Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-12-12
49,. -. PRESIDENTS @
M ESS AGE.
Ttllolc Citizens 81 4ke Senaa..l -, 8lfHo5
House of Repyesensat,

a.
Aod, the Representatives Of the States, and the
EeOP'e are again brought together to deliberate for
we public good. The gratitude Of the Nation In
the Sovereign Arbiter Of hufrian events should be
Sommensurate with the bounteous blessings which
We ENJOY. Peace, plenty and contentment reign
tAfcos lf6tt OuV borders, and our beloved country
pfeeenta sublime and moral spectacle 20 the
world. - 60 s'''o'O ~ '"e
q The troubled and unsettled condition of so,re NJ
che principal European powers has had a necesss-
~ tendency to check and embarrass trade. and ~
depfeD prices throughout the commercial nations.
s1ut not withStanding these causes the United
State with their abundant products have felt tbeir
effects less severely than any other country. md
ressfuI. ,--s = - = ''''O '''-
Z An reviewing the great events of the wear, and
contrasting this aHtated and distracted state Of
other countries with our own tranquil and happy
condition, we may congratulate ourselves that we
NRe ehe most favored people on the face of the
rerth. While the people of other countries are
struggling to establish free institutions under
which man may govern himself we are in tho
actual enjoyment Of them; rich inheritance from
our fathers. r,r,e-r ga. r- -.....
While enlightened nations of Europe are con-
Vulsed and distracted by civil war or intestine
strife we settle all Political controversies nv
the powerful exercise of the right of freenen at
we ballot box. The great Republican maxim so
deeply engraved on the hearts Of our people, that
the will OF the majority constitutionay expressed
shall prevail, is our sure safeguard against force
and violence. 1t is q subject of just pride that
our fame and character as a nation, continues
rapidly to advance in the estimation of the civilized
world To wise and free institutions il is to be
attributed, that while other nations have achieved
glory at the price Of the suffering, distrcss and
impOvenshment of the people, we have won our
honorable position in the midst of an unnterrupt-
ed prosperity, and Of an increasing individual COM
feFf and hSpIgineaa ...F .......
am happy to inform You that our relations with
all nations, are friendly and pacific. Advanta-
geous treaties of commerce have been concluded
within the Iastfour years with New Grenada, Pc
IA, the two Sicilies, Belgium. Hanover. Oidsn-
burgh, Mecklenburgh, and Schwerin Pursuing
our example, the restrictive system CT Great Brit.
ham, our principal foreign customer, has been relax
o, more liberal commercial police has been
adopted by other enlightened nations, and our
trade has been greatly enlarged aud extended.
Our country stands higher in the respect of the
world than at any other period. To continue to
occupy this PfoEd position, il is only rrecessatv to
preserve peace, and faithfully adhere to OCT great
and fundamental principle of our foreign policy, of
non-intererence in the domet tic concerns of other
nations. We recognize in all nations the right
which we enjoy ourselves, to change and reform
their political institutions according to their own
Will pleasure Since we do not look beyond
existing governments, capable of maintainp their
own authority. we recognize all such actual gov
ernments not only from the dictates of true policy
but from q sacred regard for the independence Of
nations.
While this is our settled policy, it does not fol-
low thatwe can ever be Indifferent spectators of
the progress of liberal <princplcs.-The govern
mont and people of the United States hailed with
enthusiasm and delight the establishment of the
French Republic, az we now hail the efforts in
progress to unite the States of Germany as con-
federation, similar in HEHny respects to our own
FEDERAL Union. If the great and enlightened
herman States. occupying as they DO central
ana commanding position in Europe, shall sue
eeed IN establishing such confedernted Govern
mont, securing at tho same time to the citizens of
zach state local governments adapted to the De-
b cular condition of each, with each other it will
DO an Important era in the history of human
events Whilstit will consolidate and strengthen
the power ct Germany, it must essentially pro-
2 mote the cause OF peace, commerce, civilization
and constitutional Liberty throughout the world.
With q the governments on the continent our
relations Il 10 believed, are now on more frenTI-
" and satisfactory footing than they have ever
d been at any former period. f...-'.... ..-.|
Since tho exchange of ratification of the Trea-
" of Peace with Mexico, our intercourse with the
government of that Republic has been of the
most friendly character. The Envoy Extraordina-
~ and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States to Mexico, has been received and accredi-
ted, and diplomatic representative from Mexico
o. similar rank has been received aud accredited
: hy this government. The amicable relations be-
tween the two countries, which had been sus-
pended, have been happily restored, and are des-
GAed, trust, to be long preserved The two
Republics both situated on this Continent and
with contiguous territories, have every motive
Of sympathy and interest to bind them togethezin
perpetual amity. ~ --...t 1921
- This gratifying condition Of our Foreign ReIa-
tons renders it unnecessary for me TO call your at
tention more especially TO them. -- -'.-.
II has been my constant aim and desire 70 cult.
Vate peace and commerce with all nations; tran.
qulity at homo and peaceful relations abroad con,
etitnte che tsne permanent policy of cur country,
war, tho scouEge of nations sometimes becomes
inevitable but Is always to be avoided when il
can be consistently with the rights and honor of
tho nation. esis'E zai:cwa - b Er
2 Ono OF the most important results Of the war
into which we were recently forced with a neiyh.
bceng nation, 10 the demonstration il has afforded
% the military strength Of our country. Before
We late war with Mexico, European and other
Foreign powers entertained imperfect and errone.
Gus We've of our physical strength as nation.
and Of our ability to prosecute war, and especial.
~ war waged out of our own country Thew
. saw that our standing army on the peace estab-
lishmeut did mot exceed 10000 men. Accustom-
ed % maintain in peace large standing armies for
the protection OF their thrones against their own
subjects, as well AZ against foreign enemies. they
had not conceived the idea that L was possible Tor
Z cation without such an army, well disciplined
= and Of long service to wage war successfully,
They held in low repute our militia, and were fal
from regarding them as an effective force. unles.
~ q might be for temporary defensive operation.
d when ;nvaded on our own SOIL The events O.
the Mexican war have not only undeceived them
bat have removed erroneous impressions which
have prevailed 70 some extent among a portion o
q onfiown countFymen.l That It has been demon
reted that On the breathing Of hostlities not an
tieipeted, aud for which no previous preparation
bad been MADE q volunteer army Of citizen sol
defs equal 70 vettan troops, and in numbers equa
= % any emecgeney can in short period b
gss hegneht into the held. Unlike what would hhv