Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-12-12

United States communicated the following Message
to both Houses of Congress:
Fsilow-cihSeas Of tie Senate
and Of The House Of Representatives:
In resuing labors in the service Of the people, tits
subject of congratuaon that there has been period
past history when all the elements Of national prosperity have
been so fully developed Since your last session atct
ing dispensaion has visited country general good health
has prevailed abundance has crowned the toll Of the hus
bandman and labor in all branches receiving ample
reward while educaon science and the rapidly
rgng the Of social happiness The progress Of
country in her o. greatness only in the
tension Of territorial limits and the rapid increase Of
population but in and wealth, and in the happy
condition Of people, is without example in the history Of
nations
Ashe wisdom strength and benefcenee Of free nst-
tutions unded every day adds fresh motives
ment, and fresh incentives 10 patriotism. g
Our devout and sincere Acknowledgements due to the
gracious Gver Of all good for the numberess blessings which
our beloved country enjoys
II is Of high satisfaction know that the relations
Of the United States with all other nations with single ex-
cepton, of the most amcabe character. Sincerely
ached TO the policy Of peace early adopted and steadily pur
sued by this Government have anxousy desired cult
and cherish friendship and commerce with every for
egn Power The spirit and habits OF the American people
favorable the maintenance Of such international har
mony In adherng TO this wise policy, preliminary and
paramount duty obviously consists in the protection Of our
national interests from encoachmen sacrifice and
national honor from reproach These must be maintained
any hazard They admit of no, compromise or neglect
and mhst be scrupuousy and constantly guarded In their
vgan vindcation, collision and conflict with foreign Pow
eis may sometimes become unavoidable. Such has been
scTupulous adhere the dictates justice in all our
foreign intercourse that, though steadily and rapidly adj
vancng in prosperity and power, have given just
Of complaint to any natou and have enjoyed the
blessings of peace for than thirty years. From poll
cy sacred to humanity and sautary in its effects upon
political SYSTEM should be induced voluntarily
10 depart
The existing with Mexico neither desired nor pro-
voked by the United States On The contrary all honorable
were resored to to avert it, After years of
o aggravated and unredessed wrongs part Mexico
in violation Of solemn treaty spuatons every prnci-
pie justice recognised by civilized nations commenced hos
tles, and thus by her act forced the upon
Long before the advance of army the left hank Of the
Rio Grande, we had ample Of against Mexico and
had the United States resorted to this extremity might
have appealed TO the whole civilized world for the justice Of
OCCASION condensed review OF the injuries had
ed Of the which led war; and of its progress
since its This is rendered the more neces-
say because Of the msapprehcnsons which have
tent prevailed as to its origin and true character The
has been represented unjust and and
Of aggression on our part upon weak and injured enemy
Such erroneous views, though entertained by but few have
been widely and extensively circulated only hone
but have been spread throughout Mexico and the whole
world. eectual means could have been devised
encourage the enemy and porac the than
cate and adhere 10 their and thus give them aid and
comfort" 49,
II of national pride and exuaton that the great
body of people have thrown no obstacles in the way
Of the Government in prosecuting the successfully but
have shown themselves I've emineny patriotic and ready
vindicate their counys honor and any sacrifice
The alacry and prompness with which volunteer forces
rushed TO the field their country call prove only their
patriotism but their deep conviction that just
The wrongs which have suffered from Mexico almost
since she became independent Power and the patient
endurance with which have borne them are without a
parallel in the history Of modern civilized nations There is
10 believe that If these wrongs had been resented
resisted in the first instance the present might have been
avoided One outrage however, permitted pass with inn
punity almost necessarily encouraged the preparation of
other until at last Mexico seemed to attribute weakness
and indecon on our part fobearance which the off
spring Of magnannty and Of desire to preserve
friendly relations with sister Republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her independence which the
United States were the first among the nations to acnow
ledge, when she commenced the system OF insult and spoa
ton which she has ever since pursued Our citizens engaged
in lawful commerce imprisoned their vessels seized,
and flag insuted in her ports If money wanted
the awless seizure and conscaon Of merchant vessels
and their cagoes ready and if TO accomplish
their purposes became necessary mprson the owners
captains and crews DONE Rulers superseded rulers
in Mexico in rapid succession, but still there change
in this system Of depreciation The Government Of the Unit
ed Suites made repeated recamaons behalf Of its citizens
but these were answered by the perpetaon onew ourages
Promises Of redress made by Mexico the solemn forms
were postponed evaded The files and records the De-
parment of State caan conclusive proofs Of numerous
ess acts ppeaed upon the property and persons Of c
zens by Mexico, and Of insults to our national ag
The interpretation OF Government 10 obtain redress was
again and again invoked under circumstances which no ma
ton ought TO disregard, X
was hoped that these outraees would cease and that
Mexico would be restrained by the laws which regulate the
conduct OF civilized nations in with each other
after the treaty Of amy commerce. and navigation Of the
fifth Of April 1885, concluded between two republics
but this hope proved to be vain The course Of
and conscaton Of the property our citizens the violation
Of their PERSONS and the insults flag pursued BY Mex
leo previous to ha time scarcely suspended for even
brief PERIOD although the enty clearly defines the rights
and duties Of the respective parties that to mis-
understand or mistake them In less than years after
the conclusion Of that treaty, grievances had become
ntoerabe that in the opinion Of President Jackson they
should longer be endured In his message Congress
February 1897 he presented them the consideration
that body, and declared that the length Of time since some
Of the injuries have been committed the repeated and unava
ing applications for redress the wanton character Of
the ouages upon the property and persons Of citizens,
upon the officers and flag Of the United States independent
recent insults to this Government and people by the late
traordnay Mexican Minister, would justify Ia the eyes Of all
nations immediate war; In spirit Of Kindness and orbear-
anae however, he recommended repals mider mode OF
redress He declared that should not be used remedy
"by just and generous nations confdng in their strength fof
injuries committed lift can be honoraby avoided and added
has occurred to me that considering the embar-
raised condition Of that country we should act with both
xusrln L.. -.