Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-04-02

States and Great Blitain; and willie, as
far as we know, the relations Of the
latter with all European nations are Of
the most pacific chaIacters shes;s max
ing unusual and extraordinary arlna
ments and warlikes Preparations, ma
val and military both at home
and insher North American posses
Sions.
1t Cannot be disguised that. howev-.
er sincere may be the desire of peace,
IN the event of a rupture these arlna.
mentss and preparations weuid be used
against our Country. Whatever, may.
have been the original purpose of these.
preparations, the fact is undoubted
that theyare now, proceeding, in part,
at least, with view to tina contingent
possibility of wal. with the United
States. The general policy of making
additional warlke preparations was
distinctly announced, in thes speech
from the throne, as late asJ January last
and has since been reiterated, by The,
minlsters2nf the crown in both houses
oflParliament.s Under this aspectrof
our relations with Great Britain, cam
not 7eoubt the propriety of increasing
our means obedience, bothsby land and
sea. This can give Great Britain no
cause of offence, nor increase the dan.
ger of a rupture.
If, on the contrary, we should fold
our arms in security, and at last be
suddenly involved in hostihties for the
maintenance of our just'rights, without
any adequate preparation, our response
billty to the country would be of the
gravest character. Should collision
between the two countries be avoided,
as sincerely trustit may be, the addi-
tlonal charge upon the treasury, in
making the necessary preparations,
will not be lost; while in the event
ofsuch collision, they would be in.
dispensable for the maintenance of
our national rights and national honor.
have seen no reason to change or
modify the recommendations ofmy an
nual message in regard to the Oregon
question. The notice TO abrogate
the treaty of the 9th of August,
1927, is authorised by the treaty
itself, and cannot be regarded as a
war-hke measure; and | cannot with
hold my strong conyiction that it should
be promptly given. The other recon-
mendations are in conformity with
the existing treaty, and would afford
to American citizens in Oregon no
more than the same measure of pro-
lection which has long since be extern
ded to the British subjects in that terri
tory. @ @3' no
The state of our relations with Mex
leo is STIR in an unsettled condition.
Since the meeting ofCongress another
revolution has taken place in that coun-
try, by which the government has pas
sed into the hands of new rulers
This event has procrastinated, and may
possibly defeat the settlement of. the
differences between the United States
and that country. The Minister ofthe
u. S.. to Mexico, at the date of the last
advices, had not been received by the
existing authorities. Demonstrations
of a character hostile TO the United
States continue to be made in Mexico,
which has rendered it,propeI, in my
Judgment, to keep nearly two-thirds of
our army on our southwestern frontier.
In doing this many of the regular mil
itary posts have been reduced toa small
force, inadequate to their defence should
an emergency arise. ase
In view of these circumstances"
it is my Judgment that San increase
Of our naval and military force is at
this time required" to place the coun-
try in a suitable state of defence. At /,
the same time, it is my settled purpose
to pursue such a course of policy as
may be best calculated to preserve,
both with Great Britain and Mexico,
an honorable peace; which nothing
will so efec.ually promote as unanimi.
sy] in our eounsils,1 and firm mainte-
nance of all our just rights.
8:bha Il, JAMES X. POLK. /
gWAsH1NGToN, March %. 1916.
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