Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-04-02
The Presidents special Message.


We publish in another column the message of the
President, in reply to a resolution of the Senate, en-
curing as the %propriety Of an increase Of our naval
and military forces, in view of the existing state of
our foreign relations. The tone and spirit of this
message are in striking contrast with the miserable,
hesitating, fearful, and apparently coucardly course
which has for the past three months been pursued by
Congress, and the object. end and aim of which, has
seemed to be nothing nobler than the manufacture of
personal political capital. Already have the people
become sick of this reakness on the part of Congress,
and were about Cespairing Of any other than a dis
graceful termination of the whole business. The
prompt, lofty, honorable and even peaceful language
of the President, will re-assure the people that he
viii not, if Congress will, fail to perform the whole
duty which is due from both departments Of the Gov
eminent to the honor and just rights of the country.
This very message we will venture TO say, will do
more than all that Congress has yet said and done, to
bring Great Britain to the terms of a righteous and
honorable settlement. 1t is wonderful that the wise
men in Congress have been unable to appreciate the
wisdom Of the policy indicated by the President; a
policy not only wise in itself under any and all cir
cumstances, in dealing with England, but especially
so just at the time when the old serpent is casting his
skin, and is laboring under the debility natural to the
operation. This ought to have been considered the
'.golden moment" and tcould have been SO, but for the
t~reachery of the South. 1t may not yet be too late to
adopt and apply this policy, and push it to a success
full result though this is somewhat doubtful; but it
is certainly not too late to present an alternative to
the South which shall enforce it into an unequivocal
position. We should ascertain at once whether we
are to attain, or be deprived Of, the most essential re-
quIslte of success-unanimtty.
By a letter from Mr.. Wick, in another column, it
will be seen that the first effect of the message on the
House of Representatives, waste prompt speedy action
on a bill to ill up the ranks of the army. This is well,
and we hope it will be followed up, as it should be,
By other acts Of a kindred nature Immediately.
From an article in the "Union.' in relation to the
message, we copy the following extracts, the proprie-
ty of which will be manifest to our readers:
"If there DC any one lesson to be gathered from the
whole history of the Oregon controversy-and the
same remark is true of our controversy with Mexico
lit IS, that we can gain nothing by negotiation, so
long as our negotiation is open to the slightest sus-
picion- that it may be defeated, or thwarted, or post
poned, without the most serious consequences. The
pressure of a stern alternative, addressing itself to
the timidIty of Mexico, and to the prudence and wise
craftsmanship Of England, is the Indispensable con-
dition of a successful maintenance and vindication of
our rights
'But il should not be torgotten-and we trust 1t
will not be forgotten-that military and naval prepar-
alton, however important, is not alone sufficient to
carry US happily and peacefully through the present
crisis in our foreign relations. A moral preparation
is needed as well. 1t may be summed up in one word
HUMANITY. Is il too much to hope that such
unanimity will now be reached! There is no doubt
In the country, that the advances Of England hither-
to towards a compromise with US, have fallen very far
short Of that which we are called upon BY every obli-
CATION to demand. There can be as little doubt, that,
in order to secure cur rights in the event Of further
negotiations with England, we must show ourselves
at once resolved, prepared, and prompt to maintain
them at every hazard. Surely, Congress can not hes
itate for 4 moment TO assume this attitude, in view of
the renewed and solemn declaration, by the Execu-
tive, of Its settled purpose to pursue such u course of
policy as my be best calculated to preserve, both
with Great Britain and Mexico, an honorable peace.'
Who can doubt that to the preservation of such a
psacs, u~nanimlty and frmness in the disposition to
maintain call our just rights" are, as the President
declares them to be, of the most vital importance!
Every consideration both of prudence and patriotism,
now presses with irresistible force upon Congress to
delay no longer those measures of precaution, of pro-
lection. anG Of energy, in the vindication of our
rights, which the peace, the interests, and the honor
of the country, alike imPeratively demand at their
hands.