The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellow Citizen, Of tie Senate

will DO hereafter referred 10 as marked
epoch in the history Of the world. While
we have been happily pIeserved from the
Of war, our domestic prosperity
has not been entirely uninterrupted. The
crops, In portions ofihe country, have been
nearly cut of. Disease has prevailed 10 o
greater ex,en, than usual, and the sacrifice
Of human life, through casualties by sea
and land. is without a parallel. But the
pestilencs has swept by, and restored "a.
lubriiy invites the absent 10 their homes,
and the return OF business 10 its ordinary
CHANNELS. 1.-THE earth has rewarded the
labor Of The husbandman less boun,ifully
than in proceeding seasons, il has left him
with abundance for domestic wants, and .
large surplus for expectation. In the pres.
snt, therefore, Is in the past. we find ample
grounds Tor reverent thank fulness 10 the God
of Grace and Providence, for His protecting
care and merciiul dealings with Us as a PEG.
pie.
Although our attention has been arrested
by painful interest in passing events ye, our
country feels no more Than the Sigh. con.
WILSON'S which have shaken Europe. AS
individuals, We cannot repress sympathy
with human suffering, nor regret for The
causes which produce il. As nation, we
are reminded tina, whatever interrupts the
peace, or checks The prosperity Of any Fart OF
Chiistendom, tends moe or less 10 involve
our own. The condition ot States is not un.
like that Of individuals. They are mutual
~ dependant upon each other. Amicable
relations between them, and reciprocal
good will. are 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 government, SO
early adopted and steadily pursued, Of avoid.
ins all changing alliances, has hitherto ex.
empied i, from many complications, in
which il would otherwise have become in.
volved. Notwithstanding this our clearly
defined and well sustained course OF action,
and our geographical position, SO remote
from Europe. increasing disposition has
been manifested. by some OF its govern
mepis, TO supervise, and, in certain respects,
to direct, our foreign policy. In plans for
the balance Of power among them.
selves, they have assumed TO take US into
account, aud would conslrain US 10 conform
our condpc, 10 their views. One or anoih.
CT Of the powers Of Europe has, from time
10 time, undertaken 10 enforce arbitrary
contrary in many respects TO
established principles Of international 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 tenn.
porary interests Of others may suggest
They do not admit, that the sovereigns Of
one continent, or Of a particular community
OF states, can legisla,e for all Others.
Leaving the transatlantic nations 10 adj.
Just their political system, in the way they
may think hes, for their common welfare,
the independent powers Of this continent
may we'll assert the right 10 be exempt from
all annoying Interference on their part
Systematic abstinence from intimate polit.
ical connection with distant foreign nations,
does not conflict with giving the widest
range TO our foreign commerce. This dis
faction, 50 clearly marked in history, seems
TO have been overlooked or disregarded, by
some leading foreign States. Our refusal
TO be brought within, and subjected 10, their
peculiar system, has, fear, created jeal.
Gus distrust OF our conduct, and induced,
On their part, occasional acts Of disturbing
effect upon our foreign relations. Our pres.
ant altitude and past course give assurances,
which should mol be questioned, that our
purposes are not aggressive, nor threaten
ing 10 the safety and welfare ofother nations.
Our military establishment, in time Of peace,
Is adapted 10 maintain exterior defences,
and 10 preserve order among the aboriginal
RIDES within the limits Of the Union. Our
naval force is intended only for The proiec-
ion Of our ciiizens abroad, and Of our com.
nerce, difiused a !! is, over all the seas oil
he globe. The government OF the United
States, being essentially pacific in policy,
stands prepared TO repel invasion by the
service Of a patriotic people, and
pFovides no permanent means OF foreign az.
erosion. These considerations should al.
lay all apprehension, that We are disposed
10 encroach on the rights, OF sndangsr the
Of other States.
Some European powers have regarded,
with disquie,ing concern, the territorial ex.
pansion Of the United States. This rapid
growth has resulted from the legitimate OK.
ercise Of sovereign rights, belonging alike
10 all nations, and BY many literally exer.
cised. Under such circumstances il could
hardly have been expected that those among
them, which have, within comparatively
recent period. subdued and absorbed ancien,
planted their standards on every
and now possess or claim the
control o. the islands Of every ocean Us their
appropriate domain, would look with IN
friendly sentiments upon the acquisitions
Of this country, in every instance honorably
obtained, or would feel themselves justified
in impu,ing our advancement 10 a spirit Of
aggression, or TO y passion Tor political pre-.
Oar foreign commerce has reached q
magnitude and extent nearly equal TO that
of the FIRST maritime power OF tho earth, and
exceeding that Of any other. Over ms
great interest, in which not only our mer.
chants, but all classes Of citizens, ut least
Indirectly, are concerned, il is the duty OF
The executive and legislative branches oil
The government ic exercise careful super
vision, and adopt proper measures Tor its
protection. The policy which l have had
IN view, in regard to this interest, embraces
It's future As well As its presen, security.
Long experience has shown that, in gen.
eral, when the principal powers Of Europe
are engaged in war, tho rights OF neutral
nations are endangered. This considera-
lion led, in the progress Of the war Of our
Independence, 10 the formation Of the cer
ehraled confederacy Of armed neutrality, Al
primary object OF which was. 10 assert the
doctrine, that FREQ ships make free goods,
sxcept in the case Of articles can,rabsnd OF
war: . doctrine which, from the very com.
OF our national being, has been
. cherished idea Of statesmen Of this coun.