Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-04-09
The Presidents Mesa sc.
Defence of the Country.
In The Senate, on the 24th,

wi Gh1IhiCi SPIIGi a
sage was received from the Presto in
repl, TO resolution submitted some days
ago by Mr. Dayton, asking Information
as 10 the necessity Of making additional!
appropriations for the defence Of the
country, &c.
TO The Senate Of The Unitel States:
In answer 10 the inquiry of The Senate,
contained III their resolution Of the l7it
inst. whether. in my judgment, any cir
cumsiances connected with, or growing
out OF the foreign relations of tins country,
require a, this time an increase OF our ma
val or military iorce;" and, if 50, "wha.
those circumstances are" | have 10 ex-
press The opinion, that wise precauiion
demands such increase.
In my annual message Of the ID of
December last, recommended TO the "a
voIabe consideration Oi Congress al in
crease Of our naval force. especially oil
| our steam navy, and The raising Of an ade-
quale military force to guard aud protect
such OF onf citz rs as nigh, think prop
er TO emigrate 10 Oregon. Since lha, pc
rod. | have seen no cause 10 recall or
modify those recommendations. On the
contrary, reasons exist which, in my
judgment. render it proper no, only thai
they should be promptly carried into ef
feet. but that additional provision should
be made for The public defence.
The consideration Of such additional
| provision was brought before The appro.
pirate commlt.ees OF The two Houses Of
Congress, III answer to calls made by
lion, by the Secretary of War and the
Secretary Of the Navy, on the 29th Of
December and The 9Th Of Januar, last; a
mode of communication with Congress
not unusual. and. under existing circum.
| stances, believed 10 be most eligible. -
The opinion that these recommendations
were proper as precautionary measures.
| Ii was a wise maxim Of the Father Of
his country. that TO he prepared for war,
IS one OF the most efficient means Of pre-
serving peace and that avoiding occa
sions of expense by culHvating peace"
we should "Iemember, also. that timely
disbursements 10 prepare for danger FIRE.
qnently proven, much greater disburse.
men,s to repel IT," The general obliga.
tlon TO perform this duty is greatly
strengthened by facts known to the whole
world. A conlrotersy respecting the
Oregon territory, now exists between the
United States and Great Britain; and
while, as far as we know. the relations of
the latter with all European nations are Of
the most pacific character, is making nnu.
sua! and extraordinary ornaments and
warlke preparations, naval and military,
both al home and in her North American
possessions.
Ii cannot be disguised that, however
sincere may be the desire Of peace, i'll the
even! OF rupture these ornaments aud
preparations would be used against on
country. What ever NAV have been the
original purpose of these preparations. The
tacs is undoubted that they are nov pro
csedng IN part, AT least, with a view 10
the contingent possibility Of war with
the United States. The general policy Of
making additional warllke preparations
was dlsilnc ly announced, in the speech
ifom the throne, as late as January last.
aud has since been reiterated by the minis
,ers of the crown in both houses Of Par
lament. Under this aspec, Of our rela
lions with Great Britain, canHo, doubl
The proprlstv of increasing our means Of
defence, both by land and sea- This can
give Great Britain no cause Of offence,
nor increase the dangers Of a rupture IL,
on the contrary, we should fold our arms
ia security and al last be involved in hos
Titles for the maintenance Of our Just
rights, wilhou, any adequate preparation.
our responsibility TO the country would
be Of the gravesl character. Should col
li>ion between The two countries be avoid
ed, as | sincerely trust IL NAV be, the adj
di'ional charge upon the treasury, in max.
lng the necessary preparations, will moi
be lost; while III the event Of such col
lislon, they would be indispensable for The
man,alnance of our national rights and
national honor.
| have seen no reason to change or
modify The recommendations Of nv annu.
al message in regard TO the Oregon qups-
lion. The notice to ahrogale Tie treaty
Of the 9th of August. 1927, is authorized
by the treaty. and cannot be regarded as
a warllke measure; and | canno. with
hold my strong conviction that il should
be promptly given. The other recon
menda,lons are in conformity with the ex.
listing treaty. and would afford to Amer.
can cilizens in Oregon no more t.lan the
same measure of protection which has
long since been extended 10 BRUSH sub.
Jects in that territory.
The slate of our relations with Mexico
Is still in an unsettled condition. Since
the meeting another revolution has taken
place IN that country. by which the gov
ernlneni has passed into the hands Of new
rulers. This event has prosras!inaled.
and may possibly defeat. Tie se.tlemen. oi
the differences between the United States
and that country. The Minister of the
United States 10 Mexico, al the date OF
the last advces, had moi been received by
tie existing authorities. Demonstrations
OF a character hostile 10 The United States
continue TO be made in Mexico, which
has rendered il proper. in nv Judgment.
Ia keep nearly two thirds of onr army m