The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-12-28
SYNOPSIS OF TRg PRESlDRHfy uRsslcR

Fellor Citizens Of the Senate and of the
House Of Representatives.:
Under the benign Providence Of Almigl,-
~ God. the Representatives Of the States
and Of the people are again brought togeth.
er. to deliberate for the public good. The
gratitude Of the Nation to the Sovereign
Arbiter ofnll human events, should be CON-
mensuratc with the boundless blessings
which we enjoy.
Treaties Of Commerce have been con-
c!uded with New Grenada, Peru, the two
Siciies, Belgium, Hanover, OIdenburg, and
Mecklenbnrg Schwrein. The establish.
rnent offs Republic in France, and the ef
tort to unite the German States arc hailed
as suspicious events. Friendly relations
are established with Mexico, and the favor.
able condition Of our foreign affairs renders
It necessary to call attention more especial
~ thereto. The acquisition Of California
aud New Mexico, the settlement Of the Or.
egon Boundary, md the annexation of Tex
rs, are results which combined are Of great,
er consequence, and will add more to the
strength and wealth Of the nation thsn ans
which have preceded them. since the adop-
ton Of the Constitution. But to complete
these great results, il is our solemn duty
to provide Tor organized territorial govern.
ments, both in New Mexico and California.
The causes of the failure to do this at the
last session Of Congress are we'll known
and deeply reeretted-in view Of the high
and responsible duties which we owe 10
ourselves aud TO mankind.
The President then goes on TO speak Of
the slavery question You may be able,
he says, at the present session to approach
the adjustment Of the only domestic ques-
ton which seriously threatens, or probably
ever can threaten, TO disturb the harmony
and successful operation Of our SYSTEM
The question, he saws, 10 rather abstrac,
than practical. Whether slavery ever can
or would exist in any portion Of the acquir-
ed territory-even if il were left TO the OF.
ton oil the slavcholding States themselves
To dccide-from the nature of the climate
end productions, is a question. In much
the larger portion Of these States, il 10 Ger.
tain il could never exist, and in the remain.
der the probability is il would not. How.
ever this may be. the question. involving
rs il does principle Of elnaIity Of rights
Of the separate and several States, M equal
co.pcrtncrs in the confedcracy. should M,
be disrcgarded in organizing Governments
over the territory. No duty imposed on
Congress bv the Constitution, requires tina,
they should lcgislate on the subject Of sla-
very. while their power to do 90 Is not only
seriously questioned, but denied by many
Of tho sonndcst expounders Of that inst RI.
a,ent. Whether Congress shall lepislste
or not. the people Of the acquired terrific
ries, when assembled in a convention 10
form State constitutions. will po.scss the
sole and exclusive power to determine Cor
themselves whether slavery shall or shall
not exist within their limits. lr Congress
abstain from interfering with the question.
the people Of these territories will be left
free to adjust il rs they may think proper.
when thew apply for admission A. State.
into the Union; and no enactment Of Con-
gross could restrain the people Of anv OF
the sovereign States Of the Union, North or
South. slaveholding or non-sIaveholdinz ?,
from determining the character of their own
domestic institutions, as they may deem
wise and proper. Any and all the States
possess this right, and Congress cannot de-
prive them Of it. II the whole subject be
referred to the judiciary, oil parts Of the
Union should chcerfullv acquiesce in the
final decision of this tribunal.
The President recommends our mineral
lands to be sold in New Mexico, in small
quantity. The President is 80 far from
entertaining any apprehension Of the saie-
~ Of our system, bv the extension Of our
territory. that the belief is confidently en-.
tertained that each new State gives strength
and an additional guarantee for tho prcser.
walton Of the Union itself. The President
recommends liquidation ot American
Claims. The Secretary Of the Treasury,
he says. will present in bis annual report.
highly satisfactory statement Of the con-
diton Of the finances. The imports for the
fiscal year, ending on Both June last, we're
ofthe value Of Sl54,0 OF. SIG. Of which the
amount exported was S2l, l2s,OlO, leav.
ing $780, .s66 in the country for do
nestle use. Tho value of the exports hr
the eame period, Sl54. O32, O3l, consisting
Of domestic productions, amounting to
Sl32,904.l2l; md $2l.l2s,OlO Of For.
eign articles. The receipts into the Treas
ury for the same period, exclusive Of Loans.
amounted to S35.436, $50, 80; of which
there was derived from customs. S3l. 757.-
O9O.96. from sales Of public lands, $685.
G42, SO; and from miscellaneous and Incl.
denfa; sources. S35l .O37,O7
lie thinks the Mexican war has raised
the nation in the estimation Of foreigners;
il has established the cffic,ency oi the mill