American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-12-03
MI SSAGE.
OF TIM PRECEDENT OF THE UNIFIED
STATES.
FIlo,r Citizens of the Senate


II is TO me source of unaffected satisfac-
ton to meet the Representatives of tie States
and the people in Congress assembled, as II
will be to receive the aid of their combined
wisdom in the administration of pubic af
fairs. In performing, for the first time, the
duty imposed on me sby the constitution, of
giving to you infor Won Of the state of the
Union, and recommending to your considera-
tien such measures as in my judgment are ne
cessary and expedient, am happy that can
eengratul ate YOU on the continued prosperity
Of our country. Under The blessings OF D-
vine rovidence and the benign influence OF
cur free insttutions,i 1T stands before the world
spectacle of national happiness.
With our uneXampled advancement IN all
the elements Of national greatness, the alice
ton Of the people is confirmed for the union
of the States, and for the doctrines Of popu-
lar liberty, which lie at the foundation OF our
government.
1t becooaes us, in humility to make our de-
vout Acknowledgements TO the Supreme Ruler
Of the Uaiverse, for the ineslmable civil and
religious blessings with which we are favored.
In calling the attention of Congress to our
relations with 70 teign Powers, am gratIted
TO be able 10 STATE, that though with some OF
them there have existed slice your last ses-
sion serious causes Of rr ,taton and misunder-
standing, vet no actual hostIlites have taken
place Adopting the maxim in the conduct
of our foreign affairs, to 'ask nothing that is
not right, and submit to nothing that is
wroRg,' il has been my anxious desire to pre-
serve pesce with all nations; but, at the same
time, TO be prepared to resist aggression, and
TO maintain all our just rights.
ln pu suance of the joint resolution of Con-
cress, "for anneXing Texas to the U. States"
my predecessor, on the third day of March,
ISA5 elected 10 submit the first and second
sections of that resolution to the republic OF
Texas, as an overture, on the part of the L.
States, for her admission as State INTO our
Union. This election | approved, and ac-
cordiagly the charge d'affalrs of the United
States m Texas, under instructions of the
tenth Of March, lS45, presen ed these sec
lions of the reso ution for the acceptance of
that republic The executive government,
the Congress, and The people Of Texas In
convention, have successfully complied with
all the terms and conditions of the joint reso-
luton A constitution for the government of
the State of Texas, formed 10y a sention
of deputies, is herewith laid before Congress
Ills we'll known, so, that the people Of Tex
as at the polls have accepted the terms OF an
nexation, and ratified the constitution.
communicate to Congress the correspon-
dence between the Secretary OF State and our
charge d'affares in Texas; and also the cor
respondence of The latter with the authorities
of Texas together with the official documents
transmitted by him to his own government
The terms of annexation which were of
(ered by the United States having been ac-
cepted by Texas, the public faith OF both par
ties is solenlnIy pledged to the compact oil
their union Nothing remains to consummatc
t,,t, III. nj q ri I
gress to admit tie State of Texas into the
Union upon an equal footing with the orig nal
States. Strong reasons exist why this SHOULD
be done at an early period Of the session. 1t
will be observed that, by the constitution oil
Texas, the existing government Is only con-
tinued temporarily ill Congress can act; and
that the third Monday Of the present month Is
The day appointed for holding the first general
election On that day governor, lieuten-
ant governor, and both branches of the legis-
nature, will be chosen by the people. The
President of Texas is required, Immediately
after The receipt of official information that
the new State has been admitted into our Un-
son by Congress, to convene the legislature;
and, upon its meeting the existing government
will be superseded, and the State government
organized Questions deeply interesting to
Texas, in common with the other States; the
system over her people and territory, as well
a. measures ef a local character, will claim
the early attention of Congress; and, therefore,
upon every principle Of republican govern
ment, she ought TO be represented,in that bo-
DIV without unnecessary delay. | cannot too
earnestly recommend prompt action on this
important subject.
As soon as The act to admit Texas as State
shall be PASSED, the union OF the two repub'
lies will be consummattd by their own volun'
tary consent.
This accession to our territory has been
blo,dIess achievement No ARA Of force has
been raised to produce the result. The sword
has had no part in the victory. We have not
sought to extend our territorial possessions by
conquest, or our republican institutions over
reluctant people. 1t was the deliberate
homage OF each people to the great principle
of our iederahve union.
five n.ider the extent of territory nvolv-
ed in the annexation--its prospective lntil-
.nce on America-the means by which it has
been accomplished, springIng purely firm the
choice of the people themselves to share the
blessings of our union,-the history of the
" orld may be challenged to furnish parallel.
The jurisdiction of the United States,
which at the formation of the fedora! consti-
lion was bounded by the st Mary's, on the
Atlantic, has passed the Cspes of Florida, and
heen ne scefu,y extended TO the Del Norte. In
contemplating the grandeur of this event, 1t
is not to be forgotten that the result was a,
chiev,d in despite of the diplomatic iG.erfer,
ence of European monarchies. Even France
the country which had been our ancient
ally-the country which has common Inte.
rest with us in maintaining the freedom oil
the seas--the country which, by tue cesslon
of Louisiana, first opened to Us access TO the
Gull of Mexico the country with which we
have ben every year drawing more closely
the bonds of su -cessful commerce most I'M
expecledly, and to our unfeigned regret took
part in an effort TO prevent anne xaHon, aud 10