The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-09
MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate

Under the bcnignant Providence of Almighty
God, the representatives of the States and OF
the people again brought to deliberate Tor
the public good. The gratitude of the nation
to the sovereign Arbter fall human events,
should be commensurate with the DoundIess
blessings which we enjoy.
Peace plenty and contc ntment reign through
out our borders, and our beloved country pre-
sents a sublime moral spectacle 10 the world
The troubled and unsettled condition of
some of the principal European powers has
had a necessary tendency to check aud en-
barrass trade, and TO dcprcss prices throughout
all commercial nations; but Notwithstanding
these Causes the Uuited States with their u.
bundant products, have felt their effects less
severely than any other country, and all our
great interests are still prosperous and sue
Ccssiul.
In reviewing the grea: events of the past
year, and contrasting the agitatcd and dis
tur1cd state of other countries with our own
happy and tranquil condition, we may con-
graduate ourselves that we are the most IA
vorcd people the face If the earth. While
the people of other countries are struggling to
establish free institutions under which man
m uv govern himself, we are IN the actual en-
augment of them--a rich inheritance from our
| fathers. While enlightened nations of Europe
are convulsed by civil war or intestine strife,
we settle all our political controversies by the
| peaceful exercise of the rights Of freemen at
/ *
! so deeply cuCraven on the hearts of our pco.
pie, that the will of the majority, constitution
ally expressed, shall prevail, is our sure sale.
! guard aga INST force and violence. II is sub
| ect of Just pride, that our fame and character
! as u nation continue rapidly to advance in the
estimation ofthe civilized world. To our wise
and free institutions il is to be attributed, that
while other nations have achieved glory OF the
suffering, distress, and impoverishment OF
their people, we have won our honorable po-
siion in the midst of uninterrupted prosper
! ty, and of an increasing individual comfort and
| happiness. | mn happy TO inform you that
! our relations with all nations are friendly and
! pacific Advantageous treaties of commerce
| have been concluded within the last four years
with New Grenada, Peru, the two Sicilics,
Belgium, Hanover, Oldenburg, and Mecklen-
burgh Schwerin. Pursuing our example the
restri.tve system of Great Britain, our prin-
cipal foreign customer, has been relaxedj a
more liberal commercial policy has been adopt
ed by other enlighted nations, and our trade
has been enlarged and extended. Our coun.
try stands higher in the respect of the world
than at any former period. To continue to
occupy this proud position, it is only necessa'
ry to preserve peace, and faithfully adhere to
the grea; fundamental principle OF our foreign
policy, of non. interference with the domestic
concerns of other nations. We recognize IN
nil nations the rights which we enjoy our
selves to change and reform their political in
situations, according TO their own VIII ano
pleasure Hence we do not look behind ex
istinp governments, capable of maintaining
their own authority. We recognize all such
actual governments, not only from the dictates
of true policy, but from sacred regard Tor th'
indie pc ndence of nations. ..-...r... a..
While this is our settled policy, it does no
[ follow that we can ever be indifferent spccta
, tors of the progress of liberal principles Ih'
Government and people of the United State
.:,L ala n nd dpli0ht the CStlD
lishment of the French Republic, as we nov
hail the efforts in progress to unite the State
, of Germany in a coniede ration, similar, in ma
3 nv respects, to our own federal Union. 1t tn
e great and enlightened German States, occu
i pyinp, as they do, n central and commanding
postiou in Europe, shall succeed IN establish
Ing such a coniederated government, secur
ing at the same time TO the citizens o. cnc
: State, local governments adapted TO the pc
e cular condition of each, with unrestricte
: trade and intercourse with each other, it wi
i be an important era in the history of huma
events. While it will consolidate and strengti
l. en- tho power of Germany, it must eventual
+ promote the cause of peace, commerce, civi
! ization and constitutional liberty throughor
the world. t.'
With all the governments on this continer
. our relations, it is believed, are now on a NOR
70 friendly and satisfactory footing than the
have ever been Mt any former period. L
l. Since the exchange Of Publications of III
/ treaty of peace with Mexico, our intercour'
=, with the government that republic has bee
of the most friendly character. The Envc
IA Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary O
|" the United States to Mexico has been receive
" and accredited; and diplomatic represent
IT. tive from Mexico of a similar rank has bee
= received and accredited by this government
w. The anicable relations between the two oou
tries which had been suspended have bee
10 happily restored, and are destined, trust,
ne be long preserved. The two republics, bo
- situated on this continent, and with conte
. minous territories, have every motive of RyT
y pathy and of interest to bind them together
M perpet lal anity. ....
# This gratifying condition of our foreign I
lations renders il unnecessary for me 10 CT