The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-06
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF THE
PRESIDENT OF The UNITED STATES,
TO THE
THIRTIETH CONGRESS-.
THIRTIETH CONGRESS-.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE,

FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE,
THE HOUSE REPREsENTArivEs:-
Under the beniguant Providence of Almighty God,
the Of the states and Of the people
again Brought together to deliberate for the public
good The gratitude Of the nation to the Sovereign
Arbiter Of all human evente should be commensurate
with the boundess blessings which We enjoy.
Peace, plenty aud contentment, reign throughout
borders, and beloved country presents q sub.
lime moral spectacle to the world.
The troubled and unsettled condition of of the
principal European powers has had necessary ten
depcy to check and embarrass trade and to depress
prices throughout all commercial nations but not.
withdrawing these causes, the United States with
severely than any other country and all great in
terests are still prosperous and successful.
revie wing the great events of the past year. and
contrasting the agtated and disturbed state of other
countries with our tranquil and happy condition,
may congratulate ourselves that we are the most
favored people on the face Of the earth. While the
people Of other countries struggling to establish
free institutions under which man may govern him.
self, in the actual enjoyment of them-a rich
inheritance from our fathers While enlightened ma
tons of Europe are convulssd and distracted by civil
war or intestine strife, settle all our political con-
troversies by the peaceful exercise of the rights Of free
men at the ballot box. The great republican maxim
deeply engraven the hearts of our people, that
the will Of the majority copstitutonay expressed shall
prevail, s our sure safeguard against force aud vio
lence It subject of just pride, that fame and
character nation continue rapidly to advance in
the estimation of the civilized world. To wise and
free in situations 1t is to be attributed that while other
nations have achieved glory at the price of thu suffer-
ing distress and mpoverishm emit OF their people.
have won our honorable position in the midst Of an
uninterrupted prosperity and of an increasing ndivi
dual comfort and happiness | am happy to inform
and pacific. Advantageous treaties of commerce
have been concluded within the last four years
with New Grenada the .n Two Mscs BEL
Schwerin Pursuing example, the restrictive svs-
tenn of Great Britain, our principal foreign customer
has been relaxed; more liberia! commercial policy
has been adopted by other enlightened nations, and
trade has been greatly enlarged and extended -
Our country stands higher in the respect of the world
no, nat farm M Ia
this proud position. it only necessary to preserve
peace, and faithfully adhere to the great and funda
mental principle of foreign policy, of non inter fe
renee in the domestic Of other nations. We
recognise in all nations the rights which We enjoy our
selves to change and reform their political
according to their own will and pleasure. Hence We
do not look behind existing governments capable of
maintaining their authority We recognise all such
actual not only from the dictates of true
policy but from sacred regard for the Independence
Of nations.
While this is our settled policy, it does not follow
that be Indifferent spectators Of the pro-
gress ofliberal principles. The government and peo
pie of the United States hailed with enthusiasm and
delight the establishment Of the French republic as
we hail the efforts in progress to unite the States
of Germany in a confederation similar in many res
poets to federal Union. II the great and en-
nghtened German States, occupying as they DO q
central and commanding position In Europe, shall
succeed in establishing such confederated govern
ment securing the time to the citizens Of each
state local nts adapted to the peculiar
dition of with unrestricted trade and intercourse
with each other 1t will be important in the his.
strepg then the power Of Germauy,t must essentially
promote the cause Of peace, commerce, civilization
and copst, utional liberty throughout the world.
With all the governments on this continent our re-
lations It Ia believed. are q more friendly and
footing than they have ever been at any
former period.
Since the exchange Of notifications Of the treaty Of
peace with Mexico, intercourse with the govern
msnt of that republic has been Of the most friendly
character. The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenpotentiary of the United States to Mexico has
been received and accredited aud diplomatic repre-
to<su Nav nf a1rnilo N mn
ceived and accredited by this government. The ami.
cable relations between the two countries which had
been nded have been happily restored and are
destined trust to be long preserved The two repub
lies both situated this continent, and with coter.
mnous territories have every motive OF sympathy ana
interest to bind them together in perpetual smtty
This gratifying condition Of our foreign relations
rem ders it. unnecessary for me to call your attention
more specifically to them.
II has been nv constant aim and desire to cultivate
peace and with all natonz Tranquility at
home. and peaceful relations abroad, constitute the
true permanent policy of country. War, the
scourge of nations sometimes becomes inevitable but
ia always to be avoided when It be done consist
emily with the rights and honor of the nation.
One of the most important results Of the war, into
which we we're recently forced with neighborng na-
tion is the demonstration it has afforded Of the mill
tary strength of our country. Before the late war
with Mexico European and other foreign enter
tanned imperfect and views of our physical
strength as q nation and of ability to prosecute
war and especially war waged out of our country
They saw that standing army, on the peace estab
lishmentl did not exceed ten thousand men Accus-
ing armies the protection of thrones against their
own subjects well against foreign enemies they
had not conceived that II was possible iSr na.on
vice. to wage successfully They held in low repute
militia, and far from regarding them as an ef-
fective unless might be for Temporary
operations when invaded own soil. The events
Of the late with Mexico have not only undece1ved
them but have removed erroneous Impressions when
prevailed to some extent among portion Of our
own countrymen. That war has demo nstrated that
upon breaking OF hostities not anticipated and
ill., haI haavS rn0AA
volunteer army of citizen soldiers equal to vete-
ran troops and in numbers equal TO any emer-
gency, can. in short period, be brought into the
field Unlike what would have occurred In any other
country We were under necessity Of resorting to
drafts conforiptions. On the contrary, such was
the number of volunteers who periodically rendered
their services that the chief diculty In making
selections and who should be disappointed
and compelled to remain at home. Our citizen-sol.
diers are unlike those drawn from the population OF
any other country They composed indiscrmi-
nately of all professions and pursuits: OF farmers,
SS.yyics tnS sSorsrs and this not only among the
officers, but the private soldiers In the ranks Our
citizen soldiers unlike those OF any other country
In other respects They are armed and have been ac-
customed from their youth up to handle and use fire.
arms and large proportion Of them, especially In
the western and more newly states are expert
markemen. They are men who have reputation 10
maintain at home by their good conduct In the held
They are intelligent, and there Is an individuality Of
character which Ia found in the ranks Of NO other
army In battle, each private man, as we'll as every
officer fights not only for his country, but for glory
and distinction among his fellow.citizens when he
shall return to civil life. .
The war with Me xico has demonstrated not only the
ability of the government to organize numerous ar
nv upon sudden call but also to provide It with all
the munitions and necessary supplies with despatch,
convenience and ease, and to direct its operations
with efficiency. The strength Of our institutions has
not only been displayed in the valor and sk OF our
troops engaged In active service in the field but In the
Organization Of those executive branches which were
with the general direction and conduct OF the
var while too great praise cannot be bestowed upon
the officers aud men who fought our battles 1t would
be unjust to withhold from those officers necessarily
etaioned at home who charged with the duty OF
places with sill the munitions of war and other sup
niles 40 necessary to make It efficient the commenda-
ton 10 which they entitled The credit due to this
class of our officers the greater when IL Is considered
that no army ancient modern times was ever bet
ter appointed provided than our army In Mexico.
GENERATING In IN enemy's country removed TIVE thou
eand miles from the seat Of the fedeta government,
its different corps spread vast extent OF terrific
ry hundreds and even Thousands Of miller apart IRON.