The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-12-14
MESSAGE.
EsLLou CHi,ens of he Senate:

The annual meeting of Congress Is always
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; After an existence Of near
three-fourths of century as free and indie
pendent republic, the problem remains no lon
ger to be solved. whether man Is capable OF self
government. The success of our admirable
system is a conclusive refutation of the theories
of those in other countries who maintain that
"a favourcd 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 soverelgns
recognized by our constitution Numerous
emi@rants of every lineage and language at
tracted bv the civil and religious freedom we
cnjov, and by our happy condition annually
crowd to our shores, and transfer the heart;
not less than their allegiance, to the country
whose dominion belongs alone to the people.
No country has been 50 much favored or
should acknowledge with deeper reverence the
manifestations of Divine protection. An all
wise Creator directed and guarded us in our
infant struggle for freedom, and has constantly
watched over our surprising progress, until we
have become one OF the great nations OF the
earth
1t lin a country thus favored and under a
government in which The executive and lcgS-
iative branches hold their authority for limited
periods, alike from the people, and where all
are responsible to their respective constituent
cics, that it Is again my duty to communicate
with Congress upon the state Of the Union, 4
the present condition ofpublic affairs
During the past year the most gratifying
proofs are presented that our country has been
blessed with widespread and universal pros
L.. has hoaVa eIn a. bn
government was founded, when all the indus
trial pursuits of our people have been more
successful. or when labor in all branches Of
business has received fairer or better reward.
From our abundance we have been enabled
to perform the pleasing duty Of furnishing food
for the,starvin@ millions OF less iayoured coun-
tries.
In the enjoyment of the bounties of Provi-
dcnce at home, such as have rarely fallen to
the lot of any people, it is cause of congratula-
ton, that our intercourse with all the Powers
OF the earth, except Mexico, continues to be Of
an amiable character.
1t has ever been our cherished policy to cul-
tivate peace and goodwill with all nations;
and this policy has been steadily pursued by
me.
No cIErgr has taken place in our relations
with Mexico since the adjournment of the last
Congress. The war in which the United States
We're forced to engage with the government of
that country still exists.
deem ii unnecessary, after the full expos
tulation OF them contained in my message Of
Nav. 1916. and in NV annual message at the
commencement of Congress in December last,
TO reteratc the serious causes of complaints
which we had against Mexico before she COM
menced hostiiticS.
1t is sufficient on the present occasion tosay
TINT the wanton violation OF the rights Of per-
SONS anil property of our citizens committed
m Mexico, her repeated acts of bad faith, thr'o
a long series Of years and her disregard of SOL
emn VOWS, stipulating for indemnity TO our in
jured citizens, not only constituted ample
cause Of war, on our part, but we're of such an
aggravated character rs would have justified
lis before the whole world in restoring to this
extreme remedy With an anxious desire to
avoid 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 amicablc negocia-
tons. in the hope that Mexico might yield to
pa :iiic counsils and the demands of justice.
In this hope we were disappointed. Our min
lister of peace sent to Mexico was inSultngly
jected. The Mexican government refused e.
ven to hear the terms of adjustment which he
wholly unjuStifable pretcXtS, involved the two
countries in war, by invading the territory of
tn State of Texas. striking the first blow, and
shedding the blood of our citizens on our own
soil.
Though the United States were the aggrei-
we'd nation, Mexico commenced the war, and
We were compelled, in self-defence, to repei
the invader, and to vindicate the national hon
or and interests by prosecuting it with vigor
until We could obtain just and honorable
peace,
On learning that hoStilites had been COM
menced by Mexico, | promptly communicated
that fact accompanied with succinct state
ment of our other causes of complaint against
Mexico, to Congress; and that body, by the
act of the thirteenth of MAY, 1916, declared
that ''by the act Of the republic Of Mexico, a
state of war exists between the two govern
mems ard the United States" act declar-
ing "the war to exist by the act Of the repub-
lie of Mexico and making provision for its
prosecution ito aSpeedv and successful termi-
nation" was passed with great unanimity by
Congress there being but two negative votes
in the Senate, and but fourteen in the House
of Representatives.
The existence of the war having thus been
declared by Congress, it became nv duty, IN
der the constitution and the laws TO conduct
and prosecute it. The duty has been perfor
med; and though, at every stage Of It's prog
ress, have manifested a willingness to termi-
nate it by just peace. Mexico has refused
TO accede 10 any terms which could be accep-
ted by the United States, consistently with the
national honor and interests.
The rapid and brilliant successes of our
arms, and the vast extent of the enemy's terri
tory which we have 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 in
creased energy, and l gratified to state
with success which commands universal adj
miration. History presents no parallel of so
many glorious victories achieved by any ma
ton within so short a period, Our army, reg
ulars and volunteers have covered themselves
with imperishable honorS- Whenever and
wherever our forces have encountered the en-