American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-05-12
W A r NJ E SSAGE
FROM THE PRESIDENT,
From the Union, Extra, of yesterday.
MONDAY, 4 o'clock, P. M.

To the Senate aud
House Of Representatives.
| The exciting state of the relations between
the United States and Mexico, renders it pro-
per that should bring the subject to the con-
sideration of Congress. In my message at the
commencement of your present session, the
state OF these relations, the causes which led
to the suspension of diplomatic intercourse be-
tween the two countries in March 1916, and
the long-contnued and unredressed wrongs and
injuries committed by the Mexican govern
ment on citizens of the United States in their
persons and property, were briefly set forth
AS the facts and opinions which we've then
laid before you were carefully considered,
cannot better express my present conviction of
the condition of affairs up to that time, than
by referring you to that communication.
The strong desire to establish peace with
Mexico, on liberal and honorable terms, and
the readiness of this government to regulate
and adjust our boundary, and other causes of
difference with that power, on such fair and
equitable principles as would lead to perma-
nent relations of the most friendly nature, in
I duced me in September 20 seek the reopening
OF diplomatic relations between the two coun-
tries Every measure on our part had for its
object the futherance of these desired results
| III u NOURIeSS BuCClUcL
statement of the injuries which we had suffer-
ed from Mexico, and which have been accu-
mulating during period of more than twenty
years, every expression that could tend to in
flame the people of Mexico, or defeat or DELAY
a pacific result, was carefully avoided An
envoy of the United States repaired to Mexico
with full powers to adjust every existing diff
ference. But though present on the Mexican
soil, by agreement between the two. govern
ments, invested with full powers, and bearing
evidence of the most friendly disposition, his
mission has been unavailing The Mexican
government not only refused to receive him,
or listen to his propositions, but, after a long
continued series of menaces have at last nva-
ded our territory and shed the blood of our
fellow-citlzens on our own soil.
Itnow becomes my duty to state more in de-
tall the origin, progress, and failure of that
mission. In pursuance of the instructions Civ
en- in September last, an inquiry was made, OH
the thirteenth of October, in lS45, in the most
friendly terms, through our consul in Mexico
OF the minister of foreign affairs, whether the
Mexican government "would receive an envoy
from the United States intrusted with full pow
ers to adjust all the questions in dispute be-
tween the two governments" with the assur-
ance that "should the answer be in the affirm
alive, such an envoy would be Immediately de-
spatched to Mexico" The Mexican minister
on the fifteenth of October, gave an affirmative
answer to this inquiry, requesting, at the same
time, that our naval force at Vera Cruz might
be withdrawn, lest its continued presence might
assume the appearance of menace and coercion
pending the negotiations This force was inn
mediatelY withdrawn. On the 10th of Novem-
Der, 1915, Mr.. John Sldel, of Louisiana, was
commissioned by me as envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotiary of the United States
to Mexico, and was intrusted with full powers
to adjust both the questions of the Texas boun-
dairy and of indemni6cation to our citizens
The redress of the wrongs of our citizens natu-
rally and lnseparably blended itself with the
question of boundary. The settlement of the
one question in any correct view of the subject
involves that of the other. Icould not, for a
moment entertain the idea that the claims of
our much injured and long suffering citizens,
many OF which had existed for more than
twenty years, should be postponed, or separat-
ed from the settlement of the boundary ques-
ton.
Mr.. Slidel arrived at Vera Cruz on the 3Oth
OF November, and was courteously received by
the authorities of that city. But the govern
ment of Gen. Herrera was then lettering to its
fall. The revolutionary party had seized upon
the Texas question to effect or hasten its over
throw. Its determination to restore friendly
relations with the United States, and to receive
our minister, to negotiate for the settlement of
this question, was violently assailed, and was
made the great theme of denunciation against
it. The Government of Gen. Herrera there
is good reason to believe, was sincerely de-
slrous to receive our minister; but it yielded to
| fhnc OH ;,nlk d, Al a
OF December refused to accredit Mr.. Sdell up
on the most frivolous pretexts These are SO
fully and ably exposed in the note of Mr.. Sill
dell of the Gath of December last to the Mexi-
can minister of foreign relations herewith
transmitted, that [ deem it unnecessary to
enter into further detail on this portion of the
subject.
Five days after the date of Mr. Slidell's
note, Gen. Herrera yielded the government to
Gen. Paredes without struggle, and on the
SOth OF December resigned the presidency
This revolution was accomplished solely by the
army, the people having taken little part in
the contest; and thus the supreme power in
Mexico passed into the hands of a military
leader.
Determined TO leave no effort untried to eff
feet an amicable adjustment with Mexico,
directed MIR. Slidell to present his credentials
to the government of Gen. Paroles, and ask to
be officially received by him. There would
have been less ground for taking this step had
Gen. Paroles come into power by a regular
constitutional succession. In that event his adj
minstration would have been considered but
mere constitutional continuance of the govern
ment of Gen. Herrera, and the refusal of the
latter to receive our minister would have been
conclusive, unless an ..intimaon had been
given by Gen. Paroles Of his desire to reverse
the decision Of his predecessor.
But the government of General Paredes
owes its existence to military revolution, by
which the subsisting constitutional authori
ties had been subverted The form Of govern
ment was ,entirelv changed az VI ell as all tho