The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fello,o-citizens Of the Senate

Fello,1-citizens Of the Senate
and of The House Of Representatives.:
The pasthas been an eventful year. and
will be hereafter referred 10 as marked
epoch in the history Of the world. While we
have been happily preserved from the calami-
ties of war, our domestic prosperity has not
been entirely uninterrupted. The crops, in
portions of the country, have been nearly cut
of. Disease has prevailed to greater extent
than usual, and the sacrifice of human life,
through casualties by sea ard land, is without
parallel. But the pestilence has swept by,
and restored salubrity invites the absent to
their homes, and the return of business to its
ordinary channels. II the earth has rewarded
the labor of the husbandman less bountfully
than in preceding seasons, il has left him with
abundance for domestic wants, and a large
surplus for expectation. In the present,
therefore, 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 people.
Although our attention has been arrested
by painful interest in passing events, yet our
country feels no more than the slight vibra-
tons of the cOnvulsions 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, 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 un-
like that of individuals. They are mutually
dependent upon each other. Amicable rela-
tions 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 in
tercourse with all nations.
The wise theory Of this government, so
early adopted and steadily pursued, of avoid
ing all entangling alliances has hitherto ex-
empted it from many complications, in which
it would otherwise have become involved
Notwithstanding this our clearly defined and
well sustained course of action, and our geo.
graphical position so remote from Europe,
increasing disposition has been manifested by
some of its governments, to supervise, and,
in some respects, to direct, ou- foreign policy.
In plans for adjusting the balance of power
among themselves, they haveassumed to take
us into account, and would constrain us to
conform our conduct 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 law the United States have, in their
foreign intercourse, uniformly respected and
observed, and they cannot recognise any such
interpretations therein, as the temporary in
terests of Others may suggest They do not
admit, that the soveregns of one continent,
or of particular community Of States, can
legslate for all others.
Leaving the transatlantic nations to adjust
their political system in the way they may
think best for their common welfare, the in
dependent powers of this continent may well
assert the right to be exempt from all annoy
ing interference on their part. Systematic
abstinence from intimate political connection
with distant foreign nations does not conflict
with giving the widest range to our foreign
commerce. This distinction, so clearly mark
ed in history, seems to have been overlooked
or disregarded by some leading foreign states
Our refusal to be brought within and sub
jected to their peculiar system, has, l fear,
created jealous distrust of our conduct, and
induced on their part occasional acts of dis
turbing effect upon our foreign relations. Our
present attitude and past course gives assu-
RANGES which should not be questioned, that
our purposes are not aggressive nor threaten
ing to the safety and welfare of other nations.
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 for the protection of
our citizens abroad, and our commerce, diffus-
ed as ii is, over all the seas of the globe
The Government of the United States being
essentially pacific in policy, stands prepared
to repe invasion by the voluntary service of
a patriotic people, ard 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
dsquietng concern the territorial expansion
of the United States. This rapid growth has
resulted from the Legitimate exercise of SOW
ereign rights, belonging alike to all nations,
and by many literally exercised. Under such
circumstances, it could hardly have been ex-
pected that those among them, which have,
wlth'n comparatively recent period, subdued
and absorbed ancient Kingdoms, planted their
standards on every continent, and now pos.
sess, or claim the control of, tho islands of
every ocean, as their appropriate domain
would look with uniriendy sentiments upon
the acquisitions of this country, in every in.
stance honorably obtained, or would feel
themselves justified in imputing our advance
ment to spirit of aggression, or to passion
for political predominance.
Our foreign commerce has reached mag
nitude and extent nearly equal to that of the
first maritime power of the earth, and exceed
ing that of any other. Over this great inter-
est, in which not only our merchants, but all
classes of citizens at least indirectly, are con-
cerned, il is the duty of the executive and
Legislative branches Of the government to ex-
ercsc careful supervision, and adopt proper
measures for It's protection. The policy which
have had in view, in regard TO this interest,
embraces its future as we'll us its present
security
Long experience has shown that, in gener.
al, when the principal powers of Europe are
engaged in war, the rights of neutral nations
are endangered. This consideration led, in
the progress Of the war of our Independence,
to the formation Of the celebrated confedca-
cy of armed neutrality, primary object of
which was, 10 assert the doctrine, that free