The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-05-23
PRESIDENTS M MESSAGE,
IN RELATION TO THE DIFFICULTIES
.cs' fosqq WITH MEXICO. gr, ,.r
To The Senate and
House of Representatives.:

i HH n
| House of Representations:
| The existing state of the relations be-
tween the United States, and Mexico,
renders it proper that should bring
the subject TO the consideration ofCon-
|gress. In my message at the COM
mencement Of your present session, the
state Of these relations and the causes
which led to the suspension Of diplo-
matte intercourse between the two
countries in March, l845. and the long
continued and unredressed wrongs and
Injuries committed by the Mexican
IGovernment on Citizens of the United
states, on then persons and property,
were briefly set forth. 4gc.
| AS the facts and opinions which were
then laid before you were carefully
nsidered, cannot better express my
present convictions of the condition of
affairs up to this time than by refer
ring you to that communication. The
strong desire to establish peace with
Mexico on liberal and honorable terms,
and the readiness of this Government
to regulate and adjust our boundary,
and other causes of difference with
that power, on such fair and equitable
principles as would lead to permanent
relations Of the most friendly nature,
induced me in September last to seek
a re-opening Of diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries. Every meas
ure adopted on our part had for its OBJ
iect the furlherance of these desired
results. \, i. ...,-.. 81. ,es,e..
In communicating to Congress a sue
cinct statement ofthe injury which we
have suffered from Mexico, and which
had been accumulated during the period
Of more than 90 years, every express
sion that could tend to infame the peo-
pie of Mexico, defeat or delay pacific
result, was carefully avoided. An En-
voy of the u. S. repaired to Mexico,
with full powers to adjust existing diff
ference, but though present on the
Mexican soil by agreements, invested
with full powers, and bearing evidence
of the most friendly dispositions, his
mission has been unavaiIing, The Mex.
lean government not only refused to re-
} ceive him or listen to his propositions,
but after long continued series of
MANAGES, have at last invaded our ter
ritory, and shed the blood ot our fellow
citizens on our own soil. ~
1t now becomes my duty to state
more in detail the origin, progress and
failure. of that mission. In pursuance
Of the instructions given in September
last, an inquiry was made on the 3th
of October, l845, in the most friendly
terms. through our Consul in Mexico,
of the Minister Of Foreign Affairs,
whether the Mexican Government
; would receive an Envoy from the Uni
ted States. entrusted with full po wers
to adjust all the questions in dispute be-
tween the two governments, with the
assurance that, should the answer be in
the affirmative, such an Envoy would
be Immediately despatched to Mexico.
The Mexican Minister, on the 18th Of
October gave an affirmative answer to
this INQUIRY, requesting, at the same
time, that our naval force at Vera Cruz
might be Withdrawn, lest its continued
} presence might assume the appearance
Of menace and coercion, pending the
negotiations. This force was imme-
diately withdrawn. On the 10th OF
Nov, lS45, Mr.. John Slidell, Of Louis
+ lana, was commissioned by me as En-
> voy Extraordinary and Minister Plen-
Ipotentiary Of the U. s. to Mexico,
!, and was entrusted with full powers to
} adjust both the question Of the Texan
boundry and Of indemnifcation to our
+ citizens. The redress OF the wrongs
, Of our citizens naturally and separably
Blended itself with the question of boun-
, d,iry. The settlement Of the one ques-
ton in any correct view ofthe subject,
, involved that of The other. lcould not
for moment entertain the idea that
, the claims ofour much injured and long
+; suffering citizens, many Of which had
existed for more than twenty years,
|, should be postponed or separated from
the settlement ofthe boundary question.
Il Mr.. SlideIl arrived at Vera Cruz on
the soth Of November, and was cour-
Iteously received by the authorities Of
that city; but the Government OF Gen.
Herrera was then totteTing to its fall;
\ 1.-The revolutionary party had seized upon
4 the Texas question to effect or hasten
u its. overthrow. Its determination to
restore friendly relations with the Unl-
\ ted States, and to receive our Minister
Y 70 negotiate for the settlement Of this
n question, was Violently assailed, and
\ was made the great theme Of denuncia-
,Ition against it. The Government Of
4 Gen. Herrera, there is good reason to
Ifbelieye, was sincerely desirous to re-