Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-12-18
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
December 9, $780,
Feliol5- Citizens Of The Senate and
Of tie House of RcpTeseniatirs,:


| In resuming your labors in the service Of the
people, II lsa subject Of congrauaiion that there
has been no period in our past history, when oil
The elements Of national prosperity have been so
iully developed. Since your last session no Of.
iilcung dlsPensation 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 education, science and the arts are
rapidly enlarglng the means Of social happiness.
The progress Of our country in her career Of
greatness, not only in the vast extension Of our
territorial limits and the rapid increase Of our DO
pulation, but in resources and wealth, and in The
happy condition Of our people, is without exam
pie in the history Of nations.
As the wisdom, strength, and benefcence of
our free institutions are unfolded, every day adds
fresh motives TO contentment, and fresh incen-
tives TO patriotism.
Our devout and sincere acknowledgements are
due to the gracious Giver Of all good for The
numberless blessings which our beloved coun.
try enjoys.
1t is a source Of high satisfaction TO know that
the relations Of the United States with all other
nations, with a single exception, are of the most
amicable character. Sincerely attached TO the
policy Of peace, early adopted and sincerely pur-
sued by this government, have anxiously desired
TO cultivate, and cherish friendship and COM
merce with every foreign power. The spirit and
habits of the American people are favorable 10
/ the maintenance Of such international harmony.
In adhering 10 this wise policy, preliminary
and paramount duty obviously consists in the
protection Of ur'nationa interests from encroach
n,ant cocri6na and any r,t;op,I baz-. r.
reproach. These must be maintained at any
hazard. They admit Of no compromise or me-
gect, and must be scrupulously and constantly
guarded. In their vigilant vindcaton, collision
and conflict with foreign Powers may sometimes
become unavoidable. Such has been our scru-
puous adherence 10 the dictates of justice in all
our foreign intercourse, that, though steadily
and rapidly advancing in prosperity and power,
we have given no just cause of complaint 10 any
nation, and have enjoyed the blessings of peace
for more than thirty years. From policy so
sacred 10 humanity, and saIurary in its effects
upon our political system, we should never be
induced voluntarily to depart.
The existing war with Mexico was neither de.
sired nor provoked by the United States. On
the contrary, all honorable means were rasorted
to to avert it. After years of endurance Of ag-
gravated and unredressed wrongs on our part,
Mexico, in violation Of solemn treaty stipua ons,
and Of every principle of justice recognized bv
civilized nations, commenced hostilities; and
thus by her own act, forced the war upon US.
Long before the advance of our army to the left
bank Of the Rio Grande, we had ample cause of
war with Mexico and had the United States re-
sorted TO this extremity, we might have appealed
to the whole civilized world for the Justice Of our
cause.
deem it to be my duty to present to you, on
the present occasion, a condensed review Of the
injuries we had sustained, of the causes which
led to the war, and Of its progress since its com.
mencement. This is rendered the more neces-
sary because of the misapprehensions which have
to some extent prevailed as TO its origin and true
character. The war has been represented as
unjust and unnecessary, and as one ofaggression
on our part upon weak and injured enemy
Such erroneous views, though entertained but by
few, have been widely and extensively circular
ed not only at home, but have been spread
throughout Mexico and the whole world more
effectual means could not have been devised TO
encourage the enemy and protract the war than
to advocate and adhere TO their cause and thus
give them "aid and comfort"
1t is source of national pride and exultation,
that the great body of our people have thrown no
obstacles in the way ofthe government in prose-
cutting the war successfully, but have shown
themselves to be emnently patriotic, and ready
TO vindicate their counry's honor and interests
at any sacrifice. The alacrity and promptness
with which our volunteer forces rushed to the
field on their country's call, prove not only their
pot iot;cp hut sh hair 1aap oopviction thot
cause is just.
The wrongs which we have suffered from
Mexico almost ever since she become an inde-
pendent Power, and the patient endurance with
which we have borne them, are without par
allel in the history of modern civilized nations.
There is reason to believe that if these wrongs
had been repelled and resisted in the first instance
the present war might have been avoided. One
outrage, however, permitted to pass with impu-
nifty, almost necessarily encouraged the perpetra-
ton of another, until ut last Mexico seemed to
attribute to weakness and indecision on our part
forbearance which was the offspring of magma
nimity, and ofa sincere desire to preserve friend
ly relations with sister republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achev her in dependence.
which the United States were the first among The
nations 10 acknowledge, when she commenced the
system Of insult and spoiation, which she has ever
since pursued. Our citizens engaged in lawful
commerce were imprisoned. their vessels seized,
and our flag insulted in her ports. If money was
wanted, the awless seizure and confisca.on orour
merchant vessels and their cargoes was read re-
sourcei and il to accomplish their purposes it be-
came necessary to imprson the owners, cnTtrins,
and crews, it was done. Rulers superseded rulers
in Mexico in rapid succession but still there was no
change in this system of depreciation. The gov-
ernment Of the United States made repeated rerla-
nations on behalfo OF its citizens, hut these were
answered by the perpetration of new outrugos,-
Promises Of redress made by Mexico in the most
solemn forms were postponed or evaded. The
files and records Ofthe Department Of State contain
conclusive proofs of numerous awless acts perpe-
trated upon the property and persons Of our cI'l'
zens by Mexico, and of wanton insults to our n'-