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VOLUME 1.
Raleigh, Friday, December 15, 1543.
NUMBER 2&
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TERMS.
Tec Democratic Qignal is published week
ly, in the City of Raleigh, at ONE DOLLAR
per annum cash.
Editors.
PERRIN BUSBEE,
DUNCAN K. McRAE, 5
WESLEY WHITAKER, Jr. Printer.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
To the Senate,
and II. of Representatives of the IT. States :
If any People ever had cause to render up
thanks to the Supreme Being for parental
cart oiid protection extended to them in a
the trials nod difficulties to which thev hare
been from time to time exposed, we certain
1 are that people. From the first settlement
f our forefather? on this continent through
the dangers attendant upon the occupation
of a; savage wilderness through a long pt
riod of Colonial dependence through the
war of the Re volution in the wisdom which
led to the adoption of the existing Republi
can forms of'Government in the hazards
incident to a war subsequently waged with
one of the most powerful nations of the earth
in the increase of our population in the
spread of the arts and sciences, and in the
strength and durability conferred on ! politi
cal institutions emanating frm the People,
and sustained by their will th superinten
dence of an overruling Providence, has been
plainly visible. As preparuory, therefore
to entering once more upon the high ' duties
of legislation, it becomes us humbly to ac
knowledge our dependence upon Him, as
oar guide and protector, and to implore a
continuance of His parental watchful
ness over our beloved country. We have
new cause for the expression of our gratitude.
in the preservation of the health of our fellow-citizens,
with some partial and local ex-
- captions, during the past season for the a
bunfanee with which the earth has yielded
up us fruits !o the labors of the husbandman
for the renewed activity which has been
im Darted to" commerce for the revival of
i
trade ia ail its departments for the increas
ed rewaids attendant on the exercise of the
mechanic arts; for tne continued growth of
our population and the rapidly reviving
nrosneritv otlhevhole country. I shall be
permitted to exchange congratulations with
you, gentlemen of the two Houses of Con
gress, on these auspicious circumstancejyind
to assure jou, in advance, of my ready dis
position to concur with you in the adoption
of all such measures as shall be calculated
to increase the happiness ot our constituents,
and to advance the glory of our common
country.
Since the last adjournment of Congress,
the Executive has relaxed no effort to render
indestructible the relations of amity j which
so happily exist between the United States
and other countries. The treaty lately con
cluded with Gieat Britain has tended flat
ly to increase the good understanding which
a reciprocity of interest is calculated, to en
courage, and it is most ardently to be hoped
that nothing inay transpire to interrupt the
relations of amity which it is so cbviously
the policy ol both nations to cultivate.
A question of much importance still re
mains to be adjusted between them. The
territorial limits of the two countries in re.
lalion to what is commonly known as the
Oregon territory, still remain in dispute.
The United Stales would be at all limes in
disposed to aggrandize themselves at the ex-p-nseoany
other nation; but while thev
would be restrained by principles ofj honor,
which should govern the conduct of nations
as well ks that of individuals, from setting
up a demand for territory which does not be
long1 to them, they would as unwillingly
consent to a surrender of their rights. After
the roost rigid, and as far as practicable, un
biassed examination of the subject, the Uni
ted States have always contended that their
rights appertain toth entire region cf coun
try lying on the Pacific, and embraced with
in the forty-second and fifty-fourth 40' of
North latitude. This cJaim being contro
verted by Great Britain, those who have
preceded the present Executive, actuattd.no
doubt, by an earnest desire to adjust the mat
ter upon terms mutually satisfactory to both
countries, have caused to be submitted to the
British Government, propositions for settle
ment and final adjustment, which, however,
have not proved heretofore acceptable to it.
Our Minister at London has, under instruc-
tions' again brought the subject to the con
sideiation of that Government; and while
nothing will be done to compromitlhe rights,
or henor of the United States, every proper
expedient will be resorted to,in order to bring
the negotiation now in the progress of re
sumption,, to a speedy and happy termina
tion. In the meantime it is proper to remark,
that many of our citizens are either already
established in the territory, or are on their
way thither for the purpose of forming per
manent settlements, while others are prrpar
ing to follow and in view of these facts, I
must repeat the recommendation contained
in previous messages, for the establishment
of military posts, at such places on the line
of travel, as will furnish security and protec
lion to our hardy adventurers against hostile
tribes of Indians inhabiting those extensive
regions. Our laws should also follow them,
so modified as the circumstances of the case
may seem fo require. Under the influence
of our fre system of Government,- new re
publics are destined to spring up, at no dis
tant day, on the shores of the Pacific, simi
lar in policy and in feeling to those existing
on this side of the Rocky Mountains, and
giving a wider ant" more extensive spread to
the principles of civil and religious liberty.
I am happy to inform you that the cases
which have arisen, from time to time, of the
detention of American vessels by British crui
sers on the coast of Africa, under pretence of
being engaged in the slave trade, have been
placed in a fair train of adjustment. In the
case of the William & Francis.full satisfaction
will be allowed. In the cases of the Tygris
and Seamew, the British Government admits
that satisfaction is due. In the case of the
Jones, the sum accruing from the sale of that
vessel and cargo will be paid to the owners
while I cannot but flatter myself that full ia-
demnification will be allowed for all damages
sustained by the detention cf the vesseland
in the case cf the Doula?s, her majesty's
Government bas expressed its determination
to make indemnification. Strong hopes are
therefore ertte rtained, that most, it not all of
these cases will be speedily adjusted. No new
cases have arisen since the ratification ot the
Treaty of Washington ; and, it is confidently
anticipated, that (he slave trade, under the op
eration of the eighth article of that treaty, will
be altogether suppressed.
ThV occasional interruption experienced
by our fellow-citizens engaged in the fishe
ries on the,neighboring coast of Nova -Sco
tia, has not failed to claim the attention olthe
Executive. Sepiesentations upon this sub
ject have been rutfde, but as yet no definitive
answer to those representations have been
reeeired from the British Government
Two other subjects of camparatively mi
nor importance, but nevertheless of too much
consequence to be neglected, remain still to
be adjusted between the two countries, i By
the Treaty betiveen the U. States and Great
Britain, of July, 1815 it is provided that no
higher duties shall be levied in either coun
try on articles imported from the other, than
on the same articles imported from any other
plaee. In 1836,.rough rice, by act of Par
liament, was admitted from the coast of Af
rica into Great Britain on the payment of a
duty of one penny a quarter, while the same
articles from all other countries, including
the U. Slated was subjected to the payment
of a duty of twenty shillings a quarter. Our
Minister at London has from time to time
brought this subject to the consideration of the
British Government, but so far without sue
cess. He is instructed to renew his repre
sentations upon it.
Some years ince a claim-was preferred
against the British Government on the part
of certain American merchantsor the return
of export duties paid by them on shipments
of woollen roods to the U. Slate?, after the
doty on similar articles exportei to other
countries had been repealed, and consequent
ly in contravention of the commercial con
vention between the two nations securing to
us equality in such cases. The principle on
which the claim rests has long since been
virtually admitted by Great Britain, but ob
stacles to a settlement have from time to time
been interposed, so that a large portion of
the amount claimed has not vet been refun
ded. Our Minister is now engaged in j the
prosecution of the claim, and I cannot bu;
persuade myself that the British Government
will no longer delay its adjustment. 1
I am happy to be able to ray, that nothing
has occurred to disturb in any degree, the
relations of amity which exist between the
United States and France, Autria and Rus
sia, as well as with the other Powers of Eu
rope, since the adjournment of Congress.
Spain has been agitated with internal con
vulsions for man' years, from the effects of
which it is to be hoped she is destined speed
ily ta recover when, under a more libera!
system of commercial policy on her part.our
trade with her may again fill its old, and so
far as her continental possessions are con
cerned, its almost forsaken, channels.therpby
adding to the mutual prosperity of the two
countries.
The Germanic Assoaiation of Customs
and commerce, which, since it establishment
in 1833, has been steadily growing in power
and importance, and consists at this time of
more than twenty German States, and em
braces a population of 27,000.000 of people,
united for all the purposes of commercial
intercourse with each! other and with foreign
States, offers to the latter the most valuable
exchanges on principles more liberal than are
offered in the fia:al system of any other euro-
pea n powtr. Fromits'origio.theimportanceof
the German Union has never been lost sight
of by the U. States. jThe industryjmorality,
and other valuable qualities of the German
nation, have always been well known, and
appreciated. On this subject, I invite the
attention of Congress to the report of jthe
Secretary of State.from which it will be seen,
that while our cotton is admitted free of duty,
and the duty on rice has been much reduced,
which has already led to a greatly increased
consumption, b strong disposition has been
recently evinced by that great body.to reduce,
upon certain conditions, their present duty
upon tobacco. This being the first intima
tion of a concession on this interesting sub'
ject, ever made by any European power, I
cannot but regard it as well calculated to; re
move the only impediment which so far lex -
isted, to the most liberal commercial inter
course between us and thera. In this view
our Minister at Berlin, who has heretofore
industriously pursued the subject, has been
instructed to enter upon the negotiation of a
commercial Treaty, whicb.whtle it will open
new advantages to the agricultural interests
of the U. States, and a more free and expan
ded field for commercial operations, will af
fect injuriously no existing icterest of the U
nioo. jj! Should the negotiation be rrewaed
with success, its results will be communicated
I communicate herewith certain despatches
received from our Minister at Mexicoand al
so a correspondence which has recently occur
red between the Envoy from that Republic and
the Secretary of State. It must be regarded
ment of Mexico, in anticipation of a public dis
cussion. which it has been pleased to infer from
newspaper publications, as likely to take place,
in Congress, relating to the annexation of
Texas to the United States, should have so
far anticipated the result of such discussion as
tu have announced its determination to visit
any such anticipated decision by a formal de
claration of war against the United Sta'es. If
designed to prevent Congress from introducing
that question, as a fit subject for ita calm de
liberation and final judgement, the Executive
has no reason to doubt that It will entirely fail
of its object. The Representatives of a brave
and patriotic people will suffer no apprehen
sion of future consequences to embarrass them
in the course of their proposed deliberations.
Nor will theJExecutive department oi the Gov-
: r:i r k j;.Mk.M
riuiue.111 iiiti, iui any sulii vauar( iw uovuaigc
its whole duty to the country.
The war which has existed for so long a
time between Mexico and Texas hasj since
the battle of San Jacinto,eonsisted for the most
part of predatory incursions, which, while they
have been attended with much of suffering to
individuals, and have kept the borders of the
two countries in a state of constant alarm, have
failed to approach to any definitive result.-
v i rr a filto1 nut r r fnrmilaLlo ormv Fv
land or by sea for the subjugation of Texas.
Kicrht venrs have now plansed sinoeTeras dt-
ciaredherlndependence ofMexico,&duricgthat
time she has been recognized as a sovereign
power by ; several of the principal civilized
States. Mexico, nevertheless, perseveres in
her plans of re-conquest, and refuses to re
cognize her Independence. The predatory
incursions to which I have alluded, have been
attended, in one instance, with the breaking
up of the Courts ot Justice, by the seiziog up
on th persons of the judges, jury and officers
of the court, and dragging them, along with un-
armed, and therefore non-combatant citizens,
into a cruel and oppressive bondage, thus leav
ing crime to go unpunished and immorality to
pass unreprored. A border watfare is ever
more to be deprecated, and over such a war as
has existed for so many years between these
two States, humanity has had great cause to
lament. .Nor is such a condition of things to
be deplored only because of the individual suf
fenng attendant upon it. The effects are far
more ext-Dsive. The Creator of the Universe
has given man the Earth for his resting plaee
and its fruits for bis subsistence. WThalever,
therefore, shall make the first or any part of it
a scene of desolation, affects injuriousiy his
heritage, and may be regarded as a general
calamity. Wars' may sometime be necessary;
but ail nations have a common interest in
i i . - ...
bringing theru speedily to a close. The U. S.
have ao immediate interest in seeing an end
put to the state of hostilities existing between
Mexico and Texas. They are our neighbors,
of the I same continent, with whom we are not
only desirous of cultivating the relations of
amity, but of the most extended commercial
intercourse, and to pratice all the right of a
neighborhood hospitality. Our own interests
are deeply involved in the matter, since, how
ever neutral may be our course of policy, we ;
cannot hope to escape the effects of a smrit of
jealousy oo the part of both of the powers. Nor
can mis government be indifferent to the tact
that a warfare, such as is waged between those
two nations, is calculated to weaken both pow.
ers,and finally lo render them, and especially'
the weaker of the two. the cnhir of im.r.
lerence on me part ol stronger and more pow
erful nations, which, intent only on advancing ..
their own peculiar views, may sooner or later
attempt to bring about a compliance with
terms,as the condition of their Interposition,
alike derogatory to the nation granting tnem
and detrimental to the interests of the U.Stalrs.
W e could not be expected auietlv to permit an Y
such interference to our disadvantage.
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