Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-12-16
MESSAGE
FROM THE
PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES,
Felloac- Citizens Of the Senate

Fettoac- Citizens Of the Senate
and ofthe House Of Representatives.:
The annual meeting of Congress is al ways
an interesting event. The Representatives Of
the States and of the people come fresh from
Their constituents to take counsel together for
the common good. Af:er an existence of near
thfee-fourths Of century as free and indie
pendent republic, the problem no longer re-
mains to be solved, whether man is capable of
selt-govetnment. The success of our admra-
bic system is conclusive refutaton of the the
cries 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 only sovereigns
recognised by our constitution. Numerous
SNlgrarts OF every lineage and language, at
Iracted by the civil and religious freedom we
ssasoy, and by our happy condition, annually
crowd to our shores, and transfer their heart.
not less than their allegiance, to the country
whose dominion belongs to the people.
No country has been SO much favored, or
should acknowledge with deeper reverence the
manifestations of the Divine protection. A
all-wise Creator directed and guided US in our
infant struggle for freedom, and has constantly
watched over our surprising progress, until we
have bt come enc of,he great nations of the earth.
1t is in country favored. and under agovern-
ment in which the executive and legislative
branches hold their authority for limited peri
DDS, alike from the people, and where all are
responsible to their respective constituencies.
that it is again my duty to communicate with
Congress upon the state of the Union, and the
present condition of public affairs.
During the past year the most gratifying
proofs are presented that our country has been
blessed with a widespread and universal pros
perty. There has been no period since the
government was founded, when all the indus
trial pursuits of our people have been more
successful, or when labor in all branches of bu
siness has received fairer or better reward
From our abundance we have been enabled to
perfurm the pleasing duty of furnishing fond
for the starving millions of less favored csun
tries.
In the enjoyment of the bounties Of Provi-
dence at home, such as have rarely fallen to
the lot At any people. it is cause of congratua
ton, that our intercourse with all the Powers
nfthe earth, except Mexico, continues to be of
an amicable character.
1t has been our cherished policy to cultivate
peace and goodwill with all nations and this
policy has been steadily pursued by me.
No change has taken place in our relations
with Mexico since the adjournment of the last
Congress. The war in which the U. States
were forced to engage with the government of
that country still continues.
deem it unnecessary, after the full exposl
tion of them contained in my message of the
Eth Of May, 1876, and in my annual message
at the commencement of the session of Con-
eress in December last, to reiterate the serious
causes of complaint which we had against Mex
leo before she commenced hostilities.
il is sufficient on the present occasion to say,
that the wanton violation of the rights of per-
son and property of our citizens committed by
Mexico, her repeated acts of bad faith, through
a long series of years, and her disregard OF sol
emn treaties, STIMULATING for indemnity to our
injured citizens, not only constituted ample
cause OF wa on our part, but were of such an
aggravated character as would have justified US
before the whole world in resorting to this ex-
treme remedy. With an anxious desire to "a
void rupture-between the two countries, we
forbore for years to assert our clear rights by
force, and continued to seek redress for the
wrongs we had suffered by amicabe negoia-
ton, in the hope that Mexico might yield to
pacific councils and the demands ofjustice. In
this hope we were disappointed. Our minister
of peace sen, to Mexico was insutingly reject
ed. The Mexican government refused even
: to hear the terms of adjustment which he was
authorised to propose and finally. under Who'll
" unjnstifabls pretexts, involved the two conn
tries 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 aggriev-
IL ad tho MAR wa
were compelled, in sefdefenee, to repel the
invader, and to vindicate the national honor &
interests by prosecuting it with vigor until we
. cotiid obtain just and honorable peace.
On learning that hostlities had been COM
fmenced by Mexico, promptly communicated
shat fact, accompanied with succnct state
Hftient Of our other causes of complaint against
Mexico, to Congress; and that body, by the
act of the 18th of May. 1876. declared that
by the act of the republic of Mexico, state
of war exists between that government and
: the United States''-this act declaring "the
war 10 exist by the act of the republic of Nlexi-
CO." and making provision for its prosecute
.sto speedy and successful termination" was
passed with great unanimity by Congress there
being but Two negative votes in the Senate land
but fourteen in the House of Representatives.
The existence of the war having thus been
declared by Congress, it became my duty, i'm
der the constitution and the laws, to conduct
and prosecute it, This duty has been perfor-
med and though. at every. stage of its pro
gross. have manifested willingness to term
mate it by just peace, Mexico has refused te
accede TO any terms which Gould be accepted
by the United States, consistently with the
national honor and interest.
The rapid and brilliant successes Of our arms
and the vast extent of the enemy's territory
which had been .overrun and conquered, before
the close of the last session Of Congress, were
fully known to that body. Since that time, the
war has been prosecuted with increased ener
py. and am gratified to state with success
which commands universal admiration. His
tory presents no parallel Of SO many glorious
victories achieved by any nation within 81
short period. Our army. regulars and yolur
teers. have covered themselves with imperish
able honors. Whenever and wherever our for
ces have encountered the enemy, though h.
,r,e IN vastly superior numbers, and often en-