The Yazoo City Whig. [volume] (Yazoo, Miss.) 1844-1851, 1846-12-25
Presidents Meesnge.
Fcllop Citizens Of The Senate.
GRd House of Represeafafires:

/ Tn resum Eg your labors in the service OF
the people il is a subject Of congratnlation
that there has been no period in cur past hiss
tory, when all the elements of national pros~
Iperity have been so fully developed. Since
Your last session no affecting dispensaiion
has visited our country; general good health
has prevailed; abundance has crowned the
toll of the husbandman; and labor in all its
branches is receiving an ample reward while
leducation, science, and the arts rapidly en-.
llarging the means of social happiness. The
progress Ofour country in her career Of greats
mess, not only in The vast extension Of our
territorial limits and the rapid increase Of
our population, BUT in resources and wealth,
and in the happy coalition of our people. is
without example in the history OF nations.
As tn wisdom, strength, and bene6cene
Iof our free institutions are unfolded, every
day adds fresh motives to conteHtment, and
fresh incentives 10 patriotism.
Our devout and slucers acknowledge
are due TO the gracious Giver of all g. cd, for
the numberless blessing which our beloved
country enjoys.
II is eource Of high satisfaction 10 know
that the relations of the United States with
a., other nations, With a single exception,
are OF the most amicable character. Sincere
Ily attached to the policy ofpeace early adop.
ted and steadily pursued by this Government,
have anxiouy desired to cultivate and cher
ish friendship and commerce with every for
eign power. The spirit and habits Of Amey>
ican people arc favorable to the maintenance
of such international harmony. In adheriRg
to this wise policy. preliminary and para
RouPt duty obviously consists in the pTotec-
ten Of our national interests from encroRch-
ments or sacrifice, and our national honor
from repFeach. These must be maintained
at any hazard. They admit Of no compromise
or neglect, aud must be acrupuleusly and
constantly guarded. In tleir Vgilgnt Vindi'
cation, collision and conflict with foreign
powers may sometimes become unavoidable
Such has been our scrupulous adherence &c
the dictates of justice. in all our foreign in
tercsurse, that though steadily and rapidly
advancing in prosperity and power, We haVt
given no Just cause OF complaint 10 any na
ton. and have enjoyed the blessings Of peace
fer more than thirty years. From policl
50 sacred to humanity, and so salutary 10 it
effects upoR eur political system, we Rhoult
! Rsvsr be induced voluntarily TO depart
Tho existing var with Mexico was nsilha
On the contrary, all honorable means Wer
resofled to to aVertit. After years Of endu
rance of aggravated and unredreasod wrong
Oh our part Mexico, in violation Of solem
treaty stipulations and Of every principle Q
Justice recognized by civilized nations, com
menced hostillies, and thus, by her own acI
forced the war upon vs.. Long before tn
= advance Of our army 10 the left bank Of Ii
haA IF tnsE
against Mexico; and had the United State
rssortsd To his extremity. we mishi have al
Psaled to the whole civilized Rsrla for th
justice Of our cause.
deem it to be my duty TO present 20 yol
on the present occasion, a condensed rGvi0
,e Of the injuries We had sustained, Of the eau
;. les which led TO the war, and Of its progress
since its commencement. This is rendere
sS the more necessary because of the aisappr
tensions which have to some exteRt preva
ed as to it's origin and true character. II
war has been represented as unjust and u
necessary, and as enc of aggression on o
part upon a weak and injured enemy. Su
erroneous views, though entertained but
few, have been widely and extensively c
culated, not only at heme, bat have be
spread throughout Mexico aRd the who
world. A more effectual means could 4
have been devised to encourage the eneI
and protract the war than TO advocate a
adhere to their cause, and thus give them &
and comfort"
1t is a source Of national pride and exul
ltien, that the great body of our people ha
thrown no such obstacles in the way Of |
Government in prosecuting the war succe
fully, bnt have shown themselves TO be e
iinently patriotic, and ready 10 9indicate th
country's honor anG interests at any sacr6
The alacrity and promptness with which
volunteer forces ushe0 TO the field on II
couutry's call prove not onlyther patriots
but their deep conviction that our course
just.
The wrongs which We have suffered Fl
Mexico almost ever since she became an
!, dependent Power and the patient endura
with which We have borne them, are with
= a parallel IN the history of modern civil
nations. There is reason TO believe thi
these wrongs had been resented in the
- instance, the present war might have b
49, .t avoided. One outrage, however, permi
~, sl9 TO pass with impunity, almost necess'
Ds'' encouraged the perpetFalion Of another,
Gil at last Mexico seemed TO attribute
weakness and decision on our part
bearance which was the offspring Of mag
unity, and of sincere desire to pers
friendly relations with sister republic.
4 TO Scarcely had Mexico achieved her il
wing pendence which the United States !
among the first among the nations to akin
edge, when she copmenced the systel
Insult and spolation, which she has ever 3
persued Our citizens engaged in la
commerce were imprisoned, their ves
seized and our flag insnlted in her p
II money was wanted the lawless sci
and confiscalon Of our merchant vessels
their cargoes was readr resource; a
10 accomplish their purposes it became
oessarY 70 imprIaon the owners, capitals