Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-10
MESSAGE.
Fellow citizens Of the Senate
and of the House of Representatives.:

Wv
In resuming your labors in the service
Of the people, il is . subject Of congratula.
ton that there has been no period in our
pas, history, when oil the elements Of ma.
,ional prosper ty have been so fully de-
veloped, Since your last session, no A.
ficting dispensa,ion has visited our couu.
try: general good health has prevsiied &;
abundance has crowned the toll Of the
husbandmsn and labor in all its branches
10 receiving an ample reward, while ed
u~tation, science. and the arts are rapidly
enlarging the means Of social happiness.
The progress Of our country in her career
Of greatness, not only in the vast exten-
ton Of our territorial limits and the rapid
increase Of u population. but in resour-
ces and wealth, and in the happy condi.
ton Of our people, is without example in
the history of nations.
As the wisdom, strength, and beaek-
cence Of our free institutions are unfolded,
every dsy adds fresh motives TO content
ment, and fresh incentives to patriotism.
Our devout and sincere Acknowledge
nents ore due to the gracious Glver of all
good. for the numberless blessings which
our beloved country enjoys.
II is . source Of high satisfaction 10
know that the relations Of the United
States with oil other nations, with . single
exception, are of the most amicsble charac-
ter. Sincerely attached to the policy OF
pescs, early adopted and steadily pursued
By this government, ! have ausiously de-
sired TO cultivate and cherish friendship
and commerce with every foreign power.
The spirits and habits Of the American peo-
pie are favorable 10 the maintenance of
such international harmony. Iu adherins
to TIL, Else policy. a preliminary and par
amount duty obviously consists in the pro-
lection Of our n%stionsl interests from en-
croschmens Of sacrifice, and or national
honor from reprosch. These must be
rsintsined st any hasard. They sdmi,
Of no compromise or neglect ard mus. be
~scrupulously and constantly guarded. In
their vigllsnt vindicstion, collision and
cona,ct With foreign powers ma some
t'Hses become unavoidable. Such kss
been our %scrupslous adherence to the die
tstes of justice, in all our foreign ,n'es-
course, that, though steadily and rapidly
advancing N prosperity and power. We
hsve gwen no just cause Of complaint to
any nation. end have enjoyed The bless
inss Of pesce for more than thirty yesrs.
From . policy 90 sacred TO hum snity, and
- ssautAry IN ITS effects upon our political
s5ssem, We should never be induced VOL
uatsr,ty to depart.
d est'ttsg xar with Mesics ~ss nei-
ther desired nor provoked BY the United
Sts<es. On the contrary. atl honorable
means we're resor,ed to avert X. After
yes'' Of endurance Of aggravated end un-
redressed wrongs on our part, Mexico, in
vio's''on OF solemn tresty stipulations, and
o. every Pr'nc'PN OF justice recognised by
efshised nations. commenced ho-tilities,
end shos, By her oxn act, forced the war
upon us. Long before the sivsnce ol on,
sr"ss TO the LETT back Of the Rio Grande.
ne had ample cause Of val against Mexico;
and ned the United States resorted to this
extremity, We might have appealed 20 the
Sho+e civilized world Tor the justice Of ous
ossse.
e II 10 be nv duty TO p~Snt to
yoa' on the present accession, . condensed
review OF The injuries We had sustained, OF
The csnse which led to the ~sr, l. of ns pro-
gress since the commencement. This i,
rendered the more Necessary because OF
the Misrepresentation which have 10 some
extent prevailed ss 10 its origin and true
character. Thu Yer has been rrpre ssnt~d
a. uejust end Unnecessary, and y one OF
aggression on Our part upon = wes& and
injured enemy. Ssch erroneous views,
though enta'ned by bat nv, have been