Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-16
NGe &enttuef:
For President in 1913,
J A NJ E S B I c Il A n A n ,
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
SUBJECT 10 The DECISION OF ANATloNAl CONVENTION.
THE MESSAGE.


SUBJECT TO THE DECISION Of A Na1loNAl CONVENTION
THE MESSAGE.
To the exclusion ola variety Of other matter,
we lay before our readers to-day the thru aD-
nua message of the President Of the United
States. No message, perhaps, from any OF
his predecessors within the last thirty years,
has been more anxiously looked for, or more
universally read, by both parties, than this OF
Mr.. Polk. And upon an occasion like the
present-when it becomes the duty of every
sincere advocate of his country's cause to use
whatever influence he may possess, in her de-
fence and to send up to her chosen executive Off
cer,in the midst Of the perls that surround him,
and the charges of moral delinquency which are
pouring in upon him from the opposition press,
and from every opposition orator. from the
great 'Embodyment" down to the most insig
nfcant sprig of juvenility, words of encourage
ment;-we should like to comment, in tetail,
brought in review, but, for the want of space,
few general remarks relative to the most pro-
minent of them, must suffice for the present.
Whatever dissimilitude of opinion may ex-
list between the political friends and opponents
of the President, relative to the policy which
has distinguished his administration Of the 90
vernment, we think that all candid men will
admit that, for perspicuousness Of style, COM
prehensiveness of detail, lucid augmentation,
and manly craftsmanship, this message will
compare, without disparagement. with any
state papers that have emanaied from the Exc
cutive Department.
First in order, and first in importance and
interest," the question of the difficulties in which
the government is involved with Mexico, is
presented. Having in his preceding messages
and particularly in that of the llth of May
last-given an extended and detailed statement
of our grievances against the government of
Mexico, from their commencement down to
the climacteric period, when she consummated
her mad career Of per6dy and folly, by max
ing war upon the United States, for the avow-
Gu puI pOSC vi "IcStliIH IOA OuI u'ltOil VI COiI-
federated states, one of its constitutional men,
bers, the President rrocedes, with a
elaboration and a manliness of courage,
highly creditable to the exalted position which
he occupies. to review the extraordinary pos
tnrs of affairs in Mexico the unparalleled
victories achieved by our gallant army in every
engagement with the enemy against vastly su-
perior numbers, and often entrenched in strong
positions selected by themselves-the fire.
quent, but as yet frutless, attempts to induce
Mexico to accept the overtures for negotiating
treaty of peace npon honorable terms-and
the line of policy which the aspect of the case
urgently demands shall be pursued toward Mex
leo in future. to bring the war to an end, and
ITO secure indemnity for the past and security
for the future"
The question arises, in view of the fact, that
!" safe Of war abroga,es treaties previously
existing between the belligeren,s, and treaty
of peace puts an end to all claims for indemn-
ty;'-and in view of the fact that, "should
Mxico again engage to pay the heavy amount
of Indebtedness which just indemnity for our
government and our citizens would impose on
her, it is notorious that she does not possess the
means to meet such an undertaking"-
new policy shall the government of the United
States adopt in its future efforts to adquit it.
self honorably and secure to her citizens who
have sustained injuries in their persons and
property, BY the Mexicans, their just rights u?
Shall our victorious army be withdrawn from
the interior, all the advantages which we have
secured in making the enemy feel the calami-
ties of war and disposng him to sue for peace be
inglo,iously abandoned, as our opponents recon-
mend. and drawn out on ,he line which we in
tend shall be the future permanent boundary
between the two countries, and defend it as
long as the people of Mexico may see proper to
harass il? fit be just that the claims of our
red to them-lf it be right that Mexico should
pay the whole, or a just proportion of the ex-
penses of the war; and as it is very certain |
that she IS unable to make US any pecuniary |
remuneration, such a policy would operate
most unrighteously upon all parties interested,
except Mexico. and its adoption would be a
virtual acknowledgement that our government
is wrong, and that the question Of boundary a.
lone constituted the object for which we have
been contending.
After exhibiting the gross injustice which the |
negotiation and ratification of q treatv an indis
pensable condition of which should not be, full
and complete indemnify, not only for claims
which were acknowledged to be just, and