Democratic banner., 1846-04-11
DEFENCE or THE COUNTRY.
70 he Saet, oftbe TaifaI States:


country, that ''to be prepared for war. is one O
the most eiHcicn means Of preserving peace
we should remember also. that tireln GishlIrsc
ments to prepare for danger, Frequently prcvcn
much greater disbursements TO repel it, Tn,
general obligation 10 perform this duty is greet
iy strengthened by facts known TO the whol,
world. A controversy respecting the Oregon
territory now exists between tie United States
and Great Britain; and while as far rs NO kuoW
The relations Of the latter with al Eurrpeal
nations are Of the most pacific c'aragter i ma
King unusual ami extraordinary ryma,acIfs ana
warhke PrepaI naval AMI military. I,r,
at homs AMI in her North American poss,ss-
ions
1t cannot be lis ,,t:sel that, hawlyer sincere
my be the desire cf rei,, in the event Of :;
rupture these arm .mcnts AMI preparations
would be >ciag,in,t or country. Whatever
may have been the original purpose OF thes,
preparations, the toct Is unGouAel that they are
now proceeding IN part, at least with view to
The contingent possibility Of 4 war with the L
nted States. The general policy o. mixing al-
dtiohal WarIlks preparations was distinctly an
nounced, in the speech from lie chrome, as
late as January LIST, and has since been reiter-
atct by the ministers OF the crown in beth hou-
sos st parliament. u,tcr this 2spett ef oIir
relations with Great Britain, cannot dunid the
froprIety Of increasing means OF defence
both by land and sea. This can give Great
Britain no cause OF offence, nor increase lie
danger of rupture. II, on the contrary, we
should fold our arms IN security and gt LAST he
suddenly involved in hosiilii!cs lur Ike main
'anance Of our just rights, wilholt any edo
quate preparation, cur responsibility to tho
country WouIt Ue ef the graycst chcractor.-,
Should collision between the two countries lie
av0lied as sincere = trIst It my lie tie aGti-
tion.l charge upon the treasury. in maki:s. lhc
necessary preparations will not be los: While.
in the event oi such collision. the, wouli Ls'
indispensable fer the meiftallancc ci orr l!.tol-
al rights and nltion.l aouyr
have seen Eo reasen 10 change or modify
the recoiamen !atonS OF my annual message il
regard 10 tie Oregon question. The notice t.
""ro5ate The treaty O: Tie Oh Of -Aug;!>t. 1897.
IS authorized !y T." treaty, a:d Cannot be re
g-rted IS w"r-i.Ae measure; AMI | raunoI
withhold my strong conviction that il shoull D..
promptly given. The other ieccu,raesl.tions
arc IN conformity with The e, sting treaty. IA
woull afford 70 American ci:izcrs in Ur-r,a
re more than tie same mel.ur. o. PROTECTION.
which HIS long since Lpcu eNter led 10 p4itish
subjects in ,hat territory.
The state o. orr relations with Mexico il still
in an unsettled condition. Since the m,ctiu.
OF Congress areiAeT .nvuiuiIoH has taken Jlac,
in tilat country, hy which the govcrnmcr. las
fasse' ir:o ,..c nara. Of new rul,rs. Ills G.
err rs lrGor.s;!n-'c4. al ny POSSIBLY de-.
i"ai, The settlement o: the differences bu,.,er0
ihc / >',- 8 - lui r'-t country. The Mn
s!'r .! tie nile. S..tcS tJ lcAIlo IL t.c aa,c.
~ III" $50 -'.->eS. LIZ nol Teen received }, y
r. -N.-'.-: r'.a-i'ir>. Drman>'r .'ia:s e.
's'rs"r7 h0''.-' tr - jai'a.! S'.tc< ro,'l..l.
- hr - 'e 81 .#~<i.o, which has rendered !,
'r"fsr, IN NY Judgment. 70 keep ntaliv two f.
h'riS "' oar 'rny on our southwestern ,.'.,r D
i"::': is, asny o. The r"griar mil.t.ry '.s'
ave been re!rced ,o i smsl force. .n.cc.... ...
. their defence should ali emergency aI..c.
In VIZ Of these circumstances. il is II, 7.
Judgment that ''on increase %. oar naval and
military iorce is Al tbs time r'Gu,rcl, r. place,
he country III suitable sigtc oi defence Al.
he same time, it i ny settled purpose to pur :,
re such course of policy rs may he best q. !
u'Ited TO preserve. boh rith Gre. Hr.'sir ~.
nd hrxlco, al honorable peace; which moth -
is "!it 50 eiieciu:iy promote uuar'r.iy t.. =,
ur councils. rni = flfEI mlin'.jUarcc Of II cur
Isl rights. JAMES Il. POLK. I
Washington, M.rch 2lh 1876. II
Af'os the 3irc d! tie message, hIr. Webb .''
'"r rose for the purpose Of inqn-:ns rrIs d -.
'1tt"r rci,Trea To in j.. without intending TO, "
iahe any coinmc.!ts cg any remarks whatever. +
wouid Oe l"rcc,ea. from t.c reading Of uIr.,l
'e's"se, th1i It W., 'ha .s"rrt o. T. o i~r..- III
E II TINT ~ !".!s-sc g. ,.r Iao.Hs e defence. "
9th military nd :.vo'. Lad i,eoue l,,c.s r, D.,
= the circnmst0l.rs Of N.c country. T!c ..."
onnt or extent Of tiat necessary increase Wa. .''
't stated IN tie message, bat Tie president had -
"'ea that estimates showing &c extent of rhcl -, '
eCessary Increase of our means Of military 80
ld naval defence had been communicated from II"
ls appropriate departments Of executive coy-.,.
ninent to the appropriate committees in thai IL.
~ 'he other house Of congress, for their ad- Il.
sehent and consideration. Uc v ould not com '''
IAN al all o. this mode Of communicating To-
e members of congress the iulgrnen, of III, III
'ecu'ive on such highly important subjects: me
would not complain of It, lecausr, as the
resident had said, IT was not unusual. Re Of
,h'iy 1t was not unusual: bat the practice was OF
recent origin, and, in his Judgment it was ha'
q !, one 10 be encouraged. He dii not know rec
hethef ihe honorable members of the sc,;t. COZ
no were respectively at the head Of the diff so