Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-12-15

roe g err s-sss ssSks4 81 s A
8 srs paid except at the option of the Plib
! a,l1l.I....s...,,:......,llllllll =:
.r.si @ Z RESIDENTS MESA GE
s'ze tie Senate and House of Representa-.
ttves oj jtts Untted States: 7s,''.''=' : s. !
THE annual meeting Of Congress is al
ways an interesting event. The Represen
tatives Of the States and of the people come
fresh from their constituents to take coun
sel together for the common good. After
an existence Of near three -fourths Of cen
tnry, as q free and Independent Republic,
The question no longer remains to be solv.
ed, whether man is competent of self gov.
ernment The success OF our admirable
system is conclusive ..refutation of the
theories Of those in other countries, who
anaintain that favored few are born to
rule, and that the mass Of mankind must be
governed by force. Subject to no 3arbitra.
ry or hereditary authority, the people are
the only sovereigns recognized by our con-
stitution. Numerous emigrants of every
lineage and language, attracted by the civ
IL and religious freedom we enjoy, and by
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 rever-
sence the manifestations Of the Divine Pro.
tection.
An all wise Creator directed and gu,rd.
ed us in oar infant struggle for freedom
and has constantly watched over our sur.
prising progress, until we have become one
of the greates; nations of the earth.
IL is in a country thus favored, and un-
der government in which the executive
and legislative branches hold their author
ity for limited periods alike from the peo-
pie, and where all are responsible TO their
respective constituents, that it is ag,in my
duty to communicate with Congress upon
Tho state Of the Union and the present con,
dition Of public affairs.
fliriae the past year, the most crafty
ing proof are presented that our country
has besn,' blessed with a wide spread and u
hiversaf prosperity. There has been no
period since the government was founded,
when all the Industrial pursuits of our peo-
@ple have been more successful, Or when la
Dor in all branches Of business. has receiv
ed a1fairer or better reward. From our a.
bnfldaiice we have been enabled to perform
the pleasing duty of furnishing food for the
starving millions of less favored countries.
s~fi III the enjoyment Of the bounties Of Prov
iideBce' at home, such as have rarely fallen
to the lot of any people, it is cause of con-
grafnlation that our intercourse with all the
powers ofthe earth, except Mexico, con-
tinues to be of nm amicable character.
2 1t has ever been our cherished policy to
cultivate peace and good will with all nn-
tions. and this policy has been steadily pre-,
served by mo.
No change has taken place in our re1a-
tions with Mexico since the adjournment of
the last Congress The war in which the
United States was forced to engage with
the government Of that country still con-
tinues.
Tef deem it unnecessary, after the full ex-
srosition of them contained in my message
asfthe' fth of May 1916, and in my annu.
alsmessage OF the commencement of the
session Of Congress in December last, to
reiterate the serious causes Of complaint
which wesh had against Mexico before she
commented hostilities. 'o {i3ss' 5s5s
lnaitsis Sufficient on the present occasion to
say, that the wanton violation of the rights
sofpersons and property of our citizens
committed by Mexico, her repeated acts of
bad faith through long series Of years,
lating for indemnity to eur injured citizens,
not enly constituted ample causeof 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
xemedy. With an anxious desire to avoid
nrupture between the two countries, we
forebore for years to assert our clear rights
by force, and continued to seek redress for
tho wrongs we had suffered by anlicable me-
gotiation, in the hope that Mexico might
hold to pacific councils and demands Of JUS
tiee. In this hope we were disappointed.
Our minister of peace sent to Mexico was
insultingly rejected. s9e.
Tbs, Mexican government refused even
to hear the terms of adjustment which he
Was authorized to propose, and finally un.
der wholly unjustifable pretexts, involved
the two countries in war, by invading the
ferritory Of the state Of Texas, striking the
first, blow, and shedding the blood of ou,
own citizens on our, own soil. I
Though the United States were the ag
grieved nation, Mexico commenced the
war, and we were compelled, in self de
fence TO repel invaders, and to yindicat'
the national honor and interests, by pros
scnting it with yigor, until we, could obtair
AUST and honorable peace. 5-.qs e. sas.
On hearing that, hostilitieso had beer
commenced BY Mexico, | promptly com
municated that fact. accompanied with ,
succinct statement of our other causes o
complaint against Mexico, to Congress
and that body, by the act of the 18th o
: Maysls46, declared that, 'by the, act o
theRepublic Of Mexico, a state Of war ex
iIs se.Nsa9p' tha. government and the Uni
1sistases e1se g3shs ol - ozsziz9 8 .i