Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-01-02
Message.
To the Senate and
House Of Representatives. !:

es received from our Minister at Mexico,
since the commencement Of your present
session, which claim, from their impor-
lance, and doubt not will receive, your
calm and deliberate consideration. The
extraordinary and highly offensive lam
guage which the Mexican Government
has thought proper TO employ in reply to
the remonstranceo fihe executive, through
Mr.. Shannon, against the renewal Of the
war with Texas, while the question of
annexation was pending before Congress
and the People, and also, the proposed
manner of conducting that war, will not
fail to arrest your attention.
Such remembrance, urged in no IN.
friendly spirit 10 Mexico. was called for
by considerations of an imperative char
acter, having relation as well to the peace
of this country and honor Of this Gov
eminent as to the cause Of humanity and
civilization. Texas had entered into the
treaty of Annexation upoE the invitations
OF the Executive; and when, for that ac:,
she was threatened with renewal of the
war on the part of Mexico, she naturally
looked to this Government TO interpose its
efforts to ward off the threatened blow. Bot
one course was left the Executive, acting
within the limits Of its constitutional COM
potency, and that was to protest in res.
pectful, but at the same time strong and
decided terms against il. The war thus
threa.end to be renewed, was promulga.
ted by edicts and DEGREES, which ordered,
on the part ofths Mexican military, the
desolation of whole tracts Of country and
The destruction, without discrimination, OF
all ages, sexes, and conditions of exist.
ences Over the manner Of conducting
war, Mexico possesses no exclusive con.
troll. She has no right to violate at pleas
ure the principles which an enlightened
civilization has laid down for the conduct
ofnatlons at war and thereby retrogade
to a period Of barbarism which, happily
Tor the world, has long since passed away.
All nations are interested 10 enforcing an
observance Of those principles, and the
United States the oldest Of the American
Republics, and tho nearest ofthe civilized
powers to the theatre on which these
enormltics were proposed to be enacted,
could not quietly content themselves to
witness such a state of things. They
had, through the Executive, on another
occasion, aud us was believed with the
appreciation Of the whole country, remon-
strated against ouirages similar, but even
less nhuman, than those which by her
new edicts and DEGREES she has threatened
to perpetrate, and Of which the late inhu-
man massacre at Tobasco was bu. the
precursor.
The bloody and inhuman murder OF
Fannin and his companions, equalled on.
ly in savage barbarty by the usages OF
the untutored Indian tribes, proved how
little confidence could be placed on ths
most solem stipuations OF her Generals,
while the fate of others who became her
captivesin war, many of whom, no long.
er able to sustain the faiigues and priva-
tions of long journeys, were shot down
by the way side, while their companions
who survived were subjected to sutferings
even more painful than death-had left
an indelible stain on the page Of civiliza-
ton. The Executive, with the evidence
OF On intention on the part Of Mexico to
renew scenes so revolving to humanity,
could do no less than renew remonstran.
ces formerly urged. For fulfilling duties
so imperative, Mexico has though, proper,
through her accredited organs, because
she has had represented TO her the inhu.
manity OF such proceedings, 10 indulge in
language unknown to the courtesy Of dib-
lomatic intercourse, and offensive in the
highest degree to his Government and
People. Nor has she offended in this only.
She has not only violated existing con-
ventioEs between the two countries, by
arbitrary and unjus; DEGREES against our
trade and intercourse, but withhods in-
stalments of debt, due to our citizens,
which she solemnly pledged herself to
pay, undyr circumstances which are fully
explained by the accompanying letter
frem Mr.. Green, our Secretary Of Lexing.
ton. And when our Minister has invited
tine attent on of her Government to wrong
committed by her local authorities not
only on the property but on the persons OF
our fellow-citzens, engaged in prosecu-
ting fair and honest pursuits, she has adj
ded insult to injury, by not even design.
ing, for months together, to return an an
swer to his representations. Sill further
to manifest her unfrendly feelings to.
wards the United States, she has issued
DEGREES expelling from some of her prov.
inces American citizens engaged in the
peaceful pursuits of life, and now denies
to those Of our citizens prosecuting the
Whale fishery on the Northwest coast oil
the Pacific, the privilege which has
through all time, heretofore been accorded
to them of exchanging goods Of small
amount in value at her ports in California
for supplies indispensable TO their health
and comfort.
Nor will il escape the observation oil
Congress, that in conducting a coHespon.
dpnce with the Minister of the United
States, who cannot, and does not, know
any distinction between the geographical
sections ofthe Union, charges wholly un.
founded are made Against particular States,
and an appeal to others for aid and pro-
lection against supposed wrongs. In this
same connection, sectional prejudices are
attempted TO be excited, and the hazard.
Gus and objectionable effort is made to