The Arkansas banner., 1846-12-23
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE! !!
r.t,or titizeHs of ihe oeHo'e fe'''" ad UoRss of ReprsseRtatires

' ,b;eel of cOngratulaion mat tne'e "es Ueeu v"
 od in our past history, when ai' the z. "a
 PeiotT osoeriy have been so uiiy deVei'oPeo. ence nohS sns,on no affecting dspensation has visited our 'a general good health has prevailed; abun. our hs cresned the toil of the husbandaan; ana 9s"t' r i,s branches is receiving an ample reward,
 pi dncson scien and the arts are paPdIy en- % Sn'.e hs means uf social happiness. The progress 'eeouotry m her career ot greatness not on'y ih o' Ou ,ension ol our territorial limits and the raPid
 ..e ns f our population, but ID resources ond wealth '". rho bsppy condition of our people, Is wlanout nnl, III the history ot nauons'
 Inc wisdom strength and benehcence ot our Tree .,,ns are unfoded, every day adds fresh motives thsu'""o" and fresh incentives 10 patriotism
 o. t.von, and sincere acknos edgemens are due
 @ rr.c;ous Gyer of all good for the numberiess % .,."snss ."t which our beloved county enjoys.
 source of high satisfaction to know that the re-
 a.s f ,be United States with all other nations with
 ,s a,cepion are o the most amieabie character.
 ,.,v attached to the policy of peace. early adopt VI snd steadily pursued by this government, have ~, ,slv desired o cultivate and cherish friendship o"a commerce with every foreign power The spirit
 "d habits of the American people are iavoraoie to
 L n.n,enauce of such international harmony. m
 ILs,no ,o this wise policy, preliminary and para
 on, duty obviously consists in the protection ot our
 .ona interest from encroachmenis or sacrifice, and . ns,;ons honor from Teproach. These must be 0u, .;aed n1d al any hazard. They admit of no con-
 'eTse or neglect and must be scrupulously and con. t'.n,ly Ouardcd In their vgilan undicaiion, colls- sa" .na eooeict with foreign powers may sometimes Iorns .o unavoidable Such has been our scrupulous
 ts.rence 10 the dictates of usce in all our foreign ",s,eouJss though steadily and rapidly advancing in
 na,,.v and power, we have given no just cause ot rompaint to any nation, and have enjoyed the bles- .,nps uf peace for than thirty years From po-
 cy so sacred to humanity, and 60 sanary m its ei. fleets upen political system, We snoulo never "e induced voluntarily to depart.
 The existing war with Mexico was neither desired .o n,ovokcd by the United States. On the contiary a honorable was resorted to, to avert II. AHef vssrs of endurance of aggravated and unreoresseo wrongs on our part, Mexico, in violation oi solemn treaty stipuations and uf every principle oi lvsce recognized by civilized nations, commenced hosuiues' and inns by her own act, forced the war upon Us. one hefore the advance of army to the eft bank f the Rio Grande, had ample cause oi war against Msuco and had tue United States exhorted to thls extremi,y we might have appealed to the whole CIVIL i,ed world for the justice ot our cause.
 Ideem it 10 be my duty 10 present to you on tne D,e.eut occasion condensed review ot the injuries we had sustained, of the causes which led to tne war; and of ils progress since its commencemeh' l"s !" rendered the more necessary, because o the msapP.e henslons which have 10 some extent presaeo es 'o s o,;oin and true character. The war has been repre- sened as unjust and unnecessary, as one o aegfes- .;or an our mart upon a weak and injured enefuy Such erroneous views though entertained by lew nave been widely and extensively circulated, no' Dny at home. but have been spread throughout Mexioo ana ,he whole world. A more eheciual means cou,u nov have been devised to encourage the enemy anu pro ,t.c, the war than to advocate and adhere to then cause and thus give them " aid and comfort
 h source of national pride and exuliation, that the great body of our people have thrown U" sucn oo stacIes in the way of the government m prosecuting the war successfully, but have shown inense"es .o he m;n.n,Iv natr;o,c and ready 10 yindicale their coun,ry,s honor and interests, at any saerinee The aIacrity and promptness with which our volunteer forces rushed to the ielj their counrys ca prove no, only their patrotsm but of iheir deep eohsc"oh that cause IS just. e M:
 The wrongs which we have suffered from Mexico ,lmos, ever since she became independent power and ,h. oo,ep, endurance -ith which we have borne chem, s,e wihoa parallelin the history oi mooern and civilized nstions There IS reason 10 oe"ese t,' if these wrongs had been resented ana ress'eo ' 'e first instance the present war m'ght nave been a'ou ed One outrage however, permitted 10 pass "''n immunity almost necessarily encouraged the perpe- tralon of another. until al last Mexico seemed o a' tribute 10 weakness and indecision on our part TOT be.nnce which was the offspring of magnanimy, ana of sincere desire to preserve friendly reauoos ""h a sister rePublc. ,,.
 Scarcely had Mexico achieved her independence which ,he United States were among the hrsi to ac knowledge when she commenced the system 0, "su" S and spoliaop which she has ever since pusueu' ou' citizens engaged in lawful commerce were mpr'soneo their vessels sezed and our flag insul'ed in nef If wanted the ihWiceS eV'@e'" ~'N ~-- cation of our merchant vessels and 'he ca'goes WIS ready resource and if to accomplish ther purposes il became necessary to imprson the owners cap'aihs and crews, it was done. Ruiers supelseueu 'uo's ." Mexico in rapid succession, but sti'i 'me'e was no change in ths system Of depreciation. ne gosoIn- ment of the U States made repeated rccamatioos "o behalf of it's citizens, but these were shswe'e" y M perpetration of new ourages. Promises oi Iea'ess made by Mexico iu the most solemn forms were post poned or evaded The files and records ot the De pattmen of State contain conclusive proos o nume' Ous awless acts perpeirated upon me plope.v a"s suits 10 our national flag. The lhterposu"n oi our government to obtain redress was again ana agan '' voked under circumstances which no nation oug"' 'o disregard.
 IL was hoped tha, these outrages would ecase' ane that Mexico would be restrained by the laws "n'cn resulate Inf civilized nations in their intercourse with each other afier the treaty of amitys com- merce and navigation, ofhe 5,h April 1881, was con cluded between the two tepubcsi but th's nope soon proved to be in vain. The course oi seizure eno con hscson of the property of our citizens the their persons and the insults to our hag pursued oy Mexico previous that time were scaFeey suspe"usu for evea brief period, although the treaty so c'es!y defines the rights and duties 6! sAe respective patues that s impossible to misunderstood or mistake mem In less than years after the conc'us'ou o' .. treaty our grievances had become so in'oleraoie ha -'n he opincn of President Jackson, they shonld no longer be endured. h his message 10 Congress reo. rHay, ls37 he presented them the consideration of that body. and declared that The length of time since some of he injuries have been committed, the repeat cd and unavsing application for redress, the wantoo character of some of the outrages, upon 'he property and persons of citizens. upon the ocers and nag oi the United States independent of recent insults to ,hs government and people by the late extraordinary Mexican minister. would justify in the eyes oi a na- tons immediate war"
 In spirit of kindness and forbearance, however, bs mendcd repssss as mildeg mode oi redress tie declared ha, war should be used as remedy,
 oy Jpst and generous nations cenhdng n meir sfeng'h for injuries committed, If il can be honoraey avoided" and added 'i has occurred 10 e that, con "aenng the presen, embarrassed eopditon oi that country. by giving Mexico one more opportunity to atone for the past before take redress ns our own