The St. Landry whig., 1844-12-25

cordingly done.
Seeing, then, that new preparations for hos.
tile invasion Of Texas were about to be adopted
by Mexico, and that these were brought about he.
cause Texas has adopted the suggestions of the
Executive upon the subject of annexation, II could
not p~assiyely have folded lis arms and permitted
y war, threatened to be accompanied by every
act that could mark a barbarous age, to be waged
against her because she had done SO.
no definitive action having been taken on the
subject by Congress, the question. referred itself
directly TO the decision of the States and People.
The great popular election which has lust ter.
minated, afforded the best opportunity ofascer.
tanning the will of the States and the People upon
It. Pending that issue, ii became the imperative
duty oil the Executive to inform Mexico that the
question of Enumeration was still before the Anne.
rlcan People, and that, until their decision was
pronounced, any serious invasion of Texas would
be regarded as an attempt to ~forestall their Judge
ment, and couldnot be looked upon with indiff.
e@rence. am happy to inform you that no such
invasion has taken place, and trust that, whate.
yer your action may be upon it, Mexico will see
the importance ofdeciding the matter by a resort
to peaceful expedients in preference to those Of
arms. A controlling majority ofthe People, and
q large majority of the States, have decided in
favor Of immediate annexation. Instructions
have thus.come upto both branches ofCongress,
from their respective constituents, in terms the
most emphatic. It is the will fboth the People
and the States that Texas shall be annexed to the
Union promptly and Immediately.
Nothing has occurred since your last session
to induce a doubt that the dispositions ofTexas
remain maltered. No intimation of an altered
determination on the part Of her Government
l and ppnnlns hac& hnon 4. r.,s ,Ix,l E. IN. TS..L.4..E
Nor do ! apprehend any serious complaint from
any other quarter no sufficient ground exist for
such complaint.
The EWoG Governments having already agreed,
.througHktheir respective organs, on the terms of
anne1a6on,I would recommend their adoption
by Congress in the form of a joint resolution;sor
act, to be perfected and made binding on The two
countries, when adopted in like manner by the
Government of Texas.
The amendments proposed b ythe Senate to
the Convention concluded between the United
States and Mexico on the Goth OF November,
l843, have been transmitted through our Minister
tor the concurrence of.he Mexican Government;
but, although urged thereto, no action has vet
been had on the subject.
The greatly improved condition ofthe Trea.
sury affords q subject for general congratulation.
The paralysis which had fallen OH trade and com.
meree and which subjectedtheG Government to the
necessityofresorting toloans and the issue oftrea.
slry notes TO a large amount has passed away
and, ititerthe payment of upwards of $7,OO0,OOOl
on account ofthe interest and in redemption of
more than $5,O00,000 of the public debt which
ialis due on the first of January next, and setting
apart upwards Of $2,000.000 for the payment Of
outstanding Treasury notes; and meeting an in.
staltnent OF the debts ofthe corporate cities ofthe
districts OF columbia, an estimated surplus ofup- +
wards OF W OYER and above the exist
ing appropriations wills fg'main in the Treasury.
at the close ofthe fiscal yeear.
" must also be a matter of unmingled gratif-
cation that, under the existing financial system.
resting upon the act of 1889 and the resolution Of
1916, the currency of the country has attained
state OF perfect soundness; and the rates ofl
exchange between different parts of the Union.
which in 154l denoted, BY their enormous
amount, the greatdepreciation, and in fact worth.
lessness ofthe currency in most ofthe States. are
owsreduced to little more than the mere ex.
pense Of transporting specie from place TO place.
risk incidentally to the operation.
l refer you to the report Of the Secretary Of
War, for an exhibition Of the condition ofthes ar.
ny ana to you, as well worthy your
oest consideration, many Of the suggestions it
Z
me accompanying report ofthe Secretary Of
ne Navy, will explain TO you the situation Of
hat branch Of the service. The present organ. I
zatlon OF the Department. imparts to its opera. I
ions great efficiency but | concur fully in the c
'ropriety ola division in the Bureaux Of Con. c
trlction, Equipment and repairs, into two Blu. t
eau. /
Inc operations ofthe squadron ON the coast Of
Atflca have been conducted with all due atten. il
ION othe object which led to its organization. n
n consequence of the difficulties which have [
VISITED ~ ne way Of securing titles for the ne. 9
essafy grounds, operations have not vet been q
commenced towards the establishment Of The a
Yard at Memphis. So soon as the title & b
ERECTED, noflrther delay will be permitted to
Il
In referring you to the accompanying report ofEtt
le POSTMASTER General, it affords me continued
ause Of qualification to be able to advert 10 The il
ct, that the affairs ofthe Department, for the fo
Isl tour years, have been SO conducted as, from te
s unalded resources, to meet its large expendi. lie
res. There is a strong desire manifested in Of
amy quarters, so to alter the tariff of letter nos. pr
ge as to reduce the amount oftax at present i'm. Pr
osed. Should such a measure be carried INTO tn
70 the full extent desired, it cannot we'll c;
Z doubted but that first years Of its operation. 4 it
minished revenue would be collected, he an. A
Y Of which would necessarily constitute d ST
upon the Treasury. Whether such re. CT
Y. would be desirable, it will be for Congress-. 70
ITS wisdom to determine. 1t mayin general
' asserted, that radical alterations in any system "a
lould rather be brought about gradually, than til
Z sudden changes, and by pursuing this prudent Ell
'llcy in the reduction ofletter postage, the De-. al
'rtrnent might still sustain itselfthrough the
venue which would accrue BY the increase Of
tiers. The state and condition ofthe public Ii,
has, therefore, been such as 70 have M