Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-03-30
SPECIAL MESSAGE OF rnE rREsl

bI-'A ~ OoNO MS |
Inc following Is an suihsmnc copy OF The
Message transmitted to the l.. S SEM
- on Tuesday
To fas Senate ~ .hs Tinii,f Ssa,es;
Ia answer 10 the inqaius ol ths S,oate, con
'".art IN thrir resolution ct the l7h instant.
whether. IN my judgment. any circumstances
connect q With, ~ growing out oi, The Tor
eigo relations ot this c%oRntfy, rrqnirc 81 hi
tl,ne an incsvase..o ~ our naval * mi llsry iorce:
aud. al ~. What those circumsibuces src." |
have to- express the opinion. ,liss q wis~ pre-
caution demands such i~ncresse.
In ms annual message oi the ~ uf Deem
hcf lssi. ! recommend To the iayorablc consil-
erstiou oi Congress an increase oi Our naval
tnr-c, especially Of oar steam navy, anl the
raisiDg oi an adequate military force 10 guard
aud protect such " our citizens as might
think proper io enisraie to Oregon. Since
that PcTiol | have srcn No cause to recall OF
in diiy these uecoinne nlstions. On iite con
tTary. reasons exist Which. IN m, Judgment.
tender !, proper not only tho, they shnald b.
promptly carried into effect. bit tina, adj
tionsl provision should b. made Tor the pub
lac defence.
The consideration Of snch additional pro
vision was brought, before appropriate con-
mittees 81 the two house Of Congress. In ss-
nv w AHsN1 tAAW Wv Ail'lls w cyprus pre-
pared, with ms sanction. by the Secretary OF
War and the Secretary of the Navy. ON the
29th OF December aud the S,h o, January last.
a mode ui communication with Congress not
unusual. and. under existing circumstances
believed To he most eligible. Snbscauent o.
ven,s have confirmed me IN the opinion that
thee reconim nlatons were proper a. pre-.
csuiionary measures
l, was a wise maxim Of the Father of his
country, that Ito b, prepared Tor war. j. ons
oi the most eitic ent means OF preserving
p~ace: sni that. avoiding occasions of oK-
pensc by culuvaung peace" we should ne
member also, that timely disbursements 10
prepare Tor danger fr~eqnen,ly proven, much
greater disbursements to repsalit." The gen.
cnl obligation 20 perform this duty Is greatly
strengthened by facts known 20 The whole
world. 4 controversy respecting the Oregon
territory now exists between the United States
aud Great Britain, and while. a. lar as We
know. the relations OF the latter with all Eu-
ropcan nations are ol the most pacific clsrar-
ter, 81 l. making unusual Hnl -XimoniInars
ornaments aud wabike preparations. ns,sl
aud miiitiry, both al home and IN h4r North
American possessions.
IL cana5i b, lisguil,d ;h1,. however sin
c,rc m1y BE- me desire Of prac- In the event
OF mp,ar. ,h,s, orn,m~nls snd preparations
would D used against our country. What
ever my have been the original purpose o,
these preparations. the fact is unioBbpul thst
they are now proceedins, w part, at least,
with a view 10 tie contingent possibility ol a
War with the Unilsd States. The general
policy OF making additional warli.s prcpars-
tons was distinctly announced. ia IA speech
.rom the ,hronc. as late as J~anasTy. last, aud
has since bren reiterated ~ the ministers o.
tn crown ia both houses OF Parliament. Tn
DIR this aspect OF our relations with q eat
Bd,aia. l cannot doub the propTieiy OF m.
crossing our means OF defence. both by land
AMI sea. THIS can give Grca; Fnisin no
cause oi offence. of increase tho dangsG 81 a
II. on the contnTy. We should fold
our arms IN sccu NY. and al last be suddenly
in bostiilues tor ihc maintenance al
our lust rights, without lny adequate prcpsn.
ton. ouE rcsponsl. iity 30 the country wopld
BE- OF the gravcst character. Shonld collision
b.tween the two countries be avoided. as !
s9egrsly trust itmay bs, the additional chalEe
Preparations. viii not be lost; while. in the
events of such a coli -ion. they would De ia
dlspenslble Tor the mainleuace of our nation.
oil rights and national honor.
have sccn no reason 20 change OF modify
Tic recommendations; OF ms annual message
IN regard 30 the Orrgln question. The notice
10 abiogatc the treaty OF the 9Th OF August.
1927. u au,hohs. by the treaty itself. and
cannot b. rcganlcd as a wNrlike measure; aud
] eannot Withhold my strong conviction that il
should BE- promptly given. The other recon.
mendHtions are in conformity with the eaist.
ing treaty, and would alarl 10 American oit-
liens IN Oregon no more than The same meas
are OF protection which has long since been
ext n let TO British subjects in that territory.
The state ot our relations with Mexico l.
still IN an unsettled CONDITION.. Since the
meeting oi Congress smother revolution has
taken place W that country by which the
government hss passed into the hand, al nav
rulers. This event has procnstinaicd, and
may possibly defeat. the scttlcmento OF The dit
~ierencrs between the United States aud ,hat
country. The minister Of the United States
20 MeNico, AZ the date Of The last sdyices, had
not been received b. the existing authorities.
monsifauons a a character hostile 10 the
United States continue 90 be made in Mexico.
which has readered IL proper. m m%Yjudgnrnt.
TO keep nearly two-thiris Of our army on orr
southw extern frontier. IN doins this. many
OF The regular military post, have been redur.
ei to a small force, inadequate TO their defence
should an emergency arisa.
In view Of ,llcse circumstances IL is.my
Judgment that IAN increase II oar naval
SUD military iofcr - az this tine requifed. +"
IN place the country ~ a suitable state OF de-.
i,nce. AZ the same time. u IL ms settled
purpose 90 pursue surh q courS, OF ,,ol.cy az
may b. best calculated 10 pres I've. both with
Great Bfi atm and Mexico, an honowhls
peace which nothing wii9 50 enectualls mo-
mole as ~unAuieuy IA our councils. asd q hfm
maintenance Of all oar just nshis.
JAMESK POLK.
WAssiSsroS. March II, 1916.
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