The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-05-26
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To THE SENATE AND


The existing state of the relations be-
tween the United States and Mexico,
renders il proper that l 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 sus-
pension Of diplomatic intercourse between
the two countries in March l845, and the
long-continued and unredressed wrongs
and injuries committed by the Mexican
government on the 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 were carefully con-
sidered, cannot better express my pres
ent convictions of the condition Of affairs
up to that time, than by referring you to
that communication.
The strong desire to establish peace
with Mexico, on liberal and honorable
terms, and the readiness of this govern
ment 10 regulate and adjust our boundary.
and other causes of difference with that
power on such fair and equitable princi-
pies as would lead to permanent relations
OF the most friendly nature. induced me
in September last TO seek the re-opening
of diplomatic relations between the two
countries. Every measure adopted on
our part had for its object the further
ance of these desired results. In COM
municating to Congress a succinct state
ment of the injuries which we had suf-
fered from Mexico, and which have been
accumulating during a period of more
than twenty years, every expression that
could tend to inhame the people of Mexl-
co, or defeat or delay pacific result was
carefully avoided. An envoy of the Uni
ted States repaired to Mexico with full
powers 10 adjust every existing differ
ence. But though present on the Mexi-
can soil, by agreement between the two
governments, invested with full powers,
and hearing evidence Of the most friend
ly dispositions, his mission has been una
vailing. The Mexican government not
only refused to receive him, or listen 10
his propositions, but, after a long continu-
ed series Of menaees, have at last invaded
our territory and shed the blood Of our
fellow-citizens on our own soil.
Itnow becomes my duty to state more
in detail the origin, process and failure of
that mission. In pursuance of the in
structions given in September last. an in
quiry was made, on the thirteenth of Oc-
tober, in l845, in the most friendly terms,
through our consul in Mexico, Of the Min
lister of foreign affairs, whether the Mex
can government would receive an envoy
from the United States intrusted with full
powers to adjust all the questions in dis
pute 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 fifteenth of
October, gave an affirmative answer 10
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 Immediately Withdrawn.
On the 10Th of November, 1915, Mr. John
Slidell of Louisiana, was commissioned
by me as envoy extraordinary and min
lister plenipotentiary Of the United
States to Mexico, and was intrusted with
full powers to adjust both the questions of
the Texas boundary and of indemnifca-
ton to our citizens. The redress of the
wrongs of our citizens naturally and in
seperably blended itself with the ques-
lion of boundary. The settlement of the
one question in any correct view of the
subject involves that Of the other. could
not, for moment, entertain the idea that
the claims Of our much injured and long
suffering citizens, many of which had
existed for more than twenty years, should
be postponed, or separated from the set
tlement Of the boundary question.
Mr.. Slidell arrived at Vera Cruz on
the both of November, and was courte-
ously received by the authorities of that
city. But the government Of General
Herrera was then tottering to its fall,-
The revolutionary party had seized upon
the Texas question 10 effect or hasten It's
overthrow. Its determination TO restore
friendly relations with the United States,
and to receive our minister, to negotiate
for settlement the Of this question, was vio-
lendy assailed, and was made the great
theme Of denunciation against it. The
government of General Herrera, there is
good reason TO believe. was sincerely de-
slrous to receive our minister; but it yiel-
ded to the storm raised by its enemies.
and on the 2lst of December refused 10
accredit Mr.. Slidell upon the most frivo-
lous preiexts. These are so fully and a.
bly, exposed in the note of Mr.. Sldell oI
the 24th Of December last to theMexicar
minister Of foreign relations, herewith
transmitted, that | deem it unnecessary
10 enter into further detail on this portion
of the subject.