Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-01-03
MESSAGE,
(COnLinUed.)

The recommendations which | have
made, as to the best manner Of securing
BUR rights in Oregon, are submitted tc
Congress with great delerance. Should
they, in their wisdom, devise any other
mode better calculated to accomplish the
Same object, it shall meet with my hearty
Concurrence.
# At the end Of the years notice should
Congress think it proper to make provis-
ion for giving that notice, we shall have
Preached period when the national rights
Oregon must either be abandoned or
firmly maintained. That they cannot be
abandoned without a sacrifice of both ma
q tonaI honor and interest, is too clear to
admit Of doubt.
Oregon is part of the North Ameri-
can continent, to which it is confidently
affirmed the title Of the United States is
the best now in existence. For the
grounds on which the title rests, refer
you to the correspondence Of the late and
present Secretary Of the State with the
British penipotenlary during the nego-
tiation. The British proposition Of COM
promise, which would make the Columbia
the line south Of forty.nine degrees, with
trhing addition Of detached territory of
The United States, north Of the river, and
would leave on the.Britsh side two thirds
I OF the whole Oregon territory, incudin g
the free navigation of the Columbia and
all the valuable harbors on The Pacific,
can never for a moment be entertained
by the United States, without an abandon
ment of their Just and clear territorial
rights, their own self respect, and nation
al honor. For the information Of Con-
gress, | communicate herewith the cor
respondance which took place between
the two governments during the late ne
gotiations
The rapid extention of our settlements
over our territories heretofore unoccupl-
ed, the addition Of new States to our con-
federacy, the expansion of free principles
and our rising greatness as nation, are
attracting the attempts Of the Powers of
Europe; and lately the doctrine has been
preached in some Of them, Of "baIance
OF power" on this continent, to check our
advancement. The United States, sin
cereIy desirious Of preserving relations
of good understanding with all nations,
cannot in silence permit any European
interference on the North American con
iinent; and should any such Interference
be attempted, will be ready to resist it at
any and all hazards. It's well known
to the American people, and to all nat ions,
thatthis government has never interior
ed with the relations subsisting between
other governments We have never made
ourselves parties to their wars Of other
alliances; we have not mingled with par
ties in their domestic struggles; and
believing our own form Of government
10 be the best, we have never attempted toI
propagate it by intrigues, by diplomacy,
or by force We may claim on this con
tinent like exemption from European
interference. The nations OF America
are equally sovereign and independent
with those Of Europe. They possess the
same rights, independent Of all foreign
interpositon, to make war, 10 conclude
peace, and to regulate their internal ai-
ialrs. The people Of the United States
cannot, therefore, view with indifferent
attempts Of European powers to interfere
with the independent action Of the nations
on this continent. The American sys.
tenn Of government is entirely different
from that Of Europe. Jealousy among
the different sove:eigns Of Europe, lest
any one of them might become too pow
eeriul for the rest, has caused them anx-
iousIy TO desire the establishment of what
they term the balance Of power" 1t can
not be permitted TO have any application
10 The North American continent, and es-