The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-08-20
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
Confidential.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4, 1876.

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/ To the Senate of the United States:
herewith communicate to the Senate the
copy of a letter, under date of the 27th ult.,
from the Secretary of State Of the United
/ States to the Minister of Foreign Relations
Of the Mexican Republic, again proposing to
open negotiations and conclude treaty of
peace, which shall adjust all the questions in
dispute between the two Republics. Consid-
ering the relative power of the two countries,
the glorious events which have already sig
naized our arms and the distracted con-
dition of Mexico, l did not conceive that any
point Of national honor could exist which
ought to prevent me from making this
overture. Equally anxious to terminate, by
peace honorable for both parties, as | was
originally to avoid the existing war, | have
deemed it my duty again to extend the olive
branch to Mexico. Should the Government
OF that Republic accept the offer in the same
friendly spiritb which it was Dictated nego-
tlatons will speedily commence for the con-
clusion or treaty.
The chiefdilliculty to be anticipated in the
negotiation is the adjustment of the boundary
between the parties, by line which shall at
once be satisfactory and convenient to both,
and such as neither will hereafter be inclined
to disturb. This is the best mode of securing
perpetual peace and good neighborhood be-
tween the two Republics. Should the Mexi-
can Governmrnt,in order to accomplish these
objects, be willing to cede any portion of their
territory to the United States, we ought to
pay them fair equivalent; a just and honor
able peace, and not conquest, being our pur-
pose in the prosecution of the war.
Under these circumstances and considering
the honStpH condition Of +ho May;,o,
public, it might become necessary, in order to
restore peace, that l should have it IN my
power to advance portion of the cOnsidera-
ton money for any ccssion of territory which
may be made. The Mexican Government
might not be willing to wait for the payment
of the whole until the Treaty could be ratif-
ed by the Senate, and an appropriation to
carry it into effect be made by Congress; and
the necessity for such delay mi ght defeat
the object altogether. | would, therefore sug-
gest whether it might not be wise for Con- |
gress to appropriate a sum such as they might
consider adequate for this purpose,to be paid,
if necessary, Immediately upon the ratifca-
ment would, of course, be accounted for at
the Treasury, not as secret service money but |
like other expenditures
Two precedents for such proceeding exist
in our past history, during the administration
of Mr. jefferson, to which would call your
On the 26th February, 1903 Con
gress passed an act appropriating $2,OOO,OOO
''tor the purpose Of detraying any extraordi-
nary expenses which may be incurred in the
intercourse between the United States and
foreign nations" "to be applied under the
direction of the President of the United
States, who shall cause an account of the ex-
penditure thereof to be laid before Congress
Is soon as may be-" and on the 18th Febru-
Try, 1906, an appropriation was made of the
ame amount and in the same terms. The {
'bjcct in the first case was to enable the Pres
dent 10 obtain the ccSsion Of Louisiana, and |