ll confidence in itself and in its political institutions， and either perpetuating a state of disgraceful suffering or regaining by more costly sacrifices and more severe struggles our lost rank and respect among independent powers.
on the issue of the war are staked our national sovereignty on the high seas and the security of an important class of citizens whose occupations give the proper value to those of every other class. not to contend for such a stake is to surrender our equality with other powers on the element common to all and to violate the sacred title which every member of the society has to its protection. i need not call into view the unlawfulness of the practice by which our mariners are forced at the will of every cruising officer from their own vessels into foreign ones， nor paint the outrages inseparable from it. the proofs are in the records of each successive administration of our government， and the cruel sufferings of that portion of the american people have found their way to every bosom not dead to the sympathies of human nature.
as the war was just in its origin and necessary and noble in its objects， we can reflect with a proud satisfaction that in carrying it on no principle of justice or honor， no usage of civilized nations， no precept of courtesy or humanity， have been infringed. the war has been waged on our part with scrupulous regard to all these obligations， and in a spirit of liberality which was never surpassed.