American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-20
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
IN RELATION TO OUR AFFAIRS WITH ME

IN RELATION TO OUR AFFAIRS WITH MEX
lCO AND TEXAS.
The following is the message sent to both Houses of
Congress yesterday by the President in relation
affairs with Mexico, and recommending the immed-
ate re- enumeration of Texas.
To the SCadtc and House Of Representatives:
/ transmit herewith copies of dispatches re-
ceived from our Minister at Mexico, since the
commencement Of your present session, which
claim, from their Importance, and | doubt not
will receive, your calm and deliberate consider
alton. The extraordinary and highly offensive
language which the Mexican Government has
thought proper TO employ in reply to the re-
monstrance Of the Executive, through Mr..
Shannon, against the renewed of the war with
Texas while the question of annexation was
pending before Congress and the People, and
also, the proposed manner of conducting that
war, will not fail to arrest your attention.
Such rerdonstrance, urged in no unfrendly
spirit to Mexico, was called for by considera-
lions of an imperative character, having rela-
ton as we'll to the peace of the country and
honor of this Government as to the cause Of
humanity and civilization. Texas had entered
into the Treaty Of Annexation upon the invita-
ton of the Executive; aud when, for that act,
she was threatened with a renewal of the war
on the part Of Mexico, she naturally looked to
this Government to interpose its efforts TO ward
off the threatened blow. But one course was
left the Executive, acting within the limits of
its constitutional competency, and that to pro-
test in respectful but at the same time strong
and decided terms, against it. The war thus
threatened to be renewed, was promulgated by
edicts and DEGREES, which ordered, on the part of
the Mexican military, the desolation of whole
tracts of country, and the destruction, without
discrimination, of all ages, sexes, and condi-
tons of existence. Over the manner of con-
Quoting war, Mexico possesses no exclusive
control. She has no right to violate at plea
sure the principles which an enlightened civili-
cation has laid down for the conduct of nations
at war; and thereby retrograde to period of
barbarism which, happily for the world, has
long since passed away. All nations are inter-
ested in enforcing an observance of those prin-
ciples, and the United States, the oldest of the
American Republics, and the nearest of the ci-
vlised powers to the theatre on which these en-
ornites were proposed to be enacted, could not
quietly content themselves to witness such a
state Of things They had, through the Exc
cutive, on another OCCASION, and as was believ-
ed with the appreciation of the whole country,
demonstrated against outrages similar, but even
less inhuman, than those which by her new
edicts and DEGREES she has threatened to perpe-
trate, and Of which the late inhuman massacre
at Tobasco was but the precursor.
The bloody and inhuman murder of Fannin
and his companions, equalIed only in savage
barbarity by the usages Of the untutofed In
dian tribes, proved how little confidence could
be placed on the most solemn stipulations of
her Generals, while the fate of others who be-
came her captives in war, many of whom, no
longer able to sustain the fatigues and priva-
tons of long journeys, were shot down by the
way side, while their companions who survived
we're subjected to sutferings even more painful
than death-had. left an indellble stain on the
page of civilization The Executive, with the
evidence of an intention on the part of Next
co TO renew scenes SO revolving to humanity,
could do no less than renew circumstances
formerly urged. For fulfilling duties so !mpera-
tive, Mexico has thought proper, through her
accredited organs, because she has had repre-
sented to her the nhumanity of such proceed
ings, to indulge IN language unknown to the
courtesy of diplomatic intercourse, and often
slve in the highest degree to this Government
and People. Nor has she offended in this on
ly. She has not only violated existing conven-
tons between the two countries, by arbitrary
| and unjust DEGREES against our trade and inter-
course, but withbolds instalments of debt, due
to our citizens, which she solemnly pledged
herself to pay, under circumstances which are