The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-12-19
Presidents Message.
TeNov. citizens oEthe .Senale

the people, II Is subject of cOngralualiul
that there has been no period in our pas
history, when all lhe elements of nstOns
prosperity have been So fully developed
Since your last session no aiilcung drspen.
sa'ion, has visited our cOu0try; general good
health has prevailed; abundance has ct0wn
ed the toll OF ihe husbandman; aud labor in
all lis branches ia receiving an ample re-
ward, while education, science aud lbe arts
ale rapidly enlarging the means of social
happiness. The progress of our country IN
her career Of greatness, not only in the vssl
extension Of our territorial limits aud the
rapid Increase OF our population, but IN re-
sources and wealth, and in the happy condl
tion q! our people, is without example in
the history Of nations.
As he wisdom, strength, and benefcenct
OF our Tree institutions a;e unIolded, every
day adds, fresh motives 20 cOnlenimenI, aud
fresh incentives TO patriotism.
Our devOut and sincere ackno wledgmenls
ale due TO thc gracious Glver Of all good,
for the numberlss sss blessings which our be.
loved country enjoys
1t Is a source Of high satisfaction to know
that the relations of the United States With
al other nations, with single exception,
are Of lhe nOst amld6le character. Sin>
cerely attached 10 The policy Of peace, early
adopted and steadily pursued by this gov
ernmen,, have suxlousIy desired TO culu,
vaIe and cherish friendship and commerce
with every Foreign PoweI. The spiriI aud
habits Of the American people are lavuraSle
TO tne maintenance OF such intern a!luhal har-
mony.
ln sdhering 10 this wise policy, a pre-
liminary aud paramount GuIy obviously
consists in the protection Of our national in
teTesis rom encioachment or sacrifice, and
our national honor from repIoach. These
must be nlaiulalned a, any bsz lrd. They
admit of no compromise or neglect, and
must be scrupulOusly and constantly guard.
ed. In their vigiIant vndicsiion, collision
aud conflict with foreign Powers may some
times become unavoidable. Such has been
our scrupuous adherence to the dictates oil
justice, in all our foreign intercourse, that
though steadily aud rapidly advancing in
prosperity aud power, we have gwen DOl
jusl cause of complaint Of any nahon. aud
have enjoye the blessings of peace for
more than thirty years. From policy so
sacred TO humanity, and so salutaTy IN it's
effects upon our political system, we should
ne,er be induced voluntarily TO depart
The existing war with Mexico was nei,hc
er desired nor provoked by The United
States. Ga lhe contrary, all honorable
means were resorIed 10 averI II. After
wears OF endurance of aggravaIed and unre-
dressed wrongs on our part, Mexico. iuI
violation of solemn treaty ssipula,ons, andI
of every principle OF justice recognized byl
civilized nations, commenced h0sullles;and
thus. by her own act, forced the war upOnI
us. Long before the advance Of our army
10 the Iefl bank of The Rio Grarde, we hadI
ample cause of war against Mexico; and had
4he United States resured to This extremity
we might have appealed 10 Ibe whole civil
lied world for the uslce OF our cause.
deem il 10 be my duty 10 present 20 you
on The present occasion, a co densed re-
view of the injuries we had sustained, oil
the causes which led 10 the war, and OF lie
progress since its commencement This If
rendered the mOTe necessary because OF ihrI
misapprehensions which have TO some eX'
tent prevailed as to ils origin and rne char
acier. The war has been represented a.
unjust and unnecessary, and as one ot ag'
gression on our part upon weak ana IN
iured enemy Such erroneous views, ,'houghI
entertained bv bul few, have been widely
and extensively circulated not only al hom
hut have been spread throughout Mexico
and The whole world. more eiiecIual
means could not have been devised 10 EN-
courage the enemy and prolraeI the war
than to advocate and adhere to their cause
and thus give Them aid and comfort
Ii is a source Of national pride and exn)d
ton, that The great body OF our people have
thrown no such obstacles in the way OF 'he
goveTrmen, IN prosecuting lhe war success
CulIv, but have shown themselves to be EN-
iueniy patriotic, and ready 10 vindIcale
their oun coun,ry's honor and interests al
any sacrifice. The alacrty aud prompl-
ness with which our volunteer forces rush
ed TO The field on their C0unlry's call, prove
not only their patriotism, blu, their deep con
vicion that our cause is just
The wiongs which we have suffered rom
Mexico almost ever since she became an IN
dependent Power, and the patient endurance
with which we have borne fh"n. are with
ou, parallel IN the history Of modern civil'
lzed nations. There is reason 10 believe
that if these wrongs had been resened and
resisted in The frs, instance he present
war might have bsen avoided. One out
rage, however, permitted 10 pass with in
nunilr almost nPcessafiIy encOurggeu The