Special Message

7 he following message was transmittcd by tho President of the United States to the Sonate, on the 24th uit. : To ihc Sonate of llit; United 5 tatos. In nnswer toan inquiry of the Scnatc, cotjtained in their resolution of the 17tli instant, wlietlier, in my ♦' jutlgment, nny eircumstances connected witli, or growing out of the foreign relations of ttílí country, require at 1 h is time an increase of our naval and military foree," and, if so, 'Mvhat fhose circumstancos are." I Iiaveto ospress the opinión that a wisc precaution demands such increa$c. In mv annual mes.5age of the2d Decetnber last, I recomrnended to the favorable consideration of Congress an increose of our naval force, especially of our steam navy, and the raising of an adequate military force toguardand pro(cet such of ourcitizens as might think proper to oraigratc to Oregon. Sinco that period I Imve secn no causo to recall or modify these recommendations. Ontlie contrary, reasons exist which, in my judgment, render it proper not only that thcy should promptly be carried info eiloct, butthatadditional provisión should be made for the public defence.i ne consideraron of such ffddi'lionol provisión wasbrought beforo appropriato committces of the two houses of Congress, in ansvver to calis made by thom n reports prepared, with my sanction, by the Secrctary of War and the Sccretary of the Navy, on tho 29tli_of December and the 8th of January hst ; a mode of communicaiion not unusual, nnd, under cxisting circumslances, believed to be most eligible. Subsequent events have confirmed me in the opinión that these recommendations were proper as precuutionary measures. h was a wise maxim of the father of his country, that " to be prepared for war is one of tho efficiënt means of preserving peace ;" and that, " avoiding occasions of expense by cultivating peace," we should ' remember, also, that timely disbursements, to prepare for danger frequently prevent much greaterments to repel it." The general obl gation to perform this duty is greallv strengthcned by fncts known to'the whole world. A controversy rcspecting the Oregon territory now exists between the United States and Great Britain ; and while, as far as wo kuow, the relations of the latter with, all Kuropean nations are of the most pacific charactor, sho is making unusual and e.xtraonJinarv armaments and warliko preparatiuns, naval and military, both at home and in her North American possessions. ■Itcannot be disguised that, howevor sincere may bc the desireof peace, in ihe event of a ruptura these armaments and preparations wouJd be used against our country. Whatevèr rriay havo boon the original purpose of these preparations, the fact is undouhted that they aro now proceeding, in part, at least, with the view to the contingent possibility of a war with the United Stales. The general policy of making addilional warlikc proparations was distinctly announced, in the speech from the throne, as late as January last, and has since. been reitcratcd by the ministers of the crown in both houses of Parliament. Under this aspect of our relations with Grcat Britain, I cannot doubt the propriety of inercasing our means of defence, bolh by land and soa. This enn give Great Briíain no cause of offence, nor increaso the danger of a rupture. If, on the contrary, wo Bhould fold our arms in security, andu last be suddenly involvcd in hosiilities or the maintenancc of onr just rights, .vithoul any adequate preparation, our rcsponsibility to the country would bc of .he gravest character. Should collision between the two countries be avoülcd, as l sinccrely trust it may bc, tho additionnl charge ópori tho treasury, in nmking the neecssarv preparations wiïl not bc lost ; while, in the event of such a collision, thcy would be indispensable in tho preservation of our national rights and national honor. I have secn no rcason to chango or modify the recommendations of my annual message in regnrd to the Oregon question. The noticc to abrógate the trenty of tho Oth of August, 1827, is authorized by the treritv itself, and cannot be regarded ns a warlike mensure ; I cannot withhoid my strong conviction thal it should bc promptly given. The other recommendations are in conformity with the existing treaty, and would afibrd to American citizens in Oregon no more than the same mensure of protection that has long since been extended to British subjeets in that torritory. The state of our relations with Mexico is still in nn unsettled condition. Since the moeting of Congress another revolution bas taken place in that country, by which the government bas pased into the hands of new rulers. This event has procrastinated, and may possibly defeat, the settlement of the difibrence between the United States and ihat country. The minister of the United States to Mexico, at the date of the last advices, had nol been received by tho existing authorities. Demonstraiions of a chaructcr hostile to the United States conliuue to be made in Mexico, which has rendered it proper, in my judgment, to keep nearly twoihirds of our urmy on our southwestern frontier. In doing this, many of the regular military posts have been reduccd to n small force, inadequate to their defence should an etnergency nrise. In view of these " circumstancea," it is my "judgmenl" that "an incroase of our naval and military force is at ibis time required," to place tho country in a stute of dofence. At the same tirne, it is my settled purpose to pursue such a course of policy as may be best colculated to preserve both wilh Grcat Britain and Menico, an honorable peace ; which nothing will so eíTectually promotc as unanimity in our councils, nnd a firm maintennnce of all our just nVhts.