Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-09-02
Proffcr Of Peace to Mexico.

~
. States and HeEico.
I In EXECUTIVE SESSION SENATE OF TIL
UNITED STATES, August A, 1916.
The following message was receive
from The President Of the United State
t by Mr. Walker, his Secretary.
[CoNFmEETrAL,1
WASHINGTON August A, 1916.
To The Senate Of the United States:
II ! herewith communicate TO the Senat
the copy Of a letter, under date of 27tI
ulimo from the Secretary of State Of the
United States to the Minister of Foreign
Relations Of the Mexican Republic, again
proposing 10 open negotiations, and con
clude treaty OF peace, which shall udiusl
all the questions in dispute between The
two Republics. Considering the relative
power Of the two counties, the glorious
events which have already stgnalzed our
arms, and the distracted condition of Mex,
leo, did not conceive that any point Of
national honor could exist which ought TO
prevent me from making this overture
Equally anxious 10 terminate, by peace
honorable for both parties, as was origi.
naIly TO avoid The existing war | have
deemed it my duty again to extend the
olive branch to Mexico. Should the Go.
yernment Of that Republic accept the of.
fer IN the same friendly spirit by which il
was dictated, negotiations will speedily
commence for the conclusion of treaty.
The chief difficulty to be anticipated in
the negotiation is the adjustment of the
boundary between the parties, by line
which shall at once be satisfactory and
convenient to both, and such as neither
will hereafter be inclined to disturb. This
is the best mode Of securing perpetual
peace and good neighborhood between the
two republics. Should the Mexican Go.
vernment, in order TO accomplish these oh.
jects, be willing TO cede any portion Of
their territory to the United States we
ought to pay them a fair equivalents; lust
and honorable peace, and not conquest.
being our purpose in the prosecution of
the war.
Under these circumstances, and con.
slderlng the exhausted and distracted con.
dllion Of the Mexican Republic, it might
become necessary, in order to restore
peace, that | should have it in my power
advance portion Of the consideration mo-
ney for any cession of territory which
may be made. The Mexican Government
might not be willing to wait for the pay.
neni OF The whole until the treaty could he |
'atlied by the Senate, and an appropria.
ion to carry into effect made by Con.
1roSsj and the necessity for such would |
therefore, suggest whether it might not be
wise for Congress to appropriate sum
uch as they might consider adequate for
his purpose, to be paid if necessary, i'm.
nedIaleIy upon the ratification of the
realty by Mexico. The disbursement of
his money would, Of course, be accounted
lr at the treasury, not as secret service
money! but like other expenditures.
Two precedents for such a proceeding
Xis in past history, during the admins,
ration of Mr.. Jefferson, to which | would
all your attention On the goth Febru,
ry, lsO3, an act was passed, appropra-
ing S2,O00,000 "for the purpose Of de-
laying any extraordinary expenses which
lay be incurred in the intercourse be.
ween the United States and foreign ma.
ons, to be applied under the direction of 5
ne President of the United States, who I
hall cause an account of the expenditure
hereof to be laid before Congress as soon
$ may be-" And on the 18th OF Febru. t
ry, 1907 an appropriation was made of :
ne same amount and in the same terms.
he object in the first case was to enable
'e President TO obtain the cession of Lou /
lana, and in the second that of the Flori. t
as. In neither case was the.money ac II
aIly drawn from the treasury, and
lould hope that the result in this respect 5
light be similar On the present occasion,
ongh the appropriation is deemed expe- /
emf is precautionary measure.
refer the whole subject to the Senate
Xecullye session. If they should concur
opinion with me, then recommend the
ssage OF law appropriaung such a sum e
Congress may deem adequate, to be n
ed by the Executive, il necessary, for
g purpose which have Indicated f
In the Two cases to which have refer te
D, the special purpose of the appropria. te
N did not appear on the face of The law, 81
this might have defeated the object
l'her, for the same reason, in my opin. a
}, ought it now to be stated. NJ
! also communicate TO the Senate the oil
Ply OF letter from the Secretary of ii,
ale to Com. Conuer, Of the 9th nil, az
llch was transmitted to him on the day m
bears date.
JAMES X. POLK. de
The message was read. pl
The following communication, dated P
27'h of July, from the Secretary of "
ie' communicated with the preceding ey
sSage, are inserted here in connection q,
d the message, (aIthough not part Of or
JournaI) IN preference to making