Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-12-26

course Of outrage against our country, ny COM
niencing an offensive war, and shedding The
blood of our citizens On our own soil. =
The United States never attempted toacquire
Texas by conquest. On the contrary, at an
fearly period, after the people Of Texas had
achieved their independence, they sought 10 be
annexed to The United States. At a general
election in September, 1886, they decided with
great unanimity in favor Of "annexation; !" and
in November following, the Congress of the
republic authorized the appointment Of u Mn
lister 10 bear their request TO this Government.
THIS Government, however, having remained
nuetral between Texas and Mexico during the
war between them, and considering it due TO
the honor Of our country, and our fair fame
among the nations Of the earth that we should
not, at this early period, consent to annexation,
nor until il should be manifest 10 the whole
world that the re>conquest Of Texas by Mexi-
CO was impossible, refused TO accede to the
overtures made by Texas. On the lsth Of
| April, 1874, aad sfer more than seven years
had elapsed since Tsxas had established her
independence, a treaty was concluded for the
annexation Of that republic to the United States,
| which was rejected by the Senate. Finally,
on the LIST Of March, l845, Congress passed a
joint resolution for annexing her to the United
States, upon certain preliminary conditions to
which her assent was required. The solem.
mites which characterized the deliberations
and conduct OF the government and people Of
Texas, on the deeply interesting questions pre-
sented by these resolutions, are known to the
world. The Congress, the Executive, and the
people Of Texas, in a Convention elected for
that purpose, accepted with great unanimity
the proposed terms Of annexation; and thus
consumma,ed on her part the great act Of res
toring to cur Federal Union vast territory.
which had been ceded to Spain by the Florida
treaty more than a quarter Of century before.
After The joint resolution for the annexation
Of Texas TO the United States had been passed
by our Congress, the Mexican Minister at
Washington addressed note 10 the Secretary
ofState, bearing date on the 9Th Of March, l845,
protesting against it as "an act OF aggression,
the most unjust which can be found recorded
in the annals Of modern history, namely: that
Of despoiling friendly nation, like Mexico Of
a considerable portion of her territory" and
protesting against the resolution Of annexation,
as being an act "whereby the province OF Tex
as, an integral portion of the Mexican ter ritory.
is agreed aud admitted into the American
Union;" and he announced that as a conse-
quence, his mission to the United States had
terminated, and demanded his passports, which
were granted. 1t was upon The absurd prelext,
made by Mexico, (herself indebted for her in>
dependence TO a successful revolution) that the
republic Of Texas still continued to be, notwi,h
standing all that had passed, a province Of Mex
leo, that this step was taken by the Mexican
Minister. '
Every honorable effort has been used by me
10 avoid the war which followed, but all have
proved vain. All our attempts to preserve
peace have been met by insult and resistance
on the par, of Mexico. My efforts to this end
commenced in the note Of the Secretary Of
State Of the 10Th Of March, I845, in answer 10
that Of the Mexican Minister. Willis, decIin >
ing to reopen a discussion which had already
been exhausted, and proving again wha. was
known TO the whole world, that Texas had
long since achieved her independence, the Ss>
cretary Of State expressed The regret of this
Government that Mexico should havrtaken Of
fence at the resolution Of annexation passed by
congress, and gave assurance that our "most
strenuous efforts shall be devoted to the amicable
adjustment of every cause Of complaint between
the Two Governments, and to the cultivation Of
the klndest and most fiendly relations between
the sister republics"
That have acted in the spirit Of this assu-
rance, will appear from the events which have
since occurred. Notwithstanding Mexico had
abruptly terminated all diplomatic intercourse
with the United States, and ought, therefore, to
have been the first TO ask for ils resumption,
vet, waving all ceremony, embraced the ear
liest favorable opportunity "to ascertain from
the Mexican Government whether they would
receive an Envoy from the United States, in.
trusted with full power to adjust al! The ques,
lions in dispute between the two Governments"
In September, 1916, believed the propitious
moment or such an overture had arrived
Texas, by the enthusiastic and almost unani>
nous will of her people, had pronounced in fa.
vor Of annexation. Mexico herself had agreed
TO acknowledge the independence Of Texas, sub
ject to a condition, it is true, which she had no
right 10 impose AMI no power to enforce. The
last lingering hope Of Mexico, if she still could
have retained any, that Texas would ever
again become one Of her provinces, must have
been abandoned.
The consul OF the United States at the city of
Mexico was, therefore instructed by the Secreta.
ry OF State, on the fifteenth OF September, 1915,
TO make inquiry OF the Mexican Government
The enquiry was made, and on the fifteenth of
October, 1915, the Minister OF Foreign Affairs
OF the Mexican government, in note addressed
to our consul, gave favorable response, request
ing, at the same time that our naval force nigh;
be withdrawn from Vera Cruz while negotiations
should be pending. Upon the receipt of this
mole our naval force was promptly Withdrawn
from Vera Cruz. A minister was Immediately
appointed and departed to Mexico. Every thing
bore promising aspect for speedy and peeceful
adjustment OF all our difficulties.
AT the date Of my annual message 10 Congress,
n locI ,hr h,,.l