Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-10
Presidents Message.
Eeiloao Citizens Of the Senate
and House Of Representatives .

an interesting event. The representatives. OF
the States and Of the people come fresh from
their constituents to take counsel together
for the common good. After an exis-
tencc of near three lourths of a century
as a free and independent republic, the
problem no longer remains to be solved,
whether man is capable Of self government.
The success Of our admirable system is a
conclusive refuiation Of the theories Of those
in other countries who maintain that "a
favored few" are born to rule, and that the
mass OF mankind must be governed by force.
Subject to no arbitrary or hereditary au-
thofity, the people are the only sovereigns
recognised by our constitution. Numerous
emigrants Of every lineage and language,
attracted by the civiI aud religious freedom
we enjoy, and by our happy condition, an
nuallY crowd 70 our shores, aud transfer
their heart, not less than their allegiance,
to the country whose dominion belongs
alone to the people.
No country has been SO much favoured,
or should acknowledge with deeper rever-
encs the manifestations Of the Divine pro-
lection. An all-wise Creator directed and
guarded US in our infant struggle for free
dom, and until we have become one Of the
grea, nations Of the earth.
1t is a country thus favored, and under
a government in which the executive and
legislative branches hold their authority for
limited periods. alike from the people, and
where all are responsible to their respective
constituencies, that il is again my duty to
communicate with Congress upon the state
of the Union. and the present condition O.
public affairs.
During the past year the most gratifying
proofs are presented that our country has
been blessed with a wide spread and univer-
sal prosperity. There has been no period
since the government was founded, when all
the industrial pursuits Of our people have
been more successful, or when labor in all
branches Of business has received a fairer
or better reward. From our abundance we
have been enabled TO perform the pleasing
duty Of furnishing food for the starving mil
lions Of less favoured Countries.
In the enjoyment OF the bounties Of Prov.
idence at home, such as have rarely fallen
to the lot Of any people, il is cause Of con-
graduation, that our intercourse with all the
powers Of the earth, except Mexico, con-
tinues TO be of an amicable character.
1t has even been our cherished policy to
cultivate peace and goodwill with oil ma.
t%ions; and this policy has been steadily
pursued by me.
No change has taken pI.ce in our re.
~lations with Mexico since the ad;ournmen,
of the last Congress. The war in which
the United States were forced TO engage
with the government of that country stiIl
continues. s.a
deem il unnecessary. after the full nv.
position of them contained in NV resssas
of the eleventh of NAV. 1916. and in INV .n-
nual MESSAGE AT the commencemen ~ ,ha
session of Congress in December last 10
r~eiterate the serious causes of com,Is;n,
which we had against Mexico bef,re sbe
commenced bos,ii;,;es
IL is sufficient, on the present occasion.
TO say that the wauton violation o fthe rights
of person and properly of our citizens ON.
mitted by Mexico, her repeated acts ofbad
faith, through a long series Of years, and
her disregard of solemn treaties. stipulating
for indemnity TO our injured citizens. not
only constituted ample cause of war on our
part. bui were Of such an aggravated char
acter as would have justified Us before The
whole world in resortinp to this extreme
remedy. With an anxious desire TO avoid
a rup,ure between the two countries, we
forebore for wears to assert our clear rights
by force, and continued 10 seek redress for
the wrongs we had suffered by amicabIe
negotiation, in the hone that Mexico might
yield TO pacific ~counsels and the demands of
Justice. In this hope we we're disappoint.
ed. Our minister Of peace sent 10 Mexico
was insuliingly rejected. The Mexican
government refused even to hear the termsl
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