The Sun. — London, England, 1846-12-30 00:00:00

Till?. SUN, LO DO WEDN'XNDAY _,EVENLINIG., DECEMBER, 30, 1846 • - . MARKET NE W&.—(THAS DAY.) 1 , t her destination, however, to her chagrin ___ —....—_ ' and great loss; the parcel was altogether gone, and could CORN-EXCHANGE.—WEDNESDAY a whene be found. Applicant had applied to the com p ,ny respecting the loss himself and wife had sustained, We haw: again to report the arrival of a very moderate but the only answer he could obtain was, " that they had a IIPPIy of English Wheat, fresh up to our market since day,Mon hence the show of samples to-day was small. Selected made every inquiry touching the missing parcel, but had qualities of both red and white were held at a further im- not been enabled, as yet, to gain any clue to it ; it was Provement of fully Is per quarter; hut the demand was no doubt taken away by souse dishonest passenger, and by no means so active as on Monday. There was a limited if so, it was a circumstance over which the company bad quantity of free Foreign Wheat on offer, while a steady busi- no control." _ltegs was transacted in it at extreme rates. - Bonded Corn Mr. BROUGHTON desired Fitzgerald, an active and in wits in good request, and higher prices were generally de- telligent officer of the Court, to accompany the appli htsnded by the importers. The demand for Ireland still con- cant, and make the necessary inquiries respecting the tinues. . Malting Barley was in good request, and the turn higher, while grinding and distilling sorts readily supported alleged loss or robbery. Erevious currencies. Malt moved off steadily at full prices. ~..t. h e supply of Oats being small, the demand was steady, at the late advance. ,_.Enlillatt ... .nh .. .. . Foreign ... Wheat. 2,260 qrs. ARRIVALS. IBarley. 3,810 qrs. Oats I Flour. 1,330 qrs. I 2,320 sk . 2,700 I -- 5,370 I - 1,260 4.010 Ma1t,5,510 qrs. VnIXTECILAPEL. The snpplies of each kind of Meat on sale being small, there was an evident improvement in the trade, and prices had, in some instances, an upward tendency :—Beef, from 26 10d to 3s 10d; Mutton, 3s to 4s 8d; Veal, 3s 10d to 45 8d; and Pork, 3s 8d to 4s 10d per 81us., by the carcase. etnri) EOtiton C OMMERCIAL TR k YELLERS' SCHOOLS, FOR ORPHAN AND NECESSITOUS CIIILDREN. SOUTHWARK.-(THIS DAY.) Offices, 51, Cheapside. , At the Quarterly General Court of the Governors of this Institution aeld at the London Tavern, on Monday, the 28th day of December, instant, William Spiers , a stout young lad, was charged with creating a disturbance in the gallery of the Victoria Theatre. „ THOMAS SIDNEY, Esq., Alderman, in the chair, the undermentioned gentlemen were unanimously appointed to nil the several offices of the Institution for;the ensuing year : PRESIDENT. JOHN MASTERMAN, Esq., M.P. VICE-PRESIDENTS. Murray, the constable of the theatre, stated that when the performance concluded on the preceding night the defendant, we ,h about twenty others in the gallery, commenced hooting and making a noise. He (the con stable) went up and told the disturbers that the house would be in darkness, as the servants were extin guishing the lights. The defendant, however, who was prominent in the atfair, refused to quit, saying he should have a smoke before he left the gallery, and he was pro ceeding to carry out his purpose when he was ejected, in accomplishing which much difficulty was experienced, and his subsequent conduct was of such a violent nature that it was found necessary to take him to the station house. Edward Baker, Esq . . - Robert Clarke, jun., Esq. John Relied Conley, Esq. Sampson Copestake, Esq. Joseph Ferguson, Esq. James Fisher, Esq. George Hitchcock, Esq. John Matr, jun., Esq. William Nicholson, Esq. William Peek, Esq. R. M. Phillips, Esq. Giles Rodmayne, Esq. Thomas Sidney, Esq., Alderman George Smith, Esq. James Walsh, Esq. Matthew Wicking, Esq. Edward Wiggins, Esq. A rthur Wilcoxon, Esq. TRUSTERS. Robert Clarke, Esq., Cheapside. James Peek, Esq., Eastcheap. Astuflah Teape, Esq., Aldgate. TREASURER. George Moore, Esq., Bow Church-yard. AUDITORS. Geore Hitchcock, Esq., it. Paul's-churchyard. William Lawson, Esq. William M`Culloch, Esq. • Robinson Ridley, Esq. George Stockdale, Esq. Thomas Tapling, Esq. BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. Thomas Sidney, Esq., Alderman Julius Aders, Esq., Crotched Friars Jelin Baggalary, E sq., Love-lane David Blyth, Esq., Barbican J. L. Bootlaby, Esq., Upper Thames-street Thomas Brough, Esq., Liverpool F. J. Bllgh, Esq., Cheapside J. R. Cuffley, Esq., Monument-yard J. D. Carter, Esq., Aldgate J. L. Evans, Esq., Wardrobe-place J. P. Foster, Esq , Wood-strett Richard Groue ick, Esq., Bow churchyard J. Galloway, Esq., Manchester R. Gilson, Esq., Fenchurch-street W. G. B. Gunton, Esq., New Weston-street George Harker, Esq., Upper Thames-street G. Hewitt, Esq., Brixton Jenkin Jones, Esq.. Coles-terrace J. Ingle, Esq., Wood-street R. Johnson, Esq., Watling-street D. Lewis, Esq., Manchester A. H. Moore, Req., Calthorpe-street John Mair, km., Esq. Friday-street J. P. Massey, Esq., Birmingham R. M. Phillips, Esq., Rood-lane Giles Redmayne, Esq., Bond-street W. S. Rumsey, Esq., Queen-street -place Thomas Roberts, Esq., Paternoster-row R. shillingford, Esq., Old Jewry Evan Smith, Esq., ,heffield. Henry Sturt, Esq., Wood-street. W. Tilt, Esq., Claremont square. James Walsh, Esq., Old 'Change. John B. Walker, Esq., Friday-street. Matthew Wicking, Esq., Dorset-square. Thomas Williamson, Esq., Savage-gardens. IiONORARY SECRETIRT—George Lawrence, Esq. - T he Board of Management will meet at the above offices, on Mow "Ar next, the 4th January, 1847, for the purpose of transacting business -, and with a view to prepare for an early election of children. WILLIAM GORDON, Secretary. The defendant, who was crying all the time he stood at the bar, was fined 55., the magistrate remarking that his being locked up all night was a sufficient punishment. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. (RECEIVED TIIIS DAY.) BETTING AT INIANCIIE . ITER.—TUESDAY. CHESTER CUP. 50 to 1 agst Crim Con—offd 1003 to 15 agst Burgundy—t 50 to I agst Fitz-Allen and afterwards offered 1000 to 16 agst Antler—taken 1000 to 15 agst Morpeth—off DERBY. Bto 1 agst Van Tromp—t to 100 25 to 1 agst Cobweb colt—offd 14 to 1 agst Epirote—t to 25 33 to 1 agst Lunedale—offd 500 to 30 agst Planet—taken 33 to 1 agst Old Port—offd 25 to 1 agst Glentilt—t to 50 33 to I agst Wanota—offd Nothing else named. BANKRUPTCY.—(THIS DAY.) IN RE SMITH, HOLT, AND NEALE. , To-day was appo i n t e d f or th e application of these bankrupts (who were proprietors of the Iron Times news- Piper), for their certificates. Messrs. Holt and Neale attended, but Mr. Smith had not been able to pay the fees. Mr. Berry, a creditor, opposed the bankrupts on the Pound of ex t ravagance w hilst in a hopeless state of in tilvencx—, and other grounds, the principal being against r• Holt, for receiving large sums of money. and not d uly accounting for them, and also for incurring debts on false representations. The answers of Mr. Holt, however, appeared so satis factory to the Learned Commissioner, that he said the O bjections fell to the ground. Mr. Berry said that as Mr. Holt had given the expla nations, he did not desire to examine Mr. Neale. The certificates were then granted, and protection to Mr. bolt (as he was threatened with arrest) until the certificate had been allowed by the Court of Review. Protection was extended for Mr. Smith to come up on a future day. SECONDARIES',-{THIS DAY.) FESEMEYER 1.1. DUTTON. The plaintiff in this action is a solicitor in Bedford row, and the defendant a brewer in Dutton. street, Cromer -street, Gray's Inn-lane. The action was brought to recover the sum of 61. 3s. 2d. for law charges in endeavouring to raise money on mortgage. .„Slr. THOMAS stated the case. The facts were these : "ring the last year the defendant had caused extensive a lterations to be made at his brewery, and had employed it Mr. Styles to do a great portion of the work, and being ttoable to pay him or to get money advanced on the pro perty he requested Mr. Styles to endeavour to do so, and the latter introduced defendant to plaintiff, and the de -I!utiant gave the necessary instructions. The p laintiff then placed himself in communication with a Mr. Whit taker, a solicitor, and the money would hnve been ad 7aneced if on the survey of the plant, &c., it had been of the value described by defendant ; as it was not, the ne gotiation w?.! Put an end to and the plaintiff now sought called f or recover his bill of cost s Mr. Styles wasthe services rendered. was deputed to act as the a , and proved distinctly that he had introduced the latter , gent for defendant, and that he structions. _ who had hi ms elf given the in- Mr. Whittaker proved that he had had several in terviews with, and received several letters from the plaintiff, on the subject of the mortgage, and th e nego tiation was broken off solely in conseq uence of th e surve y of the property not being satisfacto ry. On the part of the defendant , a notice was in Which the plaintiff was called upon to pro" put in, prove the re tainer. It was submitted that there ought to have been a retainer in writing. , The Learned SECONDARY held t hat that was not abso lutely necessary, although it wa s a g reat se curity to 'atomics. The defendant's attorney then contended that it was evident that the very object of Mr. Styles to raise the n ri e7 was to obtain payment of his debt, and that he ll ' employed the plaintiff, who in the usual course Would have deducted his costs. Mr. THOMAS said, if it was admitted that the plaintiff might have was deducted the amount, i 'tclear that de fendant considered himself liable. The Le arne d S ECO NDARY said the first question was, had defendant retained the plaintiff ? and the next the Value of the services? The jury gave a verdict for the amount claimed. CLERKEN Wk.LL.-(THIS DAY.) A reapectable-looking middle aged man, who stated utinself to be a watch-movement manufacturer, residing at 6, mr Compton -street, Clerkenwell, was cha r g ed before , • Comb e w i t h h av i ng o b ta i n ed, by means of fraud•i tent representations, a gold watch, of the value of 201. tua l tr, • Thomas Frederick Cooper said he was a watch weir. carrin on business in Calthorpe-street, Clerken and had k g nown the prisoner for some time. The is oner came to him about a month ago , and t old him that he knew a gentleman named Webb who was en gaged in the erection of Nicholson's distillery, and re quested th e witness to let him have a gold wat ch to 8149 w to Mr. Webb, as he thought he should be enabled to sell it to him. The witness let him have the watch, telling him, at the same time, that he was on no account „ i telling him, at the same time, that he was on no account ~2Part with it without being paid the full price for it. Wtness had since called several times at the prisoner's ' l ouse to make inquiries, but the only answer he could get from the prisoner's family was, that Mr. Webb was out of town, and they were not aware when he would return. Ha endeavoured to find out Mr. Webb, but al though he had reason to believe there was such a person, still he (Mr. Cooper) could obtain no information re specting him. He went to the prisoner's residence this morning, when, being told that necessity had compelled the family to raise a little money upon the watch, he gave him into custody. A pawnbroker produced the watch, which was iden tified by Mr. Cooper, and stated that it had been pledged by 2 woman whom he believed to be the prisoner's wife. The prisoner said his representation about Mr. Webb buying a watch was lrondfide. Ho denied having pawned the watch himself, and said it was done by his wife without his cognizance. Mr. COOMBE ordered the case to be remanded, in order that the prisoner's wife might be in attendance. A watchmaker, named Hickman, who had committed 1s viol e nt an d unprovoked assault upon Mr. James Mown lug, of the Duke of Bridgewater Tavern, Macclesfield- Street, whose house he had entered in a state of intoxi eah°n, was ordered to find sureties to keep the peace. WORSHIP STREET.—(THIS DAY.) This morning Corporal Stephens, in the service of the East India Company, and belonging to the Walley Barracks, Brentwood, applied to the sitting magistrate , Mr.Broughton, as follows :—lle said, that on the 11th of November his wite left London by the Eastern Counties Railway, for the purp ose o f j o i n i ng hi m a t th e Walley Barracks. She had with her, previous to her departure, an infant, and a bundle valu e d a t a b out 5 / T he l atter she lad by her side, at the station whilst paying her but before that was completed, her parcel was tlikt n away by one of the company's servants, and placed, as she was given to understand, for better security, ul one of the luggage trucks. On arriving COURI CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, TUESDAY.—The Queen and Prince Albert walked this morning on the Eastern Terrace of the Castle and slopes. The Royal family took their accustomed walking aid pony exercise. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by his Serene Highness Prince Lowenstein and Sir George Grey, and attended by the Earl of Listowel and Colonel Bouverie, enjoyed the sport of shooting this morning. Lord Edward Howard is expected to arrive at the Castle to-day, on a visit to her Majesty. The royal dinner party at the Castle this evening will include her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen, his Serene Highness Prince Lowenstein, the Lady in Waiting of the Duchess of Kent, the Baroness de Speth, Lord Edward Howard, Sir George Grey, Mr. G. E. and the Hon. Mrs. Anson, and Capt. Francis Seymour. The band of the Ist Life Guards attended during dinner. Her Majesty's private band afterwards attend in the Castle. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, yestt r day, at Gloucester House. Mr. Samuel Palmer, of Great Yarmouth, had an in terview, yesterday, with the Right Hon. Thomas M. Gib son, at the Board of Trade. Dispatches were received yesterday, at the Colonial office, from the Governors of Hong-Kong and Gibraltar. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening, from the Colonial office, for the Governor of the Mauritius. The Earl of Elgin, Governor-General of Canada, and the Countess of Elgin, arrived at Farrance's Hotel, Upper Belgrave-street, yesterda, from Lambton Castle. STORM AT GENOA.—A • letter from Genoa states, that on the 12th instant a violent storm suddenly rose in that neighbourhood, and caused considerable damage. About four in the afternoon the commandant of the port, perceiving the mercury to fall suddenly, and the wind to change from north to south-west, sent word to the various vessels to make all snug for a storm. Scarcely had the intimation beer. given, when the tempest com menced, and raged for some time with dreadful fury. The waves broke over the two moles and the quays, and even sent their spray into the neighbouring streets. The vessels lying in the harbour were driven violently against each other, and in several cases injured. Three were driven from their moorings and lost. One was a Greek merchant brig, which was dashed against the coast, and in five minutes was in pieces. The other two were Sardinian craft, one a three-master and the other a brig. The crews of the three vessels were saved, with the exception of the three men belonging to the Greek brig. Prince de Carignan, who exercises at Genoa the functions of admiral, was busied for some hours on the quays organising means of conveying help. Thirteen men perished at Genoa, and the accounts from the coast are terrible. The Dante steamer was at one time in great danger, but fortunately escaped. WOOLWICII.—SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN WOOL WICH DoCKYAßD.—Between seven and eight o'clock on the evening of Christmas-day, one of the police con stables on duty in the dockyard, when near the great chimney of the foundry, thought he paceived a spark ascend from a place where about 300 tons of coals were stored for the use of the foundry and boiler-makers' department. On proceeding to the spot, to ascertain whether there was any fire or not, he discovered that a large quantity of the coals were in a state of combustion, and from the quantity converted into coke it was evident they had been burning some time. An immediate alarm was given, and the crews of the vessels in the basin and harbour were brought on shore to assist in quenching the burning coals. A number of convicts were also brought on shore from the Warrior hulk, and continued at work until three o'clock on Saturday morn ing in removing the coals from the place where the fire originated. It is not known by what means the com bustion began, but it was evident that it must have been spontaneous. Soile imagine the tire took place from the coals having been placed on the wooden blocks of the floor of the shed when in a damp state, and became heated; others are of opinion that the spontaneous com bustion originated from the water of the coals passing betwixt the blocks to the concrete, as that substance was quite hot, and the outer sides of the wood deeply charred, as if the fire had ascended from the concrete betwixt the blocks. A full report of the circumstances has been forwarded to the Admiralty, to be investigated. STOPPAGE OF DISTILLERIES AND BREWERIES IN IRELAND.—A meeting of the inhabitants of Belfast was held in the Town Hall, on Thursday, to consider the propriety of memorialising Government to suspend the use of grain in distilleries and breweries while the exist ing scarcity of food continues in the country, when tha following resolutions were agreed to : " That the present high price of provisions, and the amount of distress prevailing in this country, require every attention to the economising of food, and that for this purpose measures of an extreme nature should be adopted." " That with this view the meeting is of opinion that all distillation from grain in these kingdoms should be forthwith suspended." " That it is the opinion of this meeting that brewing from grain in these kingdoms should also forthwith be suspended." It was then agreed that a memorial should be presented to the Lord Lieutenant, and a deputation appointed to . wait on the Irish Gover nment, and ur g e the necessit y of the immediate adoption of the measure. DEATH IN THE MILLBANK PRISON.---SUICIDE Richard Gro ves FROM SORROW.—An inquest was held yesterday after noon in the Millbank Prison, before Mr. Bedford, the coroner, on the body of James Mills, aged 45. Mr. John governorlabourer, a uarter Sessions, 22d October last, of felony —stealingshirt and sun dry other article s—and sen tenced to seven . , he was found Yarstransportation. On Mon da y mornin g Francis, a h angin gpri so ner, in his cell, and quite dead. John er, confined in the same cell, said the deceased fretted He said that his aif;•eeat de a l ab ou t his wife and family. w the world, and that he and children were thrown up on knewli the parish would not allo w enough to support the m , wife, and after receiving nn e had a l et t er written to his depressed than before. Witnessaseemed much more nswe r a great wish to see one of h i srothers, who was in had heard him express prison for the same offence, and a l so an elder brother, who was at large ' was heard him say that his misfortunes. Verdict—Temporar y insanity. the cause of all The Nuremberg Correspondent states that A us tria and Prussia had positively refused to refer of the suppression of Cracow to the ex a mination question nation and decision of an European Congress. _ REFUSAL TO BURY A SUlClDE.—Yesterday, appli cation was made to Mr. Baker, the Coroner, for his interference in a case where a clergyman refused to perform the funeral service over the body of a girl, %ho it was supposed, had drowned herself in the London Docks. The clergyman complained of is the Rev. Bryan King, of St. George's-in•the-East. The Coroner said, his power ended when the jury were discharged, and he could not interfere in the matter. It appeared that the refusal to read the funeral service was not made known till the body was taken to the burial ground, and that one of the relatives afterwards read some prayers over the grave, and the corpse was buried. THE PRIVY PURSE.—The salary attached to the appointment of keeper of her Majesty's privy purse is 2,0001. per annum. Major-General Sir Henry Wheatley, who is on the eve of retiring from that office in the Queen's household, to be succeeded by Mr. G. E. Anson, was keeper of the privy purse to his late Majesty William the Fourth. Her Majesty has been pleased to direct that the fancy sale, which is to take place in the new building of the Orphan Working School, at Haverstock-hill, shall be under her royal patronage. DARING HIGHWAY ROBD2RY.—On Tuesday even ing last., as Mr. Fauchon, of Wrotham, was returing from Maidstone market, when he had proceeded about two miles on the London road he was suddenly as sailed by five men, who stopped his cart, and with great imprecations demanded his money. They drew the cart to the side of the road, struck Mr. Fauchon on the back of his head, dragged him out of the cart, and succeeded in robbing him of a cheque for 341., one sovereign, and a silver watch. He immediate ly re turned to Maidstone and gave information to the po lice, but the ruffians have eot yet been apprehended. Mr. Fauchon's purse and a fire-office receipt have been since found in the wood near the spot.—Maidstone Ga zette. PROVISIONS FROM THE UNITED ST AT ES.—The John G. Cost r, from New York, armed at Liverpool, re ported at th Custom- house on the 26th inst., brings 7,195 barrels of flour, and 553 boxes of cheese. The Mason, from New York, which arrived at Liverpool on the 28th inst., brings 17,000 bushels of Indian corn. IsTITER bTATES. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY NIGHT, HALF-PAST EIGHT. The New York packet-ship Ashburton, Captain Howland, entered the river at a late hour to-night, bringing New York papers of the 10th, and with them the Mesage of Mr. President Polk, which, as usual, is a very lengthy document, occupying nearly nine columns. The news from the army is to the effect that the American forces bad taken Monclova and Chihua hun, without bloodshed ; the taking of the latter' place, however, has since been doubted. An expedition had set out against Victoria. General Wool was under orders for Saltillo. It was reported that Santa Anna had collected up wards of 30,000, with whom he intended to march against the American forces. A letter from Camargo, Mexico, dated November 7, says— There is a rumour (which Ido not vouch for, but which is not only possible but probable) that another revolution has broken out in Mexico. The Santa Anna party de clared him Dictator—anti-Santa Anna (headed by Va lencia) demurred, turned their arms against the Dic tator, and drove him and his party from San Luis Potosi; and that the Dictator was falling back in the direction of the city of Mexico. This was a very na tural route for him to take, were he driven from his lines at San Luis, considering the position of affairs in this section. " American settlers are already commencing to locate on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. Several tracts of land below Camargo have been purchased from Mexican claimants, and the new owners have commenced im proving. " The steamer Major Brown, which went up the Rio Grande on an exploring expedition, has arrived at Loredo, from which Lieutenant Tilden, 2d Infantry, in charge of expedition, makes report. He reports favour ably generally of the depth of water for boats drawing four or five feet ; but the channel in many places crooked, in others filled with limestone rocks which stick right straight up' (easily removed), and frequent rapids—all of which the Brown passed over, and arrived safe at Loredo." The sickness along the whole line of the Rio Grande this summer and fall has been represented as very severe. Not less than 1,500 men has it made its victims. Colonel Gates, who commands at Tampico, keeps the place under strict martial law. Reports had reached Monterey that General Am pudia had been arrested by the Mexican authorities, for having made the capitulation at Monterey, and is in gaol at Hadalagara. It is now declared that Santa Anna, Almonte, and the other Mexican officers who were passed through our squadron gave their parole not to engage in the war against the United States—which was the cause and condition of their being passed. Ac counts from Santa Fe state, that great fears were entertained that the stock of provisions would be altogether inadequate to supply the army during the winter. The American soldiers were in a state of insubordination, and were daily committing out rages upon the Mexicans. The consequence was that assassinations were becoming very frequent. General Kearney had left Santa Fe for California, but it is doubted if he will reach it. The last accounts stated that he was at Fra Cristo, 205 miles south of Santa Fe, having abandoned his waggons, and packed his provisions and baggage on mules. The Mormons, under Captain Cook, had also left for California. The Royal mail steamer Caledonia had arrived at Boston. Another steam-boat explosion had taken place; a number of the crew were killed. COMMERCIAL MARKETS, DEC. 8. The Stock-market opened to-day rather heavy, but improved before the adjournment of the first board; between the boards a further advance in prices was realised, but at the second board a slight decline was experienced, caused partially by the reception of the President's Message. Among the exports to Great Britain for the month, there were 296,713 bushels of wheat, 78,962 barrels of flour, 330,528 bushels of corn, 6,351 barrels of corn meal, and 4,148,394 lbs. of cheese. The value of the single article of cheese exported for the month was more than 300,000 dolls. The shipments of produce from this country to Great Britain comprise a very large portion of our export trade, and the demand for our breadstuffs and provisions in Europe will, no doubt,continue sufficiently large to give us annually a very large trade in them. The demand for corn, cheese, and provisions of all kinds, will, doubt. less, steadily increase, while that for flour and wheat will fluctuate according to the harvests of the various countries. The price of flour had declined at all the corn depots in consequence of the news per Caledonia. Our advices from Washington of the 7th state that the second session of the Twenty-eighth Congress opened this day at noon. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House of Representatives the Speaker took she chair at twelve o'clock, and called the House to order. The following Message was then delivered : THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, —In resuming your labours in the ger• vice of the people, it is a subject of congratulation that there has been no period in our past history when all the elements of national prosperity have been so fully developed. Since your last session no afflicting dispen sation has visited our country; general good health has prevailed; abundance has crowned the toil of the hus bandman; and labour in all its branches is receiving an ample reward, while education, science, and the arts are , rapidly enlarging the means of social happiness. The progress of our country in her career of greatness, not only in the vast extension of our territorial limits, and the rapid increase of our population, but in resources and wealth, and in the happy condition of our people, is without example in the history of nations. As the wisdom, strength, and beneficence of our free institutions are unfolded, every day adds fresh motives to contentment and fresh incentives to patriotism. Our devout and sincere acknowledgments are due to the gracious Giver of all good for the numberless bless ings which our beloved country enjoys. It is a source of high satisfaction to know that the relations of the United States with all other nations, with a single exception, are of the most amicable cha racter. Sincerely attached to the policy of peace, early adopted and steadily pursued by this Government, I have anxionsly desired to cultivate and cherish friend. ship and commerce with every foreign Power. The spirit and habitsoftohf such eA e m b ei. n ic te a r n na people tional brmaareony. favourable i to the maintenan ce adhering to this wise policy, a preliminary and para• s ou f s r ly om co e n n s e is r t o s ae i b n m t e h n e t p o r r ot s e a c e t r io ifi n ne o , f a o n u d r tained at any hazard. l i 1 usl and constantly guarded. In our nmaotui national t ad : nt a yt l eo h r be o sv n ti our frTomheryeapdromaicth. of Thenosem m p r u o s m t be ia e m o r a n i n e glect, and mustbescrupu o y have e e n n j n o o to the dictates of r their n vigilant Powers vindication, csaloent,i collisionsometimes become unavoidable. s feoh has been our scrupulous adherence h an a d ve ha g v i j d u il s y tic a e n , d in r aapllidoluyr tflyvesiogenin g in prosperity intercourse, .that, a n though e power, stea dily of complaint to any nation, thirty years.policy so ss sacred e p d e a t c o e b fo u r m m a n o i r t e y than an and so salutary in its effects upon our political system, we should never be induced voluntarily to depart. idu F rom tth a c e a p u b o s l li e e The existing war with Mexico was neither desired nor provoked by the United States. On the contrary, all honourable means were resorted to to avert it. After years of endurance of aggravated and unredressed wrongs on our part, Mexico, in violation of solemn treaty stipulations, and of every principle of justice re cognised by civilised nations, commenced hostilities ; and thus by her own act forced the war upon us. Long aß b wn e ei d f o o m r hG e i agrdt might e advance the dheavweeahad of United pa edasl ampleetda our tte osa the esuyows resorted ht o eoo d t lf hewetaorl civilisedea thia3bi against extremity, torre o t lnd f iftl for Mexico; r, to present t o you on t h e the pre sent I justice deem i t o our o t f be m e y u rdsne. duty occasion a condensed review of the injuries we have sustained, of the causes which led to the war, and of its progress since its comnieuee.nent. This is ren dered the more necessary because of the misapprehen sions which base to sume extent prevailed as to its origin and true character. The war has been repre sented as unjust and unnecessary, and as one of aggres sion on our part upon a weak and injured enemy. Such erroneous views, though entertained by but few, have been widely and extensively circulated, not only at home, but have been spread throughout Mexico and the whole world. A more effectual means could not have been devised to encourage the enemy and protract the war than to advocate and adhere to their cause, and thus give them "aid and comfort." It is a source of national pride and exultation that the great body:of our people have thrown no such obstaele: in the way of the Government in prosecuting the was successfully, but have sliown themselves to he eminently patriotic, and ready to vied cats their country's honour and interest at any sacrifice. The alacrity and prompt ness with which our volunteer forces rushed to the field on their country's call, prove not only their patriotism, but their deep conviction that our cause is just. The wrongs which we have suffered from Mexico al most ever since she became an independent power, and the patient endurance with which we have borne them, are without a parallel in the history of modern civilised nations. There is reason to believe that if these wrongs bad been resented and resisted in the first instance, the present war might have been avoided. One outrage, however, permitted to pass with impunity, almost neces sarily encouraged the perpetration of another, until at last Mexico seemed to attribute to weakness and inde cision on our part a forbearance which was the offspring of magnanimity, and of a sincere desire to preserve friendly reltitiona with a sister republic. Scarcely had Mexico achieved her independence, which the United States were first among the nations to acknowledge, when she commenced the system of insult and spoliation which she lsas ever since pursued. Our citizens engaged in lawful commerce were imprisoned, their vessels seized, and our flag insulted in her ports. If money was wanted, the lawless seizure and confisca tion of our merchant vessels and their cirgoes was a ready resource, and if to accomplish their purposes it became necessary to imprison the owners, captains, and crews, it was done. Rulers superseded rulers in Mexico in rapid succession, but still there was no change in this system of depredation. The Government of the United States made repeated reclamations on behalf of its citi zens, but these were answered by the perpetration of new outrages. Promises of redress made by Mexico in the most solemn forms were postponed or evaded. The files and records of the department of State contain con clusive proofs of numerous lawless acts perpetrated upon the property and persons of our citizens by Mexico, and of wanton insults to our national flag. The interposi tion of our Government to obtain redress was again and again invoked, under circumstances which no nation ought to disregard. It was hoped that these outrages would cease, and that Mexico would be restrained by the laws which regulate the conduct of civilised nations in their inter course with each other, after the treaty of amity, com merce, and navigation, of the sth of April, 1831, was concluded between the two republics, but this hope soon proved to be vain. The course of seizure and confisca tion of the property of our citizens, the violation of their persons, and the insults to our flag pursued by Mexico previous to that time were scarcely suspended for even a brief period, although the treaty so clearly defined the rights and duties of the respective parties, that it is impossible to misunderstand or mistake them. In less then seven years after the conclusion of that treaty, our grievances 'had become so intolerable that, in the opinion of President Jackson, they should no longer be endured. In his message to Congress in February, 1837, be presented them to the consideration of that body, and declared that " The length of time since some of the injuries have been committed, the repeated and unavailing applications for redress, the wanton character of some of the outrages upon the property and persons of our citizens, upon the officers and flag of the United States, independent of recent insults to this Govern ment and people by the late extraordinary Mexican Minister, would justify in the eyes of all nations imme diate war." In a spirit of kindness and forbearance, however, he recommended reprisals as a milder 'rode of redress. He declared that war should not be used as a remedy "by just and generous nations, confiding in their strength for injuries committed, if it can be ho nourably avoided," and added, "i t has occurred to me that, considering the present embarrassed condition of that country, we should act with both wisdom and mode ration by giving to Mexico one more opportunity to atone for the past before we take redress into our hands. To avoid all misconception on the part of Mexico, as well as to protect our own national character from reproach, this opportunity should be given with the avowed design and full preparation to take imme diate satisfaction, if it should not be obtained on a repe tition of the demand for it. To this end I recommend_ that an Act be passed authorising reprisals, and the use of the naval force of the United States by the Executire against Mexico to enforce them, in the event of a refusal by the Mexican Government to come to an amicable ad justment of the matters in controversy between us, upon another, demand thereof, made from on board one of our vessels of war on the coast of Mexico." Committees of both houses of Congress, to which this message of this President was referred, fully sustained his views of the character of the wrongs wbich we had suffered from Mexico, and recommended that another demand for redress should be made before authorising war or reprisals. The Committee on foreign relations of the Senate, in their report say--" After such a de mand, should prompt justice be refused by the Mexican Government, we may appeal to all nations, not only for the equity and moderation with which we shall have acted towards a sister republic, but for the necessity which will then compel us to seek redress for our wrongs, either by actual war or by reprisals. The subject will then be presented before Congress, at the commencement of the next session, in a clear and distinct form, and the Comm itte cannot doubt but that such measures will be immediately adopted as may be necessary to vindicate the honour of the country, and insure ample reparation to our injured citizens." The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives made a similar recommendation. In their report they say that they " fully concur with the President that ample cause exists for taking redress into our own hands, and believe that we should be justified in the opinion of other nations for taking such a stet. But they are willing to try the experiment of another demand, made in the most solemn form, unpon the jus tice of the Mexican Government, before any further proceedings are adopted." No difference of opinion upon the subject is believed to have existed in C ongress at that t i me ; the Executive a id Legislative departments concurred; and yet such have been our forbearance and desire to preserve peace with Mexico, that the wrongs of which we then com plained, and which gave rise to these solemn proceed ings, not only remain unredressed to t hi s d ay, but addi tional causes of complaint, of an aggravated character, have ever since been accumulating. Shortly after these proceedings a special messenger was dispatched to Mexico, to make a final demand for redress, and on the 22d of July, 1837, the demand was made. The reply of the Mexican Government bears date on the 29th of the same month, and contains assurances of the " anxious wish" of the Mexican Government " not to delay th e moment of that fi na l and equitable. adjustment whi c h i s to tet minate the existing difficulties between the two G overnments ;" t h at " nothing should be left undone which may contribute to the most speedy and equitable determination of the subjects which have so seriously en gage d t h e attention of the American Go• vernment;" that the " Mexican Government would adopt, as the o n ly gu id es for its con d uct, the plainest imposed by of publ ic r i g h t, the sacre d o bli gat i ons by the international law, and the religious faith of treaties;" and that " w h atever reason an d justice may dictate respecting each case will be done." The assur ance was further given that the decision of the Mexican Government upo n eac h cause of comp l a i nt , for which re dress had been demanded, should be communicated to the Governm e nt o f t h e United States b y the Mexican Minister at Washington. These solemn assurances, in answer to our demand for redress, were disregarded. By making them, how. ever, Mexico obtained further delay. President Van Buren, in his annual message to Congress of the sth of December, 1837, states that "although the large number of our demands for redress, and many of them aggra vated cases of personal wrongs, hare been now for years before the Mexican Government, and some of the causes of national complaint, and those of the most offensive character, admitted of immediate, simple, and satisfactory replies, it is only within a few days past that any specific communication in answer to our last demand, made five months ago, has been received from the Mexican Minister," and that " for not one of our public complaints has satisfaction been given or offered; that but one of the cases of public wrong has been fa vourably. considered, an d that but four cases of both de scriptions, out of all those formally presented and earnestly pressed, have as yet been decided upon by the Mexican Government." President Van Buren, believing that it would be vain to make any further attempt to obtain redress by the ordinary means within the power of the Executive, communicated this opinion to Con gress, in the message referred to, in which he said— " On a careful and deliberate examination of the contents" (of the correspondence with the Mexican Government), "and considering the spirit manifested by the Mexican Government, it has become my painful d t o u t w y tht t hio o mem r em e i t aet u dab r os neupl measure ee h n dog e fcs subject bjeodpedruceelt redress." s a oi .d s r”ey i t upon m n ia o ed w a st the h s u t re a e n stu l : msnaientt, United C htsae o tk n aem g t ne r os e d s ae s and n adt re dress into their own hands, all our difficulties with Mexico would probably hav e b een l ong since adjusted, and the existing war have been averted. Magnanimity and moderation on our part only h a d the effect to complicate these difficulties, and render an amicable settlement of them the more embarrassing. That s uc h measures o f redress, under similar provocation s , committed by any of the powerful nations of Europe, would have been promptly resorted to by the United States, cannot be doubted. The national honour, and the preservation of the national character throughout the world, as well as our own self-respect and the protection due to our own citizens, would have rendered suc h a resort indispensable. The history of no civilised nation in modern times has presented within so brief a period so many wanton attacks upon the honour of . its flag and u pon the pro perty and persons of its mufti as h a d a t t h a t ti m e been borne by the United States from the Mexican authorities and people. But Mexico was a s i ster republ i c on t h e North American continent, occupying a territory con tiguous to our own, and was in a feeble and distracted condition ; and these considerations, it is presumed, in duced Congress to forbear still longer. Instead of taking redress into our own hands, a new negotiation was entered upon wi t h fa i r prom i ses on t h e part of Mexico, but with the r ea l purpose, as t h e even t has proved, of indefinitely postponing the reparation which we demanded, and which was so justly due. This negotiation, after more than a ye ar ' s d e l ay , resu lted in the convention of the 11th of Ap r il, 1839, "f or t h e ad justment of claims of citizens of the United States . of , joint America upon. board ofcommissioners th eCio vernmen t of th e created Mexican b yR thisep übhc., The con vention to examine and decide upon these claims was not organized until the month. of August, 1840, and under the terms of the convention they w ere to termi nate their duties within eighteen months from that ti . niF. Four of the eighteen months were consumed in prelmn nary discussions on frivolous and dilatory points raised by the Mexican ee commissioners inb er,o 1 84h t ; a t and theyit wasnot commenceduntilthe the x month examination a otfioric n of the claims of our citizens upon Mexico. , Fourteen months only remained to examine and decide If monthupon February,numerous 1872 ,the termcomplicated o , .11.ma-,...,C. f t o h a e se c s Omm r i n ssi t o b l e i expired, leaving many claims undisposed of for want of time. The claims which were allowed by the board, and by the umpire authorised by the convention to decide in case of disagreement between the I Mexican and A mer i can commissioners, amounted to two million twenty-six thousand one hundred and thirty , nine dollars and sixty-eight cents. There were pending before the empire, when the commission expired, addi tional claims which had been examined and awarded by the American commissioners, and had not been allowed by the Mexican commissioners, amounting to nine hundred and twenty-eight thousand six hundred and twenty-seven dollars and eighty-eight cents, upon which he did not decide, alleging that his authority had ceased with the termination of the joint commission. Besides these claims, there were others of American citizens, amounting to three million three hundred and thirty-six thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven dollars and five cents, which had been submitted to the board, and upon which they had not time to decide before their final adjournment. The sum of two million twenty-six thousand one hundred and thirty-nine dollars and sixty-eight cents, which had teen awarded to the claimants, was a liqui dated and ascertained debt due by Mexico, about which there could be no dispute, and which she was bound to pay according to the terms of the convention. Sooi, after the final awards for this amount had been made, the Mexican Government asked for a postponement of the time of making payment, alleging that it would be inconvenient to make the payment at the time stipu lated. In the spirit of forbearing kindness towards a sister republic, w hich Mexico has so long abused, the United States promptly complied with her request. A second convention was accordingly concluded between the two Governments on the 30th of January, 1843, which upon its face declares that " this new arrangement is entered into for -the accommoda tion of Mexico." By the terms of this convention, all the interest due on the awards which have been made in favour of the claimants under the convention of the 11th of April, 1839, was to be paid to them on the 30th of April, 1843, and " the principal of the said awards, and the interest accruing thereon," was stipulated to "be paid in five years, in equal instalments every three months." Notwithstanding this new convention was en tered into at the request of Mexico, and for the purpose 1 of relieving her from embarrassment, the claimants have only received the interest due on the 30th of April,lB43 and three of the 20 instalments. Although the pay ment of the sum thus liquidated and confessedly due by Mexico to our citizens as indemnity for acknowledged acts of outrage and wrong was secured by treaty, the obligations of which are ever held sacred by all just na tions, yet Mexico has violated this solemn engagement by failing and refusing to make the payment. The two instalments due in April and July, 1844, under the pe culiar circumstances connected with them, have been assumed by the United States and discharged to the claimants, but they are still due by Mexico. But this is not all of which we have just cause for complaint. To provide a remedy for the claimants whose cases were not decided by the joint commission under the conven tion of April the 11th, 1839, it was expressly stipulated by the sixth article of th;e convention of the 30th of January, 1843, that a " new conventi on shall be entered into for the settlement of all claims of the Government and citizens of the United States against the Republic of Mexico, which were not finally decided by the late com mission, which met in the city of Washin g t on , an d o f a ll claims Of the Government and citizens of Mexico against the United States.' In conformity with this stipulation a third convention was concluded and signed at the city of Mexico on the 20th of November, 1843, by the plenipotentiaries of the two Governments, by which provision was made for ascertaining and paying these claims. In January, 1844, this convention was ratified by the Senate of the United States with two amendments, which were manifestly reasonable in their character. Upon a reference of the amendments proposed to the Government of Mexico, the same evasions, difficulties, and delays were inter posed which have so long marked the policy of that Government towards the United States. It has not even yet decided whether it would or would not accede to them, although the subject has been repeatedly pressed upon its consideration. Mexico has thus violated a second time the faith of treaties, by failing or refusing to carry into effect the sixth article of the convention of January, 1843. Such is the history of the wrongs which we have suf fered and patiently endured from Mexico through a long series of years. So far from affording reasonable satis faction for the injuriesand insults we have borne, a great aggravation of them consists in the fact, that while the United States, anxious to preserve a good understanding with Mexico, have been constantly, but vainly, employed in seeking redress for past wrongs, new outrages were constantly occurring, which have continued to increase our causes of complaint, and to swell the amount of our demands. While the citizens of the United States were conducting a lawful commerce with Mexico under the guaranty of a treaty of " amity, commerce, and navigation," many of them have suffered all the injuries which would have resulted from open war. This treaty, instead of affording protection to our citizens, has been the means of inviting them into the ports of Mexico, that they might be, as they have been in numerous in stances, plundered of their property and deprived of their personal liberty, if they dared iasist on their rights. Had the unlawful seizures of American property, and the violation of personal liberty of our citizens, to say nothing of the insults to our flag which have occurred in the ports of Mexico, taken place on the high seas, they would themselves long since have constituted a state of actual war between the two countries. In so long suf fering Mexico to violate her mast solemn treaty obliga tions, plunder our citizens of their property, and impri son their persons without offering them any redress, we have failed to perform one of the firNt and highest duties which every government owes to its citizens; and the consequence has been, that many of them have been re duced from a state of affluence to bankruptcy. The proud name of American citizen, which ought to protect all who bear it from insult and injury throughout the world, has afforded no such protection to our citizens in Mexico. We had ample cause ,of war against Mexico long before the breaking out of hostilities. But even then we forebore to take redress into our own hands, until Mexico herself became the aggressor by invading our soil in hostile array and shedding the blood of our citizens. Such are the grave causes of complaint on the part of the United States against Mexico—causes which existed long before the annexation of Texas to the American Union, and yet, animated by the love of peace and a magnanimous moderation, we did not adopt those mea sures of redress which, under such circumstances, are the justified resort of injured nations. _ The annexation of Texas to the United States consti tuted no just cause of offence to Mexico. The pretext that it did so is wholly inconsistent and irreconcilable with well-authenticated facts connected with the revolu tion by which Texas became independent of Mexico. That this may be the more manifest it may be proper to advert to the causes and to the history of the principal events of that revolution. Texas constituted a portion of the ancient province of Louisiana, ceded to the United States by France in the year 1803. In the year 1819 the United States by the Florida treaty ceded to Spain all that part of Louisiana within the present limits of Texas, and Mexico, by the revolution which separated her from Spain, and rendered her an independent nation, succeeded to the rights of the mother country over this territory. In the year 1824 Mexico established a federal constitution, under which the Mexican republic was composed of a number of sovereign states, confederated together in a federal union similar to our own. Each of these states had its own executive, legislature, and judiciary, and, for all except federal purposes, was as independent of the general go vernment, and that of the other states, as is Pennsylvania or Virginia under our constitution. Texas and Coahuila united and formed one of these Mexican states. The state constitution which they adopted, and which was approved by the Mexican confederacy, asserted that they were " free and independent of the other Mexican United States, and of every other power and dominion what soever;" and proclaimed the preat principle of human liberty, that " the sovereignty of the state resides ori• ginally and essentially in the general mass of the indivi duals who compose it." To the government under this constitution, as well as to that under the federal consti tution, the people of Texas owed allegiance. Emigrants from foreign countries, including the United States, were invited by the colonization laws of the state and of the federal government to settle in Texas. Advantageous terms were offered to induce them to leave their own country and become Mexican citizens. This invitation was accepted by many of our citizens, in the full faith that in their new home they would be governed by laws enacted by representatives elected by themselves, and that their lives, liberty, and property would be pro tected by constitutional guarantees similar to those which existed in the republic they had left. Under a Government thus organized they continued until the year 1835, when a military revolution broke out in the city of Mexico, which entirely subverted the Federal and state constitutions, and placed a military dictator at the head of the Government. By a sweeping decree of a congress subservient to the will of the dictator, the several state constitutions were abolished, and the states themselves converted into mere departments of the central Government. The people of Texas were unwilling to submit to this usurpation. Re sistance to such tyranny became a high duty. Texas was fully absolved from all allegiance to the central Government of Mexico from the moment the Govern ment had abolished her state constitution, and in its place substituted an arbitrary and despotic central Go vernment. Such were the principal causes of the Texan revo lution. The people of Texas at once determined upon resistance, and flew to arms. In the midst of these im portant and exciting events, however, they did not omit to place their liberties upon a secure and permanent foundation. They elected members to a convention, who, in the month of March, 1836, issued a formal de claration that their " political connexion with the Mexican nation had for ever ended, and that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, sovereign, and inde pendent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to inde pendent nations." They also adopted for their govern ment a liberal republican constitution. About the same time Santa Anna, then the dictator of Mexico, invaded Texas with a numerous army, for the purpose of sub duing her people, and enforcing obedience to his arbi trary and despotic government. On the 21st of April, 1836, he was met by the Texan citizen soldiers, and on that day was achieved by them the- memorable victory of San Jacinto, by which they conquered their inde pendence. Considering the numbers engaged on the respective sides, history does not record a more brilliant achievement. Santa Anna himself was among the captives. In the month of May, 1836, Santa Anna acknow ledged, by a treaty with the Texan authorities, in the most solemn form, " the full, entire, and perfect ludo- pendenee of the republic of Texas." It is true he was then a prisoner of war, but it is equally true that he had failed to reconquer Texas, and had met with signal defeat; that his authority had not been revoked, and that by virtue of this treaty he obtained his personal release. By it hostilities were suspended, and the army which had invaded Texas under his command, re turned, in pursuance of this arrangement, unmolested to Mexico. From the day that the battle of San Jacinto was fought till the present hour, Mexico has never possessed the power to reconquer Texas. In the language o f the Secretary of State of the United States, in a dispatch to our Minister in Mexico, under date of the Bth of July, 1842, "Mexico may have chosen to consider, and may still choose to consider, Texas as having been at all times since 1835, and as still continuing, a rebellious province, but the world has been obliged to take a very different view of the matter. From the time of the battle of San Jacinto, in April, 1836, to the present moment, Texas has exhibited the same external signs of national independence as Mexico herself, and with quite as much stability of government. Practically free and independent, acknowledged as a political sove reignty by the principal Powers of the world, no hostile foot finding rest within her territory for six or seven years, and Mexico herself refraining for all that period from any further attempt to re-establish her own autho rity over that territory, it cannot but be surprising to find Mr. de Bocanegra" (the Secretary of Foreign Af fairs of Mexico) "complaining that for that whole period citizens of the United States, or its Government, have been favouring the rebels of Texas, and supplying them with vessels, ammunition, and money, as if the war for the reduction of the province of Texas had been con stantly prosecuted by Mexico, and her success pre vented by these influences from abroad." In the same dispatch the Secretary of State affirms that " since 1837 the United States have regarded Texas as an in dependent sovereignty as much as "Mexico ; and that trade and commerce with citizens of a Government at war with Mexico cannot, on that account, be regarded as an intercourse by which assistance and succour are given to Mexican rebels. The whole current of Mr. de Bocanegra's remarks runs in the same di rection as if the independence of Texas had not been acknowledged. It has been acknowledged —it was acknowledged in 1837, against the remon strance and protest of Mexico; and most of the acts of any importance, of which Mr. de Bocanegra complains, flow necessarily from that recognition. He speaks of Texas as still being an integral part of the territory of the Mexican Republic;' but he cannot but understand that the United States do not so regard it. The real complaint of Mexico, therefore, is, in substance, neither more nor less than a complaint against the recognition of Texan independence. It may be thought rather late to repeat that complaint, and not quite just to confine it to the United States, to the exemption of England, France and Belgium, unless the United States, having been the first to acknowledge the independence of Mexico herself, are to be blamed for setting an example for the recognition of that of Texas." And he added, that " the constitution, public treaties, and the laws oblige the President to regard Texas as an independent state, and its territory as no part of the territory of Mexico." Texas had been an independent state, with an organised government, defying the power of Mexico to overthrow or reconquer her, for more than ten years before Mexico commenced the present war against the United States. Texas had given such evidence to the world of her ability to main tain her separate existence as an independent nation, that she had been formally recognised as such, not only by the United States, but by several of the principal Powers of Europe. These Powers had entered into treaties of amity, commerce, and navigation with her. They had received and accredited her Ministers and other diplomatic agents at their respective courts, and they had commissioned Ministers and diplomatic agents on their part to the Government of Texas. If Mexico, notwithstanding all this, and her utter inability to sub due or reconquer Texas, still stubbornly refused to re cognise her as an independent nation, she was none the less so on that account. Mexico herself had been recog nised as an independent nation by the United States and by other Powers many years before Spain, of which, before her revolution, she had been a colony, would agree to recognise her as such ; and yet Mexico was at that time, in the estimation of the civilised world, and in fact, none the less an independent Power because Spain still claimed her as a colony. If Spain had continued until the present period to assert that Mexico was one of her colonies in rebellion against her, this would not have made her so, or changed the fact of her independent existence. Texas, at the period of her annexation to the United States, bore the same relation to Mexico that Mexico had borne to Spain for many years before Spain acknowledged her inde pendence, with this important difference, that before the annexation of Texas to the United States was consum mated, Mexico herself, by a formal act of her Govern ment, had acknowledged the independence of Texas as a nation. It is true that, in the act of recognition, she prescribed a condition, which she had no power or authority to impose, that Texas should not annex herself to any other power; but this could not detract in any de gree from the recognition which Mexico then made of her actual independence. Upon this plain statement of facts, it is absurd for Mexico to allege, as a pretext for commencing hostilities against the United States, that Texas is still a part of her territory. But there are those who, conceding all this to be true, assume the ground that the true western boundary of Texas is the Nueces, instead of the Rio Grande; and that, therefore, iu marching our army to the east bank of the latter river, we passed the Texan line, and invaded the territories of Mexico. A simple statement of facts, known to exist, will conclusively refute such an assumption. Texas, as ceded to the United States by France in 1803 has been always claimed as extending west to the Rio Grande, or Rio Bravo. This fact is established by the authority of our most eminent statesmen at a period when the question was as well, if not better, understood than it is at present. During Mr. Jefferson's adminis tration, Messrs. Monroe and Pinkney, who had been sent on a special mission to Madrid, charged, among °tinr things, with the adjustment of boundary between the two countries, in a note addressed to the Spanish Minis ter of Foreign Affairs, under date of the 28th ofJanuary, 1805, assert that the boundaries of Louisiana, as ceded to the United States by France, "are the river Perdido on the east, and the river Bravo on the west ;" and they add, that " the facts and principles which justify this conclusion are so satisfactory to our Government as to convince it that the United States have not a better right to the island of New Orleans, under the cession referred to, than they have to the whole district of terri tory which is above described." Down to the conclusion of the Florida treaty, in February, 1819, by which this territory was ceded to Spain, the United States asserted and maintained their territorial rights to this extent. In the month of June, 1818, during Mr. Monroe's administration, information having beenireceived that a number of Foreign adventurers had landed at,Galveston, with the avowed purpose of form ing a settlement in that vicinity, a special messenger was dispatched by the Government of the United States, with instructions from the Secretary of State to warn them to desist should they be found there "or any other place north of the Rio Bravo, and within the territory claimed by the United States." He was instructed, should they be found in the country north of that river, to make known to them " the surprise with which the President had seen possession thus taken, without authority from the United States, of a place within their territorial limits, and upon which no lawful settlement can be made without their sanction." He was instructed to call upon them to " avow under what national authority they pro fess to act," and to give them due warning " that the place is within the United States, who will suffer no per manent settlement to be made there, under any authority other than their own." As late as the Bth of July, 1842, the Secretary of State of the United States, in a note addressed to our Minister in Mexico, maintains that, by the Florida treaty of 1819, the territory as far west as the Rio Grande, was confirmed to Spain. In that note he states that " by the Treaty of the 22d of February, 1819, between the United States and Spain, the Sabine was adopted as the line of boundary between the two Powers. Up to that period, no considerable colonization had been effected in Texas ; but the territory between the Sabine and the Rio Grande being confirmed to Spain by the treaty, applications were made to that power for grants of land, and such grants, or permissions of settle ment were in fact made by the authorities of citizens of the United States, proposing to emigrate to Texas in numerous families before the declaration of independence by Mexico." The Texas, which was ceded to Spain by the Florida treaty of 1819, embraced all the country now claimed by the state of Texas between the Nueces aid the Rio Grande. The republic of Texas always claimed the river as her western boundary, and in her treaty made with Santa Anna, in May, 1836, ho recognised it as such. By the constitution which Texas adopted in March, 1836, senatorial and representative districts were organised, extending west of the Nueces. The Congress of Texas, on the 19th of December, 1836, passed " An Act to define the boundaries of the Re public of Texas, in which they declared the Rio Grand. from its mouth to its source to be their boundary, and by the said Act they extended their " civil and political jurisdiction" over the country up to that boundary. During a period of more than nine years, which intervened be tween the adoption of her constitution and her annexa tion as one of the United States of our Union, Texas asserted and exercised many acts of sovereignty and ju risdiction over the territory and inhabitants west of the Nueces. She organised and defended the limits of coun tries extending to the Rio Grande. She established courts of justic?, and extended her judicial system over the territory. She established a custom-house, and col lected duties, and also post-offices and post-roads in it. She established a land office, and issued numerous grants for land, within its limits. A senator and a representa tive residing in it were elected to the Congress of the re public, and served as such before the Act of annexation took place. In both the Congress and Convention of Texas, which gave their assent to the terms of annexation to the United States, proposed by our Congress, were re presentatives residing west of the Nueces, who took part in the act of anaexation itself. This was the Texas which, by the act of our Congress of the 29th of Decem ber, 1845, was admitted as one of the States of our Union. That the Congress of the United States under stood the state of Texas which they admitted into the union to extend beyond the Nueces, is apparent from the fact that on the 31st of a cember, 1845, only two days after the act of admission, they passed a law "to establish a collection district in the state of Texas," by which they created a port of delivery at Corpus Christi, situated west of the Nueces, and being the same point at which the Texas custom-house, under ,the laws of that republic, had been located, and directed that a sur veyor to collect the revenue should be appointed for that port by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. A surveyor was accord ingly nominated, and confirmed by the Senate, and has been ever since in the performance of his duties. All those acts of the republic of Te;tas and of our N ( C 4 - h=lere • • • enneress preceded the orders ?or , g i_AVLlrtsfun. our army to the . e ast b an k o f the Rio t Elf,„-- • sequently Congress pa sse d an Act " estab post routes," extending west of theNueces.tVl tIMM-sq.kt west of that river now constitutes a part of one of the congressional districts of Texas, and is represented in the House of Representatives. The Senators from that state were chosen by a Legislature in which the country west of that river was represented. In view of all these facts, it is difficult to conceive upon what ground it can be maintained that, in occupying the country west of the Nueces with our army, with a view solely to its security and defence, we invaded the territory of Mexico. But it would have been still more difficult to justify the Executive, whose duty it is to see that the laws be faith fully executed, if, in the face of all these proceedings, both of the Congress of Texas and of the United States, he had assumed the responsibility of yielding up the ter ritory west of Nueces to Mexico, or of refusing to pro tect and defend this territory and its inhabitants, includ ing Corpus Christi, as well as the remainder of Texas, against the threatened Mexican invasion. But Mexico herself has never placed the war which she has waged upon the ground that our army occupied the intermediate territory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande. Her refuted pretension that Texas was not in fact an independent state, but a rebellious pro vince, was obstinately persevered in ; and her avowed purpose in commencing a war with the United States was to reconquer Texas, and to restore Mexican authority over the whole territory —not to the Nueces only, but to the Sabine. In view of the proclaimed menaces of Mexico to this effect, I deemed it my duty, as a measure of precaution and defence, to order our army to occupy a position on our frontier as a military post, from which our troops could best resist and repel ally attempted in vasion which Mexico might make. Our army had occupied a position at Corpus Christi, west of the Nueces, as early as August, 1845, without complaint from any quarter. , Had the Nueces been re garded as the true western boundary of Texas, that boundary had been passed by our army many months before it advanced to the eastern bank of the Rio Grande. In my annual message of December last, I informed Congress that, upon the invitation of both the Congress and Convention of Texas, I had deemed it proper to order a strong squadron to the coasts of Mexico, and to concentrate an efficient military force on the western frontier of Texas to protect and defend the inhabitants against the menaced invasion of Mexico. In that mes sage I informed Congress that- the m oment t h e terms of annexation offere d by the United States were ac cepted by Texas, the latter became so far a part of our own country as to make it our duty to afford to such pro tection and defence; and that for that purpose our squadron had been ordered to the Gulf, and our army to " take a position between the Nueces and the Del Norte," or the Rio Grande. and " to repel any invasion of the Texan territory which might be attempted by the Mexican forces." It was deemed proper to issue this order, because, soon after the Pr es id ent o f T exas, in April, 1845, had issued his proclaimation, convening the Congress of that republic, tor the purpose of submitting to that body the terms of annexation proposed by the United States, the Government of Mexico made serious threats of invading the Texan territory. These threats became more imposing as it became more apparent, in the progress of the question, that the people of Texas would decide in favour of accepting the terms of annexation; and, finally, th e y h a d assumed such a formidabl e character, as induced both the Con gress and Convention of Texas to request that a military force should be sent by the United States into her terri tory for the purpose of protecting and defending her against the threatened invasion. It would have been a violation of good faith towards the people of Texas to have refused to afford the aid which they desired against a threatened invasion to which they had been exposed by their free determination to annex themselves to our Union, in compliance with the overture made to them by the joint resolution cf our Congress. Accordingly, a portion of the army was ordered to ad vance into Texas. Corpus Christi was the position se lected by General Taylor. He encamped at that place in August, 1845, and the army remained in that position until the 11 th of March, 1846, when it moved west ward, and on the 28th day of that month reached the east bank of the Rio Grande opposite to Matamoras. This movement was made in pursuance of orders from the War Department, issued on the 13th of January, 1846. Before these orders were issued, the dispatch of our Minister in Mexico, transmitting the decision of the Council of Government of Mexico, advising that he should not be received, and also the dispatch of our Consul residing in the city of Mexico—the former bear ing date on the 17th, and the latter on the 18th of De cember, 1845, copies of both of which accompanied my message to Congress of the 11th of May last —were re ceived at the Department of State. These communica tions rendered it highly probable, if not absolutely cer tain, that our Minister would not be received by the Government of General Herrera. It was also well known that but little hope could be entertained of a different result from General Paredes, in case the revo lutionary movement which he was prosecuting should prove successful, as was highly probable. The partisans of Paredes, as our Minister, in the dispatch referred to, states, breathed the fiercest hostility against the United States, denounced the proposed negotiation as treason, and openly called upon the troops and the people to put down the government of Herrera by force. The re conquest of Texas and war with the United States were openly threatened. These were the circumstances ex isting, when it was deemed proper to order the army under the command of General Taylor to advance to the western frontier of Texas, and occupy a position on or near the Rio Grande. The apprehensions of a contemplated Mexican invasion have been since fully justified by the event. The deter mination of Mexico to rush into hostilities with the United States was afterwards manifested from the whole ter)ur of the note of the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs to our Minister, bearing date on the 12th of March, 1846. Paredes had then revolutionised the Go vernment, and his Minister, after referring to the reso lution for the annexation of Texiis, which had been adopted by our Congress in March, 1845, proceeds to declare that " a fact such as this, or, to speak with greater exactness, so notable an act of usurpation, created an imperious necessity that Mexico, for her own honour, should repel it with proper firmness and dignity. The Supreme Government had beforehand declared that it would look upon such an act as a casus belli ; and, as a consequence of this declaration, negotiation was, by its very nature, at an end, and war was the only resource of the Mexican Government." It appears, also, that on the 4th of April following, General Paredes, through his Minister of War, issued orders to the Mexican general in command on the Texan frontier to " attack" our army " by every means which war permits." To this General Paredes had been pledged to the army and people of Mexico during the military revolution which had brought him into power. On the 18th of April, 1846, General Paredes addressed a letter to the commander on that frontier, in which he stated to him, " at the present date I suppose you at the head of that valiant army, either fighting already, or preparing for the operations of a eampaign ;" and " supposing you already on the theatre of operations, and with all the forces assembled, it is indispensable that hostilities be commenced, yourself taking the initia tive against the enemy." The movement of - our army to the Rio Grando was made by the commanding general under pcsitive orders to abstain from all aggressive acts towards Mexico, or Mexican citizens, and to regard the relations between the two countries as peaceful, unless Mexico should de clare war, or commit acts of hostility indicative of a state of war ; and these orders he faithfully executed. Whilst occupying his position on the east bank of the Rio Grande, within the limits of Texas, then recently admitted as one of the states of our Union, the com manding general of the Mexican tortes, who, in e the ar o m r y der o s n of h h e is o G pp o o v s e i r t n e m s e h n o t, re ha o d t: ctohle crossed the river, invaded our t erri t or y, Rl p e u ico r t s e u do a r n aa c n e ldae o r,g f and commenced hostilities by attacking our forces. Thus, after all the injuries which we had received and borne from Mexico, and after she had insultingly re jected a minister sent to her on a mission of peace, and whom she had solemnly agreed to receive, she consum mated her long course of outrage against our country by commencing an offensive war and shedding the blood of our citizens on our own soil. The United States never attempted to acquire Texas by conquest. On the contrary, at an early period after the people of Texas had achieued their independence, they sought to be annexed to the United States. At a general election in September, 1836, they decided with great unanimity in favour of " annexation ;" and in November following the Congress of the republic autho rised the appointment of a minister to bear their request to this Government. This Government, how ever, having remained neutral between Texas and Mexico during the war between them, . and considering it due to the honour of our country, and our fair fame among the nations of the earth, that we should not at this early period consent to annexation, nor until it should be manifest to the whole world that the re-con quest of Texas by Mexico was impossible, refused to accede to the overtures made by Texas. On the 12th of April, 1844, and after more than seven years had elapsed since Texas had established her independ e n ce ,_ a treaty was concluded for the annexation of that republic to the United States, which was rejected by the Senate. Finally, on the Ist of March, 1845, Congress passed a joint resolution for annexing her to the United States, upon certain preliminary conditions to which her assent was required. The solemnities which characterised the deliberations and conduct of the Government and people of Texas, on the deeply interesting questions presented by these resolutions, are known to the world. The Congress, the Executive, and the people of Texas, in a convention elected for that purpose, acc e pt e d with great unanimity the proposed terms of annexation; and thus consummated on her part the great act of restoring to our federal Union a vast territory which had been ceded to Spain by the Florida treaty more than a quarter of a century before. _ _ After the joint resolution for the annexation of Texas to the United States had been passed by our Congress, the Mexican Minister at Washington addressed a note to the Secretary of State, bearing date on the 6th of March, 1845, protesting against it as " an act of aggres sion, the most unusual which can be found recorded in the annals of modern history ; namely, that of despoiling a friendly nation, like Mexico, of a considerable portion of her territory;" and protesting, against the resolution of annexation, as being an act " whereby the province of Texas, an integral portion of the Mexican territory, is agreed and admitted into the American Union;" and he announced that, as a consequence, his mission to the United States had terminated, and demanded his pass. ports, which were granted. It was upon the absurd pre text, made by Mexico (herself indebted for her inde pendence to a successful revolution), that the republic of Texas still continued to be, notwithstanding all that had passed, a province of Mexico, that this step was taken by the Mexican Minister. Every honourable effort has been used by me to avoid II Y»-~