William Carey Crane

“ In the promotion of the prosperity and glory of my country, every energy of my mind shall be employed; and, to extricate our fair land from the misfortunes which overshadow its present prospects, my exertions shall be continued, with a fervent and devout invocation to the God who buildeth up nations, that the clouds which now lower upon our destiny may be dispelled, and that His wisdom may direct us in the path of glory and honor, and that the people of this nation may be established in virtue, prosperity, and happiness. ”

“ Admonished by the past, we can not in justice disregard our national enemies; vigilance will apprise us of their approach, a disciplined and valiant army will insure their discomfiture. Without discrimination and system, how unavailing would all the resources of an old and overpowering treasury prove to us. It would be as unprofitable to us in our present situation as the rich diamond locked in the bosom of adamant. We can not hope that the bosom of our beautiful prairies will soon be visited with the balmy breezes of peace. ”

“ If peace can once be established, the commercial intercourse of the people of both could not fail to create that state of feeling which would soon obliterate the recollection of past conflicts, and cement the two nations together by all the ties of the most agreeable understanding.
A further prosecution of the war could have no other effect than to insure the destruction of human life, the consumption of resources of both parties, and the demoralization of their national character. The wisdom and policy of the statesmen of the present day are repugnant to war and bloodshed. ”

“ Our citizens have been and are still liable to continual annoyances from the enemy. No formidable invasion, it is true, has been attempted since 1836; nor do I believe they will be ever able to effect its accomplishment. But though this is my firm conviction, I am nevertheless equally satisfied that they will interpose every impediment to the peace, prosperity, and settlement of our frontier. I esteem it, therefore, the high and imperious duty of those to whom the Government of the country is confided, to adopt such a course of policy as will effectually counteract the designs of Mexico. ”

“ It affords me pleasure to greet you as the representatives of the nation, and to felicitate you upon the present promising aspect of our affairs. Abroad we are at peace with all the world; at home plenty fills the land. Our population is increasing, and our settlements rapidly extending.
In augmenting and securing permanently these blessings to the country I confidently rely upon your intelligent and patriotic co-operation. I rejoice that you have it in your power to aid the Executive in pursuing such a policy and perfecting such measures as may redound to our present and future prosperity. ”

“ We now occupy the proud attitude of a sovereign and independent Republic, which will impose upon us the obligation of evincing to the world that we are worthy to be free. This will only be accomplished by wise legislation, the maintenance of our integrity, and the faithful and just redemption of our plighted faith wherever it has been pledged. Nothing can be better calculated to advance our interests and character than the establishment of a liberal and disinterested policy enlightened by patriotism and guided by wisdom. ”

“ I would, therefore, recommend to the honorable Congress a total suspension of the redemption of our liabilities to a period sufficiently remote to enable the Government to redeem, in good faith, such as it ought to redeem. It is known to the Executive that, to a considerable amount, they have been justly incurred, whilst he has reason to believe that many will be brought forward not by any means entitled to governmental consideration. To attempt a redemption of our present liabilities by taxing our population to the amount necessary would be to them ruinous. ”

“ A spot on earth almost unknown to the geography of the age, almost destitute of resources, comparatively few in numbers, we modestly remonstrated against oppression; and when invaded by a numerous host, we dared to proclaim our independence and to strike for freedom on the breast of the oppressors. As yet our course is onward. We are only in the outset of the campaign of liberty. Futurity has locked up the destiny which awaits our people.
Who with apathy can contemplate a situation so imposing in the physical and moral world? ”

“ The enactment of laws without their enforcement is of no avail to the country. If resistance is made to the constituted authorities, of what avail are enactments on paper without the means or the power to punish? It is the duty of Congress to enact such laws as will enable the Executive to command the power commensurate to their execution. Resistance to the constituted authorities, and to the laws of the land, is one of the most flagrant offenses that can be committed against society, and is entitled to no milder appellation than that of sedition or rebellion. ”

“ Deeply impressed with a sense of responsibility devolving on me, I can not, in justice to myself, repress the emotions of my heart, or restrain the feelings which my sense of obligation to my fellow-citizens has inspired. Their suffrage was gratuitously bestowed. Preferred to others, possibly superior in merit to myself, called to the most important station among mankind, by the voice of a free people, it is utterly impossible not to feel impressed with the deepest sensations of delicacy in my present situation before mankind. ”

“ It seems that we have arrived at a crisis, in our national progress, which is neither cheering for the present nor flattering for the future. I heartily regret that truth will not allow me to approach the Congress with the usual felicitations of present and prospective happiness. The time has arrived when facts must be submitted in their simplest dress. Unawed by sectional or party influences, I shall occupy the position my constituents have assigned me with unslumbering vigilance, and a sacred determination to act with decision and to speak with candor. ”

“ You will thus diffuse intelligence throughout the mass — that greatest safeguard to our free institutions. Among us, education confers rank and influence—ignorance is the parent of degradation. Intelligence elevates man to the highest destiny, but ignorance degrades him to slavery.
In quitting my present position, and a second time retiring from the Chief-Magistracy of the Republic, I feel the highest satisfaction in being able to leave my countrymen in the enjoyment of civil and religious freedom, and surrounded by many evidences of present and increasing prosperity. ”

“ Notwithstanding the mischievous and utterly groundless publications emanating from some of our public journals, the good faith of the nation will finally be thoroughly vindicated by the redemption of every dollar for which it stands pledged. That we have not been able to do so before this time has, perhaps, been a fault as well as a misfortune; but nations, like individuals, are sometimes compelled to yield to the force of circumstances. ”

“ I have now only to add the hope that your deliberations may be characterized by that wisdom and harmony so essential to the attainment of those great ends for which you are here assembled; with my fervent desire that all your labors may, under the guidance of Heaven, give additional force and energy to all those principles of private and public virtue so indispensable to the stability, prosperity, and success of the Government and people of the Republic. ”

“ The policy of husbanding means for the use of posterity can not be justified in the present emergency of our affairs. If we are enabled to leave them in the enjoyment of independence, and free from pecuniary involvement, it is all that we should desire.
Even supposing our national debt to exceed twelve millions of dollars, our means are more than sufficient to pay the whole; and, in a state of peace, our import duties alone would be adequate to defray all the necessary expenses of government, without the necessity of resorting to oppressive taxation. ”

“ A subject of no small importance to our welfare is the situation of an extensive frontier, bordered by Indians, and subject to their depredations. Treaties of peace and amity, and maintenance of good faith with the Indians, present themselves to my mind as the most rational grounds on which to obtain their friendship. Abstain on our part from aggression, establish commerce with the different tribes, supply their useful and necessary wants, maintain even-handed justice with them, and natural reason will teach them the utility of our friendship. ”

“ Although we have an enemy upon our frontier, and are not in a situation to retaliate in such manner as our disposition would urge us to do, and to carry war into their territory; yet, if our resources are carefully economized and properly employed we can render their predatory warfare harmless. Instead of permitting ourselves to be excited and irritated, so as to vanquish ourselves by disorderly rallies to the frontiers, we have it in our power to maintain a force sufficient, under regular discipline, to secure us against serious aggression, and deter the enemy from repeated incursions. ”

“ That the result of our joint labors may not only meet the expectations of our constituents, but that they may add to the general happiness and prosperity of the country, is my earnest hope.
That our country has enjoyed frequent manifestations of the favor and kindness of an overruling Providence, all must be duly sensible, and it should therefore be our increasing care by acts of justice and uprightness to merit a continuance of divine favor, without which no people can be happy, and no nation great or prosperous. ”

“ There is no ground to suspect that the late agitation of international questions between this Republic and that of the United States has, in any degree, abated their desire for our continued prosperity and independence, or caused them to relax their good offices to bring about the speedy and honorable adjustment of our difficulties with Mexico. That they should evince anxiety for our separate existence and permanent independence as a nation, is not only natural, but entirely commendable. ”

“ The simplicity of our laws, in connection with the certainty of their execution, is perhaps better calculated to inspire confidence in the citizen, and regard for the institutions of his country, than any other motive which can be presented to his mind. The necessity of all law grows out of the wants and interests of society, and when these are relieved or defended we may always rely with much confidence on the virtue and intelligence of the people. ”

“ Indeed, it is natural always to prefer the least obstructed and most advantageous way to market. And the time may not be far distant when a rich commerce, which has hitherto found its way to the ocean through the rivers and ports of other countries, will be poured into our own, and materially assist in building up and supporting our institutions.
It is with sincere regret that I feel called upon to lay before the honorable Congress the fact of an infraction of our revenue laws by the citizens of the United States, attended with circumstances of a very unpleasant character. ”

“ I believe that any interference in the revolutions and distractions of Mexico is not only incompatible with the dignity and interests of Texas but directly calculated to exasperate our national enemy, while it weakens our resources by sacrificing those of our citizens who may engage in their partisan quarrels to their proverbial perfidy and to certain destruction. This is demonstrated by the issue of every enterprise of the kind in which our countrymen have been participants. ”