The Evansville journal., December 14, 1846, Image 2

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, under date of
tho twenty eighth of January 1 80 j, assert
that the boundaries of Louisiana, as ceded
to tho U. S. by France, 'are the river Per
didoonthe east, and tho river Bravo on the
west,' and they add, that 'the facts and
principles which justify this conclusion are
uo satisfactory to cur Government as to con
Yince it that the U. S. have not a better
right to the island of New Orleans, under
the cession rofferred to than they have to
tho wholo district of territory which is above
described.' Down to the conclusion of the
Florida treaty, in February, 1819, by which
this territory was ceded to Spain, the U. S.
asserted and maintained their territorial
rights to this extent
In the month of June, ISIS during Mr.
Monroe's administration, information hav
ing been recoived that a number of foreign
adventurers had landed at Galveston, with
the avowed purpose of forming a settlement
in that vicinity, a special messenger was
'dispatched by the government ot the u. S.
with instructions from the Secretary of State
to warn them to desist, should they be found
there 'or any other place north of the Rio
Bravo, and within the Territory claimed by
the U. S.' lie was instructed should they
be found in the country norm ot tnat river,
to make known to them 'the surprise with
which the President has seen possession thus
taken without authority from the U. S cf
a place within their territorial limits, and
upon which no lawtul settlement can be
made without tneir sanction, lie was in
structed to call upon them to 'avow under
what national authority they profess to act,'
and to give them due warning 'that the
place is within the United States, who will
suffer no pormanont settlement to be made
there, under any authority other than their
own.' As late as the8ih of July, 1842,the
Secretary of State of the United States, ia a
note addressed to our Minister in Mexico,
maintains that, by the Florida Treaty of
1819, the territory ao tar west as the Ilio
Grande was confirmed to Spain. In that
note he states that 'by the ' treaty of the 22d
February, 1819, between th United States
. and Spain, the Sabine was adopted as the
line ot boundary between the two powers.
Up to that period, no considerable coloniza
tion had been effected in Texas, but tho ter
ritory between tho Sabina and the Rio Gran'
e being confirmed to Spain by the treaty
applications were made to tint power for
grants of land; and such grants, or permis
sions of settlement, were in fact made by
the Spanish authorities in favor of citizens
of the United States proposing to emigruto
to Texas in numerous familes, before the
declaration of independence by Mexico.'
The Texas which was ceded to Spain by
the Florida treaty of 1819, embraced nil the
country now claimed by the Stale of Tens,
between the Nueces and the Rio Grand.
The republic of Texas always claimed this
river as her western boundary, and in her
treaty made with Santa Anna in May, 1836
he recognized it as such. .By the Constilu-I
, tion which Texas adopted in March, 1830,
senatorial and representative districts were
organized, extending west of tho Nueces.
Tuo Congress of Texas, on the 19th of Da--cernber,
1833, passed 'An act to define the
republic of Texas,' in which they declared
the Rio Grande from its mouth to its source
to be their boundary, and by the said act
they extended their 'civil and political juris
diction' over the country up to that bounda
ry. During a period of moro than nine
' years, which intervened between the adop
tion of her constitution and her annexation
as one of the States of our Union. Texas as
serted and exorcised many acts of soverign
ty and jurisdiction over the territory and in
habitants west of tho Nueces. She organ
ized and defined tha limits of counties ex
tending to the Rio 3randc. She establish
ed courts , of justice, and extended hor judi
cial system over the territory. She estab
lished a custom house, and collected duties,
and also post offices, and issued numerous
grants for land, within its limits. A sena
tor and representative residing in it, were
elected to the Congress of the Ropublic.and
served as such before the act ot annexation
took place.
(n both tho Congress and Convention ofj
Texas, which gave their assent to the terms
of annexation to the U. States, proposed by
our Congress, were representatives rosiding
west of the Nueces, who took part in the
act of annexation itself. This was the Tex
as which, by the act uiour Congress of the
twenty ninth of December, 1815, was ad
mitted as one of the States of tho Union.
That the Congress of the U. S. understood
the State of Texas which they admitted into
the Union to extend beyond the Nueces U
apparent from the fact, that on thirty first
of December, 184a, only two days after the
act of admission, thoy passed ti law 'to es
tablish a collection district in the Stato of
Texas,' by which they created a port of de.
livery at Corpus Christi, situated west of tho
Nueces, and being the same point at which
the Texas custom house, under the laws of
that republic, had been located, and direct
ed that a surveyor to collect the revenue
should bo appointed for that port by the
President, by and with the advice and con
sent of the Senate. A surveyor was ac
cordingly nominated and confirmed by the
benate. and has been ever since in the por-
lormanced of his duties. All these acts of
tho republic of Texas, and of our Congress,
preceded tho orders for tho advance of our j
army to the east bank of the Rio Grande.
Subsequently, Congress passod an act 'es
tablishing certain post routes, extending
west of the Nueces.
The country west of that river now con
stitutes a part of one of. the Congressional
districts of Texas, and is represented in the
House of Representatives. Tho Senators
from that Stale were chosen by a legislature
in which tho country west of that river was
represented. In view of all these facts, it
is difficult to conceive upon what ground
it can be maintained that in occjpving the
couBtry west of the Nueces with our army,
with a view solely to its security and de
fence, we invaded the territory of Mexico,
But it would have been still more difficult
to justify the Executive, whose duty it is to
see that the laws be faithfully executed, if
in the f.ico of all these proceeding?, both of
the Congress of Texas and of the U. States,
ioi bad assumed the respectability of yield
ing up the territory west of the Nuecos to
Mexico, or of refusing to protect and defend
this territory and its inhabitants, including
Corpus Christi, as well as the remainder of
Texas, against the threatened Mexican in
vasion. I
But Mexico herself has never placed tho
war which she has waged upon the ground
that our army occupied the intermediate ter
ritory between tho Nuecos and tho Rio
Grande. Her refuted pretension that Tex
as was not in fact an Independent State, but
a rebellious province, was obstinateh' per
severed in and her avowed purpose in com
mencing a war with tho United States was
to reconquer Texas and to restore Mexican
authority over the wholo territorj', not to
the Nueces only, but to the Sabine. In view
of tho proclaimed monaces of Mexico to this
effect, 1 deemed it ray duty, as a measure
of preservation and defenco to order our
army to occupy a position on our frontier as
a military post, from which our troops could
best resist and repel any attempted invasion
which Mexico mrsrlitmake.
Our army had occupied a position at Cor
pus Christi, west of the Nueces, as early as
August, 1845, without complaint from any
quarter. Had tho-Nueces been regarded as
the truo western boundary of Texas, that
boundary had been passed by our army
many months before it advanced to the east
ern bank of the Rio Grando.
In my annual message of Decembor last,;
1 informed congress that upon invitation ot
both tho congress and contention of Texas,
I had deemed it proper to order a strong
squadron to tho cost of Mexico to Concen
trate an efficient millitary force on the wes
tern frontier of Texas, to protect and defend
tho inhabitants against the menaces and in
vasion of Mexico. In that messngo I iti
formed congress that the moment the terms
of annexation offered by the U. S. were ac
cepted by Texas, the latter became so far a
partaf our own country as to make it our
duty to afford such protection and defence;
and that for that purpose bur squadron had
been ordered to tho Gulf, and our army 'to
take a position between the Nueces and the
Del Norte,' or Rio Grande, and 'to repel any
invasion of the Texan territory which
might bo attempted by tho Mexican forces.'
It was deemed proper to issuo this order,
because, soon aftef, the President of Texas,
iu April, 1845, had issuod his proclamation
convening tho Congress of that republic, for
tho purposo of submitting kto that body the
terms of annexation proposed by the U. S.,
the Mexican government mado serious
threats of invadnng the Texan territory.
Theso throats became more imposing as it
became more nyparenf, in the progress of
the question, that the people of Texas would
decide in favor of accepting tho terms of
annexation, and finally, they hud assumed
such a formidable character, as induced
both tho Congress and Convention of Tex
as to request that a military force should be
sent by the U. S. into hor territory for tho
purpose of protecting and defending her
against the threatened invasion. It would
havo been a violation of good faith towards
the people of Texas to have refused to afford
the aid which they desired against a threat
ened invasion, to which they had been ex
posed by their free determination to annex
themselves to our Union, in compliance with
the ovorature made to them by the joint
resolution of congress.
Accordingly, a portion of the armv was
ordered to advance into Texas. Corpus
Christi was the position selected by Gen.
Taylor. He encamped at that place in Au
gust. 1815 and the army remained in that
position until the 1 1th March 181G, when
il removed westward, and on the 2Sth of
that month reached the oast bank of the Ilio
Grande opposite to Matamoras. This
movement was made in pursuance of orders
from tho War Department issued on the
13th of January, 1840, Before theso or
ders wero issued, tee despatch of our min
ister in Mexico, transmitting the decision
of the Council of Government of Mexico,
advising that he should not be received, and
also the despatch of our consul residing in
the city of Mexico the former bearing
date the 17th, and the latter on the 18th of
December; 1345, copies of both of which ac
conipanied my mossanjo to Congress of the
11th of May last were received at the De
partment of State. These communications
rendered it highly probable, if not absolute
ly certain, that our minister would not bo
received by the government of General Her
rera. It was also well known that but lit
tie hope could be entertained of a different
result from Genera! Paredes in case the re
volutionary movement which he was prose
cuting should prove successful, as was high
ly probable. Tho partizans of Paredes as
our minister, in tho despatch referred to,
states, breathed the fiorcest hostility against
the United States, donouncod the proposed
negotiation as treason, and openly called
upon tho troops and the people to put down
the government of Ilerrera by force. The
conquest of Texas; and war with the United
States were openly threatened. These
were the circumstances existing, when it
was deemed proper to order the army undor
the command of General Taylor to advance
to tho western froniter of Texas, and oc-
cupy a position on the Rio Grande. .
The apprehensions of a contemplated
Mexican invasion have been since fully
justified by the event. Tho determination
of Mexico to rush into hostilities with the
United States wns afterwards manifested
from the whole tenor of the no'e of the
Mexican minister of Foreign affairs to our
Minister, bearing date on the 12 1 h of March
1815. Paredes had then revolutionized the
government, and his minister after referring
to the resolution for the annexation of Tex
as, which had been adopted by cur Con
gress in March, 1845. proceeds to doclaro,
"that a. fact such as this or to speak with
greater exactness, so notable an act of usur
pation, croated an imperious necessity that
Mexico, for hor own honor, should repel it
with proper firmness and dignity. Tho
Supremo Government had beforehand de
clared that it would look upon such an act
as a casus belli; and, as a consequences of
this declaration, negociation washy its very
nature, at an end, and war was the only re
course of the Mexican Government."
It appears also, that on tho fourth
April following Gen. Paredes, through hisj
Minister of Wur, issued orders to the Mex
ican General in command on the Texan
frontier to "attack our army by every
means which war permits." To this Gen.
Paredes had been pledged to the, army and
poeplo ct .Mexico during the revolution that
had brought him into power. On the 18th
of April, 184G, Gen. Paredes addressed a
letter to the commander on that frontier, in
which he stated to him "at the present date
suppose you at the' head of that valiant
army, either fighting already, or preparing
for a campaign : and supposing you already
on tho theatre of operations and with ail the
forces assembled, it is inidspensablo that
hostilities be commenced, yourself taking
the initiative, against the enemy.'"
The movement of our army on the Rio
Grando was made by the commanding gen
eral tmder positive orders to abstain from
all aggressive acts towards Mexico, or Mex
ican citizens, and to regard relations be
tween tho two countries as peaceful, unless
Mexico should declare war, or commit acts
of hostility indicative of a state of war; and
theso orders he faithfully executed. Whilst
occupying the east bank of the Rio Grande
within tho limits of Texas, then rocently
admitted as one of the States of our Union
the commanding general of the Mexican
forces, who, in pursuance of orders of his
government, had collected a large army on
the opposite shore ot tho Kio Grande, cross
ed the river, invaded our territory, and
commenced hostilities by, attacking our for
ces. ,
Thus,after all the injuries which we had
received and borne from Mexico, after she
had insultingly rejected a minister sent to
her on a mission of peace, and whom she
had solemnly agreed to receive, she consu
maled her long course of outragos against
our country, by commencing an offencive
war, and shedding tho blood of our citizens
on our own soil.
The U. S never attempted to acquire
Texas .by conquest. On the contrary, at
an early period, afior tho people of Texas
had achieved their independence, tbey
sought to be annexed to the Uuited States.
At a gonoral election in September 1S3G,
they decided with great unanimity, in fa
vor of ''annexation ," and in November fol
lowing, tho Congress of tho republic au
thorized the appointment of a minister to
boar their request to this government. The
government, however, having remained
neutral between Texas and Mexico during
the war between them, and considering it
due to the honor of our country, and our
fair fame among tho nations of the earth,
that we should not at this early period, con
sent to annexation, nor until it should be
manifoct to tho whole world that tho con
quest of Texas by Moxico was impossible,
refuse to acceed to the overtures mado by
Texas. On the 12th of April, 1814, and
after more than seven years had elansod
sinco Texas had established her indepen
dence, n treat v was concluded for the an
nexation of that republic to the United
States, which was rejected by the Senate.
Finally, on the first of March 1845. Con-
gross passod a joint resolution for annexing
her to the U. Mates upon certain prelimi
nary conditions, to which her assent was
required. The solemnities, which char
acterizod the deliberations and conduct of
tho government and people of Texas, on
interesting questions presented by these
resolutions, are known to the world. The
Congress, the Executive and the People of
Texas.' in a convention olected for that pur
pose accepted, with great unanimity, the
proposed terms of annexation: and fhus
consummated, on her part, tho great act of
restoring to our Federal Union a vast terri
tory; which hid been ceded to Spain by
the Florida treaty more than a quarter of a
century before.
lifter the joint resolution for the annex
ation of Texas to the United States had
been passed by our Congress, the Mexican
minister at Washington addressed a. note
to tho Secretary of State, bearing date on
the 6th of March 1845, protesting against
it as an act of aggression, the most unjust
which can be found recorded in tho annals
of modern history; namely: that of despoil
ing a friendly nation, like Mexico, of a con
siderable portion of her territory," and pro
testing against the resolution of annexation,
as being an act, "whereby the province of
I exas, an integral portion of the Mexican
territory, is ngreed and admitted into the
American Union;" and he announced that
ns a consequence, his mission to the U. S.
had terminated, aud demanded his passports
which were granted. It was upon the ab
surd pretext, mado by Mexico, herself in
debted for her independence to a successful
revolution " that tho republic of Texas still
continued to be, notwithstanding all that
h id passed, a province of Mexico that this
step was taken by the Mexican ministry.
Every honorable effort has been used by
me to avoid tho war which followed, -but all
have proved vain. All our atlemps to pre
serve peace have been met by insult and re
sistance on the part of Mexico. My efforts
to this end commenced in tho note to the
Secretary of State of the tenth of March
1S45, in answer to that of the Mexican
minister. Whilst designing to rc-opon a
discussion which had already been exhaus
ted, and proving again what was known lo
the whole world, that Texas had long since
achieved tier independence, the Secretary
of State expressing the regret of this gov
ernment that Mexico should havo taken
offenco at the resolution of annexation pas-
sed by Congress, and gave assurance that
our "most strenuous efforts shall bo devoted
to the amicable adjustment of every cause
of complaint between the two governments
and to the cultivation of tho kindest and
most friendly relations between tho sister
rept
tibhc."
That I have acted in the spirit of this
assurance, will appear from the events
which havo since occurred. Notwithstand
ing Mexico had abruptly terminated all
diplomatic intercourse with the United S.
and ought, therefore, to have been the first
to ask for its resumption, yet, waiving all
cerimony, I embraced the earliest favorable
opportunity "to ascertain from tho Mexican
government whether they would recoivo an
envoy from the U.S. intrusted with full
ofj power to adjust all tho questions in dispute
between tho two governments." In Sept.
1S45. I believed the propitious moment forf
such an overture had arrived. Texas, by
the enthusiastic and almost unanimous will
of her people, had pronounced in favor of
her annexation. Mexico herself had
agreed to acknowledge tho independence of
Texas, subject to a condition, it is true,
which she had no right to impose, and no
power to enforce, lho last lingering hope
of Mexico, if she could still have retained
any, that Texas would ever again become
one of hor provinces must have been aban
doned. The consn! of the Uuited States at the
city of Mexico was, therefore, instructed by
the Secretary of State, on the 15th of Sept.
1S45, to make inquiry of the Mexican
government. The enquiry was mado, and
on the 15th of Octobor 1815. the Minister
of Foreign Affairs of the Mexican govern
ment, in a note addressed to our consul,
f i - .
gavo aiavoraoio response, requesting, at
the same time, that our naval force might be
withdrawn from Vera Cruz while negotia
tions shocld be ponding. Upon the receipt
of this note, tho naval force was promptly
withdrawn from Veri Cruz. A minister
was immediately appointed, and departed
for Moxico. Every thing bore a promising
aspect for a speedy and peaceful-adjustment
of all our difficulties.
At tho date of my annual message to
Congress in December last, no doubt was
entertained but that ho would be received
by the Mexican government, and the hope
was cherished that all cause of misunder
standing botweon the two countries would
be soeodily removed, In the confident hope
that such would be the result of his mission
I informed Congress that ( forbore at that
timo to "rocomrnond such ulterior measures
of redress for the wrongs and injuries we
had so long borne, as it would have been
proper to make had no such
been instituted."
negotiation
To my surprise and regret, tho Mexican
government, though solemnly pledged to do
so, upon the arrival of our"rninister in Mexi
co, refused to receive and accredit him
When he reached Vera Cr uz, onthc 30th
November, 1845, he found that the aspect of
atlairs had uudergone an unhappy change.
The government of Gen. Ilerrera; who was
at that timo President of the republic, was
tottering toils fall- Gen. Paredes a mil
tary leader had manifested his determina
tion to overthrow tho government of Ilorre
ra, by a military revolution; and one of the
principal means wnich he employ ed to ef
fect his purpose, and render the govern
ment of Ilerrera odious to the army and
people ot Mexico, was by Joudly condemn
ing its determination to receive a minister
of poace from the United States, to dismem
ber the territory of Mexico, by ceding
away tho department of Texas. Tho gov
ernment of Ilerrera is bolieved to have
been well disposed to a pacific adjustment of
existing difficulties; but probably alarmed
for its own security, and in order to ward
off the danger of tho revolution led by Pa
redes, violated its solemn agreement, and re
fueod to or accredit our minister; and this,
although informed that he had been inves
ted with full power to adjust all questions
in dispute between the two governments.
Among tho frivolous pretexts for this re
fusal, tho principle ono was that our minis
ter had not gone upon a special mission
confined to the quostion of Texas alono,
leaving all the outrages on our flag .and our
citizens unredressed.
The Mexican government well know
that both our national honor and tho pro
tection due to our citizens, imperatively re
quired that the two questions of boundary
and indemnity should be treated of together,
as naturally and inseparably blended; and
thoy ought to have soen that this course
was best calculated to enablo lho United
States to extend to them tho most liberal
justice. On the 30th of December, 1845,
Gen. Ilerrera resigned the Presidency, and
yielded up tho Government to Gen. Paredos
without a struggle. Thus a revolution was
accomplished solely by the army command
ed by Parodes, and the supreme power in
Mexico pissod into the hands of a military
usurper, who was known to be bitterly hos
tile to the U. S.
JLlibough the prospect of a pacific adjust
ment with the now government was unpro
mising, f.om tho known hostility of its head
to the U. S.; yet, determined that nothing
should be left undone on our part to restore
friendly relations between the two coun
tries, our minister was instructed to present
his credentials to tho new government, and
ask to be accredited by it in the diplomatic
character in which he had beon commiss
ioned. These instructions he executed. by
his note of 1st of March, 1845, addressed
to the Mexican minister of Foreign affairs,
but his request was' insultingly refused by
that minister in his answer of the 12th of
that month. No alternative remained "for
our minister but to demand his passports
and return to the U. S.
This was tho extraordinary spectacle
presented to tho civilized world, of a gov
ernment, in violation of its own express
agreement, having twice rejected a minis
ter of poace, invested with full powers to
adjust all tho existing differences between
the two countries in a manner just and
honorable to both. Iam not aware that
modern history presents a parallel case, in
which, in timo of peace, one nation has ro
fused even to hoar propositions from another
for terminating existing difficulties between
them.
Scarcely a hopo of adjusting our difficul
ties, even at a remote day' or of preserving
peace with Mexico, could bo cherished while
Paredes remained at the head of govern
moot. He had acquired the supreme pow
er by a military revolution, and upon tho
most solemn piedges to wage war against
the United States, and to reconquer Texas,
which he claimed as a revolted province of
Mexico. Ho denounced as guilty of treason
all those Mexicans who considered Texas
as no longer constituting a part of the tor
ritory of Mexico, aud who were friendly
to Ihe causo of peace. The duration of the
war which ho waged Jtgainst the United
States was indefiuite, because the end
which he proposed of tha re-conquest of
lexas, was hopeless. Besides, there was
good reason to believe, from all his conduct
that it was his intention to convert the re
public of Mexico into a monarchy, and to
call a foreign European prince to the throne
Preparatory to this end, he had. during his
short rule, destroyed the liberty ot the
press, tolerating that portion of it only
which openly advocated tnc esiabiisnmeni
of a monarchy. The better to secure the
success of his ultimate designs, he had by
an arbitrary degree convoked a Congress
not to be elected by the voice ot tho people
but to be chosen in a manner to make them
subservient to his will, .and to give him ab
solute control over their deliberations.
Under all these circumstances, it was be;
lieved that any revolution in Mexico; foun
ded upon opposition to the. ambitious' pro
jects of Paredes, would tend to promote the
cause ol peace as well as to prevent any
attempted European interference in the af
fairs of tho North American continent
both ol iects of deep interest to tho United
States. Any such foreign interference, if
attempted, must have been resisted by the
United States. 'My views upon that sub
ject wero fully communicated to Congress
in rny last anual message, in any event,
il was certain that no change whatever in
tho government of Mexico which would de
prive Paredes of power could be for the
worse, so far as tho United Stales were
concerned, while it was highly probable
that change must bo for the better. .
This was iho stato of affrits existing
whon Congress, on the 13th of May last,
recognized the existence of the war w hich
had been commenced by the government of
Paredes; and it became an object of much
importance, with a view to a speedy settle
ment of our difficulties and the restoration
of an honoroble peace, that Paredes should
not retain Power in Mexico.
Bol'ore that time there wero symptoms of
a revolution in Mexico, favored, as it was
understood lo be, by the moro liberal party,
and especially by those w ho were opposed
to foreign interference and to tho moiiar
chial form of government. Santa Anna
was then in exile in Havana, having been
expolled from his country by a revolution
which occurred in December, 1844; but il
was known that he had still -a considerable
party in his favor in Mexico. It was also
equally well known that no vigilance which
could be exerted by our tquadron would, n
all probability, have prevented him from ef
fecting a landing somewhere on the exten
sive gulf coast of Mexico, if he desired to re
turn to his country. Ho had openly pro
fessed an entire change of policy ; had ex
pressed his regret that ho had subverted ihe
federal constitution of 1S24, and avowed
that ho was now in favor of its restoration.
He had publicly declared his hostility-, in
tho strongest terms, to the establishment of
a monarchy, and to European intcrferanco
in the atlairs of his country. Information
to thi3 effect had been received from sour
ces believed to be reliable, at tho date of
the negotiation of the existence of the war
by Congress, and was afterwards fully con
firmed by the receipt of the dospatch of our
consul to tho city of Mexico, with the ac
companying documents, which aro here
with transmitted. Besides, it was reason
able to suppose that ho must see the ruin
ous consequences to Mexico of a war with
the United States, and that it would be to
his interest to favor peace.
It was under these circumstances and up
on these considerations that it was deemed
expedient not to obstruct his return to Mexi
co, should he attempt to uo so. Uur object
was the restoration ol . peace; and wnh lhat
view, no reason was preceived why we should
lake part.wiih Paredes, and aid him, by
means of our blockade, in preventing Ihe re
turn of his rival to Mexico. On the contra
ry, it was believed lhat the intestine divis
ions which ordinary sagacity could not but
anticipate as the fruit of Santa Anna's return
lo Mexico and his contest with Paredes
might strongly tend lo produce a disposi
lion wiih both parties to restore and pre
serve peace with the United States.. Pare
des was a soldier by profession, and a mon
archistin principle. He had but recently
before been successful in a military revolu-
111 I 1 I . I TI
tion, t)V winch ne nan ouiainea power, lie
was the 3worn enemy of ihe United Stales,
wilh which he had involved his country in
the existing war. Santa Anna had been
expelled from power by the army was
known to be in open hostility to Paredes,
and publicly pledged himself against foreign
intervention and the restoration of monarchy
in Mexico. In view of these facts and cn-
cumstances it was, that, when orders were
issued to the commander of our naval forces
in the Gulf on the loth day of May last, only
two days afier the existence of the war had
t il. -t t -i
ueen recognizea dv congress io place me
coast of Mexico under, blockade, he was di
rected not to obsiruct the passage of Sanla
Anna to Mexico should he attempt to return.
A revolution took place n Mexico in (lie
early pari of 'August following, by which the
power of Paredes was overthrown and he has
since been banished- from the country, and is
now in exile. Shortly after Santa Anna re
turned. It remains to be seen whether his re
turn may not yet prove to be favorable to a
pacific adjustment of the existing difficulties,
it being manifestly his interest not to persevere
in the prosecution of a war commenced by
Paredes, t accomplish a purpose so absurd as
the reconquest of Texas to the Sabine. Had
Paredes remained in power, it is mirally cer
tain that any pacific adjustment would have
been hopeless.
Upon the commencement of hostilities by
Mexico against the United States, the indig
nant spirit of t'lie nation was at once aroused.
Congress promptly responded to the expecta
tions of the country, and, by the act of tbe
thirteenth of May last, recognized the fact tbal
war enisted, by the act of Mexico, between the
Unitad States and that republic, and . granted
the means necessary for its vigorous prosecu
tion. Being involved in a war thus commenc
ed by Mexico, and for the justice of which on
eur part we may confidently appeal to the whole
world, I resolved to prosecute it with the utmost
vigor. Accordingly, the ports of Mexico on
the Gulf and on the Pacific have been placed
under blockade, and her territory invaded at
several important points. " The reports from the
Departments of War and Navy will inform you
more in detail of the measures adopted in the
emergency in which our country was placed,
and lor the gratifying results which have been
accomplished.
The various columns of the army have per
formed their duty, under great disadvantages,
with the most distinguished skill and courage.
The victories of Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palina, a nd of Monterey, won against greatly
superior numbers, and against most decided ad
vantages in other respects on the part of the en
emy, were brilliant in their exeup.ont and en
title our brave officers and soldiers to the grate
ful thanks ol their country. Tbe nation deplores
ihe loss ol the brave officers and men who have
gallantly (alien while vindicating and defend
ing their country's right and honor.
It is a subject of pride and satisfaction, lhat,
our volunteer citizen soldiers, who so promptly '
responded to the country's call, with an experi-'
ence of the discipline of a camp of only a few
weeks, have borne their part in the hard fought
battle of Monterey, wilh a constancy and cour
age equal io that of veteran troops, and worthy 1
the highest admiration. The privations of long
marches through the enemy's country, and thro' j
a wilderness, have been borne without a mar-!
mur. By rapid movements the province of New t
Mexico, with Sun (a Fe, iis capital, lias been
captured without bloodshed. The navy has co
operated with the army and rendered important
services. If not so brilliant, it is-because the
enemy had no force to meet them on their own
element, and because of the defences which
nature has interposed, in the difficulties of the
navigation on the Mexican coast. Our squad-
ron in the Pacihc, wilh the co-operation of af
gallant officer of the army, and a small fores 1
hastily collected in lhat distant country, have
acquired bloodless possession of the Californias,
and the American flag has been raised at every
important point in that province.
1 congratulate you on the success which has!
thus attended our military and uaval operations.
In less than seven months after Mexico com-
menced hostilities, at a time selected by herself
we have taken possession of. many of her prin
cipal ports, driven back and pursued her inva
ding army, and acquired a military possession
of the Mexican . provinces of New Mexico,
New Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas and theCalt- -fornias,
a territory larger in extent than that
embraced in the original thirteen States of the
Union, inhabited by a considerable population -,
and much of it more a thousand miles Irom the
points at which we had to collect our forces, &
commence wur movements. By the b lock tide, 1
the import and export trade of the enemy have I
been cut on.
'Well may the American people be proud of
the energy and gallantry ot our regular and vol
unteer officers and soldieis. The events ot these
few months afford a gratifying proof that our
countrymen, tinder any emergency, confidently
rely for the maintenance of her honor and the
delence of her rights, on an effective force, rea
dy at a II times voluntarily to relinquish the com
fort of home for the perils and the privation ?
of the ramp. And though such a force may be
lor the time expensive, it is in the end econom- .
ical, as the ability to command it removes tbe
necessity ol employing a luige standing army
in lime ol peace, and proves that our people
love their institutions, and are ever ready to de
fend and protect them. I
Whilst the war was in a coute of vigorous and ,
successful prosecution being still anxious to ar-f
rest its evils and considering that after the bril- j
liant victories of the eighth and ninih of May
last, the national honor could not be compro- I
mined by it another overture was made to Mcx- j
ico, by my direction, on ihe twenty-seventh of
July last to terminate hostilities by a peace just i
dnd honorable to both countries. On the the
thirty first of August following, the Mexican j
government declined to accept this friendly o- j
verture but relerred it lo the decision of a Mex-
icau congress, to be aeaembled in the early j
part of the present mouth . I communicate to i
you herewith a copy of the letter of the Secre- I '
tary of State proposing to reopen negotiations, '
ot the answerot the Mexican Government and .
of the reply thereto of the Secretary of Slate. !
' The war will continue lo be prosecuted with' !
vigor, as the best means of securing peace. It
is noped that ihe decision of the Mexican Con
gress, to which our last overture has been refer- !
red, may result in a speedy and honorable
course of the Mexican authorities, it is the part
of wisdom not to relax in the energy of our ,
military operations until the result is made ;
known. In this view, it is deemed important !
to hold military possession of all the provinces
which have been taken, until a definite treaty -ol
pence shall have been concluded and ratified
by the two countries.
The war has not been waged with a view to
conquest, but having been commenced by Mex
ico it has been carried into the enemy's country j
and will be vigorously presecuted there, wilh a i
view to obtain an honorable peace ami thereby.' I
secure ample indemnity for the expenses of the j
war as well as to our much injured citizens who
hold large pecuniary demands against Mexico.
By the laws of nations a conquered territory
is subject to be governed by the conqueror du
ring 1ns military possession, and uutit there is
enlier a treaty of peace or he shall voluntarily
withdraw from it. The old civil government
being necessarily supeiseded it is the right and
duty ot the conqueror to secure his conquest and
provide tor the maintenance of civil order and
the rights ot ihe inhabitants. This right has
been exercised and this duly performed by our
military and naval commanders by the establish
ment oi temporary governments in some of the
conquered provinces ot Mexico; assimilating
tii em as lar as practicable to the Iree institutions
ul our couutry. In the provinces ol New Mex
ico and ot the Californias, little if any further
resistance is upprehended from the inhabitants
to the temporary governments which have thus,
from the necessity of the case, and according to
the laws of war been established . It maybe
proper to provide fur the security of these im
portant conquests by making au adequate ap
propriation lor the purpose of erecting fortifica
tions mid defraying the expenses necessarily in
cident to the maintenance ot our possession and
authority over theni-
On the twenty sixth of February 1803, an
appropriation oi two millions of dollars was
made, and placed atlhe disposal ol the President
Its object is well known. It was at that lime
in contemplation to acquire Louisiana from
France, and it was intended to be applied as a
part of the consideration which might be paid
lor that territory. On the 13th of February 1806
the same sum was in like manner appropriated
with a view to purchase the Floridas troin Spain.
These appropriations were made to facilitate
negotiations, and as a mean to enable the Pres
ident to accomplish the important objects in
view. Though it did not become necessary for
the President to use these appropriations, yet
a state of things might have arrived in which it
would have been highly important for him to
do so, aud the wisdom of them cannot be doubt
ed. It is believed that the measure recommen
ded at your last ssssion met with the approba
tion of decided majorities in both Iluuses of
Congress. Indeed, in different forms a bill ma
king an appropriation of 2,000,000 of dollars
passed each House, and it is much to be regret
ted lhat il did not become a law.
The reasons which induced me to recommend
the measure at that time still exists; and 1 again
submit the subject for your cousideralion and
suggest the importance of early action npon it.
Should the appropriation be made, and not be.
needed, it will remain in the treasury; should it
be deemed proper to opply it in the whole or in
part it will be accounted for as other public
expenditures.
1 inmediately after congress bad recognized
the existence ol the war wiih Mexico, rny at
tent ion was directed to tbe danger that priva
teers might be fitted out in the ports of Cuba
and Porto Rico to prey upon the commerce of the
u. otates; anu l tuviiea ine special attention oi
the Spanish government to the 14tb article of
our treaty with that power of the 20 ih of Oc
tober, 1795 under which the citizena and sub
jects ol either nation who shall take commssions
or letters of marque to act as privateers against
the other, "shall be punished as pirates."
It affords me pleasure to inform you that I
have received assurances from the Spanish gov
ernment that this atticle of the treaty scall be
faithfully observed on its part. Orders for this
purpose were immediately transmitted from that
government to the authorities of Cuba and Por
to Rico lo exert iheirnioet vigilance in preven
ting any attempts to fit out privateers in those
isisnds against the U. Slates. Fiom the good
Isifh ol Spain 1 am fully satisfied that this trea
ty will be executed in its epiru as well as its
ititcr; v hilet the United States will on their