Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-12-24
Extracts from the Presidents Message.

Al tAh 4 iNSlAOht y -'AODOu0N'
The annual meeting of Congress is always
an interesting event. The representatives of
the States aud Of the people come fresh from
their constituents to take counsel together for
the common good. After an existence Of
near three-fourths of a century, as a free and
independent r%epublic, the problem no longer
remains 10 be solved, whether man is capa-
Bile OF self.govtrnment. The success of our
ad mlrabln system is a conclusive reiulation
OF The theories of those in other countries,
who maintain that a 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 on
" sovercigns recognized by our constitution.
Numerous emigrants Of every lineage and
language. attracted by the civil aud religious
freedom we enjoy, and by our happy condi-
ton, annually crowd to our shores, and trans
fer their hearts, not less than their alIegiance.
to the c3uury whose dominion belongs alone
to The people.
No couatry has been 50 much favored. or
should acknowledge with deeper reverence
the Manifestations Of the divine Protection,
An oil wise Creator directed aud guarded
US 10 our Jntaut Struggle tor freedom, lud has
constantly watched ryar our surprising pro-
gre~s, uutii we have become OF the great na-
tious Of the earth.
IL is in a country thus Gvored, and under
a government in which the executive and lP-
g~isIative branches hold their authority for Ii
mited periods alike from the people, and
where all are responsible to their respective
constituencies that 1t is again my duty to
communicate with Congress upon the state
of the Union and the present condition Of
public afflirs.
During the past year, the most gratifying
proofs are presented that our country has
been blessed with a wide spread and univer-
sal prosperity. There has been no period
since the government was founded, when all
the industrial pursuits of our people have
been more successful, or when labor, in all
branches Of business, has received a 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 bouniies Of Provi-
dence at home, such as have rarely fallen 10
the lot of any people, it is cause Of congratu-
lation that our intercourse with all the pow
ers of the earth, except Mexico, continues 10
be of an amicabIe character.
1t has ever been our cherished policy TO
cultivate peace and good will with all nations,
and this policy has been steadily preserved
by me.
MO change has taken placain our relations
with Mexico since the adjournment of the
last Congress. The war 10 which the Uni
ted States was forced to engage with the go
vernment OF that country still continues.
| deem it unnecessary, after the full expo
sition of them, contained in my message of
the lith of May, 1916, and ia my annual
message at the commencement Of the session
of Congress in December last, to r~eiierate
the serious causes of complaint which we
had against Mexico before she commenced
hoStilities.
Il is sufficient on the present occasion to
say that the wanton violation of the rights of
persons and property Of our citizens, commit
ted by Mexico. her repeated acts of bad faith
through a long series of years, and her dis
regard of solemn treaties STIMULATING for in
demnity to our injured citizens not only con-
stituted ample cause of war on our part but
were Of such an aggravated character as
would have justified us before the whole
world In resorting to this extreme remedy
With an anxious desire to avoid a rupture
between the two countries, we forebOre for
years TO assert our clear rights by force, and
continued to seek redress for the wrongs we
had suffered by ami able negotiations, in the
hope that Mexico might hold to pacific coun-
CHS anu utlIlbuN VI JhHNlNt' III tHlS hoPN
we were disappointed. Our minister of
peace sent to Mexico was insullingly reject
ed.
The Mexican government refused even to
hear the terms of adjustment which he was
authorized to propose, and finally under Who'll
ly uniustifable preteXlS involved the two
countries in war, by invading the territory OF
the State of Texas, striking the first blow
and shedding the blood Of our " citizens
on our own soil.
Though the United States were the aggrie-
we'd nation Mexico commenced the war, and
we were compelled in seif-detence 10 repel
invaders, and to vindicale the national hOnoI
and interests, by prosecuting II with vlgor,
until we could obtain a Just and honorable
peace.
On hearing that hostiIilies had been com
menced by Mexico, | promptly communica,
ted that fact, accompanied with a succlnc
statement Of our other causes Of complain
against Mexico, to Congress, and that body
by the act of the 18th of May 1916, declared
that ''by the act Of the republic of Mexico,
state of war exists between that government
and the United States"
This act of declaring the war to exist by
the act of the republic of Mexico, and ma
king provision for its prosecution to spec
dy and successful termination, was passet
with great unanimity by Congress, there be
inc hut two negative votes in the Senate, ant
but fourteen in the House of Representa-
tives.
The existence OF the war having thus beer
declared by Congress, II became my duty
under the constitution and the laws, TO con
duct and prosecute H. This duty has beer
performed, and though Al every stage OF ia
F-.- .A