The Arkansas banner., 1848-12-19
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Eslioic- ci;ixeHs of fAs SeHa.e.
 ard HoHss of Reprssenfsitre

: I Uu. I
 Sovereign Arbitrator of all human events should b commensurate with the bOundless blessings whicf
 we enjoy.
 Peace, plenty and conientmens reign throoghou
 opr borders, aud our beloved couHtfy presents
 sublime moral spectacle 10 The world
 The troubled and unsettled condition of some O
 the principal Eatopean powers has had necessary tendency 10 check and enbarass trade, anu to de press prices. throughout a!i commercial motions but, notwithstanding tbosc causes, the Onite'
 States with their abund,nt products, have leil lhe
 effects less severely thanany other county and all
 great interests are sia prosperous and success I full
 In reviewing the great events of the past year
 and contrasting the agitad and disturbed s,s'e ol f other countries with onrown tranquil ana happy l condition, we may congratulate ourselves that we
 are the most favored people the face of the eir ] While the people of otherconn,ries are sirasghng 1 for free institutions under which man may govern
 himself. VIC are in the actual epjoymena o' 'nsn- Z,
 rich inheritance from our fathers, h,le eongnt,
 ened nations of Europe couvulscd and cistTac1eJ 1 by civil war ar intestine strife sctile all our
 political controversies by the pesce"i exeFeiSe oi the lights of freemen at the ballot box Ihe great
 republican maxim. deeply engraved on me hoaI,s of our people, that the viii ef tae lnnI"ri'y c"Hsu tutonsily expressed shall prevail, is our sure sale euard rcainst force and violence, IL IS subect oi inst priIc tlnt ouf fame and character, as nation continue rapidlyto advance m tue est'ot'"n oi tue civilized worlb t
 To our wje and free institutions its to be aitrib- uted tha, Ehie other nations have achieved glory at the price of the suffering, distress and impover-
 shmc nj of their people, we have won our honorable posiioa in the midst of an uninterrupted prosperity and sf an increasing individual comfort and hapPi- ness
 I nu happy 10 inform you tha, our relations with sH nations are friendly and pacific. Advantageous Treaties of commerce have been concluded, within the iast four years, with New Grenada, Peru, the two Sieilies, Bsgam Hanover, Odeuburgh, Mech lenburg and Schwetin Pursuing our example, the restrictive system of Great Britain, principal foreign customer, has been reaxcd more liberal commercial policy has been adopted by ether cn-
 frightened nations, and our trade has been greatly eh- larped and extended. Our country stands highef in the respect of the world than at any former period To continue 10 occupy this proud position 1t Is only necessary 10 preserve peace, and faithfully adhere 10 the great and fundamental principle of our for eirn policv-non- interference in tie domestic con cerns of other nations. We recognize in all nations the rights which we enjoy ourselves and 10 change and reform their political institutions according to their own wills and pleasure Nor do we look be- hind existing governments, capable oi maintaining their own authority. We recognize all snch actual governments, not only from the dictates of true policy, but from sacred regard for the indepcn- dence of nations.
 While this is our settled policy, it does not follow that we can ever be indifferent spectators of the progress of liberal principles. The government and people of the United States hailed, with enthusiasm and delight the es abIishmcnt of the French Re- public, as we now hail the eiIoIts in progress to unite the States of Germany in confederation, sini- lar, in many respects, to our own ederal onion II the great and enlightened German States occupy- ing as they do, central and commanding position in Europe shall succeed in establishing such Con- federated Government, securing, nt the same time, to the citizen of each State local adapt cd to the peculiar condition of each, unrestricted trade and intercourse with each other, it will be an important era in human events. Whi'e 1t will con solidate and strengthen the power of Germany. it must essentially promote the cause of peace, com merce civilization and constitutional liberty thro'- out the world.
 With all inc governments on this continent our relations, it is believed, are more friendly and satisfactory iooung than they have "v"r h~3'' at any former period. /
 Sinee the exchange of raihcations Of the treaty of peace with Mexico, our intercourse with the gov ernment of that republic have beeu ot the most friendly character. The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister PIen potcntiary of the Gpited States to Mexico has been received and accredited, aud di- plenatic representative from Mexico. ol similar rank has been received and accepted by this meni.. The amcable relations bet%een the two countries, which had been suspeaded, have been happily restored, and are destined. irast, 10 be long preserved The two republics, both situated on this continent, and with contiguous territores, have every motive of sympathy aad of interest 10 bind them together in perpetual amity.
 This gratifying condition of our foreign relations renders 1t unnecessary for me 10 call your attention more specifically to them.
 It has been my constant aiin and desire to cnl,i- va.o peace and commerce with all nations; tran q1iity al home, und peaceful relations abroad, con- s,itu;e the true and permanent policy of our c"un- try. War, the scourgs ol nations, sometimes be- comes inevitable. but Is always to he avoided when it can be done consistently with the rights and honor of the nation.
 \ One of the most mportan, results of tho war into which we recently forced with acighboring nation, is the demonstration 1t has afforded of tla military strength of our country. Before the ls:e war with Mexico, European and other foreign pow CTS entertained imperfect and erroneous views of our physical strength nation, aud of our ability to prosecute swar--aud a war waEcd oat Of our own country. Timy saw that our standing army, on the peace establishment, did not exceed l0,o00 men. Accustomed, thcmsevcs, to maintain, in peace, large standing ar,nt for the protection of thrones against their owa subjects, well us against for eign enemies, they had not conceived that il was possible for nation without such army, well dis cpiiued and of long service, 10 wage War success fully.
 They held In low repute militia, and were fur from re arding them effective force unless 1t might be for temporary defensive operations when invaded on our own soil. The events es tlc late war with Mexico have not only uudeceycd them, but have removed erroneous impressions which have pre- vailed, 10 some extent, even among portion ot our oWH counirynfn nGt W UT mas uctbpnS Idtea lil1t, upon the breaking out Of hostiities not anticipated and Tor which previous preparation had been made, volunteer army Of our citizen soldiers, equal 10 veteran troops, and in numbers equal 10 any emergency, can in a short period be brought into the field Unlike what would have occurred in auy other country, were under necessity of resort ing to conscriptions. On the contrary, such was the number of volunteers who periodically rendered their services that the chief difficulty Wasin making selections and determining who should remain ai nome. Our citizen soldiers unlike those drawn from the population of any other country. They are composed, indscriminatcy olall profession and pursuits; Of farmers lawyers, physicians merchants man nalscturers, mechanlcs and laborers. Our cili- zens soldiers unlike those of any other county in other respects. They are armst, and have been accustomed, from their youth up 10 handle and nse firearms; and large portion o theu. especially in the western and more newly settled States, are ex- pert marksmen. They uisn who have a repu- taiion 10 rnaniaia a, home hS their good conduct in the field; and they intelligent, and there Is individuality of character which Is found in the