Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-12-26
MESSAGE
FROM TIE PRESIDENT
CONCERNING s.
Our Relations with Mexico.
CONCFRNrNG

present session, which claim from their
Importance, and / doubt not will re-
celve, your calm and deliberate consi-
deration. The extraordinary and high
" offensive language which the Mexl-
can government has thought proper to
employ in reply the remonstance of the
executive, through Mr.. Shannon, a.
gainst the renewal of the war with Tex
as while the question of annexation
was pending before Congress and the
people, and also the proposed manner
Of conducting that war, viii not fail to
arrest your attention. Such remon-
STRANGE, urged in no unfriendly spirit
to Mexico, was called for BY consider
atoms of an imperative character, hay
Ing relation as we'll 10 the peace of this
country and honor Of this government,
as to the cause Of humanity and civil
cation. Texas had entered into the
treaty Of annexation upon the invita-
ton OF the executive; and when, for
that act, she was threatened with a re-
ncwal Of the war, on the part of Mexico,
she. naturally looked TO this govern
ment TO interpose its efforts to ward off
the threatened blow. But one course
was left the executive, acting within
the limits of lis constitutional compe-
tency; and that was, to protest, in re-
spectful, but, at the same time, strong
and decided terms against il. The
war thus threatened to be renewed was
promulgated by edicts and DEGREES,
which ordered, Oh the part OF the Next
can military, the desolation of whole
tracts Of country, and the destruction,
without Discrimination, Of all ages,
sexes and conditions of existence
Over the manner Of conducting war,
Mexico possesses no exclusive control.
She has no right to violate at pleasure
the principles which an enlightened
civilization has laid down for the con
duct of nations at war, and thereby re-
trograde to period Of barbarism,
which, happily for the world, has long
since passed away. All nations are
interested in enforcing an observance
of those principles; and the United
States, the oldest of the American re-
publics, and the nearest to the theatre
on which these enormities were pro.
posed to be enacted, could moi quietly
content themselves to witness such a
state Of things. They had, through
the executive, on another occasion,
land, as was believed, with the appro-
baton of the whole country, remons'
trated against outrages similar, but ey-
en- less inhuman than those which, by
her edicts and DEGREES, she has threat
ened to perpetrate, and of which the
late inhuman massacre at Tabasco was
but tie precursor.
The bloody and inhuman murder Of
Fannin and his companions, equalled
only in savage barbarity by the usages
Of the untutored Indian tribes, proved
how little confidence could be placed
on the most solemn stipulations of her
generals; while the fate of others who
became her captives in war-many Of
whom, no longer able to sustain the
fatigues and priyations of long jour
neys, were shot down by the way side,
while their companions who survived
were subjected to sufferings evenm more
painful than death-had left an indelli-
bic stain on the page of civilization
The executive, with the evidence Of
an intention on the part Of Mexico to
renew scenes so revolving to humanity,
could do no less than renew remons-
frances formerly urged. For fulfilling
duties so imperltive Mexico has thought
proper, through her accredited organs,
because she has had represented to her
the inhumanity Of such proceedings, to
indulge in language unknown to the
courtesy Of diplomatic intercourse, and
offensive in the highest degree to this
government and people. Nor has she
offended in this only. She has not on
ly violated existing conventions be-
tween the two countries by arbitrary
and unjust DEGREES against our trade
and intercourse, but withholls install
ments Of debt due to our citizens, that
she solemnly pledged herself TO pay,
under circumstances which ale fully
explained BY the accompanying letter
from Mr.. Green, our secretary Of lega-
ton. And when our minister has in
yned the attention other government to
wrongs committed by her local author
itiet not only on the property, but on
the persons Of our fellow citizens en-
( gagged in prosecuting fair and honest
pursuits she has added insult to inlu-
ry, by not even deigning, for months
together, to return an answer to his
representations. Still further to mani.
fest her unfriendly feelings towards the
United States, she has issued decree:
sxpelling from some of her province.