Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-26
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
FelloW- CIlisens u Ute Senate VI
and House Of Representatives

pie, II lie subject Of congrauation that there has
been no period in our past history, when all the eIe-
men's OF national prosperity have been so fully de-
veloped. Since your nst session, affecting dis
pensaton has visited our country /; general good
health has prevailed abundance has crowned the
toll Of the husbandman; and labor in all it's branches
is receiving an ample reward, while education, sci
ence, ard the arts, rapidly enlarging the means
Of social happiness The progress Of our country in
her career of greatness, not only in the exen,on
Of territorial limits and the rapid increase Of our
population but in resources and wealth, and in the
happy condition OF our people, without example in
The history OF nations.
As the wisdom, strength and bcnefcence of our
Tree institutions are unolded every day adds fresh
motives contenment, and fresh incentives 10 pat
rotism.
Our devout and sincere Acknowledgements are due
to the gracious Gver OF oil good for the numberless
blessings which our beloved country enjoys.
1t is source of high satisfaction to know that the
relations of the United States with all other nations
with a single exception, are OF the most amicable
character. Sincerely attached TO The policy of peace,
early adopted and steadily pursued by this govern
ment, have anxously desired to cultivate and cher.
sh friendship and commerce with every foreign pow
err The spirit and habits Of the American people
are favorable to the maintenance Of such internaton-
al harmony. In adhering to this wise policy pre-
limnary and paramount duty, obviously consists in
the protection OF national interests from encroach
ments or sacrifice, and our national honor from
proach. These must be maintained at any hazard.
They admit Of no compromise or neglect, and must
be scrupulously and constantly guarded. In their
vglant vindication. collision and conflict with for
eign powers may sometimes become unavoidable -
Such has been our scrupuons adherance to the die.
tates of justice, in all foreign intercourse that
though steadily and rapidly advancing in prosperity
and power, we have given no just of complaint
TO any nation. and have enjoyed the blessings of
peace for more than thirty years. From policy 80
humane, and go utary in its effects upon pc.
litical system, should be induced volunta-
| rily to depart.
The existing war with Mexico was neither desired
nor provoked by the United States. On the contra.
ry, all honorable means were resorted to- avert it
Alter years oi endurance o! aggravated and unre-
dressed wrongs on our part, Mexico, in violation of
solemn treaty s,pulations, and of every principle
| OF justice recognized by civilized nations, COM
menced hostilites, and thus, by her own act forced
war upon Long before the advance of our army
| to the left bank Of the Rio Grande. we had ample
cause OF war against Mexico, and had the United
States resoreu TO this extremity, we night have ap-
pealed to the whole world for the Justice of our
| cause. .. .
deem it to be my duty to present to you on this
OCCASION, CONDENSED review OF the injuries we had
sustained, ct the Causes which led to the war; and Of
its progress since its commencement This is rem
dered the more necessary because of the misappre.
tensions which have to some extent prevailed as TO
it's origin and true character The war has been re-
presented as unjust and unnecessary, and one OF
aggression on our part, upon weak and injured en-
envy Such erroneous views, though entertained but
by few, have been widely and extensively circulated,
not only at home, but have been spread through
out Mexico and the whole world. more efec tua
means could not have been devised to encourage the
enemy and protract the war, than to advocate and
adhere their cause, and thus give them "aid and
comfort."
II is source of national pride and exul:ation that
| the great body Of our people have thrown no such
obstacles in the way Of the government in prosecut
ing lie war successfully, but have shown the mseves
emnently patriotic and ready to vindcate their
rys honor and interests at any sacrince. The a'ac-
rty and promptness with which our volunteer forces
elnl ~ Gil .katr Sc
only their patriotism, but their deep conviction that
| our cause is Just.
! The wrongs which we have suffered from Mexico
almost ever since she became an independent power,
and the patient Endurance with which have borne
them, without parallel in the history Of modern
civilized nations. There is reason believe that il
these wrongs had been resented and resisted in the
first instance. the present might have been avoi-
ded. One outrage, however, permitted to pass with
mpnnity, almost necessarily encouraged the perpe-
tration of another, until at last, Mexico seemed
tribute weakness and indecision our part for
bearance which was the offspring of magnanmity
and OF sincere desire to preserve friendly relations
with sister republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her independent
which the United States were first among the no.
tons TO acknowledge, when she commenced the sys
tenn Of insult and spoliat,on, which she has evel
since pursued. Our citizens engaged in lawful CON-
merce were imprisoned, their vessels seized, and
flag insulted in her ports. if money wanted
the lawless seizure and conhscation OF our merchant
Vesfes tnelT cdrgOeS, was reauv resource; ana
if TO accomplish their purposes, il became necessary
10 imprison the owners, captains. and crews, it was
done. Rulers superseded rulers in rapid succession
in Mexico, but still there was no change in this sys
tenn OF depreciation The government of the United
States made repeated reclamations behalf of its
citizens, but these answered By the preparation
of new outrsges. Promises of redress made by Mex
leo in the most solemn FORMS were postponed OF
evaded. The files and records OF the Department oil
State contain conclusive proofs Of numerous lawless
acts perperated on the property and persons of ouI
citizens by Mexico, and of wanton insults to our
tonal flag. The interposition OF our government 10
obtain redress. again and again invoked, under
circumstances which no nation ought to disregard
1t was hoped that these outrages would cease, and
that Mexico would be restrained by the laws which
regulate the conduct OF civilized nations in their in
tercourse with each other after the treaty Of amity
commerce and navigation OF the 5lh April, 1881, wac
concluded between the two republics; but this hope
soon proved 10 be vain. The course OF seizure ant
confscaon OF the property of our citizens, the viola
lion of their persons and the insults TO flag, pur
sued by Mexico previous to that time, were scarcel.
suspended for even brief period, although the .rca
~ SO clearly defines tho rights and duties Of the re
specve parties that it is impossible to misunderstood
or mistake them. In less than seven years after TIL
conclusion OF that treaty, our grievances had becom
so nioleraSle, that in the opinion of President Jack
son, they should no longer be endured. In his mess
, age to Congsess, in Feb 1887 he presented them T.
the consideration of that body, and declared that
"The length OF time since some of the I'M ures hav
been committed, the repeated and unavailIng appli
cations for redress, the wanton character OF
the outages, upon the property and persons of CT
zens, upon the officers and flag OF the United States
independent OF recent insults 10 this government an
people by the late extraordinary Mexican minister
would justify in the eyes of all nations mmediat
war" In spirit Of kindness and forbearance, how
ever, he recommended reprsas as mlder mode G
redress. He declared that war should not be use
as a remedy Shy just and generous nations confdin
in their strength, tor Injuries committed, II it carb
!, honoraby avoided;" and added, Z" it has occurred
, me that, considering the present embarrassed cond