Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Feiio,o- Cifizens IF The Senate,
nnn nC The HnlSe nc RenreseilLniire9

| Under the benignant Providence of Almighty
God the representatives OF the States and of
the people are again brought to deliberate for
the public good. The gratitude of the nation to
the Sovereign Arbiter Of all human events
should be commensurate with the boundless bles
sings which we enjoy.
Peace, plenty, and contentment reign through
out our borders, and our beloved country pre-
SCENTS sublime moral spectacle to the world.
| The troubled and unsettled condition OF some
of the principle European powers has had n me-
cessnry tendency to check and embarrass trade,
and to depress prices throughout all commercial
nations; but Notwithstanding these causes, the
United Sta es with their abundant products, have
felt their effects less severely than any other
country, and all our great interests are still pros
porous and successful.
In reviewing the great events of the past year
and contrasting the agitated and disturbed state
of other countries with our own happy and tran
quill condition, we may congratulate ourselves
tat we are the most favored people on the face
of the earth. While the people Of other coun-
tries are struggling to establish free institutions
under which man may govern himself, we are in
the actual enjoyment of them 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 ireemen
at the ballot box. The great republican maxim
SO deeply engraven on the hearts of our people,
that the will Of the majority, consttutlona!ly eX-
pressed, shall prevail, is our sure safe guard a.
ganst force and violence. 1t is subject of just
pride, that our fame and character as a nation
continue rapidly to advance in the estimation of
the civilized world. To our wise and free nst
tuions it is TO be attributed, that while other ma
tons have achieved glory Of the suffering, dis
tress and impoverishment Of their people, we
have won our honorable position in the midst of
an uninterrupted prosperity and Of an increasing
individual comfort and happiness. | am happy
to inform you that our relations with all nations
are friendly and pacific. Advantageous treaties
of commerce have been concluded within the
last tour years with New Grenada, Peru, the
Two Scies, Belgium, Hanover, Oldenburg, and
Mecklenburg- Schwerin. Pursuing our example,
the restrictive system Of Great Britain, our prn-
cipal foreign customer, has been relaxed; more
liberal commercial policy has been adopted by
other enlightened nations, and our trade has
been enlarged and extended. Our country stands
higher in the respect OF the world than at any
former period. 10 continue to occupy this proud
position it is only necessary to preserve peace,
and faithfully adhere to the great and fundamen-
tai principle Of our foreign policy, of non.inter
ference in the domestic concerns of other ma
lions We recognize in all nations the rights
which we enjoy ourselves, to chinge and reform
their political institutions, according TO their own
will and pleasure. Hence we do not look be-
hind existing governments, capable of maintain
ing their own authority: We recognize all such
actual governments, not only from the dictates of
true policy, but from sacred regard for the in
dependence 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 gov
eminent and people OF the United States hailed
wi h enthusiasm and delight tie establishment
Of the Freuch republic as we now hail the effJrts
in progress to unite the States Of Germany in
confederation, similar, IN many respects, TO our
own federal Union. If the great and enighten-
ed German States, occupying as they do, cen
trial and commanding position in Europe, shall
succeed in establishing such coniederated gov
ernmen', securing at the same time to the citi-
zens Of each State, local governments adapted
to the peculiar condition Of each, with unrestrlc
ted trade and Intercourse with each other, II
will be an important era in the history OF human
events. While it will consolidate and strength
en- the power of Germany, it nuts essen
TALLY promote the cause OF peace, commerce,
civilization and Constitutional liberty through
! out the world
With all the governments en- this continent
our relations, it is believed, are now on a more
friendly and satisfactory footing than they have
ever been at any former period
Since the exchange OF Publications of the trea-
ty OF peace with Mexico, our intercourse with
the government Of that republic has been of the
most friendly character. The Envoy EX,raordi-
nary and Minister plenipoten,iary of the United
States to Mexico has been r, ccIved and accred-
tied; and diplomatic representative from Mex
leo OF similar rank has been received and accred
tied by this government The amicaole rea-
lions between the two countries which had been
,l,lh u,, lon ,l,,
destined, | trust, to be long preserved. The two
republics, both situa ed on this continent, and
with cotermnous territories, have every motive
of sympathy and Of interest to bind them togeth-
or in perpetual amity.
This gratifying condition of our foreign rea-
tons renders 1t unnecessary for me to call your
attention more specifically to them.
/ 1t has been my constant aim and desire to cul-
tivate peace and commerce with all nalons.-
tranquility at home, and peaceful relations
broad, constitute the true permanent policy of
our country. War, the scourge Of nations,
sometimes becomes inevitable, but is always to
be avoided when it can be done consistently
with the nights and honor of the nation.
Here follows discourse upon the important
results of the war with Mexico; which are
the demonstration it has afforded of the military
strength Of the country in its ability at once to
organize from the militia and volunteers, and to
equip, large armies upon sud zen call He also
pays high compliment to the officers of the
army and navy, including The several executive
bureaus, and concludes thus
: The great results which have been developed
and brought 10 light by this war will be of I'M
measurable Importance in the future progress of
our county, they will tend powerfully to preserve
us from foreign collisions, and to enable us to
pursue unintetruptedly our cherished policy of
"peace with all nations, entanglng alliances
with none"
Occupying as we do more commanding pc.
siton among nations than at any former period,
our duties and our responsibilities TO ourselves
and to posterity are correspondingly increased.
This will be the more obvious when we consid.
er The vast additions which have recently been
made to our territorial possessions, aud their
{ great Importance and value.
Within less than four years the annexation OF
{ Texas to the Union has been consummated all
conflicting tile to the Oregon Territory south
OF the iorty-nnth degree OF north latitude, being
all that was insisted on by any of my predeces-
sors has been adjusted; and New Mexico and
, Upper California have been acquired by treaty
The area Of these several Territories, according
J TO report carefully prepared by the Commits
sloner Of the General Land Office from the most
authentic information IN his possession, and
which is herewith transmitted, contains one mil.
lion one hundred and ninety three thousand and
4 IL.