Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1847-12-25
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


to take COUNSEL together FOR ttisir omtnon good,
Alter an existence of near thrdH,tOurth Of n century
az y free and independent repAblic, tho problem no
longer remains ~ be solved, whether maniscapable
Of Folf government. Tho Ruecras of our admirable
system Is q conclusive rofutBtiGSl Of tho theories Of
those il other countries who rtaihtain that " fay.
oted few Hrg born 10 rule, hn5 TINT the mass of
mankind must be governed by Sren. Subject to no
arbitrary or hereditary buthorii% the people are the
only sUYerUigus recognized by our constitution.
Numerous enigrants 0fuvory lineage and language,
attracted by tho civil and religious Freedom We en-.
joy, and by our happy c%onditidn4 annually crowd to
our shores, aud transfer their lipartB. not less than
thnir alleRianca, 10 the couutrF whose douiniopp
belongs alone TO tho people.
No country hga been So mucl, favored, or should
acknowledge with deeper revekence the manifesto.
lions of tho Divine protection. AN all wise Creator
directed and guarded uB In 0ds infant struggle for
freedom, and haa constantly WEIGHED over our sur.
| ptising progress, until tvo have become ono Of the
great nhtious of the earth.
III IN In a country thus favored, and under n gov.
orumcut in which the executive: and the legislative
branches hold thoir authority Tor limited periods,
allie from the people, and wlera all are responsible
to thclr respective constituencies, that It is again nv
duty to communicate with Cobgross upon tho state
OF the Union, and the present condition Of public
affairs.
During the past year the most gratifying proofs
are presented, that our country hns been blessed
with q widespread and universal prosperity. There
has boen no period since The government was found
cd, when Ill tho industrial puf5uits of our people
tlHhR 'fAsA W NA'tIH1lNtks vi "HNl HflT III III
branches of business haH received n fairpr or n better
reward. From our abundanre wa have been en-.
ebled 10 perform the pleasing duty of furnishing
food for the starving millions Of less favored coun-
tries,
In the enjoyment oil the bountfns of Providence ut
home, such as have rarely falIeb to the lot of any
people 1t ts cause OF congrstulRion, that our inter
course with all the Powers 0Ftht earth, except Mex.
leo, continues To be of an Hrnicnhle character.
IL hns avpr been our cherished policy to cultivate
pence end goodwill with AL nutiOttsi mud this policy
tas bsen steadily pursued by me.
No change has taken place IN our relations with
Mexico since tho adjournment tf the last Congress.
The war in which the United States were forced TO
engage with the government uf that country still
continues.
! deem it unnecessary, after the full exposition Of
ihBm contained in my message Of the eleventh of
May. lPi6, and in my tnuual message at tho com.
menCemeut Of the sosBinn Of Congress, in December
last. 10 reiterata the serious caused OF complaint
which we had against Mexico before She omnrn
cd hustilitiCs.
H. il sufficient on tho present occasion to say, that
tle wantoG violation OF the rights of person and pro.
perty of our ritizens committed by Mexico, her re-
peRtcd nets OF bad faith. through II long ecrios Of
years, and her d%iarreHrd ofsolrmu treaties, stipula.
ting for indemnity TO our injured citizens. not only
constituted ample cause Of war on our putt. but
were of such an aggravated character as would
have justified US before the whole world in ]rcsorting
10 this extreme remedy. With an anxious desire
to avoid n rupture between tic two countries. we
foThore for years 10 asHoTt our clear rights by force,
and continued to seek redress for Che wrongs we
had suffered, by nrnicable negotiation, In the hope
that Mexico might yield to pacific councils and the
demands of justice, In this hope we were disap.
pointed. Our minister Of pence sent to Mexico
was insultingly rejected. The Mexican government
refused ovento hear tho terms of adjustment which
he WINS authorized to propose; and finally, under
wholly uniustifable pretrxtFr involved the two
countries IN war, by invading the territory of tho
State Of Texas, striking the first blow, and shedding
the blood of our citizens, on our own soil.
Vh,itula N1n TTNitgI Gfntrb tHtAEn fh, arvrt,,al -.
ton, Mexico commenced the war, and we were
compelled, ia aelEdefence, to repel the invaders,
and TO vindicnte the national honor and interests by
prosecuting 1t with vigOr until we could obtain a
just and horable peace.
On learning that hostlilirs had been commenced
by Mexico, | promptly communicated that fuct, &C
companied by a suecint statement of our other
causes of complaint against MeNica, to Congress
and that body by react Of the thirteenth Of May.
1876, declared that " by the act of the republic of
MeSico, u state of war exists between that Govern
meut aud tho United Statos'-tuis act declaring the
war TO exist by the net Of sthe republic Of Mexico"
and making provision for its prosecution " to a
speedy and successful termination" was passed
with great unsnimity by Congress, there being but
two negative votes in the Senate and but fourteen in
the House OF Representatives.
The existence OF the war having thus been dc
clared by Congress, it became my duty. under the
constitution and the laws, to conduct and prosecute
it. This duty has been performed and though, at
every stage Of its progress, / have manifested a vii.
isneg :" - ~ "a Ju't gSaIo' neA,To nus
.sn - ~ w ~ Ifs,tol ~ ~ .e.'H ~ u Goulu Io ac'
national honor and interest.
! =" ,L, i ,a, a "na a %', .ho 1850 VI oI arms
had been overrun and conquered, before the close
~ ~ ias' S ~ " ~. S'hs,esS "eio t"hy Auu"h 10
eCuted with increased energy, and, am grntiied to
Srass ~" ~, .n"nio, u" ~ au.
~ y .itat|ly I.Is.nSI a" pa u ~ maoy
sto.Lo"o ~. '"9 v NY ""llCt "lttlih So
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ne courage nI" PgrSe' s,;sh al !, S9ehlng t5e Post
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shorti2g orfnr tho adjournment or the 1,.+ .,.,io,
of Coneyess the gratifying intru igenc a Iy ~ ra 'e9S.
II tbe siynal vicfory ~ B1nena VS. or5 ~ m, ron
nC ne cifr of Vsra Cruy oTd rgitb - a. H. ' 80 tan
rastle of San Jppn dc TTIIoa hi which :, ,vas JoS,nSS
IA pe1;ev;rg tbat affer t,nS5, ar5 60 a,,aon.no.
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