Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-12-09
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL MESSAGE.
.IslSou-eittsei'' Of tie Senate n,


tory of fhe world While we have been hapPily
preserved from the calalnices Of war, our domesuc
t,rosperitv has not been entirely uninterrapteu Ac
crops in portions of the country, nave Deeh hetiH
r,,t OF disease has prevailed to greater extent
Than ust al and the sacrifice of human life, throNSh
casualties by sea and land, Is without paraieh ui
the pestience has swept by, and restore" SaNoisty
invites the absent to their homes, ana %nc 4etut" Va
business to its ordinary channciS Il tic e"Tts 'as
rewarded the labor of the huSbandnfaa less e9nht!-
fully than in proceeding seasons 1t has E MN Win
abundance for domestic warts and large surplus
for expectation. In thc present, therefore, as ~ M
past we find ample grounds for reEefent
~ the God of Grace and Providence, for his protcc-
ting care and naercifal dealings with US as people
Sltbouph DIR attention has beer arrested by pam
FIJI interest in passing events yet our coaht'S ieeiS
no more than the Slight vibrations OF the cohFni-
.;oos which have shaken Europe. As indlVlduaS,
Ne cannet reIress sympathy with human suHerlhe'
nor regret for the causes wAlca produce IT, As
nation we arc reminded, that whatever interrupt ,
the peace or Checks the prosperity, OF any part
1!hr;stendom tends more less. to involve ou
own The condition of states IS not uhitSe th"t o.
individuals They are mutually dependent upon
each ether, Amicab!e relations bet~eeIrtheip' All"
rec;nrocal GOOD WILL are essential for the promotion
Of whatever is desirable in their moral, Social anu
political condition. Hence it has been my earnest
endcavor to maintain peace and irlehay
with all nstions. Ill,
adopted and steadily pursued, of avoiding al en-
taneling alliances, has hitherto exempted 1t from
many complications, in which 1t would other"se
have become involved Notwithstanding tins our
clearly defined and Nesustained course OF acton,
and our geographical position so remote from EUROPE
increasing disposition has been manifested, by some
Of its governments to supervise, and IN certain re-
spccts to direct our foreign policy In plans lof
adjusting the balance OF power among themselves;
they have assumed to take us into account, ana
would constrain us to conform our conduct to ter
views. One another of the powers OF Europe mas
from time to time, undertaken to enforce arbitrary
regulations contrary in many resects 10
PRINCIPLES of international law. That law, the th'-
I'D States have in their foreign intercourse, UNIFORM
w respected and observed, ami they cannot rccoS-
ize any such interpretations therein, as the tempo
rary interests of others may suggest Ihey 40 nor
admit that the Sovcrelgns OF one continent, ol vi
particular community OF states lc:sisatc Tor all
others.
Leaving the trans atlantic nations to adjust their
political system, in the way they may think oest IL
their common welfare, The independent powers
this continent may we'll assert tao right TO BE- ca
empt from all annoying interference on their part.
Systematic abstinence from intimate political con-
nexon with distant foreign nations, does not co?hct
with giving the widest range to our ioTcign com
,neree This distinction, so clearly marked III h!stu-
~ seems have been overlooked, or dISeg@rdcu, ny
some leading foreign States Our refusal 10 be brought
within, and subject te, their peculiar system, HAS,
fear created Jealous diStrust OF conduct, ami
induced their part, occasional acts OF disturbing,
effect upon foreign relations. Our present att
tude and past course give assurances, which should
not be questioned that purposes are not agSrcS
siye threatening to the safety and welfare c.
other nations. Our military establishment, IN time
of peace is adaI tied TO maintain exterior defcncts,
and to preserve order among the aboriginal tribes
within the limits OF the Union. Our naval force Is
intended only for the protection citizens Abroad
and of our commerce. ditfused, it is all the
seas Of the globe The government OF the United
States being essentially pacific in policy stand pre-
pared to rcpel evasion by the voluntary service OF
patriotic people; and provides no permanent means
nhnSa hnuft al
allay ali apprehension, that disposed to
croach on the rights, or endanger the security OF
other States.
Some Eurccean powers have regarded, with DIS
quieting concesn, the territorial expansion of the
United States This rapid growth has resulted from
the legitimate exercise ofsOveregn 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, in
comparatively recent period, subdued and absorbed
ancient kingdoms. planted their standards every
contncnf, and now possess claim the control of,
the islands of every their appropriate do
main, woud look with unfriendly sentiments upon
the acquisitions of this country, i'll e"cry instance
hoDoraby obtained, or would feel themselves jLIsti-
fled in imputng our advancement to spirit Of ag-
erosion or to passion for political performance.
Our foreign commerce has reached magnitude
and extent nearly equal to tia of the first maritime
power of the EARTH and exceeding that Of any other
Over this great interest, in which not only
chants but all classes Of citizens, at least Indirectly
are concerned, it is the duty of the executive and It.
giSlative branches of the government to exercise
careful supervision and adopt proper measures for
it's protection. The policy which have had i'll view.
in regard to this interest," en- its future
as 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 endangered This
consideration led in the progress of the of our
independence, to the formation Of the celebrated
federacy OF armed neutrality, primary object of
which was, to assert the doctrine that free ships
make free goods except in the Of articles con-
traband Of war: doctrine which, from the very
commencement Of our national being, has been !:
cherished idea of the statesmen of this country At
one period or another, every maritime power has,
by some solemn treaty stipulation, recognised that
principle; and it might have been hoped that it
would come to be universally received and respect
cd as rule OF international law. But the refusal of
power prevented this, and in the next great war;
viii ensued, that of the French revolution it fail
ed to be respected among the beligerent States of
Europe. Notwithstanding this, the principle is gem
orally admitted to be sound and sautary ono; SO
much so, that at the commencement of the existing
war in Europe, Great Britain and France announced
their purpose to observe it for the present not how
ever, recognised international right, but as a
mere concession for the time being. The co-opera-
ton, however, of these two powerful maratme ma
toas in the interest of neutral rights appeared
to afford an occasion, inviting and justyng, the
part of the United States, renewed effort to make
the doctrine in question principle of international
law by means OF special conventions betwcca the
several powers OF Europe, aid America. According
", proposition, embracing not only the rule that
free ships make free goods, except contraband arti
cles but also the less contested one that neutral
other than contraband, though on board
the enemy's ships, shall be exempt from coniisca-
ton has been submitted by this government to those
OF Europe and America
Russia acted promptly in this matter, and con-