Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-12-17
PRESIDENT POLK'S MESSAGE.
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,

States aud Of the people come fresh from their
constituents to take counsel for tho common 7
good. After an existence Of near three -iourths .
of a century, as a free aud independent Republic,
the problem no longer remains to be solved,
whether man is competent of seI-government. /
The success of our admirable system is a con- |
elusive reutalion of the theories ofthose in other
countries who maintain that favored few are /
born to rule, and that the mass of mankind must /
be governed by force. Subject to no arbitrary or
hereditary authority, the people are the only SOW
ereigns recognised by our Constitution. Nu-
merous emigrants ofevery lineal and language,
attracted by the civil aud religious freedom we
enjoy, and by our happy condition, annually
crowd to our shores, and transfer their hearts,
not less than their allegiance, to the country
whose dominion belongs alone to the people,
No country has been so much favored, or
Should acknowledge with deeper reverence the
manifestations ofthe Divine Protection.
An all wise Creator directed and guarded us in
our infant struggle for freedom, and has constant
ly watched over our surprising progress, until we
have become one of the great nations of the
earth.
II is in country thus favored, and under a
government in which the executive aud lcgisa-
tive branches hold their authority for limited pc
riods alike from the people, and where all are
responsible to their respective constituencies,
that il is again my duty to communicate with
Congress on the state of the Union and the pres
ent condition of public affairs.
During the past year, the stgratifying proofs
are presented that our country has been blessed
with widespread and universal prosperity
There has been no period since the government
was founded, when all the industrial pursuits Of
our peuple have been more successful, or when
labor. in all branches of business, has received
fairer or better reward. From our abundance
we have been enabled TO perform the pleasing
duty of furnishing food for the starving millions
of less favored countries.
In the enjoyment of the bounGes ofProvidcnce
al home, such as have rarely fallen to the lot of
any people, it is a cause of congratuIation that
our intercourse with all the powers Of the earth,
except Mexico, continues to be of an amicablc
character.
1t has ever been our cherished policy to culti-
vate peace aud good will with all nations, and this
policy has been steadily preserved by me.
No change has taken place in our relations
with Mexico since the adjournment of the last
Congress. The war in which the United States
was forced to engage with that country still con-
tnues.
deem it unnecessary, after the full eXposi
ton of them contained in my message Of the llth
of Nav 1846, and in my annual message at the
commencement of the session Of Congress III
December last, to reiterate The serious causes ot
complaint which we had against Mexico before
she commenced hosliliues.
1t is sufficient on the present occasion to say
that the wanton violation of the rights of persons
and properly ofour citizens, committed by Mex
leo. her repeated acts of bad faith through long
series of wears, and her disregard of solemn trea
ties STIMULATING for indemnity TO our injured cili-
zens, not only constituted ample cause ofwar on
our part but were of such character as would
have justified us before the whole world in resort
ing to this extreme remedy. With an anxious
desire TO avoid a rupture between the two coun-
tries we forbore for years to assert our clear rights
by force, and continued to seek redress for the
wrongs we had suffered by amicabe negotiation,
in the hope that Mexico might hold to pacific
councils and the demands of justice. In this
hope we were disappointed. Our minister of
peace sent TO Mexico was insultingly rejected.
The Mexican government refused even to hear
the terms of adjustment which he was authorised
10 propose, and finally under wholly unuslifabe
pretexts involved tho two countries in war, bv
invading the territory of the State of Texas, sri-
king the first blow, and shedding the blood of
our own citizens on our own soil.
Though the United States were the aggricved
nation Mexico commenced the war, and we were
compelled in self defence to repel invaders, and
20 yindicate the national honor and interests, by
prosecuting it with vgor, until we could obtain
Just and honorable peace.
On hearing that hostiIities had been commcn-
II hxr
fact, accompanied with a succinct statement of
aur other causes of complaint against Mexico,
90 Congress, and that body, by the act of the 18th
~ Nv 1915, declared that "by the act of the
ReDubIic OF Mexico, state OF war exists between
,boF government and the United States"
This act declaring the war 20 exist by the act
the Republic Of Mexico, and making provision
for its prosecution to speedy and successful
termination, was passed with great unanRni'y by
Congress, there being but two negative votes Ill
the Senate, and but fourteen IN the house OF Rep
ressntatives.
The existence of the war having been thus de-
cared by Congress, it became my duty, under
the constitution aud the laws, to conduct and
prosecute it. This duty has been performed, and
iho' at every stage of its progress, | have mani.
Tested willingness TO terminate it by Just peace
Mexico has refused TO acccde to any terms which
could be accepted by the United States consist
emily with the National Honor and interest.
The rapid and brilliant success of our arms,
and the vast extent Of the enemys territory
which had been overrun and conquered before
the close ofthe last session of Congress were fully
known to that body.
Since that time the war has been prosecuted
with increased energy, and am gratihed to state
with success which commands universal admi-
ration. History presents no parallel of SO many
Glorious victories achieved by any nation within
SO short a period. Our army, Regulars and Vol
unteers. have covered themselves with imperisb.