The New York herald., 1844-12-21
SPECIAL MESSAGE
OF THE
PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS- n!
AFFAIRS WITH MEXICO.
IMMEDIATE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.


L
TO the Senate, and House of Representatives
transmit herewith copies of despatche received
from our Minister at Mexico, since the commence
! menf OF your present session, which claim, from
| their Importance, and doubt not will receive your
calm and deliberate consideration. The exIaord-
nary and highly offensive language which the Mex.
| can government has thought proper to employ in
reply to the remonstrance of the Executive through
Mr. shannon, against the renewal Of the war with
Texas while the question OF annexation was pend
ing before Congress and the People, and also, the
proposed manner of conducting that war, will not
fail to arrest your attention.
Such remonsra1ce, urged in no unfriendly spirit
to Mexico, was called for by considerations OF an
imperative character, having relation as we'll to
the peace OF this country and honor of this Co
vernment as to the cause of humanity and civil
Zati0n. Texas had entered into the Treaty Of An
nexation upon the invitations Of the Executive !;
and when, for that act, she was threatened with a
renewal OF the war on the part of Mexico she ma
turally looked TO this Government to interpose it
efforts to ward of the threatened blow. But
one course was left the Executive, acting with
In the limits of its constitutional competency,
and that was to protest in respectful, but at the
same time strong and decided terms against it,
The war thus threatened to be renewed, was pro-
muIgated by edlcH and DEGREES, which ordered, on
the part of the Mexican military, the desolaton OF
whole tracts OF country, and the destruction, with.
out decrlminatlon, of all ages, sexes and condi.
tions OF existence. Over the manner of conduct
| ing war, Mexico possesses no exclusive control
she has no right TO- violate at pleasure the prnci-
Piles which an enlightened civilization has laid
down for the conduct Of fnations at war and there
by retrograde to period OF barbarism which, hap
PLY tor the world, has long since passed away. All
natisns are Interested in enforcing observance OF
those principles and the United States the oldest oil
the American Republics and the nearest of the cvi.
zed powers to the theatre on which these enormi
ties were proposed to be enacted, could not quietly
content themselves to witness such state Of things
They had, through the Executive, on an another
occasion, and as was believed with the appreciation
Of the whole country, demonstrated against outrages
similar, but even less inhuman, than those which
to perpetrate, and Of which the la.e inhuman mas
sacre at Tobasco was but the precursor.
| The bloody and inhuman murder of Fannin and
his companions, equalled only, in savage barbarity
by the usages OF the untutOred Indian tribes, pro-
we'd how little confidence could be placed on the
most solemn stlpulations of her Generals, while
the fate Of others who became her captives in
war, many OF whom, no longer able to sustain the
fitgues and 1ivaions Of long journeys, were shot
downby the way side, while their companions who
survived were subjected to sufferngs even more
painful than deaih-had left an ndelble stain on the
page OF civilization. The Executive, with the evi
dence OF an intention on the part of Mexico to
scenes so revolving to humanity, could do no less
than renew remonstrances formerly urged. FoI
fulfilling duties 30 Imperative, Mexico has thought
proper, through her accredited organs, because she
has had represented her the inhnm anity 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 only
violatedexistlng gconventonsb between the two coun
tries, by arbitrary and unjust DEGREES against our
trade and intercourse, but withholds instaIments Of
debt, due 10 our citizens, which she sOlemnly
pledged herself TO pay, under circumstances which
are fully explained by the accompanying letter
from MIR. Green, our Secretary of Legation. And
when our Minister has invited the attention Of
her Government to wrongs committed by her
local authorities not only on the property, but Oh
the persons OF our fellow-ctizens, engaged in pro-
scouting far and honest pursuits, che has ad-
ded insult to injury, by not even delening, fer
months together, 10 return an answer 10 his
representations Still further TO manifest her
unfrendly feelings towards the United States, she
has issued DEGREES expelling from OF her pro-
vlnces American citizens engaged in the peaceful
pursuits of life, and now denies TO those OF our ci
tzens prosecuting the whale fishery on the north
west coast of the Pacific. the privilege which has,
through all time, heretofore been accorded to them
OF exchanging goods OF a small amount in value al
her ports IN California for supplies Indispensable to
their health and comfort
Nor will it escape the observation of Congress,
thatln conducting correspondence with the Minis
ter OF the United States, who cannot, and dots
know any distinction between the geographical
sections of the Union, charges wholly unoundeo
are made agaigst particular States and an appeal
10 others for aid and protection against supposed
wrongs In this same connection, sectional pre-
JUDGES are attempted TO be excited, and the
hazardous and objectionable effort is made to
foment divisions among the States Of the Union,
thereby TO embltter their peace. Mexico has still
to learn, that however freely we may indulge in
discussion among ourselves, the American People
Will tolerate no interference in their domestic
affairs by any foreign Government; and in all that
concerns the constitutional guarantees and ,he
national honor, The People OF the United States
have bat one mind and one heart.
The subject OF Annexation addresses itself most
fortunately to every portion OF the Union. The
Executive would have been unmlndlul of its high
eslobligatlons, if it could have adopted course o
policy dictated by sectional interests and locafee
ups n n 1 he mn
ton was neither local nor sectional, but made
| It's appeal 10 the interests Of the whole Union,
and Of every State in the Union, that the nego-
taton, and finally the Treaty of Annexation was
entered into !; and it has afforded me no ordinary
pleasure, 10 perceive that, far as demon
STATIONS have been made upon it by the Peo-
pie, they have proceeded from all portions OF the
Union. Mexico may seek to excite divisions
amongst by uteing unjust denunclatlons against
particular States, but when she comes to know that
The invitations addressed to our fellow-cizens by
Spain, and afterwards by herself, to settle Texas,
were accepted by emigrants from all the States;
and when, In addition TO this, she refreshes her
recollection with the fact, that the first effort
which was made to acquire Texas was, during
an Eastern State, which was afterwards re-
newed under the auspices of President
from the Southwest, she will awake to know.
ledge Of the tutIlity of her present purpose of
ing dlssensions among US, or producing distraction
In our councils by attacks either on particular
States, or persons who now in the retirement
OF private life. Considering the appeal which she
now makes to eminent citizens by name, can she
hope to escape for having ascribcd to them
well to others, design, she pretends now,
for the first time revealed, OF having originated
gotlatons to despol her, by dupcity and fasehood,
oil portion OF her territory? The opinion them as
now, prevailed withthe Executive, that the 1nexa-
ton OF Texasto the Union was matter of vast i'm.
portance. In order to acquire that territory be.
fore ii had assumed position among the indepen.
dent powers Of the earth, propositions were made
| to Mexico for cession Of it to the United States
Mexico saw in these proceedings at the time, no
cause Of complaint she is now, when simply re-
| minded of them, awakened 10 the knowledge OF
the fact, which she, through her Secretary OF State
promulgates to the whole world true, that those
negocatons were founded IN deception and false.
tiyes While Texas was depe ndency OF Mexico the