The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


al of the mails have defeated our Intentions.
We here acknowledge the polite attentions of
the Hon. A. Atkinson, and the Hon. Thos II
Bayly. with those Of our " attenfipe" Washing
ton Correspondent, hut whose object was defeated
ir"tn the same cause. To the Herald and Bea-
con our thanks due fur Extras containing the
Message, as well as To passengers who came by
the boat. as we have copies also. by our numerous
Exchanges" which arrived this morning From
these various sources we make extracts of all
that is of pressing interest the reader
The Message opens as follows:
Fello,c Ciiisens Of The Senate,
end House of Representatives.:
| In resnming your labors in The service of the
people. IL is a subject of congratulate un that there
has heen no period In onr past history when all
the clements Of national prosperity have been ST,
fully developed. Since your las, session. no af
fllctng dispensation has visited our country: gen
eral good health has prevailed; abundance has
cr"wned the toll of the hushandman and labor
in all lis branches is receiving an ample reward.
while education. science, and the arts, are RAPIDLY
| eniarglna the means of social happiness The
| progress ut our country in her career of great
| ness. mt only in the vast extension Of our terri
tria limits and the rapd increase Of our popula-
tim. but in resources and wealth, and in the hap.
"
| the history of nations
As the wisdom, strength, and benefcenee of
our free institutions unfolded, every day adds
| fresh motives To contentment, and fresh incen
lives 10 patriotism
| Our devout and sincere acknowledgements are
due 10 the gracious Giver of all good. for the
nnmberless blessings which our beloved country
enjoys.
| II is source Of high satisfaction To know that
the relations of the United States with all other
nations. with single exception are of the most
amicable character. Sincerely attached TO the
policy of peace. early adapted and steadily pur-
sued by this government. | have anxiuusly desir
ed TO cultivate friendship and commerce with ev.
cry foreign power. The spirit and habits of the
American people are favorable To the maintenance
ut such International harmony. Ia adhering to
this wise policy, preliminary and paramount, du
! 'y obviously consists in the protection of our ma
'Ional Interests from encroachment or sacrifice,
! and our national honor from reproach These
must be maintained at any hazard. They admit
OF no compromise or neglect, and must be scrupu
lonsiy and constantly guarded. In their viuilan,
vladicatIon, collision and conflict with foreign
powers may sometimes become unavoidable
Such has been scrupulous adherence To the
dictates of justice. in all our fnregn intercourse,
that. though steadily and rapidly advancing in
| prosperity and power, we have given no inst
cause of complaint To any nation, and have en-.
joyrd the blessings of peace for more than thirty
years. From policy so sacred TO humanity, and
SO sanitary IN lis effects upon political sys
TEN, we should never be induced voluntarily to
depart.
The existing war with Mexico was neither de
sired nor provoked by the United States On
The contrary, all honorable means were resorted
TO TO avert 1t. After years of endurance of nora
waited and dnredressed wrungs our part, Mexi-
co. In Violation of solemn treaty stipulation and
I,,f a. 6
ized nations, commenced hostilities and thus by
her own act, forced The war upon u.s. Lonu he =.
fore the advance of our army 10 the left bank of
| The Rio Grande, we had ample cause of war with
Mexico; and had the United States resorted Ia
this extremity, we might have appealed 10 The
Whole civilized world for the justice of our cause.
deem II my duty 10 present to you, on the
present occasion, condensed review of The niu-
res we had sustained, Of the causes which led To
the war. and Of lis progress since its commence
men. This is rendered the more necessary be-
cause ct the misapPrehensiOns which have To
some extent, prevailed, as to its origin and true
character. Tie war has been represented as I'M
just and unnecessary, and one of aggression on
our part upon weak and injured enemy Such
erroneous views. though entertained by but few,
have been widely and extensively circulated. not
only at home, but have been spread throughout
Mexico and the whole world. more effectual
means could not have been devised To encourage
The enemy and protract The war than 10 advuca lie
and adhere TO their cause, and thus Give them
" aid and comfort''
IL is source of national pride and exnltation,
that the great body of our people have thrown no
such obstacles in the way Of The government i'm
prosecuting the wal successfully. but have shown
themselves to be emnently patriotic, and ready
10 vIndlcate their couniry's honor and interest al
any sacrifice The aacriy and prumptness with
which our volunteer forces rushed To the field ON
their conrtry's call, prove not only their patriot
ism. but their deep conviction that our cause is
just.
From this paragraph. to where we take up
the Message again, The President proceeds with
an elaborate ard minute history of our relations
with Mexico. from The time of her Independence
To the period when Santa Anna was permitted 10
return to Mexico, which, although well known 10
every American reader, and consequently unneces
sary 10 be inserted here, was necessary in a great
state paper, which goes before the whole nations
Of The earth, and 10 which the world annually
looks for Justification or condemnation of orr
acts as naton. As such history il is admira
bly, and ably drawn.1
Under all these circumstances. il was believed
that any revolution in Mexico founded upon on
position 10 the ambitions projects of Paredes
would tend to promote the cause of peace as well
as prevent any attempted European interference
in the affairs Of The North American continent
both objects of deep interest to the United States
! My views upon that subject were fully communi
Gated TO Congress in my last annual message
| In any event, it was certain that no change what
ever in The government Of Mexico which won Id
deprive Paredes of power could be for tile worse.
so far as The United States were concerned, while
II was highly probable that any change must be
| for the better
This was tie stale Of affairs existing when
, Congress the thirteenth Of May last, recop.
Missed the existence Of a war which had been com