Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-04-18
From The ". 0. Picayune, Sd.
CONGRESSIONAL.

Important Message from the President, an,
nouncing 10 Congress The necessity o. an
cyeasing the Military and NaraI Dcten.
ces of the Nation, as a precautionary
measure, in uie0 Of Impending Foreign
difficulties.
In the Senate on the Gath ut, the fol-
lowing message was received from the
Presid en-; of the United States, in answer
TO resolution passed in that body some
days before. The important nature OF the
document induces US not only 10 publish
1t entire, but also to accompany 1t with
the debate which followed Its delivery 10
the Senate. 1t would appear thatIhe Or
egon question is not so near an amIcabe
Termination as many had supposed:
SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT TO 6eEGREss.
10 the Senate Of the United States
In answer to the inquiry Of the Senate,
contained in their re solution OF the sl7th
inst, whether in my judgment, any cir
cumsances connected with, or growing
out Of the foreign relations of this country,
require at this time an increase OF our
naval or military force;" and, il so, "wha'
those circumstances are" have 10 ex'
press the opinion that Wise precautton
demands such increase.
In my annual message of the Cd OF De-
cember last, recommended to the laVor'
able consideration of Congress an IN
crease Of our naval force, especially Of
our steam navy, and the raising OF an
adequate military force to guard and pro-
tect such of our citizens as might think
proper to emgrate to Oregon. Since
that period have seen no cause to recall
or modify these recommendatlons.-On
the contrary, reasons exist, which IN my
judgment. render it proper not only ina
they should be promptly carried into
effect, but that additional provision should
be made Tor the public defence.
III The consideration o! such addIIlona
provision was brought before appropriate
committees of the two Houses of Congress
in answer to calls made by them, IN re
ports prepared, with my sanction, by TIT
Secretary of War and The Secretary o
the Navv, on the Goth Of December ant
the 9th Of January last; mode OF com
municaton with Congress not unusal, ant
under existing circumstances, believed TO
he the most eligible. Subsequent events
have confirmed me in The opinion ina
these recommended ,ons were proper al
precautionary measures.
II was wise maxim oil the Father o
our country, thai "to be prepared for war i
one of the most effective means oil preser
vino peace;'' and that" avoiding occasions
of expense by cullivatlng peace" We
should "remember also, that timely DIS
bursemen,s TO prepare Tor danger Ire
ouen,Iy prevent much greater dIsburse'
men,s 10 repel it," The general obIIga
ton to perform this duty is great
strengthened by facts known to the "hoI'
world. A controversy respecting the Or
ECON territory now exists between The
United States and Great Britain; ant
while, as lar as we know, the relations
Of the latter with all European nations
are of the most pacific character she II
making unusual and extraordinary arma
ments and warike preparations, haVa
and military, both at home ana III "o
North American possessions.
1t cannot be disguised that however SIN
cere may be the desire Of peace, IN INT
even, Of a rupture, these ornaments anc
preparations would be used against ou
country. Whatever may have been TN
original purpose Of these prePaFdnons
the fact is doubted that they are no" pro
ceeding in part at least, with a view
the contingent probability oil war WIN
the United States. The general Pol'c.
Of making additional warlike preparation
was distinctly announced, in the speec
from the throne, as late as January las