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

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
eAemb ei.nictearnna peopletional
brmaareony. favourablei
to the maintenance
adhering to this wise policy, a preliminary and para•
soufsrlyomcoennseisrtosaeibnmtehnet porrotseacetrioifinneo,f
aonudr
tained at any hazard.
l i
1 usl and constantly guarded. In
ournmaotui national tad: nt
aytleohr beosvnti our frTomheryeapdromaicth.
of Thenosem mp
ruosmt beia e mo
rani ne
glect, and mustbescrupu o y
have
e en n j no o to the dictates of
rtheir n vigilant
Powers vindication, csaloent,i collisionsometimes
become
unavoidable.
s feoh-
has been our scrupulous adherence
hanadvehagvi
jduilsyticaen,dinr aapllidoluyr
tflyvesiogenin g
in
prosperity intercourse,
.that,
a nthough e
power,
stea-
dily
of complaint to any nation,
thirty years.policy so ss
sacred
epde atcoe
bfourmma
no
irteythan
an and
so salutary in its effects upon our political system, we
should never be induced voluntarily to depart.
idu Fromtth
ace apuboslliee
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
aßbwneei
dfoomrhGei
agrdt
might
e advance
the
dheavweeahad
of
United
pa
edasl
ampleetda ourtte osa
the
esuyows
resorted
htoeoo
dtlf hewetaorl
civilisedea thia3bi
against
extremity,
torreo t
lndf
iftl
for
Mexico;r,
to present to you on the the
pre-
sent
Ijusticedeem i
to our o
tf
be me
yu 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, "it 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 Congress at that time ; 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 this day, 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 the moment of that final and equitable.
adjustment which is to tet minate the existing difficulties
between the two Governments ;" that " nothing should
be left undone which may contribute to the most speedy
and equitable determination of the subjects which have
so seriously engaged the attention of the American Go•
vernment;" that the " Mexican Government would
adopt, as the only guides for its conduct, the plainest
imposed
by of public right, the sacred obligations
by the international law, and the religious faith of
treaties;" and that " whatever reason and justice may
dictate respecting each case will be done." The assur-
ance was further given that the decision of the Mexican
Government upon each cause of complaint, for which re-
dress had been demanded, should be communicated to
the Government of the United States by 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, and 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
dt
ou twy
thtthioomemremei taet udabros neupl
measure
eehn
doge
fcs subject bjeodpedruceelt
redress."
saoi
.dsr”eyi t
upon
mniaoedwa
st
the
hsutreaenstul:
msnaientt,
United
Chtsaeotknaemgt
nerosedsaes
and
nadt
re-
dress into their own hands, all our difficulties with Mexico
would probably have been long since adjusted, and the
existing war have been averted. Magnanimity and
moderation on our part only had the effect to complicate
these difficulties, and render an amicable settlement of
them the more embarrassing. That such measures of
redress, under similar provocations, 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 such 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 upon the pro-
perty and persons of its mufti as had at that time been
borne by the United States from the Mexican authorities
and people. But Mexico was a sister republic on the
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 with fair promises on the
part of Mexico, but with the real purpose, as the event
has proved, of indefinitely postponing the reparation
which we demanded, and which was so justly due. This
negotiation, after more than a year's delay, resulted in
the convention of the 11th of April, 1839, "for the 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 were 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 Mexicanee commissionersinb 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 tohaesecsOmmrinssitoblei 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 American 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, which 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 convention 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 Washington, and of all
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-