The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

TresS rs always an interesting event Inc iNp-
resentativcs of the States md of the people
como fresh from their constituents TO take coun
isel together for the common good, Amor an
existence ofncnr three fourths of century MS
n free and Independent republic, the problem
no longer remains 20 be solved, whether man
Is capable of self government. The success
of our admirable system ia n conclusive retu-
tution Of the theories of those in other coun-
trieD who maintain that "lhvorcd few" are
born TO rule, and that the mass of mankind
must be governed by force, Subject to no ar
bitrnry or hereditary authority the people are
the only sovcrogns recognized by our oonstl-
tuition. Numerous emigrants ofcvcry lineage
and language, attracted by the civil and reli-
gious freedom we enjoy, and by our happy
condition, annually crowd TO our shores, and
transfer their heart, not less than their allegl-
ance, to the country whose dominion belongs
alone to the people
No country has been so much favored or
should acknowledge with deeper reverence the
nifestations ofthc Divine protection. An
all-wise Creator directed and guarded us IN
our infant struggle for freedom, and has con
stantly watched over our surprising progress,
until we have become one ofthc greathntIons
of the earth.
1t is in a country thus favored, and under
government in which the executive and lrgis;,
lative branches hold their authority for Limited
periods, alike from the people, and where all
are responsible to their respective constituent
ces, that it is again my duty to comm ihicate
with Congress upon the state OF the uhloh,ohd
the present condition of public affairs.
During the past year the most gratifying
proofs are presented that our country has been
blessed with II wide spread and universal pros
perity. 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
business hns received fairer or better reward
From our abundance we have been enabled To
perform the pleasing duty of furnishing food
Tor the starving millions ofless favored coun-
tries,
In the enjoyment ofthc Bounties Of Provi-
denoe Mt home. such as have rarely fallen to
the lot of any people it is cause of congratnla-
ton, that our intercourse with all the Powers
OF the earth, except Mexico, continues to be
=. ofaE amcabie character.
Ithsa ever been our cherished policy TO cut
I, tIvate peace and good will with all nations ana
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. Tho war in which the un't'd
States were forced 10 engage viii the govern
mert Of that country still continues
deem it unnecessary, after the fnll eNpos-
ton of them contained in my message CT inc
eleventh of May, 1876, and in my annual ms
sage at the commencement Of the aession OF
Congress IN December last, to reierate the Sc
rious causes of complaint which we had q
gainst Mexico before she commenced HOSTILE
ties
III is sufficient on tho present occnsnn tosay
that the wanton violation of the rights OF per-
sons and property of our citizens commlttedb by
Mexico, her repeated acts of bad faith, thro
a long series of years, and her disregard OF
solemn treaties, stipulating for indemnity TO
our injured citizens, not only constituted am
rple cause of war on our part, but were OF such
an aggravated character would have iusth-
. ed us before the whole world in resortlng 10
this extreme remedy. With an anxious desire
to avoid rupture between the two countries;
we 'forbore for years to assert our clear rights
tby force, and continued to seek redress for the
wrongs we had suffered by amcnble negotia
ton in the hope that Mexico might yield to pa
cific councils and the demands of justice. In
this hope we were disappointed. Our minister
of peace sent to Mexico was insutingly reject
cd, The Mexican government refused even
TO hear the terms of adjustment which he was
authorized TO propose; and finally, under
wholly uniustifnble pretexts, involved the two
countries 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-
ed nation, Mexico commenced the war, and
we we're compelled, 10 self defence, to rcpcl
the invader, and to vindicatc the national hon
OF and interests by prosecuting it with vIgor
until we could obtain just and honorable
peace
on learning that hostilitcs had been COM
menccd by Mexico, promptly communicated
that fact, accompanied with succlnct state
ment of our other causes of complaintugainst
Mexico, to Congress, and that body, by the
act of the thirteenth Of May, lS46, declared
that s'by the act of the republic of Mexico,
state of war exists between that government
and the United States"-this act declaring
4'the war to exist by the act of the republic of
Mexico" and making provision for its prose-
culon ''to speedy and successful termlna-
ton" was passed with great unanimity by
Con gress, there being but two negative votes
in the Senate and but fourteen in the House
of Representatives..
The existence of the war thus having been
declared by Congr ess, it became my duty, I'M
der the constitution and the laws, to conduct
and prosecute it. This duty has been perform
ed: and though, at every stage of its progress,
| have manifested willingness to terminate
il by Just peace, Mexico has refused to uc-
cede to any terms which could be accepted by
the United States, consistently with the ma
tional honor and interest.
The brilliant and rapid successes ofour arms
and the vast extent of the enemy's territory
which had been overrun and conquered, be-
fore the close ofthe last session of Congress
were fully known to that body. Since that
time, the war has been prosecuted with in
creased energy, and | am gratlfed to state,
with a success which commands universal ad-
miraton. History presents no parallel OF so
many glorious victories achieved by any ma
ton within so short period. Our army, reg
ulars and volunteers, have covered themselves
with imperishable honors. Whenever and
wherever our forces have encountered the
enemy, though he was in vastly superior num-
beers, and often entrenched in fortified posi-
II tons Of his own selection and ofgreat strength
: he. sheen defeated Too much praise can
not be bestowed upon our officers and men reg
ulars and volunteers, for their gallantry, dis
mi ;Ddnmitnbla nd