Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-05-15

- E6b;crt o, our relations with Mexico. he re-
- No:iIe turn which aIIirs have taken on the
S;nks Of IL, Rio GrahIe, has Induced MIR. Folk 10
ro.ke the recommendations contained IN the mes
~.-. We regret extremely that our limits will
-, ,.,mi, us to give the whole Of this imporsnt
~. 1--WE wish our good friends in the
.ountry would come up literally to our aid and
-Aable rs to enlarge our p 'per.) We give those
:, ri;ons of IT, however. which are most striking in
ts.eore.ree, giving in a few words Of passing
t;ce. the substance Of such portions we are coH-
PEELED t. leave out
70 the Senate and
'.", House Of Representatives.
The exciting state of the relations between The
limited States aud Mexico. renders It proper that
I'shoud brn. the subject to The consideration OF
Congress. In my cssAge st the commencement
Of YOUR present session, the stale 0l IntSe
sh. c,uses which led to the suspension OF d'pio'
I;;,,;c intercourse between the two countries IN
March. lS45 and the l0ng-contInGed ana unte-
dressed wrongs and Injuries conmItto ny Ihe
Mexican government OH citizens OF IhS Chte9
States, ia their persons and properly "S'e "''eDy
set forth a.,
"A. the facts and opinions which were then laid
hsE,rs Won were carefully considered cann't hct-
Tor .reSs INV n7c<efFt conviction OF The cond"n
Of sfats up 10 tAat FiHc, Khan Ivy r'1oring 700 to
that communicable:
IN. strong desire to es.afsh peace with Mex
leo on liberal and honorable ters, and the read-
Meas Of tits 46vernhent Id Regulate aud adjust our
htuudaty and 0ihrr Causes Of difference vita that
IInIvyer. o., such fair and equitable principles AS
tS,nId LEAD" to par1nanent relations of the most
friendly Nature, induced me IN September t" seek
the r..oeninr of diplomats: relations between the
v2vo Countries: Every measure on our part had
xr ia object the furiherauce "f these desired IT,
suits. In communicating 10 Congress sucrInct
abatement of the injuries which We had suffered
from MEXICO aud which have been accunul"tlLs
Lu;in, a period Of more ih1m twenty years. every
,o,e.s; n that could tend To inl1Ame the people OF
Mexico or defeat or delay pacific result was
e,refuIN avoided Ancnv"y of the United St-teS
rrD,ircd to N xicn with full powers TO ADJUST eve
nv exisiin: dill renee. But though present Oh inc
Mexican soil Ivy a.sreeament between the two gov
enmsnts invested with full powers. and bearing
evidence Of the mosi friendly dsposatiol his mS'
.;o. has been unava4inK. The Mexican govern
.nent not only refused to receive him, or listen to
his propositions, but, after long continued series
oF neuaceA have u: last Invaded territory and
ohe the blood Of our fellow -ciscnsen 1ur own sol"
frhc President then proceeds to give history
Of the attempts which have been mrte by our gov
rruncnt to arrange matters a'nlcahiy with Mexico
lie recounts the wrongs which we have hofas
wih-that our Minister has besh raj 'ctc;t that
Sleu,a Lded his passports and that lie had returned
home Mr.. Polk thea pr"cteds:I
Meantime. Texas by the final action It our
CONGRESS had becnm al integral part "f our Union.
The Congress nt rexaS Ivy It's act If (ceetnher ..
1896. had declared tue Rio del Norc to br 'l4s
SRouniary Of tina. republic. lis urslctea had iaeen
extended and exrrcised beyond thc NUeceS> The
country between that river Ala the i''4 N"fsr mad
been represented in th4 C.Ia1 rrsS AID I N'e con-
V.qHiol Of Texas & hl thus t4Sen part Ill the act
VI anne alton itsrtf AM So inc uicd wltIsh o"c
,uG ,ur CONGRESSIONAL iii ,tri:ts. Our own Congress
hal uursuver. with gcesst unaAlity, hy. t4e 4Gt
= vuprovcd December 3lst, lS4J, recognised the
,eUu4try b.yond tln Nuace: as part OF oar lr'ri-
1arv by incu ling it within our own rcVehNc ~
ten; and "A revenue officer. 10 EcS4d. within mat
district has hecn aipoi ted by ard with tile advice
nud cons-ut If the ,-cnlc. II became. therefore.
Wf III gent necessity 10 provide lAT the defence III
ehAt portion ot usir country. Accordingly. on the
l9;I Of Janu4 V last instructions were ISSUED 10
%hs general la comnlnd of Ahese troops /" occupy
sht left bank of the u \orte. Thts river which
10 the sauthwes crn boundary Of the State of lex
ass an exposed frontier. From this quarter III
'N4,inI threaitiIcd upon II and IN It's lnne-
Natc vicinity, il 1h' Judgment of high military ex-
Terience, wcTetac proper stations Tor tn protecting
forces Of the government. In at1tt)n 20 thIS In
purrant consideration, several others occurred to
;nduce ths movement. Among these are the IA
eiirs afforded by the ports of Brazos Santiago
anu the mouth OF the Del Norte f1r the receipt III
OF supplies by sea, the stronger aad l"re he'l'htul
military positions, the convenience kr obtaining j
ready aud more abundant supply Of provisions
water. fuel. and forage, and the advahtag which
are afforded Ivy the Del Nore in forwarding sup.
Lliss to such posts may be established Ill lle ia
aeEi"r and upon the Indian frontier.
Mr. Polk then states thit the army WA ordered
10 march from Corpus Christi, On the NucceS. tt
she left bank of the Rio Grandr. and that strict or
Jcrs given TO avoid every act which Mi sh'
provoke hOsiilHieS. He then proceeds:
The Mexican forces at MatlIoras assumed be-
lissrsnt attitude and OIL the 18th of April. Gen
Ampudia. then in command. notified General Tay
Tor To break up his camp within twentv-four hours
and to retire h. yOnd the Nueces river, and in tht
event of his failure to comply with these demands
announced that arms, and arms alone, must docd,
$i0 question. But no "psn act OF hostility wa
committed until the 9th Of April. On that day
General Arista. who had succeeded to the com
mand ofthe Mexican forces, c"mman ;ated to Gen
eraI Tavl"r that he considered t.n<liiteS nmcr
ced and should prosecute them" a party of drag
oons Of siXty-three men and officers were on thu
came day despatched from the American camp NJ
1he hiO del Nore, on its left bank, TO ascertain
whether the Mexican troops had crossed, or wer
preparing the river. "hecaune engaged witt
q large body Of these troops, aud after short at
fair in which son.c sixteen were killed and wOdn
ded, appear to have been surrounded and compel
led to surrender"
The grcvous wrongs perpetrated by Mexico up
IN our citizens throughout long period of years
rsmain unrc'lressed aud solemn treaties, pledSir;
her public faith for this redress have been di<re
Kardcd. government either unable unwil
ling to enforce the execution Of such licates fail
10 perform Of its plaime$t duties"
Our commerce with Mexico ha. been almos
annihilated. 1t was formerl' highly beneficial t.