Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-05-21
FROM WASHINGTO
PRESIDENTS WAR MESSAGE.


600 10 carry on the Uor-- and prouiding for the
raising Of $4,000 volunteers. Discussion in The
Senate, on Tuesday, upon The House Blu
MONDAY, May II.
SENATE.-The following Message from the Pres
idcnt received and reads
PRESIDENTS WAR MESSAGE.
To The Senate and House Of Representatives
The existing state of the relations between the
United States and Mexico, renders it proper that
should bring the subject TO 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 diplo-
matte intercourse between the two countries in
March, 1915, and the long continued and unredress-
ed wrongs and injuries committed by the Mexican
government 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 carefully considered, cannot bet
ter express my present convictions of the condition
Of affairs up TO that time, than by referring you to
that communication.
The strong desire 10 establish peace with Next
co, liberal and honorable terms, and the readi-
ness 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 the re-openng of diplomatic relations between
the two countries. Every measure adopted on our
part had Tor It's object the furherance Of these de-
sirable results In communicating to Congress a
succnct statement of the injuries which we had
suffered from Mexico, and which have been accu-
muatlng during period Of more than twenty
years, every expression that could tend to famo
the people Of Mexico, defeat or delay pacific
result, was carefully avoided. An envoy of the u
States repaired Mexico with full powers 10 adjust
every existing difference But though present on
the Mexican soil, by agreement between the two
Governments, invested with full powers, and bear
ing evidence of the most friendly dispositions, his
mission has been unavang. The Mexican gov
eminent not only refused 10 receive him, or listen
to his propositions, but, after long continued 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,
ln pursuance Of the instructions given in Septem-
Der last, inquiry made, on the 18th of Octo-
ber in 1915, 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 United States, ntrusted
with full powers to Just all the questions in dis
! pute between the two governments;' with the
assurance that "should the be in the affir-
native, such envoy would be Immediately de-
spatched to Mexico" The Mexican minister on
the 18th of October gave affirmative answer to
this inquiry, requesting, at the same time, that
naval force at Vera Cruz might be withdrawn lest
its continued presence might assume the appear
!
tons. This force was Immediately withdrawn
On the 10th of November, lS45 Mr.. John Sdell,
| of Louisiana, was commissioned by me as an En-
voy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentary of
the United States TO Mexico, and was intrusted
with full powers to adjust both the questions of the
Texas boundary and of indemnifcation to our citi-
zens. The redress of the wrongs of our citizens
naturally and inseparably blended itself with the
question of boundary. The settlement of the one
question, in any correct view of the subject, in
wolves that OF the other. could not for moment,
entertain the idea that,lhe claims of our much in
jured and long Suffering citizens, many of which
had existed for more than twenty years. should be
postponed, separated from the settlement of the
boundary question.
Mr. Sidel arrived at Vera Cruz on the 30th.of
September, and was courteousy received by the
authorities of that city, But the government of
Gen. Herrera was then tottering to its fall. The
revolutionary party had siezed upon the Texas
question to effect or hasten its overthrow. Its de-
termination to restore friendly relations with the
United States, and to receive Minister to nepo-
tate for the settlement Of this question: was vio-
ently assalied, and was made the theme of denuu-
citation against it. The government of General
Herrera, there is good reason to believe, sin
cerey DESTROYS TO receive our minister; but it
yielded to the storm raised by It's enemies, and on
the 2lst Of December refused to accredt Mr.. Sill
dell upon the most frivolous pretexts These are
so fully and so ably exposed in the note of Mr..
Slidell of the Oath of December last, to the Mex-
can minister Of Foreign relations herewith trans
mitted, that deem it unnecessary to ente. into
further detail on this portion of the subject
Five days after the date of Mr. Slide's note,
General Herrera yielded the government to Gen.
Paroles without struggle, and on the 3Olh of
December resigned the Presidency. This revou-
ton was accomplished solely by the army the peo-
pie having taken little part in the contest; and thus
the supreme power in Mexico passed into the hands
OF a Military leader.
Determined to leave no effort untried to effect an
amicabe adjustment with Mexico, directed Mr..
Slide 10 pres nt his credentials to the government
OF General Parades, and ask to be officially re-
celved by him. There would have been less ground
for taking this step had Gen. Parades come into
power by regular constitutional succession. In
that event his administration would have been con-
sldered but mere constitutional continuance of
the government of Gen. Herrera, and the refusal
OF the latter to receive our minister would have
been deemed conclusive, unless an intimatoR had
been given by Gen. Parades of his desire to re-
verse the decision of his predecessor.
But the government of Gen. Parades owes its
existence to a military revolution, by which the
lsubsistlng constitutional authorities had been sub
verted. The form of government was entirely
changed, as well all the high functionaries by
whom 1t was administered
| Under these circumstances Mr.. Sdell, in ODE
dlence to my direction, addressed note to the
Mexican minister of foreign relations under date of
the lSt OF March last, asking to be received by
that government, in the diplomatic character to
which he had been appointed The minister, in
his reply under date OF the 18th of March, reitera-
ted the arguments of his predecessor, and in terms
that may be considered giving just grounds of
| offence to the government and people of the Uni
ted States, denied the application of Mr.. Slide.
Nothing, therefore, remained to our envoy but to
demand his passports and return to his own coun-
try.
Thus the government ofMcxco, though solemn
ly pledged by official acts in October last TO re-
ceive and accredit an American envoy, violated
their plghted faith, and refused the offer of peace
tul adjustment of our difficulties. Not only was
the offer rejected but the ndignity of It's rejection
was enhanced bv the manifest breach of faith IN
refusing to admit the envoy who came, because
they had bound themselves to receive him. Nor
can il be said that the offer was fruitless from the