The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


epoch in the history of the world While we
have been happily preserved from the ca.
lamities of war, our domestic prosperity has
not been entirely uninterrupted The crops
IN portions Of the country have been nearly
cut off; disease has prevailed to greater ex.
tent than usual, and the sacrifice of human
life through casualties by sea and land is
without parallel. But the pestience has
swept by, and restored salubrity invites the
absent to return to the ir homes. and the re-
tnrn of business to its ordinary channsls.
Ii the earth has rewarded the labor of the
husbandman less beautifully than in prece.
ding seasons, il has left him with abundance
for domestic %ahls and a large surplus for
expectation. In the present, therefore, as in
the past, we find ample grounds for reverent
thanklulness to the God of grace and pr vi
dence for his protecting cure and merc)ul
dealings with us as people. Although our
attention has been arrested by psintu inter-
est in passing events, yet our country feels
no more than the Slightyibrations Of the con-
Vu1sions which have shaken Europe; as in
,dividuals we cJnnot repress sympathy with
human suffering nor regret for the causes
which produce it. AS nation we are re-
minded that whatever interrupts the peace
or checks the prosperity Of cliristcndom
tends more or less to involve our own.
The condition of States is not unlike that
of individuals; they are mutually dependent
on each other. Amicable relation between
them, and reciprocal good will is essential for
the promotion of whatever is desirable in
their moral, social and political condition.
Hence it has been my earnest endeavor to
maintain peace and friendly intercourse with
all nations The wise theory Of this gov
eminent, so early adopted and stc1diIy pur-
sued, OF avoiding all entangling alliances.
has hitherto exempted it from muny oompli-
cations in which it would otherwise have be-
come involved. Notwithstanding this, our
Gle arly defined and well sustained course of
action, and our geographical position, SO re-
mote 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, or
would constrain Us to conform our conduct
to their views. One or another of the pow
ers of Europe has from time to time under
taken to enforce arbitrary regulations CON
trary in many respects 10 established princi-
pies of international law. That law the
United States have, in their foreign inter-
course, uniformly respected and observed.
and they cannot recognize any such inter
polatons therein as the temporary interest
of others may suggest. They do not admit
that the sovereigns of one continent, or of Il
particular community OF States, can Icgis.
late for oll others. Leaving the trans-Atian- !
tic nations to adjust their political systems in /.
the way they may think best for the common
welfare, the independent powers of this con-
tinent may we'll assert the right to be exempt
from all annoying Interference on their part .
Systematic abstinence from intimate politi- .
cal connection with distant foreign nations. !
does not conflict with giving the widest
range to our foreign commerce. This dis
finction, SO Clearly made in history, seems
to have been overlooked or disregardcd BY
some leading foreign States. Our refusal to
be brought within and subjected to their pc
cullar systems, has, fear, created jealous
distrust of our conduct, and induced on their
part occasional acts Of disturbing effect on
our foreign relations.
4 Our present attitude and past course give
assurances which should not be Questioned
that our purposes are not aggressive, nor
~ tiS oulSlJ uuu ltPOoG vi UliCT
nations. Our military establishment in time
Of peace is adapted TO maintain exterior de-
fenses and to preserve order among the abo-
riginal tribes within the limits of the Union. +
Our national forces are only intended for
the protection of our citizens abroad, and Of
our commerce, dif'used as it is, over ali the
seas of the globe. The government of the
United Suites being essentially pacific in
policy, stands prepared to repel invasion, by
the voluntary services of a patriotic people, [
and provides no permanent means Of foreign :
These considerations should al s
lay all apprehension that We are disposed to {
encroach on the rights or endanger the secur- i
Ey Of other States. Some Europeans have t
regarded with disquieting concern the terri
torial expansion of the United States. This S
rapid growth has resulted from the legitimate {
exercise of sovereign rights, belonging alike t
% all nations and by many l!bera!ly cxcreis-
Under such circumstances it could hardly I
lave been expected that those among them |
which have, within comparatively recent q
period, subdued andA absorbed ANCIENT t
Sngdoms, planted their standards on every t
and now possess or claim the con- {
rol of the islands OF every ocean as their {
domain, would look with un- f
friendly sentiments upon the acquisitions of a
his country in every instance honoraby OBJ t
aimed, or would feel themselves justified in b
our advancement to spirit of ag- h
,ression or to a passion for political predom- v
nance. Our foreign commerce has reached d
! magnitude and extent nearly equal to that Il
If the first maritime power Of the earth and Fl
that of any other. Over this s
,reat interest in which not only our mer- h
hants, but all classes of citizens at eastin- S
lirectly are concerned, it is the duty of the b
Executive and Legislative branches of the t
government to exercise q careful supervi- a
ion and adopt proper measures for its pro- 0
ection.
The policy which have had in view in II
egard to this interest embraces its future as d
veil as its present security. Long expert c.
nee has shown that in general when the c.
flnciple powers Of Europe are engaged in je
Var, the rights of neutral nations are en- Fl
angered. This consideration led in the pro-
ress OF the War Of our independence to the c.
Of the celebrated confederation of S,
rnied neutrality. A primary object of which d
'as to assert the doctrine that free shipsf I
rake free goods, ,exceptin the case of arti- W
les contraband OF war;, a doctrine which ii
rom the very commencement of our nation N
beginsing has been cherished idea OF II
lie statesman of this county AT one peri q,
dor another, everv mafatiue power has bv re