Jan 7, 1838
To guard against the possible recurrence of any similar act I have thought it indispensable to call out a portion of the militia, to be posted on that frontier.
Martin Van Buren
The Public Record
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States, serving from 1837 to 1841. A key figure in the formation of the Democratic Party, he previously held the positions of Vice President under Andrew Jackson and Secretary of State. Van Buren was also the Governor of New York, where he began his political career. His presidency was marked by economic challenges, including the Panic of 1837, which influenced his policies and legacy.
presidency.ucsb.edu
Jan 7, 1838
Every precaution was therefore taken on our part authorized by the existing laws, and as the troops of the Provinces were embodied on the Canadian side it was hoped that no serious violation of the rights of the United States would be…
Jan 7, 1838
I herewith transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, in answer to a resolution of that body dated the 5th instant.
Jan 7, 1838
I herewith transmit to the House of Representatives a report from the Secretary of State, in answer to a resolution.
Jan 7, 1838
It was to be apprehended that causes of complaint might arise on the line dividing the United States from Her Britannic Majesty's dominions.
Jan 7, 1838
I regret, however, to inform you that an outrage of a most aggravated character has been committed, accompanied by a hostile though temporary invasion of our territory, producing the strongest feelings of resentment on the part of our…
Jan 7, 1838
I ask such appropriations as the circumstances in which our country is thus unexpectedly placed require.
Without them the Government will be powerless to redeem its pledge of protection to the emigrating Indians against the numerous warlike tribes that surround them and to provide for the safety of the frontier settlers of the bordering…
The United States have fulfilled in good faith all their treaty stipulations with the Indian tribes, and have in every other instance insisted upon a like performance of their obligations.
But notwithstanding these adverse circumstances, that general prosperity which has been heretofore so bountifully bestowed upon us by the Author of All Good still continues to call for our warmest gratitude.
Especially have we reason to rejoice in the exuberant harvests which have lavishly recompensed well-directed industry and given to it that sure reward which is vainly sought in visionary speculations.
I cannot, indeed, view without peculiar satisfaction the evidences afforded by the past season of the benefits that spring from the steady devotion of the husbandman to his honorable pursuit.
No means of individual comfort is more certain and no source of national prosperity is so sure.
From all the information I receive, confirmed to some extent by personal observation, I am satisfied that no one can now hope to engage in such enterprises without encountering public indignation, in addition to the severest penalties of…
In the few instances in which they were aided by citizens of the United States the acts of these misguided men were not only in direct contravention of the laws and well-known wishes of their own Government, but met with the decided…
I look forward anxiously to a period when all the transactions which have grown out of this condition of our affairs, and which have been made the subjects of complaint and remonstrance by the two Governments, respectively, shall be fully…
That with the Netherlands happily terminates a long-existing subject of dispute and removes from our future commercial intercourse all apprehension of embarrassment.
The new Government of Texas has shown its desire to cultivate friendly relations with us by a prompt reparation for injuries complained of in the cases of two vessels of the United States.
To avoid this and to keep the expenditures within reasonable bounds is a duty second only in importance to the preservation of our national character and the protection of our citizens in their civil and political rights.
The creation in time of peace of a debt likely to become permanent is an evil for which there is no equivalent.
One, not the least important, is to keep the Federal Government always in a condition to discharge with ease and vigor its highest functions should their exercise be required by any sudden conjuncture of public affairs--a condition to…
To this end it is indispensable that its finances should be untrammeled and its resources as far as practicable unencumbered.
No circumstance could present greater obstacles to the accomplishment of these vitally important objects than the creation of an onerous national debt.
Our own experience and also that of other nations have demonstrated the unavoidable and fearful rapidity with which a public debt is increased when the Government has once surrendered itself to the ruinous practice of supplying its…
This is the surest provision for the national welfare, and it is at the same time the best preservative of the principles on which our institutions rest.
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