Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-12-16

sage. we made bargain with 6rm OF print
rrs in Boston for copies enough fthe Mes.
sage to supply out subscnbers with which
We Intended TO furnish gratis. The persons
Of whom We engaged copies Of The Mo sssge,
from some yc, unexplained cause, neglected
10 furnish US with them, and we ore obliged
st this late day. to substitute the following
synopsis instead Of the Message itself
Synopsis Of the Presidents Mes
sage.
After returning thanks TO Providence, the
Presld ent sn>s. that no change has taken
place IN our relations with Mexico, since the
All 'urnment Of the last Congress.
The war in which the United States was
forced to engage with The government Of
that country, stll continues.
IL Is sufficient on the present occasion to
say that wanton violation on the rights, per.
sons aud property OF our citizens, coInn,iitcd
by Mexico, repeated acts o! bad faith through
"a long series of years, in disregard to solemn
treaty s,ipulSiIons for indemnity to our cri.
zrns, not ouly constituted ample cause of
war on our part, but were Of such an az
grsvoted character as to Justify lis before the
world ~ restoring To extreme remedy.
Win all ANXIOUS desire TO avoid a rupture
between the two countries, we forbore for
years to assert our clear rights by force, but
continued to seek pcaceable redress for our
wrongs. We had suffered by snicabe ne.
go,Isllon, ~ the hope that Mexico nigh,
yield to pacific councils aud the demands Of
Justice.
IN this hope we were disappointed. Our
minister OF peace, sent to Mexico, was in
suitngly rejected, the Mexican governmrn,
refusing To hear the terms Of adjustment
winch he was authorized to propose, and
finally, under unjuslIhablc pretences, involv-
ed the two countries IN war by Invading The
territory of Texas. striking the frs, blow,
aud shedding the blood Of our citizens on
our own soil. The United States were the
nggricvcd nation; Mexico commenced the
war, and We were compelled ~ self defence
Ia repel the invader and vIndlcale the nation
al honor aud interest, by prosecuting the war
with vigor unul we could obtain n Just aud
honorable peace.
The existence Of war having been declar
ed by Congress, II became my duty, under
the constitution and laws, to continue to
prosecute u-thIs duty ! have performed
through every stage OF It's progress. have
manifested a Willingness To terminate the
war by just peace, but Mexico has refused To
acc' de- To any terms which could be accept
I'd by the United States,
The President speaks Of the loss Of brave
officers. and recommends government 10 lake
care of their families. lie recap,ulatcs the
victories won By our army.
The President states that peace commits
sloncr was appointed, with no power 10 IN
tcriere with military operations. Tie was
authorised TO exhibit his instructions 10 tho
General III command. and IN the event OF q
treaty being concluded and ratified on the
part OF Mexico. he was directed to give him
notice Of the fact. The commissioner did
no, reach head quarters tll another brilliant
victory, (C-rro Gordol had been won. lis
presence with the Amy, and his diplomatic
character, were made known TO the Mexican
government, from Puebla,on the 18th ofJune.
aud many weeks elapsed after their receipt.
and no ovsr,ures were made, nor any desire
expressed by the Mexican government to
enter into negotiations.
The commissioner took with him the pro.
j"ct OF a treaty. by the terms OF which the
indemnity required by the United States, was
the cessIon Of territory, which IT was well
known was the only indemnity in the power
red claims Of our cltizens,and to reimburse the
United Slaies for the expenses of the war
TO reject indemnity by refusing TO accept
accession OF Territory, would be TO abandon
all our Just demands. A treaty Of peace,
without providing for indemnify, would ena'
bile Mexico TO relieve herself from her just
Iiabl'l,les. No treaty which does not provide
ample means for d.charging these dcms nds,
can receive my sanction.
Tha, Congress contemplated the scquisi
ti"n Of territorial indemnify when II made
provisions for the prosecution Of the war, is
obvious. Ii is manifest that Congress con-
templaled territorial indemnify, from the fact
that the act passed upon the executive re
CONNIE enda,ion appropriated three millions Of
dollars for that express object. The entire
sun remains in the treasury still, applicable
to that object. The doctrine Of no territory
is the doctrine Of no indemnify. Its sane
ton would be the public acknowledgement ut
;hal onr country was wrong. The terms Of
The treaty proposed were not only just TO Mex
Ico but weie deemed OF a most liberal char
acicr. The commissioned was authorised to
agree To the establishment of the Rio Grande
ns a boundary, and obtain the cessIon OF
New Mexico, the California, and a privilege
" ine flnHl VI way dCTOss Tue Islnilus VI
Tehuantcpec. The boundary Of the Rio
Grande and The cc-son 10 the United States
of New Mexico ard Upper California, con.
stItuted an ultlma,um, That it might be
manifest not only to Mexico but oil other ma
tons, that the United States was not dspo-
sed to take advantage Of The feeble power OF
Mexico, the COMMIT ssIoner was authorized to
s,ipulnte for the payment Of such additional
pccuniary consideration as was deemed
reasonable.
The terms OF the treaty proposed by the
Mexican commissioners were wholly mad.
missabIc. They negotiated as If Mexico
were victorious, not vsnquished. The ces.
SION proposed by the commissioner Of the
United States was believed to be more IN
accordance with the convenience and inte.
rest of both nations than any other cession
Mexico could be induced TO make. The
Mexican government could not long continue
to hold aud govern them, especially Upper
CaIfornla. The ssgacny Of European ma.
tlons directed their attention To thnt province,
and, should we reIinqnlsh our clain, an ct
fort would be made by come foreign power 10
obtain possession, which might involve us ~
mos, expensive wars.
The President recapiulates the adynn.
,nges to those provinces II brought under our
.,,I. ~,