Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-12-12
From the Boston Daily Advertiser.

TIE MEssAGE.-We do not propose to 60
into an elaborate discussion Of the topics Of
the Presidents Message, or Of the views pre-
scnted in it.. We beg leave, however, to re
mark very briefly upon two or three OF the
pyo,ainent features OF the document.
/ The elaborate, but common place eulogy
upon the character and operation Of our form
Of goyeInment, s entirely misplaced, and it
operates as severe trial Of patience to those
who are looking for something pertinent to
the occasion. 1t is surprising that those who
have occasion to write legislative addresses.
which are necessarily long from the number
Of topics to be touched upon, should think it
eccssary, so elnborately to protract their ie.
diousnoss, by introducing dissertations on
topics whlc,i have nothing to do with the bus
mess in hand. Had there been reason to an
tlcipate serious proposition to set aside our
form Of government, and to 0ubstitue another,
there might have been some proprety in urg
ing upon the attention Of Congress the beau
ttul working Of The present system, especial
ly if he had reason TO believe that 1t was
subject to which the attention of The mem
bers had not been particularly attracted.
4 The general tone of the review presented
in the Message, Of the foreign relations of
the country is pacific and at the same time
independent, and therefore satisfactory. :.
There was little Of information to be commu-
ncated and this is the more gratifying, as we
have fortunately little to ask of foreign ma
tions.
The principal topic, and the only one in
which the President appears to have taken
any deep interest, Is that OF the annexation OF
Texas. This matter the President has con-
,inued to retain, in almost the precise condl.
ton in which the adjournment of Congress
left it. In two respects however, he has pre-
sented The question IN novel aspect This
| novelty we believe, consists entirely in his
mole of stating the ccse, and not IN ary ac-
! tual change in the facts on which II rests.
II lst. Tho President throws out of view the
| fact, that the Texas treaty, negotiated under
| his instructions and submitted by him 10 the
! Senate, was fully considered and rejected by
| that body bya very large majority. y.-FhlS i'm
! porlant fact he appears to have entirely lost
|. sight Of Indeed he declares, in so many
! words, that "the two governments hare al
eady agreed, Trough Their resrective organs,
| Oh tho terms of a:!ac%a,ion" The only or
| gans, known to- our constitution, through
/ which this Government can agree on The terms
Of any engagement with another Govern
! ment, are the President, pith he adrice and
consent orhe Senate. A treaty with For
| cipn Government which has the sanction o.!
/ the President alone, ana 10 which the Senate
\ has refused its assent, surely is no agreement
II with that government: Yet the President
| brings forward this rejected treaty, as con.
H taining the terms OF annexation atreaoy agreed
/ on by The organs Of the government, aud pro-
| poses that they shall be adopted by Congress
i''in the form Of Joint resolution or act"
H An act OF Congress may often be necessary
| to give effect to n treaty concluded by The
/ President and Senate, and duly ratified but
II this we will venture TO say is The first time 1t
was ever proposed to Congress to adopt, by a
resolution or an act, treaty which has been
! rejected by the Senate.
II =. The President informs us not only that
i the terms of annexation have been agreed on
through the organs of the two governments,
bn, that the people themselves have confirm
4 cd tho agreement aud "dCclared in favor oi
n immediate annexation" This Information
must take the people 5y surprise, Tor we are
well assured that many of them had dreamed
! of no such thing.--fhesc are the Presidents
; words "a controlling majniy of the Pco
pie. and large mhjOIIty OF the Dtates, have
, declared n favor OF immediate 1nnnexation
Instructions have ihus come up To botl
'hrnnches OF Congress, from their respective
ifcon~titucnIs, ~ terms The most emphatic. |
IS The viii ct both tho People and the States
! hat Texas shall be- annexed to the UnIoI
? promptly end immediately"
r We were not prepared for such az nsscr
II ton ns this. in so distinct and positive terms
We were fully aware that II would be argu
/ cd, that the clccilon.of Messrs. Pnk and Dal
: las must be regarded NJ an indication Of th
' popular senimcn, favorable 10 the annexation
i But We had no, Imagined that any one wou
i 20 40 Tar es a. advance The opinion, sil.l les
u 10 assert u rs an urfncstonable fact. that