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 zeal¹ from a thorough conviction that there never was a period since the establishment of our Revolution when, regarding the condition of the civilized² world and its bearing upon us, there was greater necessity for devotion in public servants to their respective duties, or for virtue³, patriotism⁴, and union in our constituents⁵.

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 amicable⁶ negotiation⁷ 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 Majesty⁸ to the Government of Great Britain, which has likewise been acceded⁹ to. The Government of the United States has been desirous by this friendly proceeding¹⁰ of manifesting the great value which they have inevitably¹¹ attached to the friendship of the Emperor and their solicitude¹² 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 colonization¹³ 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 intercourse¹⁴ and from which we derive¹⁵ 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 comport¹⁶ 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 defense¹⁷. With the movements in this hemisphere we are of necessity more immediately connected, and by causes which must be obvious to all enlightened and impartial¹⁸ observers. The political system of the allied¹⁹ powers is essentially²⁰ 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 devoted²¹. 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 interfered²² and shall not interfere²³. 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 manifestation²⁴ of an unfriendly disposition²⁵ 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 judgment²⁶ 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 agitated²⁷ that quarter of the globe, nevertheless remains²⁸ the same, which is, not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers; to consider the government de facto as the legitimate²⁹ government for us; to cultivate friendly relations with it, and to preserve those relations by a frank, firm, and manly³⁰ policy, meeting in all instances the just claims of every power, submitting to injuries from none. But in regard to those continents circumstances are eminently³¹ and conspicuously³² 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 behold³³ such interposition in any form with indifference³⁴. 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 subdue³⁵ 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.