Burlington tri-weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1852-1855, 1854-12-12

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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fs'lop Cisissss qf tie Senate @
and ths House &c Representatives.
The past has bsen IN evsntful year, and will b
hseeattes referred 70 g marked epoch IN the history
tsm the calsmi Of war, domestic prosperity has
pot been entirely uninterruptei The csot in por
ttoas Of the cosntry have been nearly or Disease
haspevailed TO greater extent than usual, and the
acriace ef human lie through cas.altes BY sea and
land, il without parallel. But The pegtlcnce has
swept by and resocd salabrty invites the absent to
their h0ness and ths RETURN Of basiDes - its ucdnay
ehanaeb II the earth has rewarded the labor Of the
husba1dnAn less bountlfuly than in preceding sea-
sons, it has left him With abundance for domestic
wants, and large surplus for expectation. In the
present. tbefoec il the past. 6nd ample grounds
1os thankfuines 10 the God Of Grace and Providence
for His protecting care and mcrcfu dealings with
Although our attention has been arrested BY painful
interest in passing events yet our country feels no
moro than the slight vibrationS of tho convulsions
which have shaken Europe. A. individuals, we can
for the causes which produce It, Az nation, We are
reminded that whatever inte rup the checks
the prosperity, Of any part Of Christendom, tends
more Or less, to involve our own. The condition OF
statssis not unlike that Of individuals. They arc mu
tualy dependent upon each other Amicabe relations
between Them and reciprocal good will, 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 al nations.
The wise theory of this government, so early adopt
ed and steadily pursued Of avoiding all entangling
alliances, has hitherto exempted it from many appl
cations, in which il would otherwise have become in
voved. Notwithstanding this clearly defined and
wellsustancd course Of action, and our geographical
position so remote from Enrope increasing disposition
has been manifested BY some Of its governments to su
pervse, and in some respects to direct foreign
policy. In plans for adjusting the balance Of power
among themselves they have assumed to take into
account and would constrain US to conform our con-
duct to their vews One or another of the powers OF
Europe has, from time to time undertaken to enfo &C
arbitrary regulations contrary in many respects to
established principles Of 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 s0veregns Of one continent, Of
particular community of States, can legslate for oil
others.
Leaving the transatlantic nations to adjust their
piitcal system, in the way they may think best fol
continent may we'll assert the right to be exempt from
al annoying interference their part Systematic
abstinence from intimate political connection with dis
tant foreign nations does not conflict with giving the
widest range TO our foreign commerce. This dstinc-
ton 80 clary marked in history seems to have been
overlooked, or dssregarded, BY some leading foreign
states. Our refusal to be brought within and sub
jected to their peculiar system, has, fear created
Jealous disrust Of conduct, and induced their
part occasional acts Of disturbing effect upon for
egn relations Our present attitude and past
give assurances which should not be Questioned that
our purposes are not aggressive nor threatening to the
safety and welfare OF other nations. Our military
Enlistment in time Of peace, is adapted to maintain
exterior deenses and to preserve order among the alb
original tribes within the limits Of the Union. Our
naval force il intended only for the protection of
citizens abroad, and of commerce, difused il
Is, all the seas of the globe. The government OF
the United States, being essentially pacific in policy
stands prepared to repel invasion ly the voluntary
service Of patriotic people, and provides perma
nent means Of foreign aggression. These considera
lions should alay ell apprehension, that we are dis
posed 10 encroach ON the rights endanger The
rity, If ether states.
Some EHF0Pean powers have regarded with Dispute
ting the territorial expansion Of the United
States. This rapid growth has resulted from the le
Ultimate exercise Of sovereign rights, belonging alike
to all nations, and by many literally exercised. I'm
der such circumstances it could hardly have been ex
pected that those among them, which have, within a
co nparatively recent period, subdued and absorbed
ancicnt kingdoms planted their standards on every
continent and possess claim the control Of the
islands of every ocean as their appropriate domain
would look with unfrendly sentiments apon tn &C
QUESTIONS Of this country in every instance honoraby
obtained, would feel themselves justified in impu
ing our advancement to spirit Of aggression or to
passion for political pred0mnance.
Our foreign commerce has reached a magnitude and
extent nearly equal to that Of the frs. maritime powe,
Of the earth and exceeding that Of any other Over
this great interest, in which not only merchants
but al classes of ctisens, ut least indirectly
cerned it 10 the duty of the executive and Legislative
branches to exercise car full supervision, and adopt
proper for its protection The policy which
have had in view, in regard to this interest," embra
ces its future as we'll rs its present security.
Long experience has shown that, in general, when
the principal powers Of Europe are engaged in war
the rights of neutral nations are endangered Th::
consideration, led in the progress of the war of in
dependence, to the formation Of the celebrated cor.
federacy Of armed neutrality, primary object oil
which was to assert the doctrine that free ships make
free goods except in the Of articles contraband
OF war; doctrine which, rom the very commence
ment of Our national being, has been cherished idea
Of the statesmen of this country At one period Oh
another, every maritime power has, by some solemn
treaty stipulation, recognized that principle; and il
might have been hoped that it would come to be uni
versally received and respected rule Of interna
tional law But the refusal Of one power prevented
this, and in the next great war which ensued that Of
the French revolution, it failed to be respected among
the bclligerent states Of Europe. Notwithstanding
this, the principle il generally admitted to be SOUND
and salutary much 30, that, at the commence
ment Of the existing war in Europe Great Britain
France announced their purpose to observe it for tho
present; not, however, as recognized international
right but q mere concession for the time being
The cooperation, however, Of these two powerful ma
rhine nations in the interest of neutral rights, ap
pearcd to ne to afford occasion, inviting and JUST
tying. the part of the United States renewed eff
fort TO make tho doctrine in question principle Of
International law by means of special conventions be-
tween the several powers OF Europe and America
Accordingly proposition, embracing not only the rule
that free ships make free goods except band ar
tices but also the less contested one that neutral prop
ery, other than contrabaEd, though on board enemy