Washington telegraph., 1847-12-29
prE,IDENT,s MESSAGE,
Fellop citizens Of the Senat,
and House Of Representatives.

IffkH iIutti tHfli tuHHAiihfHh u'ih UNIV thhHs
sci together for the common good. Alter
an existence of near three quarters Of a
century. asa iiee aud independen, republic,
the problem no longer remains 10 he snlsed,
whether man is capable Of self govern
mrni. TIM success ot our admirable sys.
ten Is "a conyulsive reluiaiion Of tho theories
of those in other countries, who maintain
that favored lew are born To rule, aud thai
the mass ol mankind must be governed by
force.
Subject To no arbitrary hereditary author.
ity, The people arc the only soyrreigns re.
cognized by our constitution. Numerous
emgfanls, Of every lineage and language,
attracted by the civil aud religious freedom
we enjoy, and by our happy condition, con
tnualls crowd 10 our shofes, transferring
their hearts, not less than lhril allegiance,
10 the country where dominion belongs
alone 10 the people.
No country has been so much favored OF
should acknowledge, with deep reference,
the manifestation ol the Divine protection.
An all.wlst Creator directed aud guarded
US IN auf infant Struggle ior lrcrdnm, aud
las constantly watched over our surprising
p.sgfess, uuiii We have become one nt the
great nations oi earth. II is ina country thus
favored, aud under government IN which
the executive and legislative branches hold
their authority Tor limited periods, alike
from Tue people, and wheie all are fespon'
sible To their respective constituencies, lhil
II is again my duty 10 communicate with
Congress upon the slate oi the Union anu
the present condition ui public Affairs.
during the past year the most gratifying
proofs are presented that our couulf, has
teen blessed with WIDE spread aud UNI.
yersal prosperity. There has been nn pr.
Tlod slne. the government was founded
when ali the industrial pursuit., Of our peo.
pie have been more successful; OF when
laDof, IN all branches ol business, has re.
crised lalfct or better reward. From
an abundance We have bsrn enabled 10
perform the pleasing duty oi furnishing
looJ lof the starving millions Vi less favored
countries.
In the enjoyment OF the bountes Of Prov.
idenee al hume, such as has rarely fallen 10
the lot oil any people, II Is cause oleongfst.
u!aiinn that our intercourse with ali the
poaers oI the earth, except Mexico, eonlin.
ues to be ol an amiable character.
Ii has ever been uuf cherished policy 10
cultivate peace aud gouJ wil win all na.
tons, anu THIS polio! ha. been steadily pur.
sued by the.
No change has taken place IN our rela.
tions With Meiieo since the adjournment
ol The lasl Congress. he war, IA which
tue uniisd States we're iotced 10 engage
with The guycIumrnI Vi tina, country sill
Continues.
| deem II unnecessary alter the fall ei
position oi them, contained IN my nessag,
oi the lIh OF May, 1916, aud my annua
message al the commencement oi the ses
sion ol Con rcs., Ia December last, 10 re-
,,efalc the serious causes Of complaint
which Ne had against Mexico before sh,
commenced hosIiltles.
IL ,s sufficient, on the present occasion
iosay lbal The wanlon violation otIhe right
ofpersons aud property OF our citizens CON
united by Mexico, her repeated acts ol BAT
IaiIh through u long series OF years, ant
her disregard oi solemn treaties slipulaIinl
ior in'lsmnily To our injured citizens, no
only constituted ample cause OF war OIL
our part, but were Of such an aggravaiin.
character as would have justified Us beior'
the world in resoring TO this extreme rene
dy. With an ANXIOUS desire 10 avoid |
rupture between the two countries, we for
bore Tor years 10 assert our clear rights b.
iolce, aud continued 10 seek redress for th'
wrongs we had suffered by amicabe nego
iialious, in hope that Mexico might yiel'
10 pacific councils aud the demands oi JUS
ilce. In this hope we were disappointed
Oar minister oil peace, sent 10 Mexico wa
insullingly rejected. The Mexican Gov
crnmsnl refused even to hear the terms o
adjustment which he was authorized TOT
pose, and, finally, under wholly unInsttllla
bls preleils, involved the two countries IL
war by invading the territory oi the Stat
of TeIas, striking the hrsl low an
shedding the blood of our own citizens o.
our own soil.
Though the United States we're The az
grievcd nation, Mexico commenced III
war, aud We we're compelled, IN sell de
lence, to repcl the invader, aud to 'ind'
cate the nations honor and interests b
prosecuting II with sigar, until we eoul
obtain a Just and honorable peace.
On learning that huslllllies had bee
commenced by Mexico, promptly commu
nicated that fact. accompanied with sue
cint statement of our other causes Of com
plant against Mexico, 10 Congress, an
that body by the act Of the 18th Of May
lsi6, declared that, by the act Of the re
public Of Mexico, a state OF war existed be
tween that Government, and the uniie
States; this act declared the war to eSis
by the act Of he republic Of Mexico, and
"a. u.ng,.utinn In