Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-08-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
Relations with Mexico.

The Speaker, by consent, laid before the
House the following message from the President
of the United Sates which was read:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the United States:
| invite your attention to the propricty ofmak-
ing an appropriation to provide for any expend-
turc which it may be necessary to make in adj
vance for the purpose of settling all our difficult
ties with the Mexican republic. 1t is my sin
core desire to terminate, as it was originally to
avoid, the existing war with Mexico by peace
just and honorable to both parties. 1t is proba-
bic that the chief obstacle to be surmouniod in
accomplishing this desirable object, will be the
adjustment of boundary between the two rcpub-
lics which shall prove satisfactory and conve-
nicnt to both, and such as neither hereafter will
be inclined to disturb. In the adjustment of this
boundary we ought to pay fair equivalent for
any concession which may be made by Mexico.
Under these circumstances, and considering the
other complicated questions to be settled by ne
gotiation with the Mexican republic, deem il
important that sum ormoney should be placed
under the control of the Executive, to be adj
vanccd if need be, to the government of that re.
public Immediately after the ratification ola lrea,
ly. 1t might be inconycncnt for the Mexican
government to wait for the whole sum, the pay
mont of which may be stipulated by this treaty
until it could be ratified by our Senate, and any
appropriation to carry it into effect made by Con.
grcss. Indeed the necessity for this delay might
defeat the object altogether. The disbursement
of this money would of course be accounted for
not as secret service money, but like other ex'
ponditures.
Two preccdenls for such proceeding exist ii
our past history, during the administration o.
Mr.. Jefferson, to which would call your atten
ton. On the Oath February, 1903, an act wa,
passed appropriating two millions of dollars "lol
the purpose of dolraying any cxuaordina
ry expenses which may be incurred il
the intercourse between the United States anC
foreign nations," "to be applied under the drec
ton of the President of the United States, who
shall cause an account of the expenditure Thereof
to be laid before Congress as soon as may be-
and on the 18th of February, 1906, an appro
priation was made, of the same amount, and in
the same terms. In neither case was the money
actually drawn from the treasury, and SHOULD
hope that the result in this respect might be sim
liar on the present occasion, although the appro
priation may prove to be indispensable in accom-
plshing the object. would, therefore, recon-
mend the passage of law appropriating $2, 900,
600, to be placed at the Disposal of the Execu
tive, for the purpose which | have indicated.
In order to prevent all misapprehension, it il
my duty to state that, anxious as | am to tcrmi
nate the existing war with the least possible de
lay, it will continue to be prosecuted with the ut
most vigor, until treaty of peace shall be sign
ed by the parties and ratified by the Mexican re
public.
JsMES X. POLK.
Washington, 9Th August, 1876.