Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-05-26
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
From the Washington Union Extra, May II.
To the Senate and House of Representa-

To the Senate and House of Representa-
tires:
The existing state OF the relations be-
tween the United States and Mexico, rem
ders it proper that should bring the subs
ject 70 the consideration of Congress- In
my message at the commencement of your
present session, the state of these relations,
the causes which led TO the suspension of
diplomatic intercourse between the two
countries in March, 1915, and the long
continued and unredressed wrongs and in
juries committed by the Mexican Govern
ment on citizens of the United States in
their persons and property, were briefly set
forth.
As the facts and opinions which were then
laid before you were carefully considered,
cannot better express my present convic-
tons OF the condition of atfairs up to that
time, than by referring you 10 that conmu,
nication.
The strong desire TO establish peace with
Mexico, on liberal and honorable terms, and
the readiness of this Government TO regu-
late and adjust our boundary, and other eau
ses Of difference with that power, on such
fair and equitable principles as would lead
TO permanent relations of the mos, friendly
nature, induced me in September last to
seek the reopening Of diplomatic relations
between the two countries. Every meas
ure adopted on our part had for its object
the iurtherauce of these desired results.
In communicating to congress sue.
cinct statement of the Injuries which
we had suffered fom from Mexico. and
which had been accommodating during pc :
Rod of more than twenty Years, every ex-
preston tibet could tend 10 infane the peo-
pie of Mexico, or defeat or delay pacific
result. was carefully avoided. An envoy
of the United States repaired TO Mexico
with full powers to adjust every existing
difference. But though present on the
Mexican soil, by agreement between the
governments, invested with full powers, and
bearing evidence of the most friendly dis
positions, his mission has been unavailng.
The Mexican Government not only le-
fused to receive him, or listen to his
propositions, out, after a long coniinued Sc
ries of menaces, have at last invaded our
territory and shed The blood of 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 18th of October, in lS45, in the most
friendly terms, through our Consul IN Mex
leo, of the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
whether the Mexican Government 'twould
receive an envoy from the United States in
trusted with full powers to adjust all the
questions in dispute between the two gov
ernments;" with the assurance that "should
the answer be in the aft rma,ve, 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 with.
drawn lest its continued presence might as
sumo the appearance of menace coercion
pending the negotiations. The force was
Immediately withdrawn. On the 10Th of
No ,embsr, 1916, Mr.. John Slidell, of Lou
lsiana, was commissioned by me as Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoteniia-
nv of the United States to Mexico; and was
entrusted with full powers 10 adjust both the
questions of the Texas boundary and Of in
Identification 20 oui citizens.
The redress of the wrongs Of our citi-
zens naturally inseparably blended itself
with the question OF boundary. The set
element of the one question in any correct
view OF the subject involves that of the 9TH
er. could not, for a moment, entertain
the idea that the claims Of our much injured
and long suffering citizens, many of which
had existed for more than twenty years,
should be postponed, or separated from the
settlement of the boundary question.
Mr.. SlideIl arrived at Vera Cruz on the
3Oth of November, and was courteously re-
ceived by the authorities Of that city. But
the government of Gen. Herrera was then
totterng 10 It's fall. The revolutionary par
ty had seized upon The Texas question TO
effect or hasten It's overthrow. Its deierm
nation TO restore friendly relations with the
United States, and 10 receive our minister
to negotiate for the settlement ofthis Gnes-
lion, violently assailed, and was made the
great theme Of delunciation against IL.