Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-12-07
MESSAGE,
or ruE pREstDENr OF TuE u. ..


Fellow cilizeus Of the Senate and House
of representatives Under the benlgnsnt
Proyidence Of Almiry God. the Representa-
OF the States an1 Of the People are again
brought togo heI 10 deliberate for The public
good, The Gnlitude Of the Nation 10 the
Sovereign Arbiier ofa!l human events, should
b. commensurate with the bounteous blessings
which we enjoy
Peace, plenty, and contentment reign
throughout cur borders, ana our peio'eu
county presentsa sublime moral spectacle TO
The world.
The troubled aud unsettled condition OF
some of the principal human powers, has had
necessary tendency 10 check and emoarrsss
trade, & TO depress prices throughout all COM
mercial nations: but notwithstanding these
cpuses. The United States with their abundant
products have FELT their effects less severely
than any other country and all oi.r great
interests are prosperous and successful.
In reviewing The great events OF the past
wear. and contrasting the agltaied and distur-
BED state of other countries with our own
tranquil aud happy condition, we may con-
graduate ourselves that we are The most ID
soared people on the face oil the earth
While the people OF other coontfles are
struggling 10 establish Tree institutions under
which man may govern himself, We are 10
the actual enjoyment OF them-a nch inheH,
lance from our fathers. v hle enlightened
nations of Europe are convused aud distrac
ted hv civil war or intestine strife, we settle
all our political controversies BY the peaceful
exercise Of tie rights of freedom at the ballot
box.
The great republican maxim SO deeply en-
gra,en ON the hearts oil our people, that the
will OF the msjority consutuiionalIy express
,ed shall prevail is our safeguard against
force and violence.
II iss subject OF just pride, that our fame 4
,hsTautcr as nation, continue rapidly TO od-
vance in The situation OF the civilized world
To oar wise and tree institutions II is TO be
attributed, Ina, while other nations have
achieved glory al The price OF suffering, DIS
tress and impoyerishment OF their people, VIC
have won our honorable position in the midst
OF an uninterrupted prosperity, and oil an III
creasing individual comior: and happiness
am happy 10 inform you that our relations
with all nations are friendly and pacihc.-
Advantageous treaties. have been concluded.
within the last four years, with New Grenada
Peru, tue Two Siciies, Belgium, Hanover.
oldedbureh aud Meckenburgh Schwer-
IN.
Pursuing our example, the restrictive sys
tenn oil Great Britain, our principal foreign
customer has been relaxed: d more liberal
commercial policy has been adopted by other
enlightened nations, snd our trade has been
greatly enlarged and extended.
Our country stands higher in the respect
OF the world than al any lormer period. 10
continue 10 occupy this proud position, II is
only necessary 10 preserve peace, and iaith-
fully adhere 10 the great aud fundamental
principle Of our foreign policy. non-inierie-
renee IN the domestic concerns OF other ma
tons. We recognize in all nations the rights
which we enjoy ourselves, The change aud
reform oil our political institutions, according
TO their own will aud pleasure.
Hence we do not look behind existing gov
ernmenls capable oil maintaining their own
authority. We recognize all such actual gov
ernments not only from the dictates oil true
policy, but roma srcred regard Tor The inde-
pendence OF nations.
While this is our settled policy, it does not
follow that we can ever be Indifferent spec
tato's CT the progress OF liberal principles
The Government aud people OF the United
Stat hsied with enthusiasm and delight the
establishment OF the French Republic, us we
now hail the efforts in progress 10 unite tbs
States of Germany IN confederation similar
ia many respects 10 our own Federal Union.
Ii the great enlightened German States, occu.
pyug, as they do, central aud commanding
position in Europe, shall succeed III establish
ing such coniederated government securing
at the same time to the citizens OF each state,
local governments adapted, TO the peculiar
conditions OF EACH with unrestricted trade
and intercourse with each other, II viii be an
important era in the history OF human events
Whilst il will consolidate and strength hen the
power OF Germany, il must essentially pro-
mote the cause OF peace, commerce, civili-
The world
With all the Government on this continent
II is believed, are now on more friendly
footing, than they have ever been at any for
mer period.
Since the exchange of ratification OF the
Treaty OF Peace with Mexico, our intercourse
with the Government OF that republic has
been OF Il most friendly character The En-
voy Extraordinary and Mii lister Plenipoten-
tiafy the United States 10 Mexico, has
been received and accredited; and diplo.
matte representative from Mexico oil SINH
Character, has been received and accredited
hy this gov eminent.
The asnicabIe relations between the two
countries which heye been suspended have
been happily iesloIed, and are destined
trust TO be long preserved. The two great
Republics both situated on this continent and
with conlcrminoys territory have every mo-
tive OF sy mpathy and OF interest TO bind them
together IN perpetual amliy
This gratifying condition OF our foreign af-
fairs rendefs il unnecessary for me TO call
your attention more specifically TO them.
Ii has been my constant wish and desire to
promote peace and commerce with all nations
at home and peaceable relations
abroad, constitute the true permanent policy
al our county. War, the scoufge OF nations
sometimes becomes inevitable, but il ID al
wsys 10 De avoided " ben II can be done con-
histently With The rights and honor of The ma
lion.
One Of the important results OF the war into
which We were recently forced with neigh
boring nHllon, i, the demonstration il has al
iofded OF The military strength Of our country.
Before the late war with Mexico, European
aud other iOFelsn powers entertained mper-
feet aud erroneous opinions OF our physical
strength as a nation. and OF our ability TO
prosecute wor, especially out Of our own
country,
They saw thai our standing army on the
peace establishment did not exceed 10000
men.
Accustomed, eGselyes, to maintain in
peaee large standing aImies, for the protection
al their thrones against their own subjects az
well az foreign enemies. that had not eoncriv-
ed IL Was possible iof nation without such
an army, weh disciplined aud Of long service
10 wsrge war successfully. They held ia low
repute our militia, and weTe iai from regard.
inq themas an effective force, unless il might
he ior temporary defensive operations. when
invaded on our own soil.
The events or the late war with Mexico
have not only undeoelsed them. but have re-
moved erroneous impressions that have pre-
JAILED 10 a certain extent even among a por-