Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1846-12-10
MESSAGE
o. mn
PRESIDENT OF THE q. STATES.
Esil0,D. caisras II he Seaais
md ffonsr a. REPRESENTATIVE:

euhjkrt q clngrainafion 51lat terr -. ps<n ~
psu.periiI have been - fIy deyelopd ses yonf a.
ss1,ka. affecting dpen4.sin - or e.y
~ - L.. N ~ All Iabof IN 40 IL branch
. : rf&s. - ~ nrie - n Nhilr eduraiipn SCIENCE
AM s an. ere rnp1lT earEns tls mss. q ses -
r,-s moi sslIy II IIs vass szeniun ofeur territorial
sit, aII he rnss increase II popsaiian bur n ~
s ~ .s..A 60 Z y i s;:s.y s y nsaa =
a.. In ,sislana stnnrfh and beneieence of onr IRE
snssllstln .oiedl ssefy day alb fresA 'isest 70
On d-saat and sincere Acknowledgements. are due %
lie rraeious laref Of al god for ts nambeess hiess-
. fnes which CUR beloved country enjoys.
ii Il snBree of high Eatlsfartsn 10 know that the re-
atioas AZ The Tinted S,a.ss with AL other naos. With
sinrif e1eet8s5sl ase II ih4 alncable eiaraesgs
einezrry aiaeedto III paeY % pace, saEiY adSptei
and steadily pHrsue BIZ tiIsk government have af1Ousy
desired u ale a crisi. friendship aad eotnnerce
from every forrga power Tie spirit aad habits VI the
Americas pcot&s favorable the maintenance Of
sarh International 3arnaay Ii altering 70 tins vie
policy apreliminarY and Paramgunt duly o5sseasy ron
sits ~ he proteetlsn Of cur nails Interests on en-
er0achntsht sacrifice and national honor from re-
prpach. These must be maintained II any hazard.--
They n.mt o. compromise Or negiect, and must be
sctpuoasiy and constantly guarded In their ylglant
yidtea;ion. cnlrioa and conflict with foreign powers
may sometime. become unavoidable. Such has been
scrpulas adherence If dictates Of justice IN all
fbfsign intercourse thai EDugh steadily and rapidly adj
sanciag IN pru.Pery and power, We have given no rf
Of complaint - any nAiion and lave enJyed te
blessing 81 peace OF mare Than thirty years Fsom pu-
~ sacred 10 humanity and salnlary IL ELECTS
uPoa or political s5siem, We should never be induced
voluntarily 20 depart
The existing war with Mexico was neither desired NOE
provoked b. he United States On he contrary. all hon
ofahie mean. weru rcsorted q naY,t Afsr jean Of
endufanee II aggravated and unredfessed wrongs
par Mexico. ID violation u solemn treaty spnaiinns
and u every principle o. justice rerognizd By civilized
Iaols commenced ho.iIissa. and thus, BY her own
forced The upon Long beiore the advance Of
army the In bank d the Rio rands. had ample
cause Of Against Msrco; and had The UaiIed Ssacs
~ whas civilized world ~ ire Issics q our eaae.
deem 4 % b. my duty y present 10 yoa on The pre-.
sent occasion. condemned view 81 the Injuries we had
sustained Of the which led y the war. and Of is
necessary heeAe Of The misrepresentation which
have ereni prevailed 20 is origin and true
thanesef The war has been represented . unjust and
unnecessary, and OF aggression our part upon
X weak and injured enemy. Such erroneous views,
though entertained BY but few have been widely and
extensively circulated not only home but have been
spead throughout Mexico and The whole world more
sfisctnai could MOI have been devised 10
sge Die enemy and potract the than 10 adyocae and
adhera % their cause, and as give them aid and com
his source Of national pride and exualien that the
great by Of people have thrown such obstacles
A. ts wa e nc " prosecuting the war sue
eeNfnlY, but have shown themselves 70 be emlnently
patriotic, and ready 70 yhdicaie their eouaiys honor
end interest Al any sacrifice Tbs alacrity and prompt
ness with which our younteers rushed 10 the field on
teir counfys call prove not only their patriotism, but
thsif deep conviction that our cause u jnst
The wrongs which We have suffered from Mexico al
most ever sine. she became a independent Power and
the patient endurance with which we have borne them.
are without parallel IN the history u modern civilized
nations There feasontD believe that IL these wrongs
had been rcacned and resisted In the fri instance the
present war might have baen avoided. 0ne outrage,
however permitted 10 pass with iInpuny almost
ry encouraged the pcrpeiration Of ano,her until ex
seemed attlbute 20 weakness and ndecsoa on on
part iorbeance which WA The of prng Of alagnanin
81 and q sincere desire y preserve friendly RELATIONS
with sister republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her indepen.
dence, which the United States were the frsl
among the nations to acknowledge, when she com.
meneed the system ofinsllt and spoliation, which
she has ever since pursued Our citizens engag.
cd In lawful commerce were imprisoned theil
vessels seized, and flag insulied in her ports
Ifmoney was wanted the lawless seizure and con.
fiscation Of our merchant vessels and their car.
goes was Already resource; and if to accomplish
their purposes i became necessary TO inIprisou
$ The owners, captains and crews, II was DONE
Ralers superseded rulers in Mexico in rapid sue.
cesson, hnt stilltherc was no change in this sys.
TEN ot depreciation. The government Of the
United States made repeated reclamations on be.
halt nj .ai6sayn hstxiec- IN the most solemn
forms were postponed or eyaded The files and
records Of the department Of state contain con-
elusive proofs Of numerous lawiess acts peEpetn-
ted'up0n the persons and property Of our citizens
BY Mexico, and Of wanton insults to our national
dag The intorposition of our government to OBJ
tain redress was again and again invoked, under
circumstances which 20 nation ought to disregard.
TWAS hoped that these cutrages would cease,
and that Mexico would be restrained BY the laws
which regulate the conduct Of civilized nations
m their Intercourse with eachother ates The trea-
" Of Amity, commerce, and navigation Of The fifth
! Of April, 1881, was concluded between the two
republics; but this hope soon proved to be vain.-
The coarse Of seizure and con6scation OF the
property Of our citizens the violation Of their
persons and the insults TO our flag pursued by Mex
leo previous TO that time were scarcely suspended
sor even a brief period, although the treaty so
clearly defines the rights and duties the respec-
tive parties that il is impossible to misunderstood
or mistake them. In less than seven years after
the conclusion Of that treaty our grievances had
become 50 intolerabe that in the opinion OF Presi-
dent jackson, they should 10 longer be endured
In his message 70 Congress in February, 1887.
lie presented them to the consideration Of that
body, and declared that The length Of time since
come Of theinuries have been committed, there
peated and unayaing applications for redress, the
~anlop character OF some OF the oatrages upon
the property and persons of our citizens, upon the
officers and flag Of the United States, independent
OF reccnt insults 70 this government and people
BY the late cxtraerdinary Mexican minister, would
justify il the eyes Of all nations immediate war
- eflAt NtttAaNoe tV1orufottCC, tloNCtctt
he recommended reprisals As milder mode Of re-
dress ~ ~
He declared that war shonld not be used as a
remedy, = By Just and generous nations con6ding
ID their strength for injuries committed, il il can
Be honorably avoided. and added, q il has occur
red TO me that considering the present embarrass-
Cd condition Of thar country, We should act with
both wisdom and moderation, By givingto Mexico
dne more opportunity 70 atone lor the past before
We tAks redress into our own hands. To ayoid
~ miseoDeep,ion on the part Of Mexico, as well
8 TO psoteclear OWE national character from re-
psoach. this opportunity should be given with the
asowed design and falf preparation 10 take imme-
date satisfaction q / should not BE obtained or
q repetition Of The demand fcr IL Toihis end
recommend that an ACT Be passed authorizing re-
prisals, and the nse Of The naval force Of the Uni
I'D State. 81 the Executive. against Mexico, To
enioFce 1tm in the erent Of refusal b. the Next
can government to come to an amicablc adjust
n.ent Of he matters ii controversy betweea US.
upon another demand thereof. made from OF, board
enc ofolr vessels Of war on the coast Of Mexico.
Gommltees Of both Houses Of Congress, Is
Which this message Of this President was referred,
FUZZY sustained his views o( the charaetero f the