Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-05-13
LAST EVENINGS MAIL.
Presidents Messagc---Vvar Mea-
sures by COngrcss

sures by Congress.
Tho following Message was communicated by
the President to both Houses Of Congress, ON
Monday morning last: 1
wA'uissros. May II, 1886.
To tho Senate and House Of Representative; E'a
The existing state oi tho Tea,ions between the Uned
Strs aud Mesic1, renders IL proper that should bfng
tue subject 10 the son OF Congress- In my mes
sage az the of your present session IN.
state Of these relations, the which lead 10 IN. s
pension II diplomatic intercourse between the two eoun
uiss In March, lei5 and the Tong tnued and un,s
dressed wrongs and injuries committed by the Me.e,n
Government ON citizens Of tn" u States in their person.
aud property. were briefly set forth.
As the facts and opinions which were then laid h.,o,.
you were carefully considered cannot better .xpr.. nm,
pesent convcons OF the condition Of affairs up 20 that
time 'hsn by referring you to that communication.
The strong desire To establish peace with Mexico on H.
beral aud honorable terms aud the readiness Of hi. Go
sernment 70 regulate aud adjust our boundary and other
causes OF difference with that Power fair and .qui
moe principles as would lead TO permanent relations tho
most friendly nature induced mo, in September last IN
seek tho re-opcnng OF diplomatic relations between the
two countries Every measure adopted part had
Tor It's object the urtherance Of these desired results In
communicating to Congress succnc statement of the in
Jures which had suffered lrvnl Mexico and which
nave been seeHmoa'ing during period Of moro than 20
years every expression that could tend name the poo-
pie OF Mexico, defeat delay psc tic result WINS care
iuy avoided. An Envoy Of the u States repni,ed IN
Mexico with full powers 10 every existing difference
But, though present the Mexican soil by he
tween the two Governmental invested with full now.rs
aud bearing evidence Of the friendly dispositions hi
mission has been unasailng. The Mexican Government
not only refused TO receive him listen TO his
but, after long continued series of menacss have nj las,
Invaded our territory and shed the blood Of fellow ct
soil.
IL now becomes my duty more in detail the of
gn progress, and failure Of that mission In pursuance OF
the instructions in Sept last inquiry was made
on tho 18Th oet lsi5 in the most friendly terms through
our Consul IN Mexico, OF the Minister for Foreign Ars
whether tho Mexican Government would receive an En-
voy from the u s., with full powers 10 adus, ali
the questions in dispute between the Govornmens'
win the assurance that SHOULD the be IN the ar
NATIVE, such Envoy would immediately N
Mexico" The Mexican Minister on the I5th October
gave an affirmative this inquiry requesting the
same time that naval force Vera Cruz nigh be with
drawn lest its continued presence nigh, assume the appear
aneo OF menace and coercion pending tho negotiations
ms force was immediately Withdrawn. On the 10th
Nov. lSi5, Mr. John Slidel of Louisiana wna eomm,.
stoned by me as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plen
poenuary OF the u. s. Mexico, and entrusted with
iu powers adjust both the questions of the Texas bonn
GARY and OF naturalization to citizens. The redress
OF the wrongs OF citizens naturally and iaseparaby
blended itself with the question OF boundary. The seue-
ineht o The one question, IN of the sub
Jec' involves thatot the other. could not for moment
entertain the idea that the claims of our much injured
ahu suffering citizens, many Of which had existed for
more than 20 years, should be postponed or separated from
the settlement Of the boundary question.
Mr. SlIdell arrived Vera Cruz on the thrteth of No
Nembef and was coureousy received by the authorities of
that city, Bot the Government Of General Herrera was
then lettering to its fall. The Revolutionary party had
throw Its determination friendly relations with
the United States and our Minister 10 negotiate
Tor the settlement Of this question violently assaed
anu Was made the great theme OF denuncaon
The Government OF General Herrera there is good reason
10 believe, was sincerely DESTROYS receive our Minister
out yielded to the stom raised by its enemies and the
2lst December refused TO accredu Mr. Sidell upon the
most frivolous preiexs. These are 50 fully and ably ex
posed in the note Of M Side OF Oath December
to the Mexican Minister Of Foreign Relations herewith
an'med that teem il unnecessary TO enter into fur
o he sui
Five days after the date of MIR. Sidels note General
Herrera yielded the Government General Paroles with
out struggle and the threth of December resigned
the presidency This revolution accomplished solely
by the army the people having taken little part in the con-
test and thus the supreme power Mexico passed
hands OF military leader.
Determined To leave no effort uned 10 effect an AMIGA
bic adjustment with Mexico, directed Mr. Slde pre-
sent his credentials the Government of General Paredes
and ask TO be officially received by him. There would have
been oA ground for taking this step had General Paroles
come into power by regular succession
ln that event his Administration would have been consider
ed but constitutional continuance Of the Govern
ment OF General Herrera and the refusal Of the
ceiVe our Minister would have been deemed conclusive
unless nlimaon had been given by General Paroles
his desire to reverse the decision Of his predecessor
But the Government Of General Paroles owes its exist
enee TO military revolution, by which tho subsisting
stitutonal authorities had been subvertcd. The form Of
Government was entroly changed, well all the high
tunetionares by whom 70 was administered.
Under these circumstances, Mr. Slds in obedience 10
my direction, addn seed the Mexican Minister of
rofegn Relations, under date OF the let March last ask
ing o be received by that Government the diplomatic
character TO which he had been appointed. This Minister
ia his reply under date OF tho 18th March, reiterated the
guments ct his predecessor and in hst be
sdered as giving just grounds Of offence the Government
and People Of the United States denied the application OF
MIR. Sldo Nohing, therefore, remained Tor our Envoy
but TO demand his passports and rctun hrs country
Thus the Government OF Mexico, hough soemnly pied
ged by official in October last receive and aoerediI
American Envoy, violated the pghed faith and re
fused the offer OF peaceful adjustment OF difficulties
Not only the offer rejected but the indignity Of
lection enhanced by the manifest breach Of faith in
iusing 10 admit the Envoy who because they had
bound themselves to receive him. Nor be said tina
the oer iruess from the Of opportunity of
cussng H. our Envoy present their soil Nor
can IL be ascrbed 90 Of sufficient powers En-.
vcy had full powers adjust every question of difference
Nor was there for complaint that propositions for
settlement were unreasonable; permission not CIV
en- our Envoy To make proposition whatever Nor
he objected, that part would listen any
reasonable terms Of their suggestion the Mexican Gov.
eminent refused oil negotiation and have made PROPOSE
ton of any kind.
In my message, at the commencement Of the present
session informed you thlt upon the appeal both
oi the Congress and Convention of Texas hsd ordered
an efficient military force take position "between the
Nueces aud the Del Nore" This had become necessary
TO meet threatened invasion Of Texas by the Mexican
forces Tor which extensive military preparations had been
made. The invasion threatened solely because Texas
had determined, in accordance with solemn resolution II
tho Congress of the United States, herse to oul
Union; aud, under these crcumsinces IL plainly our
duty 70 extend protection her citizens and soil
This force concentrated Corpus Christi aud remain
ed there until after had received such information from
Mexico rendered probable, II certain that the
Mo1icIn Government would refuse Envoy.
Meantime Texas, by the final action Of Congress- had
become integral part Of Union. The Congress OF
TcEns by ts act Of December 49, 1885, had declared the
Rio del Norte be the boundary that Republic Its urs
dcon had been extended and beyond the Nueces
The country between that river and the Del Noe had been
represented in the Congress and the Convention OF Texas
had thus taken part IN the of annexation itse and
included within Of our Congressional Districts Ou
own Congress had, moreover with great unanmy by the
act approved December 81 l545. recognised tho country
beyond the Nucces ~ part Of territory, by including
10 within system, and revenue officer Il
reside within that district, has bren appointed by aud with
the advice and Of The Senate II became therefore
OF urgent necessity to provide for the defence Of that por
ton Of country. Accordingly on the 18th Of Jan
uary last instructions issued the General in com
and Of these troops TO occupy the left bank Of the De
Motto. This rvor which il the southwestern boundary
the State OF Texas, exposed frontiers from this quar-
ter invasion hrostened up H. aud IN 10 mmodat,
vicinity. in the Judgment Of high military experience ere
the proper stations for the protecting forces Of the Govern
mcnt In addition to this important consideration severn