Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1856-12-11

come the main route between our Atlantic
ana racine possessions, over which multi
! 'udes OF our citizens and a vast amount of
property are constantly passing to the securi-
y ana protection of all which, and the con-
!lhuahce q OF the public advantages involved,
IL Is impossible for the government of the
United States to be indifferent.
have deemed the danger of the recurrence
OF scenes of lawless violence in this quarter
50 lmhllnent us to make it my duty TO sta
ton part of our naval force in the harbors
OF Panama and Aspinwall, in order to pro-
tect the persons and property of the citizens
OF the United States in those parts, and to
insure to them safe passage across the 18th.
mus. And it would, in nv Judgment. be
unwlse 10 withdraw the naval force now in
those ports, until, by the spontaneous action
OF tue republic Of New Granada, or other
wise, some adequate arrang ngement shall have
been made tor the protection and security of
line OF Inter-oceanlc communication so i'm
pOrtant at this time, not to the United States
only, but to all other maritime States, both
OF Europe and America.
Meanwhile, negotiations have been insti-
tuted by means of special commission, to
obtain from New Granada full indemnity
Tor injuries sustained by our citizens on the
lsthmus, and satisfactory security for the
general interests of the United States.
In addressing to you my last annual mes
sage, the occasion seems to me an arpropri-
ate one to express my congratulations in
view OF the peace, greatness, and felicity
which the United States now possess and
ENJOY. To point you to the state of the yari-
Gus departments Of the government, and Of
all the great branches Of the public service.
civil and military, in order to speak of the
intelligence and the integrity which pervades
the whole, would be to indicate but imper-
tectly the administrative condition of the
country, and the beneficial effects of that on
the general welfare. Nor would it suffice to
say that the nation is actually at peace at
home and abroad; that Its industrial interests
are prosperous; that the canvass of its mari
ners whitens every sea; and the plough of lis
hnsbandmen is marching steadily onward TO
the bloodieSs conquest Of the continent; that
cities and populOus states are springing up.
as II by enchantment, from the bosom Of our
western wilds: and that the courageous ener-
gy OF our people is making of these United
States the great republic of the world. These
results have not been attained without pass
ing through trials and perils, by experience
"
into manhood. Our forefathers were trained
to the wisdom which conceived, and the
courage which achieved independence, bv
the circumstances which surrounded them,
and they were thus made capable of the ere
alton Of the republic. 1t devolved on the
next generation to consolidate the work of
the revolution, to deliver the country entirely
from the influences Of conflicting transatlan-
tic partialities or antipathies, which attached
to our colonial and revolutionary history.
and to organize the practical operation of the
constitutional and legal institutions of the
Union. To US, Of this generation, remains
the not less noble task of maintaining and
extending the power of1he United States.-
We have, at length, reached that stage of the
national career in which the dangers to be
encountered and the exertions to be made.
are the incidents, not of weakness, but of
strength. In our foreign relations we have
to attemper our power to the less happy con-
dition of other republics in America and to
place ourselves in the calmness and conscious
dignity of right, by the side of the greatest
and wealthiest of the empires of Europe. In
our domestic relations, we have to guard
against the shock of the discontents, the am
bilious, the interests, and the exuberant, and
therefore sometimes irregular impulses of
opinion, or of action, which are the natural
product of the present political elevation, the
selfreliance and the restless spirit of enter.
prise of the people of the United States.
shall prepare to surrender the Executive
trust to my successor, and retire to private
life with sentiments Of profound gratitude to
the good Providence which, during the period
of my administration, has vouchsafed to car
ry the country through many difficulties,
domestic and foreign, and to enable me to
contemplate the spectacle of amicable and
respectful relations between our and all other
governments, and the establishment of con-
stitutional order and tranquility throughout
the Union.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Washington, Dec 2, 1856.