Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-07-19
Yhe Presidents Message

no Presideni's message.
1a kuates and ] Houss Of :Represeata'
sss ss 81
ny before Congress copies Of treaty
Of peace, friendship, limits, and settlement,
between the United States and the Mexican
republic, the ratifcations of which were du-
ly exchanged at.the city Of Queretaro, il
!. Mexico, on the 30th day of May, 1S48.
The war in which our country was re.
luctantly involved, in the necessary vindica.
ton of the national rights and honor, has
been thus terminated; and I congratulate
Congress, and our common constituents
upon the restoration of an honorable peace.
The extensive and valuable territories
ceded by Mexico to the United States, con-
stitute indemnity for the past and the brill
liant achievements and signal successes of our
arms will be guaranty of security for the
future, by convincing all nations that our
rights must be respected. The results of the
waHwith Mexico have given to the United
States national character abroad, which
our country never before. enjoyed. Our
power & our resources have become known,
and are respected throughout the world and
we shall probably be saved from the neces-
sity of engaging in another foreign war for
a long, series of years. 1t is subject of
congratulation that we have passed through
a war of more than two years duration,
with the business Of the country uninter-
rupted, with the resources unexhausted, and
the public credit unimpaired.
L communicate for the information of
Congress the accompanying documents and
correspondence relating to the negotiation
and ratification of the treaty.
Before the treaty can be fully executed ON
ihepart of the United States, legislation
will be required. 1t will be propen to make
, the necessary appropriations for. the pay
ment of the twelve millions of dollars, stip-
ulated by the twelfth article to be paid to
Mexico in four equal annual instruments
Three millions of dollars were appropriated
by the act of March Sd, -l847, and that
sum was paid to the Mexican government
after the exchange Of the ratifcations of the
treaty. - @
The fifth article Of the treaty provides,
that sln order to designate the boundary
line with due precision upon authoritative
maps, and to establish upon the ground land
marks which shall show the limits of both
republics, as described in the present arti-
Gle, the two governments shall zach appoint
a commissioner and surveyor, who, before
the~expiraton of one year from the date of
the exchange Of ratfcations of this treaty,
shall meet at the port of San Diego, and
proceed to run and mark the said boundary
in its whole course to the mouth of the Rio
Bravo del Norte." 1t will be necessary that
provision should be made by law for the
appointment of commissioner and sur
veyor on the part of the United States, to
act in conjunction with commissioner and
surveyor appointed by Mexico, in executing
the stipulations of this article.
It will be proper also to provide by law
for the appointment of @board of commits
sioners'' to adjudicate and decide upon all
claims of our citizens against the Mexican
. government, which, by. the treaty, have
been assumed by the United States.
New Mexico the Upper California have
been ceded by Mexico to the United States,
and now constitute part of cur Country.
Embracing nearly ten degrees of latitude,
lying adjacent to the Oregon Territory, and
extending from the Pacific ocean to the Rio
Grande, mean distance of nearly thous-
and miles, it would be difficult to estimate
the value of these possessions to the United
States. They constitute of themselves a
country large enough for great empire, land
their acquisition is second only in import
anee to that of Louisiana in 1903. Rich
in mineral and agricultural resources, with
climate of great saiubrity, they embrace
the most important ports on the whole Pa
ciic coast of the continent of North America:
The possession of the ports Of San Diego,
Monterey, and the bay Of San Fracisco,will
enable the United States to command the
already valuable and rapidly increasing
commerce Of the Pacific. The number Of
our whale-ships alone, new employed in that
sea, exceeds seven hundred, requiring twen-
ty thousand seamen to navigate them ;while
the capital invested in this particular branch
Of commerce is estimated at not less than
forty millions of dollars. The excellent
harbors Of Upper California, will, under our
flag, afford security and repose to our COM
1hefcial marine, and American mechanics
will soon furnish ready means of ship build
ing and repair, which are now so much
wanted in that distant sea.
BY the acquisition of these possessions we
are brought into immediate proximity with
tile west coast of America, from Cape Horn
to,the Russian possessions north ef Oregon;
with the islands Of the Pacific ocean; and,
by direct voyage IN steamers, we VIII be
in less than thirty days of Canton and other
ports Of China.
n, this vast, region whose rich resources
are soon to be developed by American ener-
Yand enterprise, great must be the aug
: paentation of our. commerce; and with 1t,
new and profitable demands for mechanic
]abor in all its branches, and new and val
pable markets for our manufacturers and
i. agricultural products. :,
While the war has been conducted with