Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-01-27
Presidents Message.

ing the President 10 communicate to that House ..any
instructions which may have been given to any of the
officers OF the army navy of the United States
other pcrsons In regard TO the return of President
General Lopez de Santa Anna any other MeXlci n,
to the republic of Mexico prior subsequent to the
order OF the President Secretary of War, issued
IN January 1886 for the march of the army from the
Nueces river the stupeQdous deserts which
intervene to the Rio Grande that the date Of all
such instructions; orders, and correspondence be set
FORTH together with the instructions and orders issued
to Mr.. Slide any time prior subsequent to his
departure for Mexico, minister plenpotentiary of
the United States to that republic and requesting
the President also to communicate all the orders and
correspondence of the government in relation TO the
return of Gen. Paroles 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 possession of
the Executive which it is deemed compatible with the
public interests to communicate
For further information relating To the return OF
Santa Anna to Mexico, refer you to my annual mes
sage of December 6th, 1916. Tie facts and conside
ratons stated in that message induced the order of
the Secretary of the Navy to the commander of our
squadron in the Gulf of Mexico copy of which is
herewith communicated This order was issued SIM
ultaneously with the order to blockade the coasts of
Mexico, both bearing date the 18th Of May, 1876,
the day which the war with Mexico was recogni>-
ed by Congress. 1t issued solely upon the views
of policy presented in that message, and without any
understanding the subject, direct indirect, with
Santa Anna or any other persun.
General Paradcs evaded the vigilance of our
bIned forces by land and sea, and made his way back
TO Mexico from the exile which he had been driven,
landing at Vera Cruz, after that city and the castle of
San Juan d'Uoa in our military occupation, as
Will appear from the accompanying reports and docu
mens.
'ha mfr oil for fbo and
ders issued Mr.. Slide any time prior or subse-
quent to his departure TO Mexico Minister Penipo-
Tertiary OF the UnlIed States 10 that republic" The
customary and usual reservation contained in calls
of either house of Congress upon the Executive for
information relating To our intercourse with foreign
nations has been omitted in the resolution before me-
The call OF the House unconditional 1t that the
information requested be communicated, and thereby
be made public whether, in the opinion of the Exec
utlve, who Is charged by the constitution with the
duty OF conducting negotiations with foreign powers
such information, when disclosed. would be preudcia
TO the public Interests not. 1t has been a subject
Of serious elaboration with me, whether could, con-
sistenty with my constitutional duty and my of
the public interests involved and to be affected by it.
violate an important principle, always heretofore held
sacred by my predecessors, l should do by a
pllance with the request of the House.
President ashington, in message to the House
of Representatives of the Both of March, 1876, de-
cllned to comply with request contained IN a resO
luton of that body to Law before them ga copy of the
instructions the minister of the United States who
negotiated the treaty with the King of Great Britain
-together with the correspondence and other docu-
ments relative TO the said treaty, excepting such of
the said papers as any existing negotiations may
der improper TO be disclosed" In assigning his
for declining to comply with the CALL he declared
that the nature of foreign negotiations requires ca
tlon and their must often depend on secresy
and even when brought TO a conclusion, full dsco-
OF all the measures demands, and eventual con-
cessOns, which may have been proposed contem-
plated, would be extremely impotic; for this might
have perncious influence future negotiations, or
produce Immediate inconvenience, perhaps danger
and mischief, in relation TO other powers. The ne
cessty of such caution and secresy was cogent
for vestng the power of making treaties in the
President with the advice and consent of the Senate
the principle on which that body was formed, confn-
ing 1t to small number of members To admit, then,
a right in the House of Representatives 10 demand
and to have, matter of course, all the papers
specting negotiation with foreign power, would
be toestablish dangerous precedent" In that case
the instructions and documents called for related
treaty which had been concluded and ratified by the
President and Senate, and the negotiations in relation
to 1t had been terminated. There was an express
reservation too, excepting from the call all such
papers as related to "any existing negotiations
which II might be improper to disclose. In that case,
President Washington deemed it to be violation of
an important principle, the establishment of ''dan-
gerous precedent" and preudcal to the public inter-
esis, to comply with The call of the House.
Without deeming it TO be necessary, on the pres
ent occasion. to examine or decide upon the other
assigned by him, for his refusal commune
cate the information requested by the House, the one
which is herein recited is in mysjudgment,. conclu-
sive in the under consideration.
Indeed the objections complying with the request
Oft he med in he hpfO me
are much stronger than those which existed in the
of the resolution of 1886 This resolution calls
for the instructions and ORDERS to the minister of
the United States to Mexico, which relate to negotia-
lions which have not been terminated and which may
be resumed. The information called for respects
gotations which the United States offered TO open with
Mexico Immediately preceding the commencement OF
the existing The instructions given 10 the min
lister Of the United States relate to the differences be-
tween the two countries, out of which the war grew,
and the terms of adjustment which prepar-
ed to offer 10 Mexico in our anxiety TO prevent the
war These differences still remain unsettled; and
to comply with the call of the House, would be to
make public, through that channel, and to commune
cate TO Mexico, now public enemy engaged In war.
information which could not fail TO produce serious
embarrassment in any future negotiation between the
two countries.
have heretofore communicated to Congress all the
correspondence of the minister of the United States
to Mexico which, in the existing state of our rela-
tons with that republic, can, in my judgment, be at
this time communicated without serious injury to the
public interest.
Entertaining this conviction, and with sincere de-
sire to furnish any information which may be in the
possession of the Executive Department, and which
either house of Congress may anystime request,
regard it to be my constitutional right and my SOL
emn duty under the circumstances of this case TO de-
cline a compliance with the request of the House,