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n y
New Scries.
T 3i3
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
To the Senate and
House of Representatives:
The existing state of the relations be
tween the United States and Mexico,
renders it proper that I should bring the
subject to the consideration of Congress, j
In my message at the commencement of :
your present session, the state of these
relations, the causes which led to the sus
pension of diplomatic intercourse between
the two countries in March 184o, and the
long-continued 3nd unredressed wrongs
and injuries committed by the Mexican
government on the citizens of the united
States in their persons and property, were
briefly set forth.
As the facts and opinions which were
then laid before you were carefully con
sidered, I cannot better express my pres
ent convictions of the condition of affairs
up to that time, than by referring you to
that communication.
The strong desire to establish peace
with Mexico, on liberal and honorable
terms, and the readiness of this govern
ment to regulate and adjust our boundary,
and other causes of ditlerence with that
power on such fair and equitable princi
ples ns would lead to permanent relations
of the most friendly nature, induced me
in September last to seek the re-opening
of diplomatic relations between the two
countries. Every measure adopted on
our part had for its object the further
ance of these desired results. In com
municating to Congress a succinct state
ment of the injuries which we had suf
fered from Mexico, and which have been
accumulating during a period of more
than twenty years, every expression that
could tend to inflame the people of Mexi
co, or defeat or delay a pacific result was
carefully avoided. An envoy of the Uni
ted States repaired to Mexico with full
powers to adjust every existing differ
ence. But though present on the Mexi
can soil, by agreement between the two
governments, invested with full powers,
and hearing evidence of the most friend-
ly dispositions, his mission has been una
vailing. The Mexican government not
only refused to receive him, or listen to
his propositions, but, after a long continu
ed series of menaces, have at last invaded
our territory and shed the blood of our
fellow-citizens on our own soil.
It now becomes my duty to state more
in detail the origin, process and failure of
that mission. In pursuance of the in
structions given in September last, an in
quiry was made, on the thirteenth of Oc
tober, in 1845, in the most friendly terms,
through our consul in Mexico, of the Min
ister of foreign affairs, whether the Mex
can government "would receive an envoy
from the United States intrusted with full
powers to adjust all the questions in dis
pute between the two governments;" with
the assurance that "should the answer be
in the affirmative, such an envoy would
be immediately despatched to Mexico."
The Mexican minister on the "fifteenth of
October, gave an alfirmative answer to
this inquiry, requesting at the same time,
that our nival force at Vera Cruz might
be withdrawn lest its continued presence
might assume the appearance of menace
and coercion pending the negotiations.
This force was immediately withdrawn.
On the 10th of November, 1815, Mr John
Slidell of Louisiana, was commissioned
by me as envoy extraordinary and min
ister plenipotentiary of the United
States to Mexico, and was intrusted with
full powers to adjust both the questions of
the Texas boundary and of indemnifica
tion to our citizens. The redress of the
wrongs of our citizens naturally and in
eeperably blended itself with the ques
tion of boundary. The settlement of the
one question in any correct view of the
subject involves that of the other. I could
not, for a moment, entertain the idea that
the claims of our much injured and long
suffering citizens, many of which had
existed for more than twenty years, should
be postponed, or separated from the set
tlement of the boundary question.
Mr. Slidell arrived at Vera Cruz on
the 30th of November, and was courte
ously received by the authorities of that
city. But the government of General
Ilerrerawas then tottering to its fail
The revolutionary party had seized upon
the Texas question to effect or hasten its
overthrow. Its determination to restore
friendly relations with the United States,
and to receive our minister, to negotiate
for settlement the of this question, was vio
lently assailed, and was made the great
theme of denunciation against it. The
government of General Herrera, there is
good reason to believe, was sincerely de
sirous to receive our minister; but it yiel
ded to the storm raised by its enemies,
and on the 2 1st of December refused to
accredit Mr. Slidell upon the most frivo
lous pretexts. These are so fullv and a
bly exposed in the note of Mr. Slidell of
the 24th of December last to the Mexican
minister of foreign relations, herewith
transmitted, that I deem it unnecessary
to enter into further detail on this portion
of the subject.
five days after the date of Mr. Slidell's
note Gen, Herrera yielded the govern
l.ient to Qcn. Parades without a struggle,
and oa the 80th of December resigned
complished solely by the army, the peo-
hflvinir taken little Dart in the contest:
and thus the supreme power in Mexico '
passed into the hands of a Military ofii-
cer. " ;
Determined to leave no effort untried
to effect an amicable adjustment with
T f';rPctP! Tr. Slidell to present
hi credential to the trovernment of Gen.
Parades, and ask to be officially received
bv him. There would have been less
ground for taking this step had Gen.Par- ;
edescome into power by a regular consti- ,
tutional succession. In that event his
administration would have been consider- .
cd but a mere constitutional continuance
of the government of Gen. Herrera, and :
the refusal of the latter to receive our
minister would have been deemed conclu-!
sive unless an intimation had been given
bv Gen. Parades of his desire to reverse
the decision of his predecessor.
But the government ofGn. Parades
owes its existence to a military revolution,
by which the subsisting constitutional au
thorities had been subverted. The form
of Government was entirely changed, as
well as all the high functionaries by whom
it was administered.
Under these circumstances, Mr. Slidell,
in obedience to my direction, addressed
a note to the Mexican minister ol foreign
relations, under the date of the 1st of
March last, aski rg to be received by tiiat
government, in the diplomatic character to
which he had been appointed. This min
ister in his reply, under date of thel2ih of
March, reiterated the arguments of his
predecessor, and in terms that may be
considered as giving just grounds of of
fence to the government and people of the
United States, denied the application of
Mr. Slidell. Nothing therefore, remain
ed for our envoy but to demand his pass
ports, and return to his own country.
Thus the government of Mexico,lhough
solemnly pledged by official acts in Octo
ber last, to receive and accredit an Ameri
can envoy, violated their plighted faith,
and refused the offer of a peaceful adjust
ment of our difficulties. Not only was
the offer rejected, but the indignity of its
rejection was enhanced by the manifest
breach of faith in refusing to admit the
envov, who came because thev had bound
themselves to receive him. Nor can it
be said that the orTer was fruitless from
the want of opportunity of discussing it:
our envoy was present on their own soil.
Nor can it be ascribed to a want of suffi
cient powers: our envoy had full pow
ers to adjust every question of differ
ence. Nor was there room for complaint
that our propositions for settlement were
unreasonable: permission was not even
given, our envoy to make any proposi
tion, whatever. Nor can it be objected
that we, on our part, would not listen to
any reasonable terms of their suggestion:
the Mexican government refused all ne
gotiation, and have made no proposition
of any kind.
. In my message at the commencement
of the present session, I informed you that
upon the earnest appeal both of the Con
gress and convention of Texas, I had or
dered an efficient military force to tike a
position "between the Nueces and the
Del Norte." This had become necessa
ry to meet a threatened invasion of Texas
by the Mexican forces, for which exten
sive military preparations had been made.
The invasion was threatened solely be
cause Texas had determined, in accord
ance with a solemn resolution of the Con
gress of the United States to annex her
self to our Union; and under these circum
stances, it was plainly our duty to extend
our protection over her citizens and soil.
This force was consentrated at Corpus
Christi, and remained there until I had
received such information from Mexico
as rendered it probable, if not certain,
that the Mexican government would re
fuse to receive our envoy.
Meantime Texas, by the final action of i
r i... .1 l l
our congress, nau wecome an integral
f 111 1 '
part of our Union. The Congress of Tex- repeatedly threatened to make war upon
as by its act of December i9, 183(5, had ; us for the purpose of re-conquering Tex
declared the Rio del Norte to beths boun- as. In the mean time, wc have tried ev
dary of that republic. Its jurisdiction had ery effort at reconciliation. The cup of
been extended and exercised beyond the forbearance had been exhausted, even be
Nueces. The country between that riv- fore the recent information from the fron
er and the Del Norte had been represent- ; tier of the Del Norte. .But now, after re
ed in the Congress and in the convention iterated menace3, Mexico has passed the
of Texas, had thus taken part in the act bonndary of the United States, has inva
of annexation itself; and is now included
within one of our Congressional districts.
Our own Congress had, moreover, with
great unanimity, by the act approved De
cember 31st, 1845, recognized the coun
try beyond the Nueces as a part of our
territory .hyincluding it within our own rev
enue system, and a revenue oOi.ier . to re-
side wilhm that district ha3 been appoint-
eu by and with the advice oi consent oi
by
the Senate. It became, therefore, of ur-
gent necessity to provide for the defence
of that portion ot. our country. Accoru -
ingly, on the 13th of Jannary last, instruc-
tons were issued to the general in com-
mand of these troops to occupy the left
bank of the Del Norte. This river, which
is the southwestern boundary of the State
01 icxas. is an exposed irontier, .
r r j r .
From this quarter invasion was threat-
ened upon it and in its immediate vicini-
ty, in the judgment of high military ex-
rrirncfv ri th nrnna, attiinto f n V, o
protecting forces of the government. ' Id
TUESDAY, MAY
several others occurred to induce this
movement. Amon these nre the facilities
afforded by the ports at Brazos Santiago
and the mouth of the Del Norte for the
reception of supplies by sea, the strong-.
cr and more healthful military positions,
the convenience for obtaining a" ready
and a more abundant sunolv of nrovis-
ions, water, fuel and foraire. and the ad-
vantages which are afforded by the Del
Norte in forwarding supplies to such
posts as may be established m the intcri-
or and upon the Indian frontier. j
The movement of the troops to the
Del Norte was made by the Command-
ing General, under positive instructions to
abstain from all aggressive acts towards ;
.Mexico, or Mexican citizens, and to re-
gard the relations between that republic .
and the United States as peaceful, unless
she should declare war, or commit acts of
hostility indicative to a state ot war. He !
was especially directed to protect private
property and respect personal rights.
The army moved from Corpus Chnstt
on the 1 1th of March, and on the 23ih of
that month arrived on the left bank of the ; the disposi l m of the Executive the means
Del Norte, opposite to Matamoras, where ; of prosecuting the war with vigor, and
it encamped on a commanding position, I thus hasten the restoration of peace. To
which has been since strengthene I by the ' this end I recommend that authority
erection of field works. A depot has also should be given to call into the public scr
been established at Point Isabel, near the ! vice a large body of volunteers, to serve
Brazos Santiago, thirty miies in rear of j for not less than twelve months, unless
the encampment. The selection of his sooner discharged. A volunteer force is,
position was necessarily confided to the j beyond question, more efficient than auy
judgment of the general in command. other description of citizen soldiers; and
The Mexican forces at Matamoras as- it is not to be doubted that a number far
sumed a belligerent attitude, and on the
12th of April, General Ampudia, tlien in
command, notified General Taylor to
break up his camp - within twenty-four
hours, and to retire beyond the Nuece3
river, and in the event of his failure to
comply with these demands, announced
that arms,md arms alone, must decide the
question. But no open act of hostility
was committed until the twenty-fourth of
April. On that day, General Arista, who
had succeeded to the command of the
Mexican forces, communicated to Gener
al Taylor, that "he considered hostilities
commenced and should prosecute them."
A party of dragoons of sixty-three men
and officers were on the same day des
patched from the Americrn camp jip the
Rio del Norte, on its left bank, to ascer
tain whether die Mexican troops had
crossed, or were preparing to cross the
river, "became engaged with a large body
of these troops, and alter a short affair, in
w hich some sixteen were killed and woun
ded, appear to have been surrounded aifd
compelled to surrender.
The grievous wrongs perpetrated by
Mexico upon our citizens throughout a
long period ofycars, remain unredressed;
and solemn treaties, pledging her public
faith for this redress, have been disregar
ded. A government cither unable or un
willing to enforce the execution of such
treaties, fails to perforin one of its plain
est duties.
Our commerce with Mexico has been
almost annihilated. It was formerly
highly benificial to both nations; but our
merchants have been deterred from pros
ecuting it by the system of outrage and
extortion which the - Mexican authori
ties have pursued against them, whilst
their appeals through their own govern
ment for indemnity, have been made in
vain. Our forbearance has gone to such
an extreme as to be mistaken in its char
acter. Had we acted with vigor in repel
ling the insults and redressing the inju
ries inflicted by Mexico at the commence
ment, we should doubtless have escaped
all the difficulties in which we are now
envolved.
Instead of this, however, we have been
exerting our best efforts to propitiate her
'good will. Upon the pretext that Texas,
a nation as independantas hcrself,thought
proper to unite its destines with our own,
she has a (fee ted to believe that we have
severed her eightful territory, and, in offi
aba! " wv I at r , j-v nl r V i I A r 1 1 l
- ;.'iuuani(imiin uu iniiicaiw9, uus
ded our territory, and slied American
blood upon the American soil. She has
proclaimed that hostilities have commen
ced, and that the two nations are now at
war.
! As war exists, and, nowithstanding all
our efforts to avoid it, exists by the act of
Mexico herself, we are called upon, by
everv-consideration of duty and patriot-
ism, to vindicate, with decision, the hon-
or, the rights, and the interests of our
country.
1 Anticipating the possibility, of a crisis
that w,;cij ia3 arrived, instructions
were given in August last, "as a precau-
tionary measure," against inv;'.s;on, or
threatened invasing, authorizing General
ra v!nr. if th Pmompnv wnmt m -ac
o. -
cept volunteers,
j from the States
? Tcnuessee and
j ding letters were addressed to the rcspec-
', ;,. a., ik,..
These instructions were repeated, and
,1101 from Texas only, but nu lumisnmg laise lacts, to be used m i
of Loisiana, Mississippi, ; debate, and we will be without the raearts
Kentucky: and correspon i - disproving them, and vindicating the
26, 1846,
affr tbft infomora-'
lion of "Texas into our union of States,"
Gen. Tavtor was further "authorized
by the President to make a requisition on
the Executive of that State, for such of :
its militia forces as may be needed to r&-:
pel invasion or to secure the country a-;
gainst apprehended invasion." On the j
second day of March he was arain re-
minded, "in the event of the approach of
any consid
Irrahle Mexican force, nromnt-
ly'and efficiently to use the authority !
with which he was clothed, to call to him
such auxiliary force as he might need."
War actually existing, and our territory
h iving been invaded, General Taylor,
pursuant to authority vested in him by
my direction, has called on the Govcrn-
or Texas for four regiments of State
troops two to be mounted, and two to
serve on foot; and on the Governor of
Louisiana for four regiments of infantry,
to be sent to him as soon as practicable.
In further vindication of our rights and
defence of our territory, I invoke the
prompt action ot congress to recognise
the existence of the war, and to place at
beyond that required, would readily rush
into the field upon the call of their coun
try. I lurther recommend that a liberal
provision be made for sustaining our entire
military force, and furnishing it with sup
plies and munitions of war.
The most energetic and prompt mea
sures; and the immediate appearance in
arms of a large and overpowering force,
are recommended to Congress as the most
certain and efficient means of bringing
the existing collision w ith Mexico to a
speedy and successful termination.
In making these recommendations, I
deem it proper to declare that it is my
anxious desire not only to terminate hos
tilities speedily, but to bring all matters in
dispute between this government and
Mexico to an early and amicable adjust
ment; and in this view, I shall be prepar
ed to renew negotiations, whenever Mex
ico shall be ready to receive propositions,
or to make propositions of her own.
I transmit herewith a copy of the cor
respondence between our envoy to Mex
ico and the .Mexican Minister of foreign
affairs, and so much of the correspondence
between that entry rrd the Secreta
ry of State, and the Secretary of War
and the general in command on the Del
Norte, as are necessary to a full under
standing ot the subject.
JAMES K. POLK.
Washington-, May 11th, 1816.
THE NATIONAL FAIR.
House of Representatives, May, 11.
Messrs. Gales & Seaton: The ene
mies of American industry are represent
ing in the press that the National Fairf
to commence on tfie 2Dth instant m this
city, got up by the New England manu
facturers to advance their own interest.
To disabuse the public mind, and show
the falsehood of these representations,
and the fact that the "National Fair"
originated here, to counteract the e
of the British manufacturers to
Congress, and, by securing the passage
of Mr. Walker's bill, prostrate American
industry and secure a monopoly of the
American market, I request an early pub
lication of the following letters, in which
the object and origin of the National Fair
is fully set forth. Yours, tc.
ALEX. RAMSEY.
"Washington, March 17, 181G.
Dear Sir: We have a gendeman
here by the name of Horner (formerly
of Manchester, England, now residing in
New York,) who is occupying one of
the principal committee rooms in the cap -
itol with several hundred specimens of
British manufactures sent to him from
Manchester, with written instructions to
exhibit litem here, and to communicate to
Congress such information on the sub-
jifislead
jectaswiu enable mem to "arrive at just;lfty mountains; their summits
conclusions in regard to the proposed ;d-
terations of the present tarifl'." He cx-
hihits also, at the same time, similar spc-
.
cimens, purporting to he of American
manuiaciure, with the prices so arranger
at Manchester as to make it appear thai
tney couki lurnish them tor about hali
price of the American goods, if the duties
1 were taken off. Practical manufacturers,
wh0 have examined these goods, inlorm
me mat his representations are erroneous
ami sc yet, by this means, he is mis-
! leading and imposing upon the credulous,
ir 1 1 n . . .
! American manufactures against these false
I reoresPllkltinns oml mcifUfVis mi china firm
of the British manufacturers
agents and advocates here. This Mr.
Homer, the representative of the British
interests, not only occupies the Capitol,
but the columns of the official p iper also
misrepresenting American measures j
and men, of which you have had your j
full share. Now, I think this whole !
thing wrong, but it is approved by the :
PY power, and cannot bs prevented; :
and the only way I see to prevent mis-
representation anil deleat tills Uritish
contrivance to prostrate our manufactures,
and with them our national industry and
agriculture, is to have an American com-
mittee-room, whsre American goods may
be fairly and truly represented, and false-
hood met and refuted on the spot; and
with this view I take the liberty of sug-
gesting to you, Appleton, and your friends
the propriety of sending on some compe- 1
tent person with specimens of American
and British goods, with their true prices,
&c, to be exhibited in the Capitol along
side of this British Manchester concern,
The British manufacturers, it seems to
me, ought not to monopolizs the Ameri-
can Capitol, which is now the case, and
will comribute, if not counteracted, to ac-
compl.sh what the British so much desire
tiie prostration of the American manu-j
factuers, (their hated and dangerous rivals)
not only m the American markets, but in
the markets of the world. j
Iconsuhed Mr. Adams as to the pro-
priety of convening the Committee of
Manufactures to invite you, by a resolu- gcd than I had elsewhere met them: suf
tion, to dj what I have suggested; but fered again as in our first passage; got
when I looked at the character of the ; among tlie "horse-thieves," (Indian who
committee, (two to one decidedly an'.i- ; lay waste the Calilornia frontier,) fought
tariff,) I gave it up hopeless, and conc'u- 1 several, and fought our way down into tha
ded, on my own responsibility, to add; ess plain again, and back to Sutter's. Tell
you on ihi subject. Will you do me the ' your father that I have something hand-
favor to drop me a line in reply at your
earliest convenience.
Verv respectfully, your obedient ser
vant, A STEWART.
Hon. Abbott Law rence, Boston.
In pursuance of the foregoing letter, a
number of gentlemen attended here with
specimens of American manufactures,
when, upon consultation, it wa3 deter
mined to give the following general invi
tation, viz :
IIocse or Representatives, March
24, 184G.
With a view to furnish correct informa
tion in regard to the character, prices, and
extent of American m. nafactures, as well
as to correct misrepresentations on that
subject, the undersigned respectfully in
vite the artisans, mechanics, and manufac
tures of the United States to send spe
cimens of their various productions, with
their prices.to be compared with British
manufactures sent from Manchester,
and now being cxl. Lulled iu the room oi
the "Committee on - Post Offices and
Post Roads," to influence the action of
Congress in relation to the proposed
modification of the tariff.
Andrew Stewart, John Strohm,
James Thompson, John H. Ewing,
Richard Uroadhead, Jacob Erdman,
Alexander Ramsey, Abtn. R. Mcllvamc,
Moses McCIean, John Bianchard,
James Black, James Pollock,
P. S. Yost, C. Darragh.
James Buffington,
A majority of these ganilemen after
wards appointed a general committee of
arrangements, who have since superin
tended the business of he "National
Fair," ' "'
UPPERCMIFORNIA.
Extracts from a letter from Capt.
Fremont, U. S. Army, dated
" Yvrba JJuciut, Bay uf Hi. J'runcisco,
'Upper California, Jan. 24 1840.
" Now, as rapidly as possible, I will
tell you where I have been, and where I
am going. I crossed the Rocky Mount
ains on the main Arkansas, passing out at ;
its very head-water; explored the south
cm shore of the great Salt Lake, and vis
ited one of its islands. You know that
on every extant map, manuscript or
! printed, the whole of the Great Basin is
j represented as a sandy plain, barren,
! without water, and without grass. Tell
j your father that, with a volunteer party
j 0f fifteen men, I crossed it beiwccn the
j parallels of S83 and 33. Instead of a
' a nlain. I lound it, throughout its whole
1 extent, traversed bv parallel
ranges
of
wnitc
t
j with snow, (October,) while below the
valleys had none. Instead of a barren
t country, the mountains were covered
t.. .
j with grasses of the best quality, wooded
i w.
ith several varieiies of trees, and con-
tuiirng more deer md mountain sheep
than we had seen in any previous part ot
j 0ur voyage. So utterly at variance with
every description, from autin.-n.ic source
' or from ruior or report, is fair to conquer
this country us hitherto wholly uncx-
! plored, anJ never before visited by a
i whitf mrm. T met mv nariv at the ren-
1 . . " . r . 1
dezvous, a lake sou the us l of the Pyram.d
Lake, and a-nun separated, sending them
alonf the east :m side of the Great Sierra,
three or four hundred miles, in a souther
ly directim, where they, wsre to cross
nto 'dte vai y of the St. Jca'pica, nzzt
Vol- 4. No. 23.
(itsheul
During all the time that I was
not with them, Mr. Joseph alker was
their guid?, Mr. Talboit (tell his mother
he is well, and docs well) in charge, and
Mr. Kern, topographer. The eleventh
d.iy after leaving them I reached dpt.
Sutter's, crossing the Sierra on the 4th
December, before the snow had fallen
there. Now the Sierra is absolutely im-
passible, and the place of our pa.-3 ge two
years ago is luminous with masses OI
snow. By the route I have explored I
can side in thirty-five days from tho
Fontaine qui Burnt ncerio Capt. Sat-
ter's; and lor wagons, the road is decided-
ly far better. I wish this known to your
father, as now, that the journey has been,
made, it may be said this too was already
known. 1 shall make a short journey up
the eastern branch of the Sacramento, and
go from the Tlaraith lake into the Wanlah-
math valley, through a pass alluded to in
my report; in this way miking the road
into Oregon far shorter, and a good ro.nl
in place of the prosent very bad one
down the Columbia. When I shall have
mads this short exploration. I shall have
explored from beginning to end Tiiu
road to Oregon.
I have just returned, with my party
of sixteen, from an exploring journey in
th'9 Mierra Anaulu, from the neighbor-
hood of Sutter's to the heads of the Lake
Fork. We got among heavy snows on
the mountain summits, there more rug-
some to tell him of soma exploits ot
Carson and Dick Owencs, and others.
" I am going now on business to see
some gentlemen on the coast, and will
then join my people, and complete our
survey in this part of the world as rapid
ly as possible. The season is now just
arriving when vegetation is coming out in
all the beauty I have often described to
you; and in that part of our labors 1 shall
gratify all my hopes. I find the theory
ofour gr?at Basin fully confirmed in having
for its southern boundary ranges of lofty
mountains. The Sierra, too, is broader
wdiere this chain leaves it than in any
other part that I have seen. So soon as
the proper season come?, and my animals
are rested, we turn our faces homeward,
and be sure' that grass will not grow un
der our fee t.
"All our people are well, and we have
had no sickness of any kind among us;
so that I hope to be able to bring back
with me all that I carried out. Many
months of hardships, close trials, and an
xi?ti?s havo tried me s?ver:!r, and rr.y
hair is turning gray before its time. But
all this passes, et It bon tempi vieilru."
Boiling Spring river, in English.
This is the outside settlement on thd
Arkansas, about seventy miles abovo
Bent's Fort, where old retired hunters
and traders, with Mexican and Indian
wives, and their children, have collected
into some villiages, called by the Mexican
nam3 for civilizsd Indian villages pueblos,
where they raise grain and stuck.
OFFICIAL.
BY TIIE PRESIDENT OF TIIE U
NITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas the Congress of the United
States, by virtue of the contitut:onal au
thority vested in them, have declared by
their act, bearing date this day, that, by
the act of the republic of Msxieo, a state
of war exists between that Government
and the United Slates;'
Now, therefore, I, James K. Polk,
President of the United States of Ameri
ca, do hereby proclaim the same to all it
may concern; and I do specially enjoin
on all persons holding offices, . civil or
military, under the atuho ity cf the U
niled States, that they be vigilent anl
zealous in discharging the duties respect
ively incident thereto; and I do moreover
exhort all the good people of the United
States, as they love their country, as they
feel the wrongs which have forced on
them the last resort of injured nations, and
as they consult the best means, under tb.3
blessing of Divine Providence, of abridg
ing its calamities, that they exert them
selves in preserving order, in promoting
concord, in maintaining the authority and
tli3 efficacy of the laws, and in support
ing and invigorating all ibe measures
which m3y b3 adopted by the constituted
authorities for obtaining a speedy, a just
and an honorable peace.
Ia testimony whereof, I have hereunto
set my hand, and caused tbe s;-d of tits
United States to be afiixed to
l.s. these present.-. Pone at the
city of Wasti ng on, the t'lirlccn'h
day of May, one thousand o-(hi -hundred
and forty-six, and of the Independence o
tjie United States the seventieth.
JAMES K, POLK,
By the President:
. Jmes Btciianax,
err;
cf Sli'J9,