Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-18
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WOOD SToCK:
DECEMBER Is, loA5.
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents Message.
TIE OREGON QUESTION TARIFF SUB TREASURY, &C.
The great length of Mr.. PoLK's
message rendered it impossible to in
sert il entire in the same paper in which
that of the Governor was published.-
It's therefore concluded this week.
We have neither the time nor the
space to comment upon this important
docum n as we would desire to do
for it is acknowledged by all intelligent
men to embody more matter of vital
Importance to the American nation
than has been contained in any other
similar document for many years. We
cannot therefore, with propriety, and
with due Difference to the long-estab-
lished custom among editors, forbear a
brief reference to it.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
With Mexico, we are informed, that,
although our relations are somewhat
more favorable to the amicable adjust
ment ofthe matters in disputes between
us-that government having consented
to receive minister from the U. S.
yet, there are serious causes Of com
plant yet existing against her, on ac-
count Of the unredressed wrongs com
mitted upon our citizens and property
through long series of years-wrongs
which, in all probability, had they been
perpetrated by a power OCCUPYING a
more respectable position among the
civilised nations of the earth, would
have been, if not otherwise adjusted,
settled by resort to war. or reprisals.
Her semi-barbarian ignorance, and her
comparative insignicance and weakness
as nation, have shielded her from re-
sort to extreme or positive measures on
the part ofthe government of the U. S.
1t is right for the more powerful nations
OF the earth to be lenient in their inter-
course with those that are weaker, and
to make every possible allowance for
them, under circumstances such as at
present subsist between the u. States
and Mexico; but we hold that it is nei-
Their wise nor just to defer the satisfac-
tory adjustment of claims so long, and
especially when those interested are
suffering on account of the delay
Where the ability exists, and the Justice
of the claims is admitted, as is the case
with Mexico, if payment is delayed for
an unreasonable length Of time, more
rigorous measures ought to be adopted.
The psesident, however, does not seem
disposed to push the claims referred to
oan immediate adjustment, under exis-
ting circumstances; and the dispassion-
ate action ofCongress is invoked upon
the subject.
All other subjects connected with our
foreign affairs, are com oaratively unim-
portant, when contrasted with the posi-
ton which we occupy relative to the
Oregon question. 1t is emphatically
the great, The all-absorbing question of
the day; because it involves not only
what we conceive to be our indisputa-
bic right to Oregon-a right not only
clear in a moral sense, but sustained by
every just principle of public law and
the past usages of civilised nations, as
well as by treaty stipulations-but also
threatens TO interrupt the otherwise am
icable relations subsisting between us
and England, and perhaps plunge the
two nations into a war. Notwitbstan.
ding II has been, and still is, Mr.. PoLK's
opinion that the right of the United
States to the territory in dispute is
good against the claims of all other
nations whatever; yet he was not dis.
posed to interrupt the negotiations
which were pending at Washington
when ne came into Office, although he
felt conscious that his government,
through it's agent, would, by the terms
grant more than he believed
the British government had a right to
demand or expect but when The We