Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fell0p citizens Of the Senate
and of the House of Representative,


will be herea tel re fsned 10 as a marked epoch
IN the history of the world. While we have
been happily preserved from the calamitirs of
war, our domestic prosperity has not been en-
.irely uninterrupted. The crops, in portions
Of the country, have been nearly cut OIL
Disease has prevailed 10 a greater extent than
usual, and the sacrifice of human life, through
casualties by sea and land, is without paral;
lel But the pestilence has swept by, and re-
stored SsaubTity invites the absent 10 their
homes, and the return Of business to IFS ord-
nary channels. If the earth has rewarded the
labors of the husbahdman less bountiiuly than
in preceding seasons, 1t has left him with
abundance for domestic wants, and large |,
surplus for expectation. In the present, there
fore, as in the past, we find ample grounds for
reverent lhankluness 10 the God Of Grace and
Providence, for His protecting care and mer
ci(ul deallngs 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 vibIa-
tions of the convulsiOns which have shaken
Europe. As individuals, We ca5Jol repress
sympathy with human Suffe Ihg, 'ioffegtet for
the causes which produce% Asa natiou,we
ale reminded, that wht avg interrupts the
peace, or checks tue prospefW, OF any part OF
Christtndom, tends, more otSess, 10 involve
our own. Yhe condIiio~of States is not un-
like that of indyd5aS. They are mutually
dependent upon each oaler. Amicable rea
tons between them, and rec iptocal good will,
are essential [or the promotion Of whatever is
Desirable in their moral, social, political con-
dition,I Hence it has been my earnest endeav
OF TO maintain peace and friendly intercourse
with all nations.
The wise theory Of this Government, so
early adopted and steadily perused, of avoid
inc all entangiing alliances, has hitherto eX-
empted it from many complications, IN which
! il would otherwise have become involved
| Notwithstanding this our clearly defined and
| ell-suStalned course of action, and our geo.
sraphical position SO remote from Europe, in.
CreaSing disposition has been manifested, by
some Of its governments, TO supervise, aud, in
certain respects, to direct our foreign policy.
| In plans for adjusting the balance of power
among themselves, they have assumed 10 take
us into account, and would conStTan us Ia
conform our conduct to their views. Ore Oh
another Of the powers of Europe has, from time
to time, undertaken to enforce arbitrary regu-
latons, contrary in many respect 10 establish
The United States have, in thetr foreign inter
course, uniformly respected and observed, and
they canno, recognize any such iIleIpolationS
therein, as the temporary Interests Of Others
may suggest. They Go not admit that the SOW
ereigns Of one continent, or OF a particular
community OF states can legislate for all others
Leaving the trans atlantic nations 10 adius
their political system in way they may iblnI
best for their common welfare, tie independ
ent powers of this continent may we'll asser
, the right to be exempt from all annoying in
: reference on thelr part. Systematic absti
, nence from intimate political connection witt
distant foreign nations does not conflict viii
giving the widest range to onr foreign com
merce. The distinction, so clearly market
g in history, seems to have been overlooked, 0
diSregarded, by some leading Ioyeign staleS.--
Our refusal 10 be brought within, and subject
' ed TO, their peculiar system, has, fear, crea
ted Jealous distruSt Of our conduct and in
, duced, on their part, occasional ACTS of dis
turbing effect upon cur foreign relations. Ou
present attitude and past course gives assn
RANGES, which should not be questioned, tht
our purposes are not aggressive, nor threaten
ing 10 the safety and welfare Of other natloI!
c Our military establishment in time Of peace
u is adapted 10 maintain exterior defenseS, an
u TO preserve order among the aboriginal tribe
: within the limits of the Union. Our nayf
force is intended only for the protection Of ou
citizens abroad, and Of our commerce, difluS
: ed, as il is, over all the seas Of the globe
= The Government Of the United States, bein
J; essentially pacfic in policy, stands p!eporo
.t 10 repeI invasions by the voluntary service {
|. a patriotic people, and provides no petma
nent means oi foreign aggression. TheS
! considerations shonld aIay all apprehension
that we are disposed 70 encroach on the nigh
J., or endanger The security, OF other states.
e e some European powers have regarded, wit
. diSqueting concern, the territorial expansio
OF the United States, This rapid growth hi
resulted from the legitimate exercise of soye
= eign rights, belonging alike to all nations, on
e by many literally exercised. Under sue
X circumstances, it could hardly have been eX
/ pected that those among them, which have
within a comparatively recent period, subdue
and absorbed ancient kingdoms, planted the
le Standards on every continent, and now po
y SeSs, or claim the control of, the islands of e.
!, cry ocean as their appropriate domain, wcu
= look with unfriendly sentiments upon The a
| QUESTIONS Of this country, IN every inStant
honorably obtained, or would feel lhenSelv'
justified in impu'ing our advancement to
spirit Of aggression or 10 passion for polilic
preeominance.
Our foreign commerce has reached magn
tude and extent nearly equal TO that OF Il
. first marantme power OF the earlh, and e
a ceeding that of any other. Over this gre
Or interest, in which not only our merchants, b
of all classes of citizens, at least indirectly, a
concerned, lis the duty Of the executive al
legislative branches of the Government to, e
erciSe a careful superviS on, and adopt prop
q measures for its protection. The policy whi
| have had in view, in regard 10 this intere
= embraces its future as well as its present 1
curity. sd 2I .s.a ro t,a1ets .-G
Long experience has shown that, in gene
RI: when The principal Powers OF Europe {
=, engaged in war, the right Of neutral nations
endangered. This consideration led, in
progesS OF the wsTof our independence, 10
formation Of the celebrated confede racy
armed neutrality, apIimaIy object of viii
was, TO assert the doctrine, that free shl
make free goods, except in The case of artic
fcontraband OF war; doctrine which from
very commencement Of our national bell
i has been cherished idea Of the Statesnlan
this country. At one period oranother,
lery maritime power has, by some SOLE
treaty stipulation, recognized that princip
q and it might have been hoped that it wo
come TO be universally received and respec
3 Iasia rule Of international law. But the re
y sui Of one power prevented this and in q
I, next great war which ensued,. that Of.
French revolution, it failed to be respec
among the belIigerent states Of Europe. N