Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-18
----""-1- - . =
CONGRESSIONAL.
oF TIE SENATE,

CONGRESSIONAL.
poocpEDlNGs OF THE SENATE,
A,s r,oevrents communicated thereto, from 'ch,eh
,hc in;unetion of sccresy has been ren0rea, IN
relation 10 Affairs bel'ccen the On'ted States anu
Merieo.
~ Exscurlve SESSION SENATE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
Tuesday, august 1, 1876.
The following message was received from ,,. .ne
President of The United States by MT. "ai"e''
his Secretary:
(Conhdential.1
WASHINGTON, Aususr 4, 1916.
tn The Senate nf the United STATES
herewith communicate to inc SENATE 'hee ~.
nj letter, under date OF Inc 2hn uMi.no' nJ ,sa
Minister Of Foreign Relations oil the Me. .;eas
Rennblic. again proposing TO open neso'idi,o "a
and conclude treaty OF peace, when s,a' ,'no
ms, ali the questions in dispute between 'Hs
cons;der;ne the relative power oil tne TWO coun'
.ha aiar;ops events which have ALREADY sig
nai;2ed our arms, and the distracted conuNion "
MEXICO do not conceive that any Poiht VI I'D,
iional honor could exist which ouSnt 70 plesen'
me from making lulS OsSisutS.
IONS 10 terminate, by peace honorable lot oo'h
n.r,;es as was originally TO avoid the existing
war have deemed it my duty again 10 extend
tho live branch TO Mexico Should the Govern
men, Of tina, Republic accept the offer IN Inc same
friendly spirit by which il was dicialeo, neSo.id
lions win speedily commence for the conclusion
Of treaty. .a = Tho no
The chief difficulty TO be anticipated IN Inc ne
po,ia,ion is The adjustment OF Tue oounualy ue
tween the parties, by line which snail a, onee
be satisfactory and convenient 70 ou'n, al" 1;s,n,h
"a neither will hereafter be inclined 10 u's'ulo
TIE 10 The best mode of securing perpetual
neacs and good neighborhood between the TWO
ppannbl;cs Should The Mexican Government
IN arder to accomplish these objects, be Wiling 70
cede any portion Of their territory 10 lhe onIeu
S,sles we ought 10 pay them fair equivalent;
ius, and honorable peace, and MOI cohques'' oe
inc our purpose in the prosecution OF me wal.
Hinder these circumstances, anu tonsus .ns
The exhausted and distracted conalaon VI nie
Mexican Republic, it might become necessary
In order 10 restore peace, lnat should nave II Ia
rny mower 10 advance portion OF The considera-
,;on money for any cession OF territory wn'cn
rn.y no made The Mexican Government mlsht
M, he willing 10 wait Tor The payment OF tne
,,,hoIe nn, The treaty could be ratihed by Inc
senate and an appropriation 10 carry II mo ei-
fec, be made by Congress; and the necessity lot
sncb delay nigh, defeat the object altogether
| would. therefore, suggest whether II might NOT
be wise for Congress 10 appropriate a sum sucn
as they might consider adequate Tor inns purpose,
10 be paid, if necessary, Immediately upon tue Ia
,i6caiion of the treaty by Mexico This DIS
hnrsement wuuld, of course, be accounted tor al
The Treasury not as secret service money ou' iAe
other expenditures.
Two precedsas for such proceeding exist IN
onr mas, history, during the administration oil
Mr.. Jefferson, 10 which would call your alien
lion. On the 26h February, 1903, Congress
passed an act appropriating 1000 900 dollars "for
The purpose of detraying any extraordinary eS-
penses which may be incurred in The intercourse,
between the United States and foreign nations,
ITO be applied under The discretion Of the Presi-
5en, of the United States, who shall cause IN ac-
count of the expenditure thereof to be laid before
Congress as soon as may be-" and on The 18th
February. 1906, all appropriation was made OF
the same amount and in the same terms Inc
object in the first case was 10 enable the President
10 obtain the cession of Louisiana, andin The Sc
cond that of the Floridas. In neither case was
The money actually drawn from the treasury;
and should hope that the result might De similar
in this respect on the presen, occasion, thoush
the appropriation is deemed expedient as pre-
caulionaTy measure.
refer the whole subject to the Senate in Ex
ecntiye session. If they should concur in opin-
ion with me, then recommend the passageoia law
snnropriatine such sum as Congress may deem
ADEQUATE. 10 be used by the Executive, if necessa
~, for The purpose which have indicated.
In the Two cases 10 which have referred, The |
special purpose of the appropriation did not ap' |
pear on the face OF the law as this nigh; have de-
feaed the object neither, for the same reason, 10 |
nv opinion ought il now 10 be stated.
+ aiso communicate 10 the Senate the copy OF
letter from the Secretary Of State TO Commodore
Conner, of the 9th ultimo, wnieSEas transmitted |
10 him on the day il bears date.
y "''-' - " JAMES X. POLK.
The message was read.
.r,rr,- ..,s COMMUNICATIONS, ua,eu nnJ u- |
lv from the Secretary OF State, communicated with |
,he preceding message, are inserted here 10 con- |
pexion with the message, (aiihough not part OF |
The Journal,l in preference 10 making them an |
appendix j
Washington, July 81, 1916.
Sir. The President Of the United States no |
less anxious 10 terminate than he was TO avoid
The present unhappy war with the Mexican Re-
public, has determined 10 make an effort to ac-
cemplish this purpose. He has accordingly in
struc,ed The undersigned, Secretary OF Stale, TO
propose through your Excellsncy to The Mexican
Government, that negotiations shall forthwith |
commence for the conclusion OF peace Just and |
honorable for both parties. Should this offer be |
received and responded 10 by the Mexican Go |
vernmenl in the same frank and friendly spirit oy |
which it has been dictated he will Immediately |
despatch an Enyoy Extraordinary and Minister |
Plenipotentiary 10 The City of Mexico, with ~ |
structions and full powers TO conclude treaty |
OF Peace, which shall adjust all the questions IN
dispute between the two Republics. 1.-THE Me1l- |
can Government should prefer TO send Minister
10 Washington 10 conduct the negotiation here, ne
shall be received with kindness and respect, and
every ef1or, shall be made 10 accomplish the oo-
iecl of his mission, with The least possible delay
In the present communication II IS deemed use
less. and might prove injurious 10 discuss Tue
causes of the existing war. ms might 'enu 20
delay or defeat the restoration OF peace. Inc
past is already consigned to history; lne iu'aie'
under Providence, is within our own power,
The occasion may, however, DC enio.deea u. ~
state, that the President mas esel cne.Sne1 w., VIZ
kndest feelings for Mexico and that one Of the
FIRST wishes Of his heart is, that she may De
nowsrfnl and prosperous Republic, in perpetual
amity with the United states.
Commodore Conner will transmit this despatch
for vour Excelency 10 the Governor oil vera
Cruz. under flag Of truce; and you are respect
tnllv invited 10 adopt the same channel Tor COM
municatng your answer:
I avail myself of this occasion 10 offer your
Excel,ency The assurance OF my most distinguish
Oh consideration. JAMES BUCHANAN.
To his Excellency The Minister OF Foreign Re-
la,ions Of The Mexican Republic.
Mr.. Buchanan 10 Commodore Conner.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, July u, 1886.
Sir-I have the honor 10 transmit herewith
sealed note, addressed 10 the Minister OF Foreign
Relations Of the Mexican Republic, with an open
copy OF the same Tor your own use. From mus
Won will perceive that the President has deter
mined again 10 offer the olive branch to Mexico.
The President does not believe that any point
of national honor should forbid him from making
this tender, especially after the glorious events
which have thus tar marked the progress OF The
war Shonld the Mexican Government deter
mine TO accept the offer and enter upon neSo'ia-
-. :, .o,, "a nr.hahl, will pronnce IN vou