The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, DEC. 6, is4s.
The Message.

The Message.
The whole history OF country may be safely chal
enged for instance in which any previous adminstra
ton, in its closing annual communication 10 Congress,
has been able to describe SO proud and powerful and
prosperous state of the Union, is set forth in the
admirable State paper which fills our columns.
Nearly all of the first half of the message grand
and triumphant vindication of the democratic policy by
luminous exhibition Of the noble fruits which, during
the last four years, it has borne
At peace among ourselves and with all the world,
while enlightened nations of Europe shaken by in
estine coDvusions and haTassed with foreign wars,
example and sympathy cheer the two great
continental republics of France and Germany in their
efforts to establish the free institutions which our
history has illustrated, and that liberal commercial
policy which our example and experience have COM
mended 10 the British empire. The honorable
and happy termination of our war with Mexico
has not only placed in light new to history the
martial prowess of republican institutions, and thus
for and higher position in the respect OF the
world but it has established relations with all the
American powers more pacific and friendly footing
than before. In proof of this we have the seven
highly advantageous commercial treaties negotiated by
this adminisration-two of them being with American
republics-and all OF them opening new avenues and
marts and facilities to trade so as to aid materially
in diminishing the effect of the checks and embarass
mens to commerce which the recent troubles in Europe
have necessarily brought upon all commercial nations.
Meantime the policy of justice and valor which has
thus resulted in profound peace and increased amHy Nth
oil the qrord has, within less than four years, added
than million of square miles to possessions,
and made our national domain than third great
err than ii ,cas before! No parallel fact before
recorded in history 1t the mighty and unprecedented
achievement of American democracy. To crown its
grandeur, the character, position, and value of acqu
sitions supass their erroral vastness They have
increased by than two thirds the extent OF
coast; they have almost grded with stations OF de-
fence and revenue the great Gulf of Mexico they have
placed fully within view, neghborhood, and
our grasp, the incalculable commercial riches and
sources of the great Pacific of its island realms and Of
the American, Asatc and Russian regions by which is
enviroRed and, finally while removing from all dan
ger of irritating foreign collisions borders and in
the pathways Of trade, and prodgiousy augmentng
and diversfyng national products they about
to pour into lap, from rver-course, mountain, and
cavern, untold and gltierng wealth surprising the
realities and rvang the fables of the magnificent
and gorgeous East In the Sacramento, if official nves-
tgation and authentic report may be trusted the old
dream of Pacolus, with its sands of gold, reappears in
our New World in the sober though wondrous certainty
Of fact!
With what a weight of emphasis do such proofs as
these, of the value and importance of territorial
QUESTIONS, fully and powerfully set forth they in
the message press upon the prompt consideration of Con-
gress the wise and patriotic which the Prss
dent again and urgently recommends for their pro-
lection, development and civil organization! How
strange and unusabe is the spectacle which gov
eminent will present 10 the world in permitting irr
tating sectional controversy upon question: at BEST but
abstract and temporary interfere with this its great and
manifest duty We refer readers to the message it.
SELF for the Presidents to the three methods
upon either of which, in his Judgment territorial gov
ernmens for the territories may be organized, and
the slavery question in relation to them put to rest
They proceed respectively upon the principle of nonn
reference by Congress; the principle of the Missouri
compromise in view of the previous presidents for that
measure, and the spirit of Cancellation which led to its
adoption and the principle of the Senate compromise of
last session, referring, express TERMS the whole matter
to the federal judiciary Among the recommendations of
the Executive in relation to these territories that of the
establishment of branch of the mint in California, of
surveyor generals Offices there and in New Mexico,
and the proposed for the relief and protection
Of Oregon, to be OF great and pressing interest
We have space TO notice detail the statements of
the message in respect to the War and Navy Depart
mens the valuable services of both of which, and of
their respective bureaus, in the war, commended
and in respect the Post Office Department, the opera
tons of which exhibit the gratifying fact OF large in
the service performed together with increase
of the received, ustifyng in the opinion of the
Postmaster General, reduction Of hostages uniform
of five cents; which suggestion is recommended by
the President TO the favorable consideration of Congress
We shall of lay the reports from each of these
departments full before readers possible
In reference, however to the subject of the Territories
we may mention that in the Indian branch of the War
Department. within the last four years. eight import
ant treaties with the Indian tribes have been negot-
ated-the last of them by the Commissioner of In.
dian Affairs in person-by which than eigh
and half millions of have been coded to the
United States and the Indian title to lands within the
several States almost wholly extngushed. The plan of
mail steamships, convertible into steamers, under
the direction OF the Secretary of the Navy has been en-
tirely successful. The first launched in January
lsi7. There aioa; and in another year
the number will reach seventeen.
The view of the finances, given in the message,
forms the most triumphant vindcaion, and indeed the
nobest eulogy, of the policy of the administration in that
most important branch of national interests By ref
the message will be the somewhat singu-