Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-05-30
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
D The Senate and House of REPRESENTATIVES.

ton oil congress. IN my message al Inc com |
mencement Of your present session, the state OF
these relations, the causes which led TO the suspen
sion OF diplomatic intercourse between the two
countries in March, 1s45. and the long .contin.
ued and unredressed wrongs and injuries com |
mi,ted by the Mexican government on citizens
Of the United States in their persons and property,
were briefly set forth.
As the facts end opinions which were then |
laid before you were carefully considered, | can.
not better express my present convictions Of the
condition OF affairs up 10 that time, than by re.
ferring you TO that communication.
The strong desire to establish peace with
Mexico, on liberal and honorable terms. and the
readiness OF this government to regulate and ad
Just our boundary, and the causes Of difference
with that power on such fair and equitable prin
ciples as would lead to permanent relations Of
the most friendly nature, induced me in Septem.
Der last to seek the eopening Of diplomatic
relations between the two countries. Every
measure adopted on our part had for its object
the furherance OF these desired results. In com.
municating TO Congress succinct statement OF
the injuries which we had suffered from Mexico,
and which had been accommodating during pc
riod OF more than twenty years, every expression
that could tend 10 inhame the people OF Mexico,
or defeat or delay pacific result was carefully
avoided. An envoy OF the United States repaired
TO Mexico with full powers 10 adjust every exist.
ing difference. But though present on the Mex
lean soil, by agreement between the two govern.
ments, invested with full powers, and bearing
evidence Of the most friendly dispositions, his
mission has been unavaling. The Mexican
government not only refused to receive him, or
listen to his proposition, but, after long contn.
ued series Of menaces, have at last invaded our
territory ard shed the blood Of our (ollow.citizens
on our own soil.
1t now becomes my duty 10 state more in de,
tail the origin, progress, and failure Of that mis-
sion. In pursuance OF the instructions given in
Sebtember last, an enquiry was made, on the
thirteenth OF October, in 1S45, 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 intrused with full pow.
ers 10 adjust all the questions in dispute between
the two governments" with the assurance that
'should the answer be in the affirmative, such
an envoy would be Immediately despatched to
Mexico" The Mexican minister, on the ff
teenth OF October, gave an affirmative answer
TO this inquiry. requesting, at the same time,
that our naval force at Vera Cruz might be
Withdrawn lest its continued presence might
assume the appearance Of menace and coercion
pending the negotiations. This force was imme.
diately Withdrawn. On the 10th OF November,
1s45, Mr.. John Slidell, Of Louisiana, was com.
mssioned by me the envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary Of the United States 10
Mexico, and was intrusted with full powers 10
adjust both the questions Of the Texas boundary
and OF naturalization TO our citizens. The re.
dress 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, involves that
OF the other. | could not, for moment, enter.
tain the idea tina. the claims Of our much injured
and long suffering citizens, many OF which had
existed for more than twenty years, would be post
poned, or separated from the settlement oil the
boundary question.
Mr.. Sldell arrived at Vera Cruz on the 30th
OF November, and was courteously received by
the authorities Of that city. But the government
OF General Herrera was then lettering 10 its fall.
The revolutionary party had seized upon the
Texas question to effect or hasten its overthrow.
Its determination to restore friendly relations
with the United States, and 10 receive our min
lister, to negotiate for the settlement OF this
question, was violently assailed, and was made
the great theme OF denuncation against it. The
government OF General Herrera, there is good
reason to believe, was sincerely DESTROYS to re,
ceive our minister; but it yielded to the storm
raised by its enemies, and on the 2lst Of Decem.
Der refused TO accredt Mr.. Slidel upon the
most frivolous pretexts. These ore so fully and
ably exposed in the note OF Mr. Slidell Of the
24lh OF December last 10 the Mexican Minister
OF foreign relations, herewith transmitted, that
deem it unnecessary TO enter into further detail
on this portion OF the subject
Five days after the date Of Mr.. Slidell's note,
Gen. Herrera yielded the government TO Gen.
Parades without struggle, on the 3oh sf No,
vember resigned the Presidency. This revolu
ton was accomplished solely by the army, the
people having taken little part in the contest;
and thus the supreme power in Mexico passed
into the hands Of military leader.
Determined to leave no effort untried 10 effect
an amcable adjustment with Mexico, directed
Mr.. Slidel to present his credentials TO the gov
eminent OF Gen. Paredes and ask to be officially
received by him. There would have been less
ground for taking this step had General Paroles
come into power by regular constitutional sue.
cession. In that event his administration would
have been considered but mere constitutional
continuance OF The government Of Gen. Herrera,
and the refusal OF the latter to receive our minis.
ter would have been deemed conclusive, unless
an intimalion had been given by Gen, Paroles
OF his desire to reverse the decision OF his pIeae
cessor.
But the government OF General Paroles owes
its existence TO military revolution, by which
the subssting constitutional authorities had been
subverted. The form OF government was en-
trely changed as we'll as all the high function.
aries by whom it was administered.
Under these circumstances, Mr. Sldell, in
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