Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-12-16
The Presidents Message.


to the affairs of the country, clearly expressed
but in line of suggestion. it sticks closely
to wing policy and wing principles. The mes
sage fails, sadly, Of coming up to The times; it
is way back in the past, adhering to the old
exploded .doctfine of protection for projections
sake, and expressing no patriotic idea of the
present condition and the glorious future of
young and advancing America.
In relation 90 foreign affairs. the President
exhibits the same lameness that has character
lied The administration. This was expected
1t was not supposed the Pickering light of an
expiring administration in whose hands all
questions of foreign policy had become soon
fusion worse confounded," and were to be
thrown into the hands of the incoming democ-
racy for settlement, would reflect very bril-
liant glare. Tameness was inevitable. How
is it. With Great Britain we have been
brought at loggerheads on the fishery ques-
ton, because our claims W re foolishly surren-
dered; with Mexico the Tehuantepec question
is all unsettled; with Spain the Cuba question
is rendered more difficult of settlement by the
concessions Of the President and the recent I'M
wise publication of the official correspondence
the Sandwich Islands, offered US as a free gift
shrewd management of an administration ready
10 take the responsibility of accepting a prize
of such untold and heretofore such unappreci-
Bile value and the Japan and South American
questions, taken all together, present an
amount of work for the new administration,
far exceeding that ever turned over to new
hands by any set of unfaithful public servants.
The President looks upon the acquisition of
Cuba, if-vountarily coded by Spain, as most
desirable, if it were destitute of inhabitants, or
in a population, il coded now, of ga different
national stock That is the weakest anti Gu
ban argument we have seen. Contrast it with
the high Americanism of John Quincy Ad-
ans with all his shortcomings, ON the Cuba
question. Why did not Jefferson think of that
when he bought Louisiana with all its foreign
population If he had reasoned like Presi-
dent Fillmore, we should now have the longest
rivers in the world, but mouthless, because we
could not admit the French Spanish and Gre
ole population of Louisiana. The acquisition
of Florida was very unwise, according to Presi-
dent Fillmore; the national stock" was not
right. 1t appears that the President is partial
to Anglo Saxon blood. So was Gen. Scott
when he was "fred with Indignation
WHEN come 70 contrast sucn narrow
npiulpua Iyifh tho Opiniopa ornu.ad Nv ho
great lights of the democracy, it must be ap-
parent that President Fillmore has come on to
the stage ofbigh responsibility too late in the
day. The true doctrine is, the extension Of
republicanism over the continent. Let all
men, if they will, share in the glorious privi-
leges of free institutions. AS said Monroe, the
dostrine of the democracy now is, no European
interference ,cuh North american States. Such
an opinion makes up the patriotism and en-
thusiasm of every true American.
But the President refused, on application Of
England and France, to 90 into tripartite
convention with those powers, disclaiming all
intention on their part, and the part of the
United States, to obtain possession of Cuba
iS oHly hOHQef " US Is llldI Ilc TeSIuent
would not agree to it. He says he respectful
ly declined the proposition. How tame! A
defamation to such a proposition from such a
man as Andrew Jackson, would have been
likely to smack of "by the eternal" Our for
eign relations need overhauling. and the truck
ling policy of the present administration super
ceded by policy originating in the old spirit
of JEFF, rson, Jackson. or Polk. That the
country will find the man for the work in
Franklin Pierce, we have no doubt.
The President leans TO reciproca:e trade
with Canada. Here he is right, and shows
himself up with progress. He sticks with per-
brings out again the old objections 10 a demo-
cratic tariff. tariff under which the country
has reached The present high state of prospect
~ which he eloquently describes.
The President goes in for intervention
in its strictest sense, and cites for our warning
the offer OF succor to all nations struggling for
freedom by the National Convention of France
Although the administration was very much
alarmed at the Kossuth influence. we think
there is little danger of young America going
to the eastern continent to make much of a
fight. There is enough Intervention in the
new world to be attended to and the doctrine
of non intervention on the American continent
is theory just about old enough for explosion
As to domestic affairs, the President expa.
tiates in glowing language. AS he traces the
manifestations of the onward march of Ameri.
can enterprise, and the happiness of great
pt ople under the benefcent operation of free
government, he very properly warns up to en-
thusiasm. Here tameness ends. And yet he
does not seem to realize that the present favor
able condition of our country is the result Of
those very influences which his message con.
dennis. All that is great and honorable and
blessed in the Union ofto-day, is the result o.
democratic principle and democratic policy
Like religious and pious man, as we have nc
doubt the President is. he winds up by saying
that We owe 10 our Constitution and govern
ment these blessings. under the guide o.
Heaven; and comforting himself with the idea
that like Gen. Taylor, he has performed his
duty, he places bis signature to his last mes.
sage to the American people.
81 The new Postage Law provides for the
Carrying OF letters out of the mail, by Express
companies, agents, drivers, conductors, &c.
provided they are enclosed in a government
stamped envelope. The law at the same time
authorizes posimasters and government officials