, 1843-12-23

destined speedily to recover; when.
under a more liberal system of COM
mercIaI policy on her part, our trade
with her may again fill its old, and, so
far as her continental possessions are
concerned, its almost forsaken chan
nels, thereby adding to the mutual
prosperity of the two countries.
The Germanic Association of
Customs and Commerce, which, since
its establishment in 1888, has been
steadily growing in power and impor-
lance, and consists at this time Of
more than twenty German States,
and embrace a population of 27,000,-
600 of people. united for the purpose
Of commercial intercourse with each
other and with foreign States. offers
to the latter the most valuable ex-
change on principles more liberal than
are offered in the fiscal system Of any
other European Power. From It's
origin. the Importance of the German
Union has never been lost sight OF by
the United States. The industry,
morality, and other valuable qualities
of the German nation, have always
been well known and appreciated.
On this subject | invite the atten-
ton OF Congress 10 the report of the
Secretary OF State. from which it will
be seen mat while our cotton is ad.
mItted free of duty, and the duty on
rice has been much reduced. which
has already led to a greatly increas-
ed consumption, a strong disposition
has been recently evInced by that
great body to reduce, upon certain
conditions, their present duty upon
tobacco. This being the first intima.
ton of a concession on this interest.
ing subject ever made by any Euro
pean Power, | cannot but regard il as
we'll calculated 10 remove the only
impeachment which mas SO far existed
10 the most liberal commercial inter
course between US and them. In
this view. our minister at Berlin, who
has heretofore industriousiy pursued
t the subject, has been instructed to
!, enter upon the negotiation OF com
mercial treaty, which, while It will
/, open new advantages 10 the agricul-
, turaI interests Of the United States,
and a more free and expanded field
= of commercial operations, will effect
injuriousIy no existing interest of the
, Union. Should the negotiation be
/ crowned with success, its results will
e. be communicated TO both houses of
= Congress.
. | communicate herewith certain
: dispatches received from our Minis
ter al Mexico. and also 4 correspond
ence which has occurred recently be-
tween the envoy from that Republic
: and the Secretary Of State. Unjust
u he regarded as not a little extracrdl
: nary that the Government of Moxi.
' co, IN anticipation of a public DIS
: cusSion, which it had been pleased to
$ in!eI from newspaper publications, rs
likely TO take place In Congress rela-
5 ting Ia the annexation OF Texas To-
n the United States, should have so far
/, anticipated the result Of such discus,
i sion. as to have announced its deter
I minatiOn 10 visit any such anticipa-
:, ted decision by a formal declaration
r Of war against the U. States. 1t de-,
S Signed TO prevent Congress from in
V Producing that question, as q fiji sub
iect for It's calm deliberati0n and final
o Judgment, the Executive has no rea-
son to doubt that it will entirely tai.
!, otits object. The representatives oi
il brave and patriotic people will SUI
s fer no apprehension of future conse-
quenceS To embarrass them IN the
: course of theirproposed deliberations.
: Nor will the Executive Department
J. of the Government fail, tor any such
case, to discharge lis whole duty 10
. the country.
5, The war which has existed for SO
long a time between Mexico ana
n Texas, has, since the battle of San
Jacinto, consisted for the most part
! ofpredatory excursions, which, while
: they have been attended with much
= suffering 10 individuals, and have kept
n the borders OF the two countries in a
l. state of constant alarm. have fdiIed
5 to approach TO any diifnitive result.
0 Mexico has fitted out no formidable
G armament by land or by sea for the
sublugstion of Texas. Eight years
have now elapsed since Texas declar-
i ed her independence of Mexico, and
:, during that time she has been recog,
nized by Us a sovereign power by
several Of the principal civilized
States. Mexico, nevertheless, per.
t severes in her plans of conquest, and
y refuses to recognise her independence.
1t L..