Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-11

oWardS i eXaS,i doubt not that a liberal and
generous spirit will actuate Congress in all that
concerns her interests and prosperity, and that
she will never have cause to regret that she
has united her ''lone star" to cur glorious con
stellation.
regret to inform you that our relations with
Mexico, since your last session, have not been
OF The amicabe character which it is our desire
! to cultivate with ali foreign nations. On the
9th day Of March last, the Mexican envoy ex-
l-traordllary and minister plenjpotentiary to the
y. S. made a formal protest, in the name of
his government, against the joint resolution
passed by Congress, ''for the annexation OF
Texas TO the L. States" which he chose to re-
gard as violation of the rights Of Mexico, and !,
in consequence oft, he demanded his passports.
He was informed that the government Of the
U. S. did not consider this joint resolution as a
violation of any Of the rights of Mexico. or that
It afforded any just cause OF complaint to his
! government; that the Republic Of Texas was
| an independent power, owing no allegiance to
Mexico, and constituting no part of her terrific
! ty or rlghtful sovereignty and jurisdiction
| He was also assured that it was the sin
cere desire of this government to maintain
with that Of Mexico relations of peace and
good understanding. That functionary,
however, notwithstanding these representations
and assurances abruptly terminated his mission,
( aud shortly afterwards left the contry. Our
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plen-
ipotentiary to the government of Mexico
intercourse with that government, and, after
remaining several months, by the permission of
his own government, he returned to the u. S.
| Thus, by the acts of Mexico, all diplomatic in
| tercourse between the two countries was sus-
pended.
! Since that time, Mexico has, until recently
occupied an attitude of hostility towards the u.
S.-has been marshaling and organising ar
mics, issuing proclalnations, and avowing the
| intention to make war en- the U. s., either by
an open declaration, or by invading Texas
Both the Congress and the convention of the
people of Texas invited this government to
send an army into that territory, to protect and
defend them against the menaced attack. The
moment the terms of annexation, offered by the
U. s., were accepted by Texas, the latter be-
came so far a part of our own country, as to
make it out duty to afford such protection and
defence therefore deemed it proper, as a
] precautionary measure, to order a strong saad-
ron to the coasts of Mexico, and to concentrate
an efficient military force on the western from
tier of Texas. Our army was ordered to take
position in the country between the Neuces and
the Del Norte, and to repel any invasion of the
Texan territory which might be attempted by
the Mexican forces. Our squadron in the Gulf
was ordered to cooperate with the army. But
though our army and navy were placed in po-
sition to defend our own, and the rights of Tex
! as, they were ordered to commit no act of hos
tility against Mexico, unless she declared war,
or was herself the aggressor by striking the
first blow. The result has been, that Mexico
! has made no aggressive movement, and cur
military and naval commanders have executed
thei: orders with such discretion, that the
peace of the two republics has not been disturb
ed.
Texas had declared her independence, and
maintained it by her arms for more than nine
years. She has had an organised government
| in successful operation during that period
Her separate existence, as an independent
State, had been recognised by the U. S. and the
principal powers of Europe. Treaties Of COM
merceaand navigation had been concluded with
her by different nations, and it had become ma
! nifest to the world that any further attempt on
the part ofMexIco to conquer her, or overthrow
her government, would be vain. Even Mexi-
: CO herself had become satisfied of this fact; and
whilst the question for annexation was pending
before the people of Texas, during the past sum
mer, the government of Mexico,b by a formal act,
agreed to recognise the independence Of Texas
Oh condition that she would not annex herself
to any other power. The agreement to ackno-
ledge the independence of Texas, whether with
or without this condition, is conclusive against
Mexico. The independence of Texas is fact
conceded by Mexico herself, and she had no
right or authority to prescribe restric
/, lions as to the form Of government which Tex
as might afterwards choose to assume.
But though Mexico cannot complain CT the
U. S. on account of the annexation of Texas, it
is to be regretted that serious causes of misun-
derstanding between the two countries contin-
ue to exist, growing out Of unredressed injuries
inflicted by the Mexican authorities and people
on the persons and property Of citizens Of the
U. States, thro' long series of years. Mexico
has admitted these injuries, but has neglected
and refused to. repair them. Such was the
character Of the wrcngs, and such the insults
offered to American citizens and the American
flag by Mexico, in palpable violation Of the
laws Of nations and the treaty between the two
countries of the 9Th of April, 1881, that they
have been repeatedly brought to the notice Of
Congress by my predecessors. AS early as
5. declared, in a message to Congress, that
''the length Of time since some of the injuries
have been committed, the repeated and una
vaillng applications for redress, the wanton
character Of some of the ontrages upon the per-
sons and property of our citizens, upon the Of
ficers and flag Of the U. States, independent of
| recent insults to this government and people
by the late Extraordinary Mexican minister,
would justify in the eyes of all nations imme-
date war" He did not, however, recommend
an immediate resort to this extreme measure,
which, he declared, ssshonld not be used by just
and generous nations, confiding in their strength
for injuries committed, if it can be honorably
avoided" but, in spirit Of forbearance, pro-
posed that another demand be made on Mexico
for that redress which had been SO long and I'M
justly withheld. In these views, CO nmittees
OF the two Houses of Congress, in reports made
to their respective bodies, concurred. Since
these proceedings more than eight years have
| elapsed, during which, in addition TO tho
wrongs then complained Of, others Of an aggra-
waited character have been committed on the
persons and property of our citizens. A spe-
clal agent was sent u Mexico in the summer