Demoine courier., 1854-12-21
Presidents Message.
felloW Citizens ofthe Senate

Woiiu. ME we nave Oeen napplly
preserved from the calamiiies OF war,
our domestic prosperity has not been en-.
slrely uninterrupted. The crops, in por-
sions Of the country have been nearly Gu,
off. Disease has prevailed to greater
extent than usual. and the sacrifice Of hu.
man life through casualties by sea and
land, is withou, parallel. But the pes.
thence has swept by; and restored sslu-
brity invites the absent to their homes.
and the return Of business to its ordinary
channels. If the earth has rewarded
the labor Of the husband man less boun
slfuliy than in preceding seasons. it has
lefs him with abundance for domestic
wants, and large surplus for exporta.
tasion. In the presen', therefore. as in
Ihe past, we find ample grounds for
thankfulness TO the God of Grace and
Providence, for his protecting care and
merciful dealings with us as people.
Although our attention has been ar.
rested by painful interes. in passing
events. yet our country feels TO more
than the slight vibrations of the convul-
sions which have shaken Europe. As
individuals, we cannot repress sympathy
with human suffering, nor regret for the
causes which produce it. As nation.
we are reminded, ,ha, whatever inter.
rupts the peace, Or checks the prosperity
of any par! OF Christendom, tends, more
or less, TO involve our own. The condi.
ton of States is NOT unlike that of indi.
vlddals. They are naturalls dependent
upon each olher. Amicable relations
between them. and reciprocal good will,
are essential for the promotion of what.
ever Is desirable in their moral. social
and political condition. Hence il has
been my earEes. endeavor to maintain
peace and friendly intercourse with all
nations.
The wise theory of this government,
SO early adopted and steadily pursued,
OF avoiding all entangliRg alliances, has
hitherto exempted i. from many compli.
cations, III which i. would have other.
wise become involved. No,withstand.
ing this our clearly defined and well sus.
tained course of action, and our geo.
graphical position SO remote from Eu-
rope, increasing disposition has been
manifested by some OF its governments,
to supervise, and in some respects, 10 d.
rect our foreign policy. In plans for ad.
jusiing the balance of fpoveramong them
selves, they have assumed to take us in.
to account, aud would cons,rain us to
conform our conduct TO their views
One or another of lhe. powers of Europe
has, from time to time, undertaken to en-.
force arbitrary regulations contrary, in
many respects, TO established principles
of international law. That law, the u
nited States. have in their foreign inter-
course, uniformly respected and observ-
ed; and they cannot recognize any such
interpretations sherein, as the tenn porary
interests of others may suggest. They
do not admit, that the sovereigns of one
continent, or of particular community
of States, can legislaie for all others.
Leaving the trans atlantic nations to
adjus, their political system in the way
they may think best for their common
welfare. the independent powers of this
continent may well assert the right 10 be
exemp, from all annoying interference
on their part. Systematic abstinence
from intimate political connexion with
distan, foreign nations, does not conflict
with giving i, the wides, range TO our
foreign commerce. This distinction. so
clearly marked in history, seems to have
been overlooked, or disregarded, by some
leading foreign States. Our refusal to
be brough, within and subjected to their
peculiar system, has, fear, created a
jealous distrust of our conduct, and in
duced, on theii part, occasional acts o.
disturbing effec, upon our foreign rela.
sions. Our present attitude and past
course give assurances, which should
not be questioned, that our purposes sre
not aggressive, nor threatening TO the
safety and welfare of other naiions.-
Our military establishment. in time OF
peace. is adapted to maintain exterior
defences, and TO preserve order among
the aboriginal tribes within the limits OF
the Union. Our naval force is Intended
only Tor the protection OF our citizens
abroad, and of our commerce, diffused,
as it is, all over the seas of the globe
The government of the United Slates,
being essentially pacific in policy, stands
prepared to repel invasion by .he yolun.
tary service Of patriotic people, and
provides no permanent means of foreign
aggression. These considerations should
allay all apprehension that we are dis
posed 10 encroach on the rights, or en-
danger the security. Of other States.
Some European powers have regard
ed with Cisquieting concern the terrific.
rial expansion of the United States. -
This rapid growth has resulted from the
legitimate exerciss of sovereign rights.
belonging alike to all nations, and by
many literally exercised. Under such
circumstances il could hardly have been
expected that those among them. which
have, within a comparatively recent Pc
riod, subdued and absorbed ancient king
doms, planted their standards on every
continent. and now possess or claim the
control OF the islands of every ocean as
their appropriate domain, would look
with unfriendly sentiments upon The &C.
n u