The President's Message

This document is of great length; but "t presents tho scveral topics introduced v in a ciear and perspicuous light. Mr. Polk's flourishes about this great nation a mighl better have been omiited. The position he assumes on the Oregon a tion will probably bring it to a v tion. But it is rather doubtful whether n the American people will be rendy to go e to war with England, in a year from this ? time, for the possession of a country, vhich will very shortly tnke care of p self, and bccome in fnci, if not c ly, an independent nation. In reference to the Post Office and the Navy, the position df Mr. Polk is just , what might be expected from a Southern slaveholder. He repeats the old absurd notion, that the Post Office Department I should be made to support itself. and mates that old Cave Johnson has ered a plan by which the requisile amount may be gorged out of the people, without nominally raising the rates to much extent. As every slaveholder in Congress, voted against the present law, this hostlTity to it from an administraron governed by; the Slave Power, was expected. But the recommetidation of a change before the law had been in force fve months, looks rather Iliberal. The law has not y et had a fair trial. The Navy, Mr. Polk thinks, should not only be increased, but augmented in a raanner "proporlioned to the increased and increasing -power ofother nations."The Navy already costs more than six millions of dollars, annually, and as it is yet quite a litlle one compared with that of Brilain. Shall we therelore build up one that will cost twelve, twenty-four, or fifty millions annually, because England has such an one % And shall our citizens be reduced to the condition of those of England, by grinding taxation, when the principal object of this increase is to make lucrative births for the sons of Southern slaveholders ?