Washington telegraph., 1854-12-27
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
FezloD-Citisens Of the Senate,

will be hereafter referred to as marked
epoch in the history of the world While
we have been happily preserved from the
calamites 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 extent than usual, and the sacrifice
of human life, through casualties by sea
and land, is without a parallel But the
pestilence has swept by, and restored salu-
brity invites the absent to their homes, and
the return of business to its ordinary chan
nels If the earth has rewarded the labor
of the husbandmen less bountifully than in
preceding seasons. it has left with him abun-
dance for domestic wants, and large sur
plus for expectation In the present, there
fore, as in the past, we find ample grounds
for reverent thankfulness to the God of
Grace and Providence, for his protecting
care and merciful dealings with US as q pee
pie.
Although our attention has been arrested
by painful interest in passing events vet our
country feels no more than the slight yibra-
tions of the commissions which have shaken
Europe.
As individuals. we cannot repress sympa-
thy with human suffering, nor regret for
the causes which produce it. As nation,
we are reminded. that whatever interrupts
the peace, or checks the prosperity of any
part of Christendom, tends more or less
to involve our own. The condition of States
is not unlike individuals. They are mutu-
ally dependent upon each other 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. it has been nv
earnest eudeavor to maintain peace and
friendly intercourse with all nations
The wise theory of this government, 50
early adopted and steadily pursued Of avoid
ing all entangling alliances, has hitherto ex-
empted 1t from many complications, in
which it would otherwise have teeu involv-
ed. Notwithstanding this our clearly deGn-
ed and well sustained course Of action. and
our geographical position 50 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 eonstrain Us to conform our con-
duct to their views One or another Of the
powers Of Europe has, from time to time.
undertaken to enforce arbitrary regulations,
contrary, IN many respects, to established
principles Of international law That course,
uniformy respected and observed. and they
cannot recognize any such interpretations
therein, as the temporary interests of others
may suggest. They do not admit that the
sovereigns of one continent, or of partc-
ular community of States, can legislate for
al. others
Leaving the transatlantic nations to ad-
Just their political system, in the way they
may think best for their common welfare,
the independent powers of this continent
may we'll assert the right to be exempted
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
tinction, so clearly marked in history seems
to have been overlooked, or disregarded, by
some foreign States. Our refusal to be
brought within. and subjected to. their Pc
culiar system, has, fear, created Jealous
distrust of our conduct. and induced, on
their part, occasional acts of disturbing ef-
feet upon our foreign relations. Our pre-
sent attitude and past course give assuran-
ces, which should not be questioned, that
our purposes are net aggressive, nor threat
ening to the safety and welfare of other ma
tons. Our military establishment. in time
of peace is adapted to maintain exterior de-
fences, and to preserve order among the ab-
original tribes within the limits of the
Union. Our naval force is intended only
fo- the protection of our citizens abroad,
and of our commerce, diffused as it is, over
all the seas of the globe The government
of the United States being essentially pa
cifc in policy, stands prepared to repel in
invasion by the voluntary service of a pa
triotic people, and provides no permanent
means of foreign aggression. These consid-
erations should allay all apprehension, that
we are disposed to encroach on the rights
Or endanger the security of other States
Some European powers have regarded,
with disquieting concern, the territorial ex.
pansion of the United States This rapid
growth has resulted from the legitimate ex-
ercise of sovereign rights, belonging alike
to al. nations, and BY many literally exer-
clsed. Under such circumstances, it could
have hardly been expected that those among
them. which have, within comparatively
recent period. subdued and absorbed ancient
Kingdoms, 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
unfrlendly sentiments upon the acquisitions
OF this country. in every instance honorably
obtained or would feel themselves justified