere
by ridiculous light il will be but prudent 20
us TO inquire seriously whether we are no, men
aced with danger from some other auarrer
where there IS more real power to do MS injury
and perhaps not less inclination to do IL, though
less disposition to pu, US on our guard by threat,
or open manifestations Of any kind.
But, from whatever quarter the delibera,;on
OF our Government, or the affairs of our eoun,rv
are menaced with for,ign interference. or con
troll, we trust and believe tina, the Presiden, h,
not misjuaged the pataiotism Of the mass ,
the nation, in reiterating the firm and patriot;
declaration of Mr.. Monroe. Our Peope =, =
not. until they are dead to every impulse of M
tr'otlsm and national spirit, recognise any o,he
controlling power than the law Of nations an,
the justice upon which that law il founded
The most distant threat or iotmat;on or .,,h
JectIng us 10 any other control sbould r,,Lo
have the effect Of stimulating us to pusb ~,
rights to the utmost extent, in order 70 nal.
our Independence more undoubtedly u,n;s..
to the world, than OF shrinking from the d;.cu.
sion or adoption ofsny measure likely 20 .,r.no,,
en- or benefit Us as People, and not in v;oI, ~