The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-08
CONGRESSIONAL.
TwENTY-NINTH CONGRESS,
second session.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER s, is4e.


The session Of to-day was opened with an appropriate
prayer by the chaplain OF the Senate the Rev SErrus
TUsTs
The journal OF yesterday read and approved
ARRIVAL on SENATORS.
The following senators appeared in their to-day,
in addition TO those enumerated yesterday, viz:
From Coaneetieut-Hon JOHN NJ NILES ..
From New Jsrsey-Hon. w l.. DAYTON.
From MississiPpi.-Hon. J, w. CHALMERS.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The following message, in writing from the President
OF the United States received by the hands of j.
Knox Walker ESP his private secretary and read by
The Secretary Of the Senate, and his chief clerk;
Fsilop-eitisens Of The Senate
and Of the House Of Representatives.
In resumng your labors in the service of the people, it
is subject OF congraulaton that there has been pc
rod IN our past history when all the elements of national
prosperity have been fully developed Since your last
session, affecting dspensaon has visited our country
general good health has prevailed abundance has crown
ed the toll OF the husbandman and labor in all its branch
is receiving an ample reward, while education, science
and the arts rapidly enagng the of social hap
piness The progress OF country in her career OF
greatness only in the extension of our territorial
limits and the rapid increase OF our population, but in
and wealth, and in the happy condition OF our
people, is without example in the history of nations
AS the wisdom, strength and benefcence of our free
Institutions unfolded every day adds fresh motives
contenment, and fresh incentives to patriotism.
Our devout and sincere Acknowledgements due to
the gracious Gyer OF all good for the numberess bless
ings which our beloved country enjoys ~
II is OF high satisfaction 10 know that the re-
auons OF the United States with all other nations with
a single exception, are OF the most amicabe character
Sincerely attached to the policy of peace early adopted
and steadily pursued by this government have anxious
y desired TO cultivate and cherish friendship and
meree with every foreign power The spirit and habits
of the American people favorable the maintenance
OF such International harmony In adherng TO this wise
policy, preliminary and paramount duty obviously
consists IN the protection of national interests
from encroachment sacrifice, and our national hon
or from reProaeh. These must be maintained at any
hazard. They admit Of no compromise neglect
and must be scrupulously and constantly guarded In
their viglan vindcaton collision and conflict with for
eign powers may sometimes become unavoidable. Such
has been our scpulous adherence to the dictates OF JUS
hce In all our foreign intercourse that though steadily
and rapidly advancing IN prosperity and power, have
given no just cause OF complaint any nation, and have
enjoyed me blessings Of peace Tor more than thirty years
From policy 50 sacred TO humanity, and saluary in
its effects upon political SYSTEM should never be
induced voluntarily TO depart.
The existing with Mexico was neither desired nor
provoked by the United States On the contrary all hon.
orable means resoed to to it, After years OF
endurance OF aggravated and unredessed wrongs
part, Mexico. in violation OF solemn treaty spuations
and OF every principle Of justice recognised by civilized
nations, commenced hostes, and thus by her act
forced the war upon u.s. Long before the advance OF our
army to the left bank OF the Rio Grande we had ample
cause OF war against Mexico and had the United States
resorted to this extremity might have appealed to the
whole civilized world for the justice of our cause.
ent occasion, condensed review of the injuries we had
sustained OF the which led to the war; and of its
progress since ITS commencement This is rendered the
more necessary because OF the mlsapprehensons which
have 70 some extent prevailed to its origin and true
character The has been represented as unjust and
unnecessary and as one of aggression part upon
though entertained by but few, have been widely and
extensively circulated not only at home but have been
spread throughout Mexico and the whole world more
Ienecua means could not have been devised 70
age the enemy and poac the than to advocate and
adhere to their cause and thus give them aid and
fort"
1t is of national pride and exultaon that the
great body of people have thrown such obstacles
IN the way OF the government in prosecuting the
cessfully, but have shown themselves to be emineny
PATRIOTIC and ready to indicate their countrys honor
and interests at any sacrifice The aacry and prompt
ness with which our volunteer forces rushed to the field
on their counrys call, prove only their patriotism,
but their deep conviction that our cause is Just
The wrongs which we have suffered from Mexico al
most ever since she became Independent power and
the patient endurance with which have borne them,
are without parallel in the history of modern civilized
nations. There is to believe that if these wrongs
had been resented and resisted in the first instance the
present war might have been avoided. One outrage,
however, permitted to pass with IMMUNITY, almost
sary encouraged the preparation OF another until at
last Mexico seemed TO attribute to weakness and indie
clslon on our part forbearance which the offspring
OF magnanml and OF sincere desire TO preserve friend
ly relations with sister republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her independence,
which the United States the first among the nations
to acknowledge, when she commenced the system of
suit and spoliaon, which she has since pursued
Our citizens engaged in lawful commerce were impris-
oned, their vessels seized, and our flag insued in her
ports. II money wanted the awless seizure and
coscation of merchant vessels and their cargoes
was ready resource; and if to accomplish their purpo-
ses It became necessary to mprison the owners, cap
alns, and crews was done. Rulers superseded rulers
IN Mexico in rapid succession, but still there
change in this system of depreciation The government
OF the United States made repeated reclamaons be-
half OF Its citizens but these answered by the perpe
ratlon OF outrages Promises of redress made by
Mexico IN the most solemn forms were postponed or
evaded. The files and records of the Department of
State contain conclusive proofs of awess acts
Pepeated upon the property and persons OF citizens
by Mexico, and OF wanton insults to national flag
was again and again invoked, under circumstances
which no nation ought to disregard E.ssE
was hoped that these outrages would cease and that
Mexico would be restrained by the laws which regulate
the conduct OF civilized nations in their intercourse with
each other after the treaty of amy commerce, and nav
CATION of the fifth of April, 1881, concluded between
the two republics but this hope proved TO be vain The
of seizure and conscaton OF the property of
citizens; the violation OF their persons and the insults to
our flag pursued by Mexico previous to that time were
scarcely suspended for brief period, although the
treaty clearly defines the rights and duties of the
spectve parties that il impossible to misundersand or
mistake them In less than years after the
toerabe that, the opinion of President Jackson, they
should no longer be endured In his message to Con-
gress in February 1897, he presented them to the con-
sheraton OF that body, and declared that he length OF
time since OF the injuries have been committed, the
repeated and unavaing applications for redress, the
wanton character OF Of the ouages upon the prop
erty and persons Of citizens upon the officers and
flag OF the United States independent of recent insults to
this government and people by the late extraordinary
Mexican minister, would justify in the eyes of all
tons Immediate war" In spirit of kindness and for
bearance however, he recommended reprsas mllder