Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-12-11
Presidents Message.
Fsilote.titiSens Of the Senate
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tory, when all the elements of national pros
perry have been SO fully developer. Since
Your last session no affecting dispensatioE has
VISITED our country; general good health has
prevailed; abundance has crowned the toll of
the husbaudman; and labor in all its branches
is receiving an ample reward, while education,
Bcicace, and the arts are rapidly enlarging the
means of social happiness. The progress of
our country in her career of greatness. not on
" In the vast extension of our territorial lin
lis and The rapid increase of our population,
but in resources and wealth, and in the happy
condition OF cur people, is without example
in the history of nations.
As the wisdom, strength, and benehcence
OF our free institutions are unfoldei every day
aids fresh motives to contentnlent, and fresh
incentives to patr.t tism.
Our devout and sincere acknowledgements
are due to the gracious Giver of all good, for
the numberlcss blessings which OUT beloved
country enjoys.
II a source OF high satisfaction 10 know
that the relations OF the United States with
all other nations, with a single exception, are
of the most amicable character. Sincerely at
tache1 to the policy al peace, early adopted
and steadily pursued by this government,
hove anx;ously desired to cultivate and cher
ish friendship and commerce with every for
eign Power The spirit and habits of the A
Rlerican people are favorable to the mainten-
ance OF such International harmony. In ad-
herring to this wise policy, n preliminary and
paramount duty obviously consists in the
protection of our notonal interests from en-
Croachmcnt or sacrifice, and our national honor
from reproach. These must be maintained at
any hazard. They admit OF no compromise
OF neglect, and must be scrupulously and con-
sanity guarded. In their v!gilant vlndication,
collision AMI conflict with foreign Powers
may sometimes become unavoidable. Such
has been our scrupuious adherence to the die
tates of justice, in all our foreign intercourse,
that, though steadily and rapidly advancing
IN prosperity and power, we have given no
just cause of complaint 20 any nation, and
have enjoyed the blessings of peace for more
than thirty years. From a policy so sacred
to humanity, and so salutary in its effects up
on our political system, We should never be
induced voluntarily to depart.
The existing war with Mexico was neither
desired nor provoked by the United States
On the contrary, all honorable means were re-
sorled to TO avert it. After years OF endurance
of aggravated and unredres3ed wrongs on our
part Mexico, in violation of solemn treaty
stipulations, and of every principle of justice
recognized by civilized nations, commenced
hostlities and thus by her own act, forced
the war upon US. Long before the advance
of our army to the lett bank Of the Rio
Grande, we had ample cause of war against
Mexico; and had the United States resorted
to this extremity, we might have appealed to
tLc, whole civilized world for the Justice Of
our cause.
deem it to be my duty to present to you
on the present occasion, a condensed to review
OF the injuries we had sustained, of the causes
which led to the war, and of its progress
since It's commencement. This is rendered
the more necessary because OF the misappre'
tensions which have TO some extent prevail
cl as to its origin and true character. The Wa
has been represented as unjust and unneces
sary, and as one of aggression on our par
upon a weak and injured enemy, Such erro
neous views, though entertained by but few
have been widely and extensively circulated
not only at home, but have been spreat
Throughout Mexico and The whole world. 4
more ellectual means could not have been de
vised to encourage the enemy and protract tn
vYar thun to advocate and aIhere to the cause
and thus give them &c aid and comfort"
1t is a source of national pride and exulta
ton, that the great body OF our people hav
thrown no such obstacles in the way of tn
government in prosecuting the war success
fully, but have shown themselves to b
eminently patriotic, and ready to yindicat
their comtrY's honor and interests ut an,
sacrifice. The alacrity ana promptness wit
which our volunteer forces rushed to the feel
on their country's call, prove not only thei
patriotism, but their deep conviction that GU
cause is just.
The wrongs which we have suffered frol
Mexico almost ever since she became an In
dependent Power, and the patient enduranc
with which we have borne them, are wlthOr
q parallel i'll the history of modern clvlllZe
nations There is reason to believe that
these wrongs had been resented and resste
in the first instance, the present war mlgf
have been avoided. One outrage, howeVe
permitted to pass with impunity, almost ne
cessarily encouraged the preparation of anc
ther, until at last Mexico seemed TO attrlbut
TO weakness and INDIGESTION on our part a fo
bearance which was the offspring OF magnan
mity, and of sincere desire to preserve trlenC
ly relations with sister republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her indeper
dence, which the United States were the fir
among the nations to acknowledge, when sh
commenced the system OF insult and spolls
ton, which she has ever since pursued. Or
citizens engaged in lawful commerce WEI
imprisoned, their vessels seized, and our fla
insulted in her ports. If money was wanted
the lawless seizure and contiscation of OF
merchant vessels and their cargoes was re;
dy resource; and if to accomplish their pu
poses it became necessary to imprison ii
owners, captains, and crews, it was DONE
Rulers superseded rulers in Mexico in rap
succession, but still there was no change
this system of depreciation. The governmel
of the United States made repeated reclaim;
tioRs on behalf of its citizens; but these we
answered by the preparation of new outr;
ges. Promises OF redress made by Mexico
the most solemn forms were postponed or e.
a led. The files and records of the Depar
ment of State contain conclusive proofs
numerous lawless acts perpetrated upon Il
property and persons of our citizens by Mex
co, and of wanton insults TO our national fla
The interposition of our government to obta
redress was again and again invoked, ind
circumstances which no nation ought to disr
gard.
It was hoped that these outrages wou
cease, and that Mexico would be restrain
by the laws which regulate the conduct
civilized nations in their intercourse with ca,
other after the treaty of amity, commerce, al
navigation of the 5th OF April, 1881, was co
cluded between the two republics; but this no
soon proved to be vain. The course of sci
ure aud confiscation of the property of O
citizens, the violation OF their persons and t