Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-13
,zcns Of the Senate

Eeltotc-cttizeRS Qf the Senate
and Of tie House Of Representatives.
The past has been an eventful year, and vii
be hereafter referred TO as a marked epoch Il
the history of The world. While we have beel
happily preserved from the calamities of war,ou
domestic prosperity has not aeen entirely unin
terrupted. The crops, in portions of the coun
try. have been nearly cut off Disease has pre-
vailed 10 a greater extent than usual, and tht
sacrifice of human life, through casualties b,
sea and land is without a parallel. But the
pestilence has swept by, and restored salubrltl
invites the absent to their homes, and the re
turn of business to its ordinary channels. L
the earth has rewarded the labor of the hus
;bandman less bountfulIy than in preceding
seasons. il has left him with abundance for do
mestic wants, and large surplus for eNporta
ton In the present, therefore. as IN the past
we find ample grounds Tor revereRt thanktulneSS
TO the God of Grace aud Providence, for His
protecting care and mercful dealings with us
as people.
Although our attention has been arrested by
painful interest in passing events yet our coun
try feels no more than the slight vibrations OF
the commissions. which have shaken Europe
As individuals, we cannot represS sympathy
with human suffering, nor regret for the causes
II.
ed. that whatever interrupts the peace, or
checks the prosperity of any part OF Christen-
dom. tends. more ur less, to involve our own.-
The condition of States is noi unlike that Of in
dividuals They are mutually dependent upon
each other Amicable relations between them,
and reciprocal good will are essential for the
promotion of whatever is desirable in their NOR
al. social and political condition. Hence, it
has been my earnest endeavor to maintain
peace and friendly intercourse witL all nations.
The wise theory of this government, 50 early
adopted and steadily pursued, of avoiding all
entansling alliances, has hitherto exempted 1t
from many complications, in which It wonld
Otherwise have become Involved. Notwlth-
standing this our clearly defined and well suS
tanned course of action, and our geographical
position so remote from Europe, increasing dis
position has been M infested, by some OF its
Governments. to supervise, and, in certain re
spects, 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 constrain MS to conform our
conduct to their views. One or anothar OF the
POWERS of Europe has, from time 10 time, un-
dertaken to enforce arbitrary regulations: con
trarv in many respects to established prncipleS
of international law. That law, the United
States have, in their foreign intercourse, uni
fornIv respected and observed and they can
not recognize any such interpretations therein
as the temporary interests OF others may suS-
gest They do not admit, that the soverelgnS
Of one continent, or ofa particular community
of states can legislate for all others.
Loavin, the tran, administrations to adjust
their political sysiem,in the way they may think
best for their common welfare, the Independent
E. assert
right TO be exempt from all annoying interfer
ence on their part Systematic abstinence from
intimate political connection with distant tor
eipu nations does not conflict with giving the
wieeSt range to o"r foreign commerce. Ihls
distinction, 50 clearly marked Ia history, seems
TO have been overlooked, or disregarded, by
some leading foreign States. Our refusal to
be brought within, and subjected to. their pc
cuiiar system has | fear, created Jealous dis
gust of our conduct. and induced, on their part,
occasional acts of disturbing effects upon our
foreign relations. Our present attitude and
past course give assurances, which should not
be questioned, that our purposes are not aggres-
sive nor threatening to the safety aud welfare
of other nations. Oar military establishment,
in time of peace, is adapted to maintain eXterl-
or defenceS, and to preserve order among the
aboriginal tribes within the limits of the Union.
Our naval force is intented only for the protec
ton of our citizens abroad. and of our commerce,
dffused, as it is, over all the seas of the globe.
The government of the United States, being
essentially pacific "a policy, stands prepared to
repel invasion by the voluntary service OF pat
riotic people, and provides no permanent means
of foreign aggression. These considerations
should allay all apprehension, that we are dis
posed to encroach on the rights, or endanger
the security of other States
Some European powers have regarded, with
disquieting concern, the territorial expansion
of the United States This rapid growth has
resulted from the legitimate exercise of sover-
eign rights, belonging alike to all nations, aud
bv many literally exercised. Under such CIR
cumstances. it could hardly have been expected
that those among them, which have, within a
recent period, subdued and alb
sorbed anceut kingdoms, planted their stand
ards on every continent, aud now possess, or
claim the control Of, the islands of every ocean
as their appropriate domain, would look with
sentiments upon the acquisitions of
Ibis country, in every instance honOrahly OBJ
taned or would feel themselves justified in
mputing our advancement TO a spirit of aggreS
sion or to passion for political predominance.
Our foreign commerce has reached magni,
u1e and extent nearly equal to that of the
first maritime power of the earth, and exceed
ng that of any other. Over this great interest,
n which not only our merchants, but all class
IS of citizens at least indirectly, are concerned,
t is the duty of the executive and legislative
branches of the government to exercise care.
ul supervision, and adopt proper measures for .
IS protection. The policy which | have had
n view, in regard to this interest, embraces its I
uture as we'll as its present security.
Long experience has shown that, in general, /
vhen the principal powers of Europe are en-
aged in war, the rights ofneutral nations are
ndangered This consideration led, in the
rogress of the war of our independence, to the i
,rmatioa ofthe celebrated confederacy of armed
sutrality, primary object Of which was, to
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