Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1848-12-23
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
one AZ fAe Senate and

Esilosv Oilixesas If tie Senate ana
House u Representatives.:
undsr the beaienan, providence Of Al
nish,y God, the representatives OF 'ae ,
States and Of the people, are again brought
,ose,her. % deliberate for thelpublic good
'rSe gratitude Of The oalion 10 the sover'
e;yn A,bi,er Of all human events.
should be commensurate with the bound.
less blessings which We enjoy. Peace
nlen,v and con,en,men,, reign throughout
our borders, and our beloved country pre-
cents sublime moral spectacle 70 'ne
world. The troubled and unsettled Goa
.linon Of some Of The principal European
mowers, has had necessary tendency TO
check and embarass trade and to dePress
prices throughout. all commercial nations
bot, no, wishs.andisg these causes the "
ni,ed States, with their abundant products,
have Eel. their effects less severely than
any other country, and all our great inter
es,s are s.il; prosperous and successiul.-
In seyiewing the gres. events OF the past
year, and contrasting the sgisased and DIS
,arbed Stale Of other countries with our
own tranquil and happy condition. we
may congratulate ourselves, that We are
she mos. favored people on the face Of the
esrih. While the people Of other coun-
tries are struggling TO establish free inss'-
,u,ions. under which man may govern
himself, we are in The actual enjoy men. OF
,hem-a rich inheritance from our fathers
--and while enlightened nations Of Eu
rope are convuIsed and distracted by civil
war. or intes,a,e strife. we settle all our
polite al controversies by the peaceful ex-
erci,e Of the rights Of freemen. at the BAL
10, box. The great republican maxim. so
deeply engraved on the hearts Of our peo-
pie, ,ha, the will Of the ma ori,y, consti
,u,ionaiy expressed, shall prevail, is our
sure safeguard against force and violence.
1t is subjec. of jus. pride. that our
fame aud character ds a nation continues
rapidly to advance in the estimation OF the
civilized world. TO our wise and free in
s,i,u,ions, i, is TO be attributed. that. while
other nations have achieved glory at the
price Of the suffering distress. and impov-
erishment Of their people. we have gained
our honorable position in the mids. of an
uninterrupted prosperity. and Of an increa-
sing individual comfort and happiness.
am happy to inform you that our re-
lasions with all nations are friendly and
pacific. Advantageous treaties OF COM
nerce have been concluded within The
last four years, with New Grenada. Peru.
the Two Sicil,es. Belgium, Hanover, o.
denburgh, and Mecklenburgh. Pursuing
our example the restrictive system OF
Great Britain. our principal foreign GUS
toner, has been relaxed. and a more lib
eral commercial policy has been adopted
by other enlightened nations, and our trade
has been greatly enlarged and extended.
W. """',r' F"'""~'~ '.'~.-- 80 ,hn respect
Of the world than a. any former peri"d:-
To continue TO occupy this proud position,
II 10 necessary to preserve peace and faith
fully adhere to the great fundamental prin-
ciple of our foreign policy-no in'erfer-
ence in the domestic concerns of other ma
tons. We recognize in all nations the
rights which we enjoy ourselves. and to
change and reform their political ins,i.u.
tons according to their own will and
pleasure. Nor do we look behind exist.
ing governments capable of maintaining
their own authority. We recognize all
srch actual governments. no. only from
the dictates of true policy, but from a sa.
cred regard for The independence of ma
tions.
While this is our settled policy. it does
no, follow chat we can ever be Indifferent
spectators Of the progress Of liberal prin-
ciples. The Government and the people
Of the United States witnessed. with en-
shusissm and delight. the establishment of
the French Republic as we now hail the
efforts in progress to unite The States Of
Germany in q confederation similar. in
many respects. to our own federal Union.
1.-The great and enlightened German States,
occupying. as they do. the central and
commanding position in Europe, shall
succeed IN establishing such confedera.
ted government. securing at the same time
10 the citizens of each State local Govern
ments adapted to the peculiar condition Of
each-unres,ric.ed trade and intercourse
with each o.her-it will be an important
era in human events. Whilst it will con.
solida'e and strengthen The power Of Ger
many. it must essentially promote the
cause Of peace. commerce. civilization and
constitutional liberty. ,Sro'out The world.
With all the Governments on this con-
'inent. our relations, j. is believed, are
now on more friendly and satisfactory
footing than they ever have been at any
former period.
Since the exchange Of ratifcS,ions of
the treaty Of peace with Mexico. our IN.