Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-02-02
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
About tho r ASS-ayc Of SANTA AnIl:,
into Mexico, &C.

To TIE House Of Representatives, Of the L. States:
i have carefully considered the rcSol,l.
ton of the House of Representatives, of the
4,h instant, requesting the President &c
communicate 10 that House ''anv inStruc-
tons which may have been given to any Of
the officers Of the army or navy Of the L.
States, or other persons, in regard 10 tho
return of President General Lopez de San
ia Anna. or any other Mexican, 10 the Re
public Of Mexico. prior or subsequent 10 the
order of the President or Secretary ofWar
issued in January. 1916. for the march OF
the ar,s,y from the Nucces river across 'ihe
stupcndous deserts which intervene 10 the
Rio GraEde; that the date of all such in.
s,ructions. orders, and spondence bc
set forth. together with the instructions and
orders issued to Mr.. Sldell. at anv time
prior or subsequent 10 his departure fol
Mexico. as Min :ster Plcnipotentiary.,of the
United States to tina, Republic" and re-
quest,nc the President also 10 ''comrnuni-
cate all the orders and correspondence OF
the government i'll relation TO the return oil
Gen. Parades to Mexico
transmit. herewith, reports from the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of War.
and the Secretary of the Navy, with the
documents accompanying the same. which
contain all the information in the posses
sion of the Executive which it is deemed
compatible with the public interests 10
communicate.
For further information relating to the
return of Santa Anna to Mexico, refer
you to my annual message of December
Sih, 1915. The facts and considerations
hat ind, col IL, 40
of the Secretary of the Navy to the com
mander of our Squadron in the Gulf of
Mexico-a copy Of which is herewith trans
miit:ed. This order was issued simuita-
ncousIy with the order TO blockade the
coasts of Mexico. both bearing date the
18th of May. 1916. the day on which the
existence of the war with Mexico was re-:
cognized by Congress. Ii was issued solely
upon the views of policy presented in thai,
message, and without any understanding
OH the subject. direct or inditect.with San
ia Anna Or any o,i,er person.
General Parades evaded the vigilance
of our combined forces by land and sea.
and made his way back to Mexico from the
exile which he had been driven. landing at
Vera Cruz. aftei that city and the caatle Of
San Juan d'Clloa were in our military oc
cupation, as will appear from the accompa-
nying reports and documents.
The resolution calls for :.,he instructions
and orders issued to Mr.Slidell at any time
prior or subsequent to his departure for
Mexico as Minister Plcni po;entiarv of the
United States TO that Republic The
customary and usua; reservation contained
in either House Of Congress upon the Ex-
ccutive for information relating to cur inter
course with foreign nations has been omit
ted in the resolution before me-. The call
Of the House is unconditional. 1t is, that
the information requested be communica-
ted, and thereby be made public: whether.
in the opinion of the opinion of the Ex-
ecutive. who is charged by the constitution
with the duty of conducting negotiations
with foreign powers.euch information. when
disclosed, would be prejudicial 10 the pub
lie Interests or not. 1t has been subject
of serious deliberation with me whether
could, consistently with my constitutional
duty and my sense Of the public interests