Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-12-17
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fello,o-citizenS Of the Senate
and House of RepresentdtiUes

In resumng your labors in the service OF the
People, it is a subject of fcongratuaton that there
has been no period of our past history, when all
the elements of national prosperity have been SC
fully developed Since your last session no af-
fiicting dspensaton has visited our country; gen.
era good health has prevailed abundance has
crownd the toll of the husbandman and labor in all
its branches is receiving an ample reward. while
education science and the arts are rapidly enlarg
ing the means of social happiness The progress
of our country in her career of greatness not only
in the vast extension of our territorial limits and
the rapid increase of our populatian but in resour-
ces and wealth. and in the happy condition of our
people, is without example in the history of ma
tions.
AS the wisdom, strength and benfcence OF our
free institutions are uniolded, every day adds fresh
motives TO contentment and fruSh incentives TO
patriotism.
Our devout and sincere acknowledgements are
due TO the gracious Giver of all good for the num-
herless blessings which our beloved country en-
JOYS.
1t is a source Of high satisfaction to know that
the relations OF the United States with all other
nations, with single exception. are of the most
amicable character. Sincerely attached To the
policy OF peace, early adopted and steadily pursu-
TO cultivate and cherish friendship and com lnercc
with every foreign Power. The spirit and habits
of the American people are favorable to the main
tenance of such international harmony. In ad-
herring TO this wise policy, a preliminary and
paramount duty obviously consists in the protec-
ton of our national interests from encroaclnnent
or sacrifice and national honor from repreach.
These must be maintained at any hazard. They
admit of no compromise or neglect, and must be
Scrupulously and constantly guarded. In their
vgilant vlndIcatlon, collision and conflict with
foreign Powers may sometimes become unaY0id-
able. Such has been our scrupulous adherence
TO the dictates of Justice in all our foreign inter-
course that, though steadily and rapidly advan-
oing in prosperity and power, we have given no
Just cause Of complaint to any nation, and have
enjoyed the blessings of peace for more than thirty
years. From policy so sacred to humanity, and
so salutary in its effects upon our political SYSTEM
we should never be induced voluntarily to de-
part
The existing war with Mexico was neither
desired nor provoked by the United States On
the contrary, all honorable means were resorted
10, to avert 1t. After years of endurance of ag-
gravated and unredreSsed wrongs on our part,
Mexico, IN violation of solemn treaty stipulatons,
and Of every principle of justice recognized by
SlflALSU ana lDOS.
by her own act forced the war upon U.s. 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 resor-
ted TO this extremity, we might have appealed to
the whole civilized world for the Justice of our
cause.
deem 1t to be my duty to present to you, on
the present occasion, a condensed review of the
injuries we had sustained of the causes which led
TO the war, and of Its progress since its COM
mencement This is rendered the more necessa-
ry because of the nisapprehensions which have
10 some extent prevailed as to It's origin and true
character. The war has been represented as
UNJUST and unnecessary, and as one OF aggression
on our part upon weak and injured enemv-
Such erroneous views, though entertained by but
few, have been widely and extensively circulated
not only al. home, but have been spread through
out Mexico and the whole world A more eff
fectual means could not have been divised to en-
courage the enemy and protract the war than to
advocate and adhere to their cause, and thus give
them said and comfort"
1t is source of national pride and exultation,
that the great body of our people have thrown no
such obstacles in the way of the Government in
prosecuting the war successfully, but have shown
themselves to be emlnently patriotic, and ready
to vIndlcate their country honor and interests at
any sacrifice. The alacrity and promptness with
which our volunteer forces rushed to the field on
their countrys call, proved not only their patriot
ism, but their deep conviction that our cause is
Just.
The wrongs which We have suffered from Mex
lco almost ever since she became an Independent
Power, and the patient endurance with which |
we nave oorne them, are without parallel in
the history OF modern civilized nations There
ls reason TO believe that If these wrongs had been
resented and resisted IN the first instance. the
present war might have been avoided. One out
rage, however, permitted TO pass with inpunity.
almost necessarily encouraged the perpetrstion /
of another until at last Mexico seemed to attrib.
ute 10 attribute to weakness and indecision on
our part forbearance which was the offspring of
msgnanimty, and Of sincere desire to preserve
friendly relations with sister Republic.
Scarcely had Mexico achieved her ndepen-
dence, which the United States were the first |
among the nations to acknowledge, when she |
commenced the system of insult and spoliation,
which she has ever since pursued Our citizens
engaged IN lawful commerce were imprisoned /
their vessels seized, and our flag insuted in her
ports 1T money was wanted, the lawless seizure
and contscaton OF our merchant vessels and their
cargoes was ready resource and if, to accom-
plleh their purposes, It become necessary TO i'm
prison the owners, captains and crews, il was
done. Rulers superseded rulers in Mexico in
rapid succession. but still there was no change in
this system of depreciation. The Government of
the United States made repeated reclaInations or