State journal & flag., 1846-12-18
The Presidents Message.

WS Sapuous ooJeeuohs VI sthe paItes' at nome ana
abroad, who have sought SO zeaously to put
our government in the wrong. There are two
points in the message which will command espe
cial attention. lst, the commencement of hosti.
tiles and 2l, the question Of boundary.
Mr.. Webster has, recently. declared that the
war is Presidential war"-that the President
commenced hosites by ordering our troops into
the territory of nation with which our govern
ment was at peace. These assertions are met and
trinmphantly refuted by the plain statement of
facts submitted by the President. 1t is shown
FIRST that ordersswere issued, as early as the 4th of
March, by the Mexican government 10 attack our
army by euery means that war permits-and it is
further shown, by an extract from one of the des.
patches of Mr.. Webster, whilst Secretary of State,
that he claimed the territory betDeea The Sabine
ead the Rio Grande as the province of Teras.
The agency of ourgovernment IN permit Ting the
return of Santa Anna to Mexico, is stated by The
President in plain and honest terms. He was less
the enemy of the United States than his predeces-
sor, who in addition TO entertaining moaarchical
opinions, was compelled by the circumstances by
which he was surrounded to prosecute the war so
long as Mexico could command either men or
money. The object of our government was to bring
about peace with Mexico; and the opponents of the
war are, therefore, debarred from Directing to its
action, in this connection until events prove that
the government has acted unwsey.
The cost of the war has been about $6, 900 ,000
and it is estimated that if the war continues ill
the Both June, l848, loan of $23, 900 900 will be
necessary. The opponents Of the war, all over the
country, taking their cue from Mr.. Webster, have
declared the cost of the war to be $500 cooper day
but in this, in all their opposition, they have
shot wide of the uuth
The President, again, recommends the appro-
pration of $4,000 900 to be placed at his disposal,
:" measure for securing speedy peace with
Mexico" He ulludes to similar appropriations made
during Jefersons and Jackson's administrations !;
and adds, in reference to the appropriation of 1903
=" Its object is well known. TWAS at that
time IN contemplation to acquire Louisiana from
Aierico, and ii tthe appropriately toas intended
to be applied as part Of the consideration aohich
might be paid for that territory" The reason Of
this statement is sufficiently apparent, and was
well understood in congress last session. The APP
propriution would then had been granted, but for
the opposition Of John Davis, of Massachusetts,
territory south. west.
The President recommends tbs graduation and
reduction of the price Of public lands, which have
been long offered in the market, at the minimum
rate, and remain unsold. He says" many
millions of acres of these lands have been offered
in the market for more than thirty years. md larger
quantities for more than ten or twenty years; and
being of an inferior quality, they must remain un :
saeable for an indefinite period, unless the price at
which they may be purchased shall be reduced j.
To place a price upon them above their real value
is not only to prevent their sale, and thereby de-
prive the treasury from any income from that
source, but is unjust to the States in which they
lie, because it retards their growth and increase
of populaton and because they have no power to
levy tax upon them as upon other lands within
their limits, held by other proprietors than the
United States, for the support of their local gov
ernments."
The subject Of priyateerng is brought to the at
ention of congress, and the passage of a law to
try and, if found guilty, to punish piratcs the
citizens of Spain, who escaping The vigilance oflheir
government, shall enter into this unlawful calling
is earnestly recommended.
The erection CT a branch mint, at New York, is
recommended. The President, this subject
says" Two thirds of the revenue derived from
customs being collected at that point the dema nd
for specie to pay the duties will be large and n
branch mint, where foreign coin and bullion could
be Immediately converted into American coin,
lie business, enlarge the circulation of gold and
silver, and be, at the same time, q safe depository
of the public money"
q We will publish in onr next issue, in exienso. the
suggestions the President the subject of grad
uaung and reducing the price Of The public lands,
and Also the portion Of his message relating to the
tariff. The message, as whole, is, undoubtedly, a
very able document of its kind-and we feel sure
that the administration may safely rely on, it.
for full justification, before the people, OF all its
acts and measures connected with the war.
~~O~~~~~~~~-~~~~~~~O~~~
COTTON.-The Mobile Register Of llth. Dec
quotes mddling cotton at lac. The stock on
hand was "a, 1873 bales.
Hon. David Johnston has been elected governor
of South Carolina. and Hon. A. w. Cain lieuten.
ant governor.
| ALA. REIGMENT.--We have received copy
of the proceedings of meeting held by the Ara
Regiment on the 25h. October, at the camp neal
Camargo, in which the grievances TO which they
have been subjected, by being kept inactive for SC
long a period are fully sat forth. We will attent
| to it next week.
| The N. Orleans papers received by last night
mail contain copies Of correspondence between
! Gen. Taylor and Gen. Santa Anna, in which tn,
| former communicates his intention to terminate thu
suspension of hostilities after the 18th Nov. last
Santa Anna says, in reply" Believing that tn
terms stipulated in said convention should be regi
ously observed by both parties, | had taken no step
which should tend to vacate it ; but in view of IN
obligation you deem imposed upon you by the order
of your government, l confne myself by replyin
that you can, when it pleases you, commence hos
tilities, to which shall correspond accordingly"
For the Journal and Flag.
Mr.. EDITOR Although the ladies' ar