Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-12-21
Presidents Message
70 TIE Senate md House Of

REPRESENTATIVES Of the United States :
If any people ever had cause to render
up thanks to the Supreme Being for pa
rental care and protection extended to
them in all the trials and difficulties to
which they have been from time to time
exposed, we certainl y are that People. -
From the first settlement of our lOrela-
theirs ON this continent-tEroush the dam
gers attendant upon the occupation OF a
savage wilderness-throush long perl
cd of Colonial Jependence-throush the
war of the RevoIution-ih the wisdom
which led to the adoption of the existing
Republican forms of Government-ln
the hazards incident to war subsequent
ly waged with one of the most powerful
nations Of the earth-in tie increase of
opr nopulati6.--in the spread Of the arts
and sciences, and i: the strength and du-
rabIity conferred on po':tlcai institutions
emanating from the People ard sustained
by their will-the superintendent OF al
overriding Providence has been plainly
visible. As preparatory. therefore to Ell.
tering once more upon the high duties of
legislation, it becomes US humbly to ac-
knowledge our dependence upon HIM as
our guide and protector, and to lmpiore
a continuance Of His parental watchlul-
ness over our beloved country. We have
new cause for the expression of our graf
itude in the preservation of the health
of our fellow citizens, with some partial
and local exceptions during the past sea
son-for the abundance with which the
earth has yielded up its fruits TO the la
burs of the husbandman-for the renew
ed activity which has been impaired to
commerce-for the revival of trade in all
its experimentation the increased re-
wards attendant on the exercise of the
mechanic arts-for The continued growth
of our population, and the rapidly reyiv-
ing prosperity Of the whole country. |
shall be permitted TO exchange congratu
lations with you, gentlemen of the two
Houses of Congress, on these suspicious
circumstances, and to assure you in adj
vance, of my ready disposition to con-
Gu: with you in the adoption of all such
measures as shall be calculated to in
crease the happiness of our constituents
and to advance the glory of our common
country.
Since the last adjournment Of Con-
gress, the Executive has relaxed no eff
fort to render indestructble the relations
of amity which so happily exist between
the United States and other Countries
The treaty lately concluded with Great
Britain has tended greatly to increase
the good understanding which recipro-
city of interest is calculated to encour-
age, and it is most ardeatiy to be hoped /,
that nothing may transpire tc interrupt
the relations of amity which it is so OBJ
viously the policy Of both nations to cuI-
tiyate.
A question Of much Importance still
remains to be adjusted between them
The territorial limits of two counties in
relation to what is commonly known as
the Oregon territory, still remain in dis
pute. The United States would be at all
times indisposed to aggrandize them
selves at the expense of any other nation;
but while they would be restrained by
principles of honor which should govern
the conduct of nations as well as that of
individuals, from setting up a demand
for territory which does not belong to
them, they would as willingly consent TO
surrender of their rights. After the
most rigid, and as far as practicable, UNI
BIASED examination of the subject, the
United States have always contended
that their rights appertain to the entire
region of country lying on the Pacific.
and embraced within the forty-second
and flfty-fourth deg. 40m. of North Lati-
Jude. This claim being controverted by
Great Britain, those who have preceded
sthe present Executive, actuated no doubt,
by an earnest desire to adjust the matter
upon terms mutually satisfactory to both
countries, have caused to be submitted
10 the British Government, propositions
or settlement & final adjustment which