Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSiCE,
To The Senate aud House Of Representatives. Of
the United States:

kQktANtF 10 uGiiuGtuAb lOi llG puullN kobas Ah1
gratitude Of the nation 10 the Sovereign Arbiier
Of all human events, should be commensurate
with the bOunIeous blessings which we enjoy.
Peace, plenty, and dcontentmentreign through
out our borders, and our beloved country pre-
sents a sublime moral spectacle to the world.
The troubled and unsettled condition oil some
Of the principal European powers, has had a
necessary tendency TO check and em0arrass trade;
and TO depress prices throughout all commercial
nations; but Notwithstanding these causes, the
United States, with lheirabundantproducts, 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 agtated and disturbed slate
of ether countries with our own tranquil and
happy condition, we may congratulate ourselves
that we are the most favored people on the tace
Of the earth. While the people Of other coun-
tries are struggling 10 establish free institutions
under which man may govern himself, we are
in the actual enjoyment of Ihem-a rich inher-
iIance from our fathers. While enlightened ma
tions of Europe are convused and distracted
by civil wars or intestine strife, we settle all our
political controversies by the peaceful exercise
of the rights of freemsn at the balot-box. The
grea, republican maxim so deeply engraven on
the hearts of our people, that the will Of the
majority, constitulionaly expressed, shall pre-
vail, is our sure safeguard against force and vio'
lence. 1t is subject of just pride, that our fame
and character as a nation continue rapidly to I'D.
vance in the estimation of the civilized world.
To our wise and free Institutions it is 10 be uttr-
buted, that while other nations have achieved
glory at the price of the suffering, distress, and
imPoverishment of their people, we have won
our honorable position in the midst Of an unin-
terrupted prosperity, and Of an increasing indi-
vidual 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 four years, with New Grenada, Peru, the
TwoSiciIies, Belgium, Hanover, Gutenberg, and
Mecklenburg Schwerin.
Pursuing our example, the restrictive system
of Great Britain, our principal foreign consum-
er, as been relaxed; more liberal commercial
policy has been adopted by other enlightened
nations, and our trade has been greatly enlarged
and extended. Our country stands higher in
the respect Of the world, than al any former pe'
rlod. To continue to occupy this proud posi-
tlon, it is on y necessary to preserve peace, and
faithfully adhere to the great and fundamental
principle Of our foreign policy, of non.lnterie-
renee in the domestic concerns of other nations.
We recognize in all nations the right which we
enjoy ourselves, the change and reform OF their
political institutions, according TO their own VIII
and pleasure.
Hence, we do not look behind existing gov.
ernments, capable Of maintaining their own au-
thority. We recognize all such actual govern
msnts, not only from the dictates of true poll
cy, but from sacred regard for the indepen.
dence of nations.
While this is our settled policy, ii does moi
follow that we can ever be indifferent spectators
Of the progress Of liberal principles. The gov
ernmsnl aud people of the United States hailed
with enthusiasm and delight the establishment OF
the French Republic, as we now hail the efforts
in progress 10 unite The states Of Germany in o
consideration, similar in many respects 10 our
own Federal Union. If the great and enIlght'
ened German States, occupying, as lhey do, u
central and commanding position in Europe
shall succeed in establishing such a coniedcra'
led government, securing al the same time to lhe
cilizens of each State, locuI governments adapt
ed TO the peculiar condition of each, with unre-
.slricIed trade and intercourse with each other,
il will be an important era in the history Of hu-
man events. Whilst it will consolidate and
strengthen The power of Germany, il must es
senIiallY promote the cause OF peace, com.
merce, civilization, and constitutional liberty
throughout the world.
With all The governments on this continen
our relations, it is believed are now on more
friendly footing than they have ever been at any
former lime.
Since the exchange Of ratGcatons of the
Treaty Of Peace with Mexico, our intercourse
with the government of that Republic has beer
of the most friendly character. The Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary oI
the United States TO Mexico, has been received
and accredited; and diplomatic representative
from Mexico, of similar rank, has been recei-
we'd and accredited by this government.
The amicable relations between the Two coun'
tries which had been suspended have been hap
PLY restored, and are destined, trust 10 be long
this continent and with coterminous territories
have every motive of sympathy and Of interes
10 bind them together in perpetual amity.
This gratifying condition of our foreign rela
tons, renders 1t unnecessary for me TO call youl
auehuoh more speclhcally 10 them.
II has been my constant aim and desire to cu
tivate peace and commerce with all nations.-
Tranquility at home and peaceabe relations q
broad, constitute the true permanent policy O
our country. War, the scourge of nations
sometimes becomes inevitable, but is always Il
be avoided when it can be done consistently
with the rights and honor of the nation.
One OF themost important results of the wal
into which wewere recently forced with a neigh
boring nation, is The demonstration it has afford
ed OF The military strength of our country. Be
tore lhe late war with Mexico, European anC
other foreign powers entertained imperfect and
erroneous views of our physical strength as
nation, and of our ability 10 prosecute war, ant
especially war waged out of our own country
They saw that our standing army on The peac
establishment did not exceed ten thousand men
Accustomed, themselves, to maintain in peace
4. e.. al 3.