Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-12-12
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s.sf. ..~-.. x OF The
President Of the United States.
DECEMBER, 1876. s
Felloss Citizens of tie Senate

DECEMBER, 1876.
Fello.s Citizens oftle Senate
and House Of Representatives.:
It is to me source of unaffected satisfac-
ton to meet the Representatives of the States
and the people in Congress assembled, as it will
DO to receive the aid of their combined wisdom
in the administration of public affairs. In
performing, for the fist time, the dnty impos-
ed on me by the constitution, of giving to YOU
information of thesslate' Of the Union, and re-
commendingeto your consideration such mea-
sures as in my judgment are necessary and
exPedient, M happy. that can congratulate
fyop onfhe continued Prosperity of our coun.
TRY. Under the blessings of Divine Provi-
dence and the benign influence of our free in-
stitutions, it stands before the world specta-
Gle of national happiness.
With our unexampied advancement in all
the elements of national greatness, the affec-
ton of the people is conaEmed for the union
of the States, and for the doctrines of popular
liberty, whichlie at the foundation of our gov.
lernment. % .....' --s -
II becomes US, in humility, TO make our de-
vont ACKNOWLEDGING to the Supreme Ru-
Ter of the Universe; for the inestimable civil
and religious blessings with which we are IA
lvered. s- -.
In calling the attention of Congress. to our
relations with foreign Powers, / arm grati6ed
to be able to state, that, though with seine oil
them there have existed since your last session
serious causes of irritation aad misunders.an-
ding, yet no actual hostlities have taken place.
| Adopting the maxim in the conduct of our for.
eign affairs, to ''ask nothing that is not right,
and submit to nothing that is wrong" il
has been my anxious desire to preserve peace
with all nations; but. at the same time to be
prepared to resist aggression, and to maintain
all our just rights.
| In pursuance of the joint resolution of Con
gress. .'for annexing Texas to the q. States. -
my predecessor, on the third day of March.
l845, elected TO submit the firssszand second
sections of that resolution to thearepublic Of
Texas, as an overture, on the part of the u.
States, for her admission as State into oul
Union. This election | approved, and accor.
dinghy The charge d'afaires of the United
States in Texas under Instructions of the
tenth of March, I845, presented these sections
of the resolution for the acceptance of that re-
public. The executive government, the Con
gress, and the people of Texas in convention,
have successfully Homplied with, all the terms
and conditions of the just resolaki A con-
stitutlon for the government Of the state OF
herewith laid before Congress. 1t is veil
known, also, that the peoplesof Texas at the
polls have accepted the terms ofsapaexation,
and ratified the constitution.
| communicate to Congress the correspon-
dence between the Secretsry of State and our
charge daEfaires in Texass and also the cor
respondence ofsthe latter with the authorities
of Texas, together with official documents
transmitted bNhlm TO his own government
The term annexation which were offer
ed by the Unfted States having been accepted
by.Texas, the public faith of both parties is
soIelnnly pledged to the compact ofstheir Union.
Nothing remains TO consummate7 the event,
hut the passage Of an act by Congress to ad-
nit the State Of Texas into the Union upon
an equal footing with the original States
Strong reasons exist why this should be done at
an early period of the session. Il will be OBJ
served that, by the constitution of Texas, the
existing government is only continued tempo
Amrily till Congress can act; and that the third
I8Eonday of the present month is the day ap.
pointed for holding the first general election.
On that day a governor, lieutenant governor,
and both branches of the legislature, will! be
chosen by the peoples. The President Of Tex
as is required. Immediately after the receipt
of official information that the new State has
been admitted into our Union by Congress, 70
nenvene the legislature; and, upon its meet
ing, the existing goveranent will be super
seeded, and the State government organized.
Questionsadeeply interesting TO Texas, IN COM
mon with the other States; the extension OF
our rsgenue laws and judicial system over her
Ipeople and territory, well as measures of a
local character, will cIaa she early attention
of Congress; and therefore, upon every prin
ciple of republican government, she ought to
be represented in that body without unneces-
Isary delay. cannot too earnestly recon-
mend prompt action on this important subject.
AS soon as the act to admit Texas as State
shall be passed, the union of the two republics
will be consummated by their own voluntary
consent.
This accession to our territory has been a
bloodless achievement. No arm 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 a
reluctant people. 1t was the deliberate ho-
mage of each people to the great principle OF
our federative union. ....a-
| If we consider the extent Of territory involv-
ed in the annex 4tion--ils prospective influence
on America-the means by which1it has been
accomplished, springlng purely from, the choice
of the people themselves to share the bless
mgs OF our union-the history Of the world
may be challenged To furnish parallel. z.
| The Jurisdiction of the United States, which
at the formation of the federal constitution
was bounded by the ST. Mays, on the At
lantic, has passed the Capes Of Florida, and
been peacefully extended to the Del Norte.-
In contemplating The grandeur of this event,
it is not 70 be forgotten that the result was
achieved in despite of the diplomatic interfer-
ence of European monarchies. Even Fance
the country which had beenour incidentally
the country which has a common interest
with rs IN maintaining the freedom of the seas
the country which, by the cession of Lou
isiana. first opened to US access to the Gnlf Of
Mexico-the country with which we have