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Fellow-Citizens of
the Senate and House of Representatives:
Many important subjects will claim your attention during the
present session, of which I shall endeavor to give, in aid of
your deliberations, a just idea in this communication. I
undertake this duty with diffidence, from the vast extent of the
interests on which I have to treat and of their great importance
to every portion of our Union. I enter on it with zeal from a
thorough conviction that there never was a period since the
establishment of our Revolution when, regarding the condition of
the civilized world and its bearing upon us, there was greater
necessity for devotion in public servants to their respective
duties, or for virtue, patriotism, and union in our
constituents.
At the proposal of the Russian Imperial Government, made through
the minister of the Emperor residing here, a full power and
instructions have been transmitted to the minister of the United
States at St. Petersburg to arrange by amicable negotiation the
respective rights and interests of the two nations on the
northwest coast of this continent. A similar proposal has been
made by his Imperial Majesty to the Government of Great Britain,
which has likewise been acceded to. The Government of the United
States has been desirous by this friendly proceeding of
manifesting the great value which they have inevitably attached
to the friendship of the Emperor and their solicitude to
cultivate the best understanding with his Government. In the
discussions to which this interest has given rise and in the
arrangements by which they may terminate the occasion has been
judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which the rights
and interests of the United States are involved that the
American continents, by the free and independent condition which
they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be
considered as subjects for future colonization by any European
powers.
It was stated at the commencement of the last session that a
great effort was then making in Spain and Portugal to improve
the condition of the people of those countries, and that it
appeared to be conducted with extraordinary moderation. It need
scarcely be remarked that the result has been so far very
different from what was then anticipated. Of events in that
quarter of the globe, with which we have so much intercourse and
from which we derive our origin, we have always been anxious and
interested spectators. The citizens of the United States cherish
sentiments the most friendly in favor of the liberty and
happiness of their fellow-men on that side of the Atlantic. In
the wars of the European powers in matters relating to
themselves we have never taken any part, nor does it comport
with our policy so to do. It is only when our rights are invaded
or seriously menaced that we resent injuries or make preparation
for our defense. With the movements in this hemisphere we are of
necessity more immediately connected, and by causes which must
be obvious to all enlightened and impartial observers. The
political system of the allied powers is essentially different
in this respect from that of America. This difference proceeds
from that which exists in their respective Governments; and to
the defence of our own, which has been achieved by the loss of
so much blood and treasure, and matured by the wisdom of their
most enlightened citizens, and under which we have enjoyed
unexampled felicity, this whole nation is devoted. We owe it,
therefore, to candour and to the amicable relations existing
between the United States and those powers to declare that we
should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system
to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and
safety. With the existing colonies or dependencies of any
European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere.
But with the Governments who have declared their independence
and maintained it, and whose independence we have, on great
consideration and on just principles, acknowledged, we could not
view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or
controlling in any other manner their destiny, by any European
power in any other light than as the manifestation of an
unfriendly disposition toward the United States. In the war
between those new Governments and Spain we declared our
neutrality at the time of their recognition, and to this we have
adhered, and shall continue to adhere, provided no change shall
occur which, in the judgment of the competent authorities of
this Government, shall make a corresponding change on the part
of the United States indispensable to their security.
The late events in Spain and Portugal shew that Europe is still
unsettled. Of this important fact no stronger proof can be
adduced than that the allied powers should have thought it
proper, on any principle satisfactory to themselves, to have
interposed by force in the internal concerns of Spain. To what
extent such interposition may be carried, on the same principle,
is a question in ;which all independent powers whose governments
differ from theirs are interested, even those most remote, and
surely none more so than the United States. Our policy in regard
to Europe, which was adopted at an early stage of the wars which
have so long agitated that quarter of the globe, nevertheless
remains the same, which is, not to interfere in the internal
concerns of any of its powers; to consider the government de
facto as the legitimate government for us; to cultivate friendly
relations with it, and to preserve those relations by a frank,
firm, and manly policy, meeting in all instances the just claims
of every power, submitting to injuries from none. But in regard
to those continents circumstances are eminently and
conspicuously different. It is impossible that the allied powers
should extend their political system to any portion of either
continent without endangering our peace and happiness; nor can
anyone believe that our southern brethren, if [left] to
themselves, would adopt it of their own accord. It equally
impossible, therefore, that we should behold such interposition
in any form with indifference. If we look to the comparative
strength and resources of Spain and those new Governments, and
their distance from each other, it must be obvious that she can
never subdue them. It is still the true policy of the United
States to leave the parties to themselves, in the hope that
other powers will pursue the same course. |
