The times., 1898-06-19
MESSAGES OF THE PRESIDENTS.
Compiled by the Hon. James Id.
Richardson of Tennessee.

Richardson OF Tennessee.
There is no more interesting reading
| for the student of American history than
the papers of the early Presidents The
thoughts. opinions and recommendations
thereon expressed, are. perhaps, more
| eagerly sought today than ever before
not because the Chief Magistrates of the
newly established Government are so far
removed from our time or that the hap
penlngs Of their days were fraugh5 with
more Importance to the people than our
own. but for the reason that the great
struggle in which the country Is now en-
gagged naturally prompts Us TO consider
their counsel and advice.
1t is fortunate. indeed. that Mr.. Rich
ardson's work Message and Papers
of the Presidents" has been printed a.
this particular time, for, strange as It
may seem, the Government archives do
not possess many of the messages and
procIamations which are contained in
his compilation. While the war which =
being waged between the United States
and Spain has presented questions Of the
| grayest importance 10 the Chief Execu-
| tive, yet careful perusal OF the Presi-
| dents messages will convince the reader
I that the complications arising from the
/ present conflict are equaled. II not sur
I passed, by the periIs which confronted
I the earlier Presidents Of the Republic
| 1t is not the purpose OF this article 70 dis
/ cuss the wars in which the United States
I have participated, or 70 attempt TO re-
/ view the policy OF the Government since
/ its foundation, but rather 20 point out 10
the students Of history the messages
containing the subjects which are suggest
ed BY the present struggle.
Giancing hastily at the thrilling events
which have demanded the attention of
I our forefathers. our eyes first rest upon a
/ point nearly nineJy-eight years ago AT
/ that tine the young Republic was enjoy
/ ing the blessings Of peace and prosperi-
I ty little dreaming that the course OF a
| few months would find IL directing hos
! tilities against Tripoli and Algiers. and
| shortly thereafter Tor the second time
I precipitated into war with Great
/ Britain. The messages Of Presidents JEFF
] fersOn and Madison at this time are es-
! pecially interesting. The latter when
| transmitting the treaty OF peace, among
! other things said:
/ While performing this act 7 cOngratu-
/ late you and our constituents upon an
! event which is highly honorable to the
| nation, and terminates with peculiar fe-
I licfty a campaign signalized By the most
I brilliant successes. The late war, al
/ though reluctantly declared by Congress.
I had become a necessary resort 20 assert
/ the rights and independence OF the na-
tion. 1t has been wagsd with a success
/ which IS the natural result of the wis
Z dom of the legislative councils. Of the
patriotism OF the people, OF the public
: spirit of the militia. and Of the yaIOr OF
the military and naval forces Of the
country. Peace. al all times a blessing.
! is peculiarly welcome. therefore. al
d Tod he of he war hay
( ceased 10 operate when the Government
/ has demonstrated the efficiency Of its
{ powers OF defense. and when the nation
/ can review its conduct without regret
] and without reprOach-''
! And again: The termination OF the leg
I islative sessions viii soon separate you,
( fellow citizens, from each other. and re-
store you 10 your constituents. I pray
I you 10 bear with you the expressions OF
my sangUine hope that the peace which
! has been just declared will not only be
] tha fOunda ton of the most friendly inter-
/ course between the United States and
| Great Britain, but that il Will also De
4 productive of happiness and harmony in
I every section Of our beloved country.
/ II is not within the scope of this arti-
/ Gle to discuss the policy and attitude Of
/ the United States IN the foreign wars.
/ nor is IL necessary TO dwell upon the IN
I dian deDredations and hOStilities at
c
/ the succeeding volumes are devoted to
1 these subjects Passing on down TO the
/ fourth volume OF Mesa ges and Papers
! of the Presidents, we find President
/ Polk conducting the war against Mexico
On almost every page may be found a
message TO Congress describing the mag
nifcent victories achieved by the Ameri-
| can arms. President Polk, in speaking OF
/ the result said. in part;
The war in which our country was re-
/ luctantly involved. in the necessary vim
+ dica ion of the national rights and honor.
/ has been thus terminated. and cOngrat-
I ulate Congress and our common cOnstit-
/ uents upon the restoration Of an honor
/ able peace. The extensive and valuable
/ territories ceded by Mexico 70 the Uni-ed
/ States constitute indemnity for the past
/ and the brilliant achievements and sig
nal successes OF our arms viii be "a guar
{ anty of security for the future, by con-
/ vincing all nations that our rights must
/ be respected The results OF the war
! with Mexico have given to the United
4 States a national character abroad which
our country never before enjoyed Our
/ power and our resources have become
known and are respected throughout the
world and we shall probably be saved
/ from the necessity of engag ging in anOth-
er foreign war for a long series OF years
II is a subject Of COngratulatiOn that We
| have passed through a war Of more than
| two years duration with the business of
the country uninterrupted. with our re-
sources unexhausted. and the public
credit unimpaired-
! Following the termination of the
war there ensued few brief
years of peace-nOt the peace and
| tranquility dreamed of by Washington,
or hoped for by Jackson. but peace
that resembles the calm. with all of its
awful forebodings which Drecedes the
| Storm The very atmosphere seemed to
! be permeated with danger, and the
darkening clouds of discOrd lowering
| here and there were ready TO pour forth
! their deluge Of terror and dismay upon
disconnected people. As the weeks and
months passed by the unbridled passions
of the hostile sections knew TO bounds.
The final day came. The iron bands 0f
an unpopular conservatism holding in
check the bitter animosities which had
been aroused were burst and broken by
the popular will President Lincoln
with a full appreciation of the situation.
promulgated his famous proclamation
calling for 900 men, This was followed
by the mobilizing of troops in the South
ern States. and then began the most stu
/ penduOus war of modern times The Of
fetal state papers of President Lincoln
are of supreme interest. and comprise his
| utterances while he in four years placed
| in the field nearly 000 of soldiers:
! what he said when victories were won or
when his armies went down in defeat.
| and what treasure of blood and money it
/ cost to triumph The memories of that
conflict which arrayed brother against
brother and filed the land with mourn
ing are the glorious heritage of the whole
nation-not the memories of victories but
| of battles yvbara hprOaS met heroes