The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-07


The remainder of the session was occupied in the
reading OF the message
The Message.
The wofound impression made upon the public mind
by the previous annual messages OF the President will
be fully sustained by the luminous and admirable state
paper which fills our columns this evening, Written
it is with remarkable comprehensveness, perspcuy,
and force, no synopsis do justice to its views of the
vast and momentous topics embraced in its outlines and
we trust that all the democratic presses in the country
will feel the Importance in the present juncture OF public
affairs OF laying it entire before their readers From the
people themselves, whose national honor and interests il
clearly displays and nobly susans, it demands,
it ought receive and will amply repay, most careful
study.
After brief and appropriate introduction, announcing,
among other of national congratuaton, that
intercourse with all the powers OF the EARTH except Men
ico continues be of an amcabe characterreferring
to previous official statements of the by which the
existing hostities have been forced upon us, and COM
menling in fit terms the unrivaed achievements of
gallant armies to the gratitude Of the country and the ad-
niration of the wordhe President proceeds at to
clear and frank exposition Of the policy of the govern
ment in relation to the war with Mexico, commencing
with faithful narrative OF the late unsuccessful negoa
tons to bring il to Just and honorable conclusion.
With reference to the purposes and objects OF the
the President enforces, with mastery and conclusive
power, the proposition that no treaty of peace can be
rghtfuy accepted by u.s. which shall embrace in its
provisions full indemnity for the past and security for
the futures and that the present condition OF M exico,
this indemnity only be territorial Referring to the
well settled principle OF public law, that treaty erm
all nrior cla for
which it does not provide and thus establishing the fact
that's treaty of peace without indemnity between and
Mexico would be final REIMBURSEMENT of outsand
ing claims against her. bringing also into view the
torious truth, that Mexico can furnish to us such
indemnity in no other form than by cession of ter
roy; considering, too, that Congress has repeatedly
recognised the acquisition Of territorial indemnity
part the necessary result of the war; holding this
suit to have been in the contemplation of Congress. both
when il passed the act recognising the and providing
Tor its prosecution, and when placed at the disposal of
the Executive three millions of dollars expressly in view
of acquisition OF territory part by treaty Of
peace, the President urges with great emphasis that e
doctrine Of no territory is The doctrine of indemnify
and, if sanctioned would be a public acknowledgment
that country wrong, and that the declared
by Congress with extraordinary unanimity was unjust,
and should be abandoned; an admission unfounded in
fact, and degrading to the national character"
In this view, and from considerations presented with
great force and cogency in the ssage the President
arrives at the conclusion that the provinces of New
Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;, now in our possession,
should be surrendered by to Merico, and that
provision should be made by Congress for the establish
men of territorial governments over them.
We have neither time space this evening to
give even synopsis of the able and conclusive ar
gument presented in the message against the adop
lion on our part of the mere defensive policy of an
indemnity line, and in vndication of the opposite pol
icy OF vigorous hostile operations in the vital parts
OF the republic of Mexico, till Just and honorable
terms of peace shall be secured We commend this por-
ton of the message to the attention of all those who
may have heretofore entertained doubts upon the question
which discusses; and predict that the views and
the reasonngs which it presents powerfully will com
mand the convictions of the country The same remark
equally applicable the Presidents exposition of the
sound policy of levying military contributions on the
mys country for the support OF the The important
bearing of this measure upon the speedy attainment
of just terms of peace obvious The recount given
in the message of the adopted in pursuance OF
this policy will be read we doubt not with general in
terest and APPRECIATION In the prosecution of the
war in this shall still fail to peace, it
will be that the government wisely contempates
the possibility Of extending the encouragement and pro-
lection Of armies TO the friends OF peace in Mexico
who may seek TO establish and maintain free republican
government Of their own choice, able and willing to
make peace with us upon just and satisfactory terms
For the details of the operations of the during the
past year. the President refers the report of the Score
ary Of War; with wel-merited remark upon the ability
and success with which the unusually and
sponsibe duties OF that department have been discharged
Though not called upon to encounter the enemy upon
the ocean, the operations of navy during the year, IN
Its participation in the war, far an opportunity
has o$erej and in its efficient protection OF widely
extended commerce, also mentioned in terms OF jus
commendation.
In surveying the relations of the country with the va
roqs Foreign Powers, both OF the Old World and OF the
New, the President brings TO the attention OF Congress
urgent necessity Of making Legislative provision t.