Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-12-12

parties, until at fast. the conflict, of opinion,
producing an alienation Of friendly feeling
among the people of the different States, may
involve in one general destruction the happy
Institutions under which we live. 1t should
ever be borne in mind, that what is true in re-
gard to individuals, is equally so in regard
to States. An Interference of one in the af
fairs Of another.s the fruitful source of family
flissenson and neighborhooa disputes; and the
same cause affects the peace, happiness and
prosperity Of States Ii may be most devout
y hoped, that the good sense Of the Ameri-
Can People will ever be ready to repel all
s'ch attempts, should they ever be made.
There has been no material change in our
foreign relations since my last Annual Mes
sage TO Congress. With all the powers of
i Europe, We continue on the mos. friendly
terms. Indeed, it affords me much satisfac
tiol to state, that at no former period has the
peace OF that enlightened and important quar-
ter of The globe ever been, apparently, more
! firmly established. The conviction that peace
is the true policy of nations, would seem to be
growing and becoming deeper amongst the
enlightened every where; and there is no
people who have 6 Stronger interest in cher
ishing the sentiments, and adopting the means
OF preserving and giving it permanence, than
those OF the United States. Amongst these
/ inc hrst and most effective are, no doubt, the
s'r!ct observance of justice, and the honest
ana punctual fuisiiment OF all engagements
bat 1t IS not to be forgotten, that in the pres
ent state of the world, it is no less necessary
! 10 be ready TO enforce their observance and
fuihiment, i'll reference to ourselves, than to
| observe and fulfil them, on our part, in regard
! Ia others.
Since the close of your last session, nego
t'aoon has been formally entered upon be-
tween the Secretary of State and her Britain
nc hlaJesty's Minister Plenlpotentiary and
Envoy Extraordi .ary residing at Washington,
relative to the rights of their respective ma
tons IN AMI over the Oregon territory. That
ring your session, be brought to definitjre
Conclusion the result will be promptly
communicated to Congress. Iwoul,l, howev-
er, again call your attention to The recon
meniiations contained in previous messages,
designed to protect and facilitate emigration
to that territory The ESTABLISHING Mt OF mill
ta!y posts, at suitable points upon The extern
dc1 land travel, would enable our citizens to
mIgl ate H. comparative safety to the fertile re
gions below the falls OF tie Co!umbis, and
make the provision Of the existing convention
Tor the joint occupation of the territory by
subjects OF Great Britain, and the citizens of
the United States, more available than here
totore to the latter. These posts would con
sutute places OF rest Tor the weary emgrant,
where he would be sheltered securely against
the danger of attack from the Indians, and be
enabled to recover from the exhaus ton of
long line of travel. Legislative enactments
should also be made, which should spread over
him the eSis of our laws, SO az to afford pro.
lection to his person and property when he
shall have reached his distant home. In this
latter respect, the British Government has
been much more careful of the interests OF
such OF her people as are to be fonnd IN that
country, than the United S It s. She has
made necessary provision for their security
and protection against the acts of the VICIOUS
ly disposed and lawless and her emgrant re-
poses in safety under the panoply Of her laws.
Whatever may be the result of the pending
negotiation, such measures are necessary. Ii
will afford me the greatest pleasure to Wit
mess happy and favorable termination to the
existing negotiation, upon terms compatible
with the public honori and the best efforts of
the Government will continue TO be directed
10 this end.
1t would have given me the highest
qualification, in this, my last annual
communication to Congress, to have
been able to announce to you the com
plete and entire settlement and adjust
ment of other matters in difference be-
tween the u. States and her Britannia
Majesty's Government, which were ad-
verted to in previous message. 1t is
SO obviously the interest of both coun-
tries, in respect 10 the large and yalu-
able commerce which exists between
them, that all causes of complaint,
however inconsiderable, should be,
with the greatest promptitude, remov-
ed-that it must be regarded as cause
of regret, that any unnecessary delay
should be permitted to intervene. 1t
is true, that In pecuniary point of
view, the matters alluded to, are, alto
gether, insignificant in amount, when
compared with the ample resources of
that great nation; but they, neverihe-
less, (more particularly that limited
class which arise under seizures and
detentions Of American ships on the
coast of Africa, upon the mistaken sup
position INDUCED in at the time the
wrong was committed, of their being
engaged in the slave trade,) deeply
affect the sensibIities of this Govern
ment and people. Great Britain hay
ing recognised her responsibility to re-
pair all such wrongs, by her action in
other cases, leaves nothing to be re-
GREETED upon the subject, as to all ca
ses prior to the Treaty of Washington,
than the delay in making suitable rep
aration in such of them as fall plainly
within the principle of others, which
she has long since adjusted. The in
jury inflicted by delays in the settle
ment Of these claims, falls with severi
ty upon the individual claimants, and
makes strong appeal TO her magma
ninity and sense Of justice for speedy