The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-15
Auousr s,--The Senate. .immediateIy after as.

AucUsr s,--The Senate. immediately after as
ssmbling, proceeded to ballot for president pro
fem, the Vice President having announced his de
termination Of being absent the remainder OF the
session. Mr.. Atchison, ON the sth ballot was
chosen. The greater part Of the day, after this
was spent in executive session.
In the House, the consideration Of the appropri
alton bills yet pending between the two houses oc
cupied considerable portion Of the morning ses
non. An important message was read from the
President of the United States on The subject Of
our Mexican relations, Of which copy will be
found below. fdaA s,sA .te,,
The SPEAKER, by consent, laid before the
House the following message from the President
Of ftheunted States; which was read: te
zSfhe Stnate and House of Representatives
fe of me United States.
Invite your attention to the propriety Of max
ing appropriation to provide for aDyexpenditure
which it may be necessary to make In advancefor
the purpose OF settling all our difficulties With the
Mexican republic, II is my sincere desire TO ter
inmate, as i was originally TO avoid, the existing
war with Mexico by peace just and honorable to
both parties 1t is probable that the chief obstacle
to- be surmounted in accomplishing this desirable
object, will be the adjustment Of a boundary be-
tween the two republics, which shall prove salts.
factory and dconvenent to both, and such as neither
will hereafter be inclined to disturb In the ad.
justn,ent of this boundary. we ought to pay fair
equivalent for any concessions which may be made
by Mexico. 4as
Under these circumstances, and considering the
other complicated questions to be settled by hego-
tiation with the Mexican republi,., deem 1t i'm.
portant that sum Of money should be placed un-
der the control of the Executive, to be advanced,
ifneed be, TO the government of that republic i'm
mediatey after their ratification of treaty It
might be inconvenient for the Mexican govern
ment to wait for the whole sum, the payment Of
which may be stipulated by this treaty until il could
be ratified by our Senate and an appropriation to
carryit into effect made by Congress. Indeed the
necessity for this delay might defeat the object al
together. The disbursement of this money would
ofcourse be accounted Tor not as secret service
money, but like other expenditures.
Two precedents for snch proceeding exist in
our past history during the administration of Mr..
Jefferson, to which ! would call your attention,
Onthe 26th February, 1903, an act was passed ap.
proprating two millions Of dollars "for the pur.
pose of defrayng any extraordinary expenses
which may be incurred in the intercourse between
the United States and foreign nations" ssto be
applied under the direction Of the President of the
United States, who shall cause an account of the
expenditure tnefeoi 10 pe idlu before congress as
soon as may be;" and on the 18th of February,
1906, an appropriation was made of the same
amount, and in the same terms. In either case
was the money actually drawn from the treasury,
and should hope that the result in this respect
might be similar on the present occasion, although
the appropriation may prove to be indispensable in
accomplishing the object Iwoud therefore, rec.
ommend the passage ofa wapproprating So ,OOO,-
600 to be placed at the disposal of the Executive,
for the purpose which have indicated.
In order TO prevent all misapprehension, it is my
duty to state that, anxious as am to terminate the
existing war with the least possible delay it win
continue to be prosecuted with the utmost vigor
until treaty of peace shall be signed by the par
ties and ratified by the Mexican republic.
JAMES X. POLK
WARRINGTON, 9Th August, 1916.