The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-12-13
President s Message.

will be hereafter referred to as marked
expose in the history of the world. Will
we have been happily preserved from tn
calamities of war, our dom este prosper
ity has not been entirely uninterrupted
The corps In portions of the country
have been nearly cut off; disease ha!
/ prevailed to greater extent than usual
and the sacrifice of human life through
casualties by sea and land is without g
parallel. But the pestilence has swept
| by, and restored salubrity invites the
absent to return to their homes, and the
return of business to its ordinary chan
Eels.
Ifthe earth has rewarded the labor oi
the husbardmen less bountifully than in
proceeding seasons, it has left him with
abundance for domestic wants and large
surplus for exportaiioG, in the present,
therefore, as in the past we lind umpie
grounds for reverent thankfullness to the
God of grace aud providence for his pro-
tecting 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 vibrations of
the convulsions which have shaken
Europe as individuals we cannot re-
press sympathy 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
that of individuals; they are mutually
dependent on each others amicable seda-
tives. Between them reciprocal good
will is essential for the promotion of
whatever is desirable in their normal,
social ard political condition. Hence it
has been my earnest endeavor to main
tain peace and friendly intercourse with
all nations The wise theory of this
government, so early adopted and stead
ily pursued, of avoiding all entangling
alliances, has hitherto exempted it from
many complications in which it would
otherwise have become involved. Not
withstanding this, our clearly defined
and we'll sustained course of action, and
our geographical position, so remote
from Europe, increasing disposition has
been manifested by some of its govern
.ments 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, or would con-
strain US to conform orr conduct to
their views. One or another of the
powers of Europe has from time to time
undertaken to enforce arbitrary regala-
tions, contrary in many respects to es-
tablished principles of international law.
That law the United States have, in
their foreign intercourse, uniformly re-
spected and observed, and they cannot
recognize any such interpretations therein
as the temporary interest of others may
suggest They do rot admit that the
sovereigns Of one continent, or of
particular community of States, can
legislate for all others, Leaving the7
trans Atlantic nations to adjust Their ]
political systems in the way they may |
think best for the common welfTe, the
independent powers of thisHcontinent
may well assert the rightsto be exempt |
from all annoying Interference on their
part. Systematic ysSstinence from init
mate political Connection with distant |
foreign natioDs does net conflict with |
giving the yfdest range to our foreign |
commercG This distinction, so clearly
ma3ea history, seems to have been |
oystfoked or disregarded by soE-e lead
ng foreign States. Oar refusal to be |
brought within and subjected to their
peculiar systems, has, fear, created a
Jealous distrust of our conduct, and in
duced on their part occasional acts of |
-, "a. .o+<
Our present attitude and past course
give assurances which should not be
questioned that our purposes are not
aggressive, nor threatening to the safety
and repose of other nations. Our mill
tary establishment in time of peace is |
adapted to maintain exterior defenses
and to preserve order among the abort
ginal tribes within the limits of the |
Union Our national forces are only in
tended for the protection of our citizens
abroad, and of our commerce, diffused
as 1T Is, over all the seas of the globe.
The government of the United States |
being essentially pacific in policy, stands
prepared to repel invasion, by the vol
untary services of a patriotic people,
and provides no permanent means of
foreign aggression, these considerations
should allay all apprehension that We
are disposed to encroach on the rights or
sndanger the security of other States.
Some Europeans have regarded with
concern the territorial ex-
oansion of the United States. This
rapid growth has resulted from the le-
climate exercise of sovereign rights,
belonging alike to all nations and by
many literally exercised.
Under such circumstances it could
hardly have been expected that those
among them which have, within COM
paritively recent period, subdued and
absorbed them ancient kingdoms, planted
their standards on every continent and
now possess or claim the control of the
islands of every ocean as their appropri
ate domain, would look with unfriendly
sentiments upon the acquisitions of this
country in every instance honorably OBJ
5ained, or would feel themselves justified
in imparting our advancement to spirit
Of aggression or to passion for political
Our foreign commerce
has reached a magnitude and extent
nearly equal to that of the first maritime
power of the earth and exceeding that
Of any other power. This great interest
IN which not only our merchants, but
all classes of citizens, at least Indirectly
are Concerned. It is the duty of the
Executive and Legislative branches of
the Government to exercise careful
supervision and adopt proper measures
for its protection.