Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-12-26
message Or the President.
7fansmiffedfo Congress on 7zursllay last
concerning fhe Rsislioss IF tkt United
States and MsricO.

concerning ne Ksfati0ss ~ fAe OHifedl
States and Htrie0.
WAsHINGTos. Dec. 19s 1914
IL lkr seneie and Rous,<f Representatives.:
/ tIsnsmi; herexilh copies df despatch
zes received from.our Minister At Mexico
since tile commencement Of your presenI
session. which claim. from their import.
: ance. and doubt moi viii receive, sobf
calm and deliberate coaideraltoa. The
extraordinary and highly offensive lsn
guage which tie Msxican Government
has sho0ght proper 10 employ 10 reply 10
the femoRsirsnce Of the ExecstEre
through Mr. Shannon. against The renew
alof she war WITH Texas. while ihe q1ts-
lion Of annexation was pending before
Congress and The People. and also The
proposed mapner Of conducting that MAR.
will not IN 10 arrest yoar alieniion.-'
,Such remonstrance. made ia no 'uniIIeDd-
~ spirit 10 Mexico. was called forTby con-
sIderaiioas of an imperative character
having relation as well 10 thepeace Of
this country and honor oil this Govern
ment ssto the cause Of humanity and
civilization. Texas had eplered inio the
n treaty Of snnexanon upnn the invitation
Of The Executive, and when. for that act.
she was threatened with a renewal Of The
var on the. part OF Mexico. she ualuraIly
looked 10 this Government 70 faierpose lis
efforts 10 ward or tbe Threatened blow
Bat one course was LEFT the Executive,
seting within The llmiisof its constitution.
oil competency and that was. 10 protest
FIJI ..0 4
and deeidsd terms against il. The war
ihns threatened to be renewed was pro.
mnlgased by edicip and DEGREES, which
ordered, Oh The part Of the Mexican mill
iaTy. the desolstion Of whole tracts of
counirys and the destruction, without dis.
elimination. of all ages, sexes. and condi.
tions Of society. Over the manner OF
conducting war, Mexico possesses no ex-
elusive control; she has no right 10 vio-
la.e a, pleasure the principles which an
enlightened civilization has laid down for
the conduct OF nations al war, and there
!. by felrogrsde 10 period Of bafbarism.-
: All nations ana interested in eniorcing an
ohservance OF those principles and The
Il U6Aed States. the oldest Of American
Republics. and the nearest Of the civihz
ed Powers TO the theatre on which these
enormiles were proposed to be enacted.
could npt quietly content themselves 10
witness such state ofthings. They had,
through the Executive. On another coca.
sior, and, as was believed, with ~the ap.
probation of the whole country, remoh.
sirated against ouirages similar. bull even
less inhuman than those which. by her
new edieis and DEGREES, she had threat.
ened TO peIpetrate, and Of which the late
qlnhuman massacre at Tabasco wss4bnt the
precarfof,
~4.>Hhe bfuody and inhuman murder Of
SF amin aud his companions. eqaalled on.
~ ia savage bsrbanty by The usages OF
the untutored Indian tribes. proved how
little confidence could be placed on the
MOS, solemn siipplaiions Of her Generals
while the fate OF others who became her
cspiives in war, many Of whom. no long.
,-er able ID sustain the faiigues and priya.
iians Of long Journeys. were shot down
BY che way sidefswhile their Companions
who survived wersg subjected 10 suffer
ings even more <fainful ihsn death. bad
Jeff an iAdellible stain on the psge Of
cisil:zationS The Executive, with the
evidence Of an intention on the part OF
Mexico % renew scenes so revDliing 10
humanity. could do no less than renew
demonstrates formerly urged. For full
filing, duties so imperative, Mexico has
thought proper, through her accredited
organs. because she has bad represented
10 her the inhumanitY Of such Proceed.
ings. 10 indulge in language unknown To-
the. courtesy Of diplomatic intercourse
snd offensive in the highest degree to
this Government and People. Nor b IS
she offended IN this only. She has not
only violated existing conventions be
tween tie two countries by arbitrary add
unjust DEGREES against our trade and 10.
tercourse, but Rilhholds insislnenls Of
debts due TO our citizens. which she So
lemnly pledged herself 10 pay. under-eir.
cumslances which are fully explained BY
The accompanying letterfrom Mr.. Green,
our Secretary OF Legation. Aud when
/. our Minister has invited the attention OF
her Government ID wrongs committed by
her local authoTitiese not only on The
properlysbngon the personsrof our fellow
cilizeas engaged IN prosecuting fair aad I
honest pursuits. she has added insult to-.
injury. BY not even deighing. for months
together, to return an answer to his re-:
presentations, Still further 10 manifest
her unIriendly feelings towards the Unit
ca States. she has issued DEGREES expea.
fng from some Of her provinces AmeElcan
citizens engaged ID the peaceful pursuits
1of life, and nov denies 70 those of our
citizens prosecuting the whale fishery on
The northwest coast OF the Pacific the
privilege which has through ell time.
heretofore. been accorded 10 them. OF ex-
changing goods, Of a. small amoant in val
ae, Al her ports ia Caliiornia. for supplies
Indispensable to their hssI 4 and eomlori.
Nor viii i, escape the observation OF
Congress that. 10 conducting couespSa.
denee witha Minister. of The United States
.4-who cannot anu does mol know any dis
sincliol between the geographical seei,ons
Of Ihe,tJnion-charges wholly nnlounded
ere made agains, particular States. and an
appeal % others for aid and protection a.
gainst Supposed wrongs. In this same
connection, sectional prr5udiees are al.
tempted to be excited. and tie hazardous
and objectionable efforts made 70 ldsnenl
divisions amoagstihe Saasesoi the Union.
and thereby embitleF their peace. Mexi-
RI ha. .ss,1f L. 1oSra thar IN aavef freely