A free, virtuous, and enlightened people must know full well the great principles and causes upon which their happiness depends.

While we assert for ourselves a freedom to embrace, to profess, and to observe, the Religion which we believe to be of divine origin, we cannot deny an equal freedom to them whose minds have not yielded to the evidence which has convinced us.

I have great satisfaction in stating that our relations with France, Russia, and other powers continue on the most friendly basis.

Our country may be likened to a new house. We lack many things, but we possess the most precious of all - liberty!

At no period of our political existence had we so much cause to felicitate ourselves at the prosperous and happy condition of our country.

Our relations with the other powers of Europe have experienced no essential change since the last session.

In wars of the European powers in matters relating to themselves we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to do