Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-12-17
u INDIANAPOLIs, DEC. n. Is46.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fello,c citizens Of The Senate

PAC-
vailed abundance has crowned the toll of the hus-
bandman; and labor in all its branches is receiving
an ample reward, while education, science and tile
arts are rapidly enlarging the of social happi-
ness. The progress Of our country in her career of
greatness, only in the extension of our terri
toria limits and the rapid increase of our population
but IN resources and wealth. and in the happy cond-
ton of 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 to ccnentment, and fresh incentives to patr-
otism.
Our devout and sincere acknowledgements are due
to the gracious Giver of all good, for the numberess
blessings which beloved country enjoys.
1t is Of high satisfaction know that tie
relations of the United States with all other nations
with single exception, of the most amcable
character. Sincerely attached to the policy of peace
early adopted and steadily pursued BY the government
i nave anxiously desired cultivate and cherish
friendship and commerce with every foreign power
The spirits and habits of the American people
favorable to the maintenance of such international
harmony. In adhering TO this wise policy, prelim
mary and paramount duty obviously consists in the
protection of our national interests from encroach-
sacrifice and our national honor from reproach
These must be maintained tany hazard. They admit
of no compromise neglect, and Iaps be scrupnous-
ly and constantly guarded. In Il vigilant vindca-
ton, collision and conflict witHforeign powers NAV
sometimes become unavoidable. Such has been our
scrupulous adherence 10 the dictates of Justice all
our foreign intercourse, that, though steadily and
rapidly advancing in prosperity and power, we have
given Just of complaint to any nation, and
have enjoyed the blessings Of peace for more than
thirty years. From policy so sacred to humanity
and salutary in Its effects upon our political SYSTEM
we should never be induced voluntarily to depart
The existing with Mexico was neither desired
nor provoked by the United States On the contrary
all honorable Means resored to to avert it. At
ter years of endurance of aggravated and unredressed
wrongs on part, Mexico, in violation of solemn
treaty stipuations, and of every principle of justice
recognized by civilized nations, commenced hostltes
and thus by her own act, forced the war upon US
Long before the advance of army the left bank
of the Rio Grande, had ample cause of war against
Mexico; and had the United States resorted to this
extremity, might have appealed the whole civil
lied world for the justice of our
deem it my duty TO present to you, on the present
occasion, a condensed review of the injuries had
sustained, Of the which led TO the war; and of
Its progress since its commencement This is rem
dered the more necessary because of the misappre-
tensions which have to some extent prevailed to
its origin and true character. The has been
represented unjust anu unnecessary and one of
aggression on part upon a weak and injured enc
my. Such erroneous views, though entertained by
but few have been widely circulated only at home
but have been spread throughout Mexico and the
whole world. A more efectual means could not have
been devised to encourage the enemy and proract the
war than to advocate and adhere to their and
thus give them aid and comfort
1t is of national pride and exdlafion that
the great body of our people have thrown such OBJ
stacles in the way of the government in prosecuting
the war successfully, but have shown themselves to
be emnently patriotic and ready to vndicate their
country's honor and interests any sacrifice. The
alacri:y and promptness with which our volunteer
forces rushed to the field their countrys CALL prove
not only their patriotism, but their deep conviction
that our cause is just.
The wrongs which we have suffered from Mexico
almost eyer since she became independent power,
and the patient endurance with which we 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 avoid
ee. One outrage, however. permitted to pass with
impunty almost necessarily encouraged the perpetra
ton Of another until last Mexico seemed to attrb
ute to weakness and indecsion part forbear-
ance which was the offspring of magnanmity, and a
sincere desire preserve friendly relations with
sister republic
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her independence
which the United States the first among the
lions to acknowledge, when she commenced the system
of insult and spoliaton, which she has since
pursued Our citizens engaged in lawful commerce
were imprisoned their vessels seized, and flag in
shifted in her ports. If money wanted, the law
less seizure and conscation of merchant vessels
and their cargoes was ready resource and if to ac
compsh their purpose 1t was necessary 10 imprlson
the owners, captains, and crews, it done. Rulers
Sunerseded rulers in Mexico in rapid succession but
still there was change in this system of depreda-
ZION The Government of the United States made
reoeated reclamations behalf of its citizens but
these were answered by the preparation of out
races. 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 numerous awless acts perpera-
ted uucn the property and persons of citizens by
Mex,ee and of wanton insults to our national flag.
be interpostion Of our to obtain redress
was again and again invoked, under circumstances
which no ration ought to disregard
II was hoped that these outragcs would cease, and
that Mexico would be restrained by the laws which
regulate the conduct of civilized nations in their in
areourse with each other after the treaty of anity,
commerce and navigation, of the 9th of April 1881,
uas concluded between the two Republics; but this
so,,e soon proved to be vain. The Of seizure
and conscation of the property Of our citzens the
violation of their persons and the insults TO our flag
ursued by Mexico previous to that time
r. suspended for even brief period, although the
treaty. so clearly defines the rights and duties of the
espective parties that it is impossible misunder-
stand or mistake them. In less than years after
the conclusion Of that treaty. grievances had be-
come 50 intolerable that in the opinion of President
jackson. they should no longer be endured.
Tn his message to Congress in February, 1887, he
presented them to the consideration of that body anC
docIared that 1.-THE length of time of the inju
r;es have been committed the repeated and unavail
in, ,nnl;cations for redress, the wanton character
eooe If the outrages upon the property and perso
of our citizens upon the officers and flag of the Uni
ted States independent of recent insults to this gov
eminent and people by the late extraordinary Mexi
can minister, would justify IN the eyes OF all naton
Immediate war" In spirit of kindness and for
bo.ranee however, he recommended reprisals as
IS;lder mode of redress. He declared that shou
not be used as a remedy shy just and generous ma