Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-05-20
From the Washington Union. Extra, May II
1Dresioent's Message.
To III. Senate and House Of Representatives.:

The existing state Of relations be>
tween the United States and Mexico,
renders it proper that / should bring
the subject to the consideration OF Con-
gress. In my Message at the COM
Mencement your present session, the
state of these relations, the causes
which led 10 the suspension Of diPlo-
matte intercourse !between the two
countries in March, ls45, and the long
continued and unredressed wrongs and
injuries committed by The Mexican
Government on citizens of the United
States IN their persons and property,
were briefly set forth.
As the facts and opinions were then
laid before you were carefully consid>
cred, connot better express my pre-
sent convictions Of the condition OF
affairs up TO that time, than be referring
you to that communication.
The strong desire to establish peace
with Mexico, on liberal and honorable
y terms. and the readiness Of this Govern.
ment to regulate and adjust our boun-
Diary, and other causes of difference
!, with that power, on such fair and equit.
able principles as would lead to per-
manent relations Of the most friendly
, nature induced me in September last
to seek the reopening of diplomatic re-
. Iations between the two countries
$ Every measure adopted on our part
, had for its object the furtherance OF
e these desired results.
In communicating 10 Congress a
succint statement Of the injuries which
2 we had suffered from Mexico, and
: which have been accumulating during
a period of more than twenty years
every expression that could lend to in
fame the people of Mexico, or defea
Z or delay pacific result, was carefully
j avoided. An envoy Of the U. S. re-
paired to Mexico with full power to
adjust every existing difference. Bu
IS though present on the Mexican soil, by
agreement between the governments
C invested with full powers, and bearing
}: evidence of the m ost friendly disposi
d tions, his mission has been unavailiDg
The Mexican government not only re-
y fused to receive him, or listen 10 hi
|. propositions, but, after long-continuee
2 series of menaces, have at last invaded
our territory and shed the blood Of ou
Y fellow citizens on our own SOL.
0 1t now becomes my duty TO state
more in detail the origin, progress, and
h failure of That mission. In pursuance
m of the instructions given in September
'e last, an inquiry was made, on the lhir
l. teen,h of ofOctober, in ls45, in the mos
friendly terms, through our Consul il
70 Mexico, the Minister Of Foreign AT
o fairs, whether the Mexican Govern
e ment "would receive an envoy from
u the United States intrustcd with iul
2. powers to adjust all the questions in dis
pute between the two Governments
l. with the assurance that "should the an
IS swer be in the affirmative, such an en-
Is voy would be Immediately despatched
to Mexico"
IS The Mexican Minister, on the fif
!e teenth Of October, gave an affirmative
Is answer TO this inquiry, requesting, a
le the same time, that our naval force a
= Vera Cruz might be Withdrawn lest it
IN continued presence might assume tn
m appearance of menace and coercion
'e pending the negotiations. This fore
was Immediately withdrawn. On tn
I'd 10Th of November, ls45, MIR. Joh
n Slidell, ofLouisiana, was commissions
r by me as Envoy Extraordinary an
Minister Plenipotentiary Of the Unite'
I'd States to Mexico, and was entrus,e
W with full powers to adjust both tn
Or questions of the Texas boundary AM
4 Of indemnifcation to our citizens. ta
u The redress Of the wrongs Of ou
e: citizens naturally and inseparabl
I'd blended itself with the question 9
boundary. The settlement Of the on
OF question in any correct view Of the sub
Or ject involves that of the other. IcouI
a. not for moment entertain the idea tha
le the claims of our much injured an
g long suffering citizens, many Of whicI
had existed for more than twenty year.
'e should be postponed, or separated from
Is the settlement ofthe boundary question
70 Mr.. Slidell arrived at Vera Cruz o.
I'd the 3Oth Of November, and was court.
eously received by the authorities q
Is that city. But the government Of Gen
y, Herrara was then tottering to its fall
20 The revolutionary party had seize,
upon the Texas question to effect o
e hasten its overthrow. Its dotcrmina
NJ ton to restore friendly relations wit
a. the United States, and to receive ou
Of minister, 10 negotiate for the settle
a ment of this question, was violently as
z sailed, and was made the great them
Of denunciation against it.
i. The government Of General Herrera
'e there is good reason to believe, wa