Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FeHO'o citizens of the Senate

boe history OF tne WOfld. w hlle Wo have been
happily preserved from the calamities of war
our domestic prosperity has not been entirely
uninterrupted The crops, in portions of
the country, have been nearly cut of. Disease
has prevailed to greater extent than usual,
and the sacrifice of human life, through casual
tiles by sea and by land, is without a parallel.
But the pestllence has swept by, and restored
sllubrity invites the absent to their homes. and
the return OF business to It's ordinary channels.
Ii the earth has rewarded the labor of the bus-
bandman less bountifully than in preceding sea
sons, it has left him with abundance for domes
tic wants, and a large surplus for expectation.
In the present, therefore, rs in the rast. we
fad ample grounds for reverent tnankfelncss to
the God Of Grace and Providence, for His pro-
tectng care and mercifui dealings with us as
people ~ n
Although cur attention has been arrested BY
painful interest in passing events yet our couptpy
feels no more than the slight vibrations of thu
conlyuisionss which have shaken Europe. As
inassfdaais wscanaot repress synfpaLaay with
human suffering, nor regret for tie causes which
produce 1t, As nation, we arereminded, that
i whatever interrupts the peace, or checks the
prosperity, Of any part Of Christendom, tends,
more or less, tal Involve our own. The contli-
ton of states is not unlike that of individuals
They are mutually dependent upon each other
Amcable relati0nS between them, and recipro-
cal good will, are essential for the promotion Of
whatever is desirable in their moral, social, and
political condition. Hence, it has been my
earnest endeayor to maintain peace and friendly
intercourse with all nations.
The wise theory Of this government, SO early
adopted and steadily pursued, Of avoiding all
entang!ing alliances, has hitherto exempted it
from many complications, in which it would
otherwise have become involved. Notwithstand-
ing this our clearly defined and well sustained
course OF action, and oar geographical position
SO remote from Europe, increasing disposition
has been manifested, by some Of its governments,
to supervise, and, in certain respects, to direct
our foreign policy In plans for adjusting the
balance Of power among themselves, they have
assumed to take us into account, and would
constran US to conform our conduct to their
views. One or another of the powers of Eu-
rope has, from tine to time, undertaken to en-
force arbitrary regulations, contrary in many
respects to established princi pies of information
al law. That law, the United States have, in
their foreign intercourse, uniformly respected
and observed, and they cannot recognize any
such interpretations therein, as the temporary
interests of others may suggest They do not
% vS' Tr eommSt VI Of o' t"tes snis
late for all others.
thau snI ato, -; ~" ',~ @ tS 'I"'
tb;nI, i t'T". ba1 G' tGor WV o,Grs .hc inG:
ondan ,Ul o n go,i ao
sart tho oTtis " ho ',o "p'fnp"' -" mi
torg,ranna O., +bo;n
Sa, o'' 'oit @t' "yoYG''v r;
tUn ,',,l"?so oiY,.' d t'ne4 aat t
w. ;iost it'O uo'a . "op 'V;r raa ss'
Th;o J;st;"o i" aIo,UI. ULi nl,od ,o' ~ n;starv
10 h"rD h sD Wv
hr snn,n laad;nu f'ra, 0,r raGSnl ta
~ brn'nHt |";t1 asd s''h;no,od ~ tba;r M
ol;sr ssyto, haa faar oyoo,od ooJnns d;s.
t,nst % of an .nnJ,ot anS ;ndmcaj on thn;r
n,rt occos;c,aI acts or d;sturhnc effact man
anr s,,s;gn &c Iat;,,as 0ur nresont att;tpde
and nast cor,ss, - ,oi " oss,ror rcs. wI;cb sha,Id
Enot Eo opcstore3 fhat or, Tar,osa. ,,os.ag-
gress;ye' nov tbres toning 10 tbe snfety and wrl-
fare of other nations, Cur military estahjish-
ment, in time of peace, is adapted to mantain
exterior dcfcnces, and preserve order among the
aboriginal tribes within the limits Of the Union
Oar naval force IS intended only for the protec'
ton of our citizens abroad, and of our com
mercc diitused, as it is, over all the seas OF the
globe. The government OF the United States
being essentially pacific in policy, stands pre-
pared to repel invasion by the voluntary service
OF patriotic people, and provides no permC
. nant means of foreign aggression. These con
siderations should allay all apprehension thai
we are disposed to encroach on the rights, OF
endanger the security Of other states.
Some European powers have regarded, wiz!
dls4Gieting concern the territorial expansion 0
the United States This rapid growth has re
snlted nom the legitimate exercise OF sovcreigi
rights, belonging alike to all nations, and by
many literally exercised. Under such circum
s;4ncas, it could hardly have been expected thu
those among them, which have, within con.
paratively recent period subdued and abs1rlol
ancient kingdoms planted their standard on ever,
continent, and now possess, or claim the contro
Of, the islands of every ocean us their appGo
pirate domain, would look with nnfriendly san
tinents upon the acquisitions Of this country
in every instance honorably obtained, or woul,
feel themselves justified in imputng our advance
ment to spirit Of aggression or to a passion 70
political predomnance.
Our roro;,,,, oo,,,r,oroo bos r,,cbod - r,,.,,,;
+Jo ar,i ,,n,rIr o,,,ai ~ tbot or tn ra
or;,;,,,a ,,n',.n - thS oartS ond avcanc;no tho
81 an, ottor 0,ar t;s IN
~ o;l,, n,, ,,,atanta r. III olae,as ,r o;ti
no,s at Ioost ;rJ;ranti,, ~, oonaornoJ = ;s tb
dntv of Tho nronn,;ya and lon;slat;vo b,,nche
of ibo ,oyoruInont ~ eTaro;s1'a carof,l sn,,,
ys;n, o,d ndo,t rr1,or ,,,noa.,.,s rn. ;ts rr
8 taotion Tho to,iior FTSb;oh h.va had in xinw
: in regard to nj. ;nisrost embraces ;ts fn ture
,",iI % ;ts w sn-9 is, oGv'
Il "o.' 40 ':' P'e''"'
o Long experience has shown that wnen I'll
O principal powers OF Europe are engaged In wal
the rights OF neutral nations are enuangereC
This consideration LED, IN the progress OF ~
war oi anr 'aaependenoe, 70 tho formation =, F.
|. the ceieofatea conIsaefecy OF armeu neasrsii, !.
n primary ooect Oh Hnlch was, !" a ass'r' a,as' VI
doetrine' that ifee slpS MAKE iieg soo's' cAo'i
y IN the case OF articleS oontraoahu W war
doctrine which, rom tne very comnehce'nSl III
i of our national being, mas been q cherished lae