Very little occurred during the rest of the year of general interest. That which most nearly concerned ourselves was the sympathy manifested in different parts of the United States with the efforts of the Irish Repealers, and some very violent language in the usual exaggerated style of American eloquence was held by different speakers. Perhaps the most ridiculous exhibition of ignorance and bombast that has occurred on either side of the Atlantic was that made by Mr. Robert Tyler, a son of the President, at an Irish Repeal meeting in New York, on the 29th of August. After stating that he appeared" to denounce a Government which I hate," and that he "abhorred the history of the British Government," and that he (Mr. Robert Tyler) demanded "legislative emancipation for Ireland in the name of the enlightened age in which we live," he proceeded to conjure up a picture of Ireland as a country where his audience would find the "churches desecrated, daughters ravished in sight of mothers, sons slain, and Ireland's halls of justice turned into worse than Saturnalian orgies, and where the British judge has stained his very ermine with the blood of victims;" and stated that "Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington have declared that Ireland must be put down, and that she can be put down in twenty four hours; and that, if need be, they can cover that ill-fated land with the bones of her murdered children."

We forbear to offend our readers with any more specimens of such

trash.

During the autumn, the most absorbing subject of interest to

tion of Members to Congress, and the struggle assumed a more than ordinary degree of importance, from the fact of its being a trial of strength between the supporters of the rival candidates for the high office of President. The election of President was to take place in November, 1844, and the result of the elections would afford the means of judging as to who was likely to be the successful candidates. The chief contest lay between the friends of Mr. Clay, one of the principal leaders of the Whig or (in America) Conservative party, and Mr. Van Buren, the head of the Loco-foco, or Democratic party. Mr. Calhoun was another formidable candidate. The result of the elections was in favour of the party of Mr. Van Buren. Congress met early in December, and Mr. Jones, of Virginia, a decided partisan of Mr. Van Buren, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. But the acts and proceedings of the newlyelected Congress will be recorded in our next volume.

We give the most important passages from the Message delivered by President Tyler on the opening of the new Congress.

"If any people ever had cause to render up thanks to the Supreme Being for parental care and protection extended to them in all the trials and difficulties to which they have been from time to time exposed, we certainly are that people. From the first settlement of our forefathers on this continentthrough the dangers attendant upon the occupation of a savage wilderness-through a long period of colonial dependence-through the war of the Revolution-in the wisdom which led to the adoption

government-in the hazard incident to a war subsequently waged with one of the most powerful nations of the earth-in the increase of our population-in the spread of the arts and sciences-and in the strength and durability conferred on-political institutions emanating from the people, and sustained by their will-the superintendence of an over-ruling Providence has been plainly visible. As preparatory, therefore, to entering once more upon the bigh duties of legislation, it becomes us humbly to acknowledge our dependence upon Him as our guide and protector, and to implore a continuance of his parental watchfulness over our beloved country. We have new cause for the expression of our gratitude in the preservation of the health of our fellow citizens, with some partial and local exceptions, during the past season for the abundance with which the earth has yielded up its fruits to the labours of the husbandman -for the renewed activity which has been imparted to commercefor the revival of trade in all its departments for the increased rewards attendant on the exercise of the mechanic arts-for the continued growth of our population, and the rapidly reviving prosperity of the whole country. I shall be permitted to exchange congratulations with you, gentlemen of the two Houses of Congress, on these auspicious circumstances, and to assure you, in advance, of my ready disposition to concur with you in the adoption of all such measures as shall be calculated to increase the happiness of our constituents and to advance the glory of our common country.

Since the last adjournment of

laxed no effort to render indestructible the relations of amity which so happily exist between the United States and other countries. The treaty lately concluded with Great Britain has tended greatly to increase the good understanding which a reciprocity of interest is calculated to encourage, and it is most ardently to be hoped that nothing may transpire to interrupt the relations of amity which it is so obviously the policy of both nations to cultivate.

A question of much importance still remains to be adjusted between them. The territorial limits of the two countries in relation to what is commonly known as the Oregon territory, still remain in dispute. The United States would be at all times indisposed to aggrandise themselves at the expense of any other nation; but while they would be restrained by principles of honour, which should govern the conduct of nations as well as that of individuals, for setting up a demand for territory which does not belong to them, they would as unwillingly consent to a surrender of their rights. After the most rigid, and, as far as practicable, unbiassed examination of the subject, the United States have always contended that their rights appertain to the entire region of the country lying on the Pacific, and embraced within the 42nd and 54th degrees 40 min. of north latitude. This claim being controverted by Great Britain, those who have preceded the present Executive, actuated, no doubt, by an earnest desire to adjust the matter upon terms mutually satisfactory both countries, have caused to be submitted to the British Govern

to

and final adjustment, which, how ever, have not proved heretofore acceptable to it." Our Minister at London has, under instructions, again brought the subject to the consideration of the Government; and while nothing will be done to compromise the rights or honour of the United States, every proper expedient will be resorted to in order to bring the negotiation now in progress of resumption to a speedy and happy termination. In the meantime it is proper to remark, that many of our citizens are either already established in the territory, or are on their way thither for the purpose of forming permanent settlements, while others are preparing to follow; and in view of these facts, I must repeat the recommendation contained in previous messages, for the establishment of military posts at such places, on the line of travel as will furnish security and protection to our hardy adventurers against hostile tribes of Indians inhabiting those extensive regions. Our laws should also follow them, so modified as the circumstances of the case may seem to require. Under the influence of our free system of Government, new republics are destined to spring up, at no distant day, on the shores of the Pacific, similar in policy and in feeling to those existing on this side of the Rocky Mountains, and giving a wider and more extensive spread to the principles of civil and religious liberty. I am happy to be able to say, that nothing has occurred to disturb in any degree the relations of amity which exist between the United States and France, Austria, and Russia, as well as with the other powers of Europe, since the ad.

been agitated with internal convulsions for many years, from the effects of which it is to be hoped she is destined speedily to recover, when, under a more liberal system of commercial policy on her part, our trade with her may again fill its old, and so far as our continental possessions are concerned, its almost forsaken, channels, thereby adding to the mutual prosperity of the two countries.

"I communicate herewith certain despatches received from our Minister at Mexico, and also a correspondence which has recently occurred between the Envoy from that Republic and the Secretary of State.

It must be regarded as not a little extraordinary that the Government of Mexico, in anticipation of a public discussion, which it has been pleased to infer from newspaper publications as likely to take place in Congress, relating to the annexation of Texas to the United States, should have so far anticipated the result of such discussion as to have announced its determination to visit any such anticipated decision by a formal declaration of war against the United States. If designed to prevent Congress from introducing that question, as a fit subject for its calm deliberation and final judgment, the Executive has no doubt that it will entirely fail of its object. The representatives of a brave and patriotic people will suffer no apprehension of future consequences to embarrass them in the course of their proposed deliberation. Nor will the Executive Department of the Governmeut fail, for any such cause, to discharge its whole duty to the country.

The war which has existed for

and Texas has, since the battle of San Jacinto, consisted for the most part of predatory incursions, which, while they have been attended with much of suffering to individuals, and have kept the borders of the two countries in a state of constant alarm, have failed to approach to any definite result. Mexico has fitted out no formidable armament by land or by sea for the subjugation of Texas. Eight years have now elspsed since Texas declared her independence of Mexico, and during that time she has been recognised as a sovereign power by several of the principal civilised states. Mexico, nevertheless, perseveres in her plans of reconquest, and refuses to recognise her independence. The predatory incursions to which I have alluded have been attended, in one instance, with the breaking up of the courts of justice, by the seizing upon the persons of the judges, jury, and the officers of the court, and dragging them, along with unarmed, and therefore non-combatant citizens, into a cruel and oppressive bondage, thus leaving crime to go unpunished, and immorality to pass unreproved. A border warfare is evermore to be deprecated ; and over such a war as has long existed between these two States, humanity has had great cause to lament. Nor is such a condition of things to be deplored only because of the individual suffering attendant upon it. The effects are far more extensive. The Creator of the universe has given man the earth for its resting place, and his fruits for his subsistence. Whoever, therefore, shall make the first or any part of it a scene of desolation, affects injuriously

as a general calamity. Wars may sometimes be necessary; but all nations have a common interest in bringing them speedily to a close.

"The United States have an immediate interest in seeing an end put to the state of hostilities existing between Mexico and Texas. They are our neighbours, of the same continent, with whom we are not only desirous of cultivating the relations of amity, but of the most extended commercial intercourse, and to practise all the rights of a neighbourhood hospitality. Our own interests are deeply involved in the matter, since, however neutral may be our course of policy, we cannot hope to escape the effects of a spirit of jealousy on the part of both of the Powers. Nor can this Government be indifferent to the fact that a warfare, such as is waged between those two nations, is calculated to weaken both Powers, and finally to render them, and especially the weaker of the two, the subjects of interference on the part of the stronger and more powerful nations, which, intent only on advancing their own peculiar views, may sooner or later attempt to bring about a compliance with terms, as the condition of their interposition, alike derogatory to the nation granting them, and detrimental to the interests of the United States. We could not be expected quietly to permit any such interference to our disadvantage. Considering that Texas is separated from the United States by a mere geographical line, that her territory, in the opinion of many, formed a portion of the territory of the United States, that it is homogeneous in its population and pursuits with the adjoining