26'vatiforti evovtev Towanda, Wednesday, May 30,1846; FOR CANAL. COMMISSIONER, WILLIAM B. FOSTER, -.TR. c 7. Ms. Witacrr is quite ill at Washington, we per ceive by the Congressional reports. He wisest:used on the 9th imt, from serving on the Webster Committee, being under the charge at Dr. Hail. with no prospect of being able to attend 'to his &ties for two or three weeks.. Tax on Coal. We base had an opportunity of ascertaining, during the past 'tiro' weeks of Comt--eomething in regard to public opinion respecting the levying etas on Arithrecite coal, at the mouth of the pit. We have found a com plete unanimity among all parties in favor of this just measure, and a universal commendation of the course taken by our Representatives during the past winter.— There is a general feeling that, while we in the North, have freely borne our share of the public burdens—while we have never faltered in sustaining the honor and in tegrity of the State, and keeping our beloved Common. wealth free from the odious stain of Repudiation—yet other sections have been mare favored in the lavishing of bounties and in the building and location of public improvements, furnishing the means of easy and cheep access to favorable markets. The Nonh—we are speaking now' more particularly for Bradford—has her sources of mineral wealth,second in point of "%roe to no other section of the State. But her coal and iron must be embosomedin her mountains for years yet to come, while the coal and iron of other counties has a convenient and cheap route to•the hot markets furnished by the State, and to pay for which we are now struggling and striving. • These favored regions are asked—nay, they are implored, as an act of generosi ty to our Commonwealth—borne down by debts accu• mutated for their benefit--to submit to a tax of ten cents upon each ton of coal mined—and the proposition meets with the most bitter and violent opposition! Our repre sentatives, in particular, are virulently assailed, u are, indeed, all the zealous supporters of the measure. In turn his proposed to tax bitaminous coal. While we might submit to this u a means of preserving the credit of the State, yet the justiceNtf the measure can never be admitted. Look at the comparative situations of the two interests. The Anthracite coal region pierced by improvements made by the money of the state—im provements which have been the means of developing its resources, and making it all that it is—the Bitumin ous coal shut out from a communication by improve. menu, debarred from a market; and enjoying none of those privileges which the State has furnished to the Anthracite—and still depressed and overburdened, shar ing equally in the taxes of the State. There can be no justice then in taxing bituminous coal, for it has never experienced any benefit from the improvements of the Sate—never been the recipient of its bounty. The true policy is to tax those pursuits• and occupa tions which are enjoying most of the benefits resulting from the incurring of our vast public debt : to tax those •sections of country most directly benefited, and who me growing rich . upon the depression of other sections. This is all that was asked in the Revenue Bill—but it was refused—and refused too, at a time when the officers of the Administration are straining every nerve to keep the Interest on our State debt paid—and when it behooved our Legislators to look round in search of some legiti mate object of taxation, to sustain the efforts making for the perpetual payment of our interest. This might have been done by the tax on coal; while now the fears of every patriotic Pennsylvanian are aroused for the safetj of opr credit under the unequal and insufficient movie. ions of the Revenue bill as passed. Entstocarrn Ravtaw.—This excellent monthly, con donee to maintain its high standing. The May num ber contains,' likeness of Hon. Mr. Bowfin, M. C. from Bt. Louis, Mo., with the following table of contents: I. The - Independent Treasury-Ist House Bill; 2d. Report Senate Finance Committee—Warehousing Bill —Mints in New-York and Charleston, S. C. H. Administration of Indian Affairs-Ist. Annual Re port of the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, transmit. ted with the President's Message. tat session 29th Congress. T. Barnard. 21 Notes on the Iroquois; or, Contribotions to the t3tatiatica, Aboriginal History, Antiquities and Gener al Ethnology of Western -New-York. By Henry R. Schoolcraft. New-York : Bartlett & Welford. 1846. HI. Cromwell and his Times.-Ist The Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell. By Thottau Carlyle. 2 vols. New-York: Wiley & Putnam. 241. History of the English Revolution of 1640. By F. Guixot, Prime Minister of France. New-York: Ap. pleton & Co. IV. The Old English Pulpit—No. IL—Platonic Di vines—Queen Anne's Divines—Sterne. V. The Favorite.—Tranalated from the German of Jo banns Behopenhauer. By Nathaniel Greene. VL Papers of an old Dartmoor Prisoner.—Edited by . Nathaniel Hawthorne. - VII. Hymn.—By Hon. Caleb Cushing. VIII Row.—Struggle of the Republican against the Monarchical Principle in, the Argentine Republic.-- By W. A. Flagg. IX. China and its Prospective Trade. X. Mm and the Earth.—By Mary Orme. XI. Monthly Financial and Chnunercial Article XII. New Books for the Month KIR. Politics! Statistic.—Census of New York by Comities, end the new Apportionment. New Goons.—The great break in the Erie Canal has delayed the supply of goods destined for this place, but we believe our merchants have now very generally re ceived their assortments, and are willing to sell them on reasonable terms, as will .be seen trj their advertisements. It is hardly necessary for us to tell our readers—for they must have discovered it already—that the cheapest stores ire dune whose proprietors are willing the public should know that they wish to sell their goods, and consequent . ly adratise. We believe that oar merchants can compete with any of the adjacent towns in selling goods—and we invite the citizens of our county generally, to give them a call and learn from experience. Tes Nsaairzus Tasosny.—The Harrisburg Repor ter contains a statement from Edward Z. C. Judson, who, it will be remembered, shot Robert Potteifield at Nash ville a few months since. He positively denies all and every charge that has been brought against him at Nast 'file, with regard to Wit having seduced Mrs. Porterfield, and pronounces all that has been said about her as base libels on an injured and virtuous lady. Rernsz moo#str.—The Northern Democrat, at Montrose, is crosiing over the "largest circuital? in Northern Pennsylvania." We Wive something to say before that question is decided, and we think the cub. wription list of the Bradford Reporter is not ex.ceedea by that of any paper in Northern Pennsylvania. Masi. Roanatte.--A man named Clark. Pon Master It Cherry Ridge, Wayne Co. Pa., has been detected in robbing the mail, and was arrested by officer A. M. C. Smith, of NeW York city. lie gave bail in the sulfa of 82,000 and bas since decamp!. Tits Thrint.—The late rains have swelled the writers in thiStnignetumna to a good •" rafting pitch," and quite a quantity of Lumber has floated past, on its way to the =eke( beiJw, during the few last (Joys. Conviction of APCook. We furnish below eitreditorialymm the Daily Chroni. cle, , at•Pltiladelidria t respecting the trial and Conviction of il!Cook, as well as some •commento upon tha mesa by the fiennsylvania Reporter. , The Chronicle is .. an indeiendent, honest I paper , most ewientially Whig. its' sentiments arid predilrctioin.' This' elate of papers have universally condemned the conduct of M'Cook io attempting to bribe a Represectativm and expressed an honest indignation at the corrupt and degrading system of Boring practiced at Harrisburg. The Harrisburg Tekgrapb and its sattelite, the Dradfonl Argus, on the cobtray, endeavor to extenuate and screen the conduct of this notorious bank agent. bT ittilarimientilion and by vituperation of the gentleman who has dared to array airing himself the army of borers and corrupt party presets on either aide. • _ • We might give numerous extrema to prom that Col. Piolkt's motives have been appreciated. and that his conduct is meeting the hearty approval of every honest man ; but we deem it unnecessary, after the result of tho trial, the best vindication an honest man amid wish. [From the Philadelphia Daily Chronicle.) Tux Case or Id'Coos..—Theevidence adduce) upon the trial of M'Cook, in the Court of Quarter Sessions of Dauphin county, furnishes a tolerable fair insight into one of the incidents of the boring aystem--as practiced at Harrisburg during the session of the Legislature.— M'Cook appears to have been a regular borers. one of the genuine "b'boyv„" and the object to the pine', • report in favor of the Lehigh County Bank, which it was scarcely supposed could be obtained by fair means. Col. Monet, one of the principal witnesses for the proeceution, was a member of the Legislature, and of the Committee on Banks. M'Cook waited upon Col. Piollet, to solicit his anistanee in procuring some action by the Com mittee, favorable to. the bank, and, at the same time, proffered a bribe of five hundred dollars. Col. Piollet rejected the offer, and took such steps in the matter as every honorable and honest representative is bound lode. M'Cook was tried for the offence, convicted. antlsentenc. ed to pay a fine of six hundred dollars to the Common wealth. That the sentence in this case is not proportionate to the offence, is a fact which must have struck every read er who has attended to the evidence, as furnished by our attentive Harrisburg correspondent That the convic tion of* raw lobby agent, of a wilful and deliberate at tempt, or rather of three separate attempts to bribe a member of the Legislators, should be followed by a sen •tence imposing no greater punishment than a fine of six hundred dollars,ls, in oar view, little else than a farce. To can it a punishment, or even a vindication of the law, would be to make a strange perversion of terms. Every man who reflects for a motlent upon the nature and character of the offence of whiqh M'Cook was convicted, its bearing upon the character of our legislative bodies, and interests of the people, must acquiesce in its enor mity, and the wide eprestl mischief which such crimes. 'when successful, must necessarily produce, It is but seldom that offenders of this description are brought to justice, although the frequency of their offences is no secret at Harrisburg; but when regularly indicted, tried. and convicted, upon the most overwhelming testimony, as in this case, it is not unreasonabluto expect the Judge to do his duty, and vindicate society from such desuuo. tire outrages. A journalist in a sister city may well say that this ruse is " one of the most amusing eshibilions, in the matter of public morals„ in such a State as Pennsylvania, Which he has ever seen—since the eclipse of the sun." It is a disgrace to Pennsylvania, and will be so regarded in every State in the Union. But la' it is, and while we must acknowledge that Bitch occurrences degrade the character of our Legislature, and bring the whole course of State government into contempt, we may well expects mortification also, when we see those who are charged with making the laws powerful for correction, falter in their duty, and thus foster the very evil which it is their province to discourage. M'Cook paid the six hundred dollars down, and walk ed triumphantly out of Court ! And now, he may pre pare himself far another boring expedition to Harrisburg next winter, show himself in the lobby, way-tar the members to and from the House, approach them at their lodgings, and carry on the business of a borer in all its ramifications. [From the Pennsylvania Reporter and Home Journal.] Tee Bluetits Cass. The proceedings in the trial of the case of the Commonwealth et Daniel M'Cook, for acting to bribe Mr. Piollet, a member of the Legis. lature, will be found in our paper of to-day. The trial was conducte&try Mr. M'Allister, the Depu ty Attorney General for the county, by the Attorney Genend himself, on the part of the Commonwealth, and by Messrs. M'Cormick and Fisher, otHanisburg, and Cooper, of Adims county, for the defendant. Every thing that legal ingenuity and ability could effect, was brought to the aid of the defendant The Court held the offence to be indictable at Com• mon Law, and the facts were too clearly made oat to admit of doubt in in the mind of any one who heard the testimony.'. Great pains bad been taken by the corrupt and bad men who infest the halls and lobbies of our Legislature every session, to create a state of public opinion favora ble to the defendant, and to prejudice the public mind against Col. Piollet, It all failed however to accomplish its purpose. Troth has triumphed as it always will when fearlessly sustained. The disclosures of M'Cook, to Mr. Galloway, were of a most extraordinary character, and *firmed Col. Piollet, in every essential particular. There was other testimony, that would have sustained him and vindicated his motives most fully, but which under the strict rules of evidence, was of doubtful &dads sibility. The cause was conducted in the most liberal manner on the part of the Commonwealth, and •although a por tion of the Counsel for the defendant, assailed Messrs. Piollet and Galloway in the - mast unjustifiable manner, tha Commonwealth's Counsel, did not follow the exam ple in retorting on the defendant or his witnesses to any improper extent. The closing speech of the Attorney General, was eloquent, brilliant and impressive. He referred with great fervor and force, to what the condition of our go vemrnent would be, if such offences were permitted to go unpunished. The seat of government in that event, would be " the Paradise of Harem" The charge of Judge Elting], was such an one as the case required. It did him great credit. He reviewed the law, in a clear. concise, and logical manner, and presented a fair statement of the evidence to the Jury, without invading their province, leaving them to judge of its credibility, and of the guilt or innocence of the lit fendant. The attempts of Mr. Cooper, as dishonorable, as they were improper, to raise some political prejudice in the Jury, failed most signally, as kis to be hoped all such base attempts in a Court of Justice, ever will fail. We siocereiy trust the moral effect of the result of this trial, will be felt throughout the country. and that the professional gentry who lie around our Legislative Halls in the character of borers, will hereafter have this case before their eyes. Its effect upon the fears of some of the guilty creatures, who hang around our borough is already visible. Their fears are alarmed, well they may be. If we ate not greatly mistaken from the Writs we havo received. strange". and'extraordinary developments, prey yet be made, affecting men both in mid ant of: the Legislature. ;We will in due time advert to these gentry seam- • • Important from the Occapatioa Army ! The War already commenced !—Gen. Taylor's Supplies cut off!—intense Excitement 2—War Preparations! Proclamation of the President: WAR DECLARED ! - . fperrespondenes of the 9aldwurrs tfinti • , New Gamtans, May 2d. 1846. Gentlemen : I enclose, extras "issued to - the closing of the mail. Gen.•gainen and the rad ous utfitxrs of the Army met in consultation to day. fhe requisition of Gen. Taylor upon the Governor of this State for 2.400 troops reached here this morning, and the lower house of the Legislature immediately appropriated *lOO,OOO fur the equipment of the hoops. They will, if is supposed, be placed under the command of Gen. Persifer Smith of this city, as such was the request of Gen. Taylor. - The whole Mexican force on both sides. is about 5,000. United States Army about 3,090 : plenty of yaller Skin renegedues about to figl fur Mexico. and 50,000 volurt , ers from this country in less than ten days, if wanted. The officer from whose letter 1 write, thinks that 10,- 000 men will be all that is necessary. I saw-a letter from an U. S. officer in Texas to one of the army in this city, from which"! gain something explanatory. The affray of the 70 dragoons took place 23 miles up the river which tuns V. by N. of Matamoras, while Point Isatielle is N. E. from same place :there fore the whole of the Mexican force, numbering two thousand i infarstry and twelve hundred caval ry across the river, does nut lie between Gen. Taylor and his supplies, and it is considered that the communication can he kept open.— The American army is us well fortified as cir cumstances and the extended lines wall premit. In five days all will be ready for a fire on Ma tamoros. A navy roll is now in Lafayette Square, and crowds flock to sign their heritage of glory.— Of courie you will publish the clone of the Ex tar" 'I Topic. I know that paper to be able to give the hest and most extensive information, though many rood correspondents. The issue of the Proclamation wall be delayed, as he waits for a written communication frotn Gen. Gaines. [Correspondeoco of the N. 0. Tropic.] Bassos Sr. lama. April 27th. Ay the Augusta 1 sent you some of the items now transpiring around . this interesting spot.— The opinion is fast gaining ground here that the imbecility of the Mexicans has been greatly overrated. This is the theatre of real war, not paper ennobles, but is the seat of the commence ment of a sanguinary conflict, and one it is feared of more importance and longer duration than has been anticipated Ibut the farce is at an end, and the curtain has risen bloody with carnage, the opening of a drama most unexpected, and our country a' ready mourns the loss of some of her fi est and bravest officers. On Thursday, the 23d, Gen. Tav'or received information that a b .tivfof the Mexican Army had crossed the Rio Grande some distance above the encampment. Early the following morning, Capt. Thorn. ton and Harding of 2d Light Him - ions, with a Company o(70 men were dispatched by Gen. Taylor to reconnoitre above. and Capt. Cerr of the same tegiment with aCompany to reconnoi tre below the Encampment. The latter return ed without having made any discovery. The former division fell in with what he con sidcred to be a scouting party of the enemy, hut which proved to be the advanced guard of a strong body of the enemy ; who held a situation in the ehapparel immediately in the rear of Gen. Taylor's camp. Capt. Thornton charged upon the quart), contrary to the advice of his Mexican guide, and on following the enemy Capt. Thorn ton found his command surrounded by the ene my who fired on him, killing as is supposed Capt. Thornton, Lieuts. Kane and Mason, and some 26 of the men, and taking Capt Hardee and the remainder of the command prisoners. The Mexican commander sent in a cart to Gen. Taylor's camp with a soldier badly wound ed, with a message that he had no travelling hospital with him and could not give him the assistance his situation required. There is no doubt the detachment of the enemy Cast of the Rio Grande consists of fully 2,500 men, com manded by Col. Carasco and Carrajabal, bold and intrepid officers of experience and ability. and were the whole army officered by such men as Carasco, as I know him personally. we should not be upon on unequal • footing. There is no doubt their object is to cut off all communica tion with Point Isabel, this being the general depot of provisions for the American arms; they have succeeded and, consequently placedthe American army in a precarious situation. It will be utterly impossible for Gen. Taylor to force his way along the dreary chaparels in which the enemy are strongly posted. His com mand cannot exceed 2,300 men. Gen. Taylor has an excellent position in the rear of Matamoras ; and can hold his position against the whole Mexican army combined, and his batteries can range the city in an hour.— Most of the citizens have left Matamoras, and Gen. Taylor has said that when the regular soldiers of Mexico were seen on the east side of the river, he would destroy the city. His bat teries are to be ready on the 27th, complete.— Gen. Taylor has in camp full rations for 15 (lays ; which he thinks can be made to last 30, by which time he is in hopes to receive large reinforcements from the States of Texas and Louisiana, upon each of which States he has made a requisition for the equipment and trans mission to Point Isabel of four full regiments of militia. It is thought by the superior officers of Gen. Taylor's army that 20,000 men will be required within a very short period, as it is well known that the Mexican army is daily receiving large reinforcements from the interior. It was sup posed by the American officers that Geh. Arista reached Matamoros on the evening of the 22d, with a largeHrigade. but up to the period of my infotmation leaving the ramp no communication had been received by Gen. Taylor from Gen. Arista. On the '22d Gen. Taylor received from Gen. Ampulla, by the means of a flag of truce, communication in rery offensive termv, com plaining of having blockaded the . Rio Grande. To which he replied, that he. Gen..Ampudia, had been the cause of the blockade, he having axpressly declared that unless General Taylor emnmeneed his retreat beyond the Nueros raitli in 24 lion -aafter his displaying his flag upon the hanks of the Rio Grande, he would consi der WAR :IS heing declared, and should act ac cortlinglF. Gen. Taylor furthermore stated that he would receive no further communiction from the Mexican' government. unless couched in language more respectful towards the: govern ment and people of the United States. -At Point ' Isabel great fears were entertained_of a night at tack,-which, from the exposed situation of that Point, Could not be otherwise than successful. if .conducted with energy. 'This post is defended by Major, Munroe with a detachment of 89 ortillernits. There ate also at the pest apout 200 armed wagoners, and fifty laborers under the orders of the Quarter Master ; some 100 citizens, furnished with arms by the U. S. Ordnance officer, organized under the command of Capt. Perkins, and denominated the Sumpter Guards. A company of 50 Mexican cavalry was seen on the night of the 20th, wi•h in five miles of Point Whet. They were sup, boiled to be a corps of observation. The body of Col. Cross was found on the 22st ult., about three miles from camp, frightfully mutilated and entirely divested of clothing. The body of Lieut. Porter, woo was killed by a party of banditti. undei the command of Ro mer Falcon, had not peen found. The principal officers known to be in command of the Mexican forces, are Generals Arista, Ampudia Mejia and Canales ; and Colonels Carrasco and Carrajabal are men of talent. lam indebted for the above information to the politeness of Col. Doane. who is on his way to New Orleans in the Augusta. P. 5.—A messenger has just arrived, after se vere toil and much danger, owing to the proximi t of the troops and the state of the prairie.— From him I learn, that Arista communicated po ittely to Gen. Taylor, that he had assumed com mand of the Mexican Army. We copy from an Extra of the Galveston News, dated Thursday morning. April3o : On Thursday morning, 23d a Mexican came into Gen. Taylor's camp and reported 2000 Mexicans crossing the river some twenty miles above. That afternoon captains Hardee and Thornton were sent with two companies of ca valry, 63 men in all, to reconnoitre. On Fri day morning they fell into an ambush ,of the enemy. when Lieut. Cain and thirteen men were killed, Capt. Thornton missing. and Capt.Hardee and 46 men prisoners. On !tam! , day afternoon the Mexicans, sent in a wounded man with the report. These \ Mexicans. it is stated, were commanded by Canalea and Ca rabajal. After the fight, the Mexicans on this side of the river were largely reinforced and have sur rounded Gen. Taylor's camp. cutting off all communication with Point Isabel, at which place is the train and all of the stores belonging to the army—Gen. Taylor not having on hand over 10 clays' provisions. There are at Point Isabel 90 'artillery men, 10 dragoous, about 250 teamsters and about 150 citizens and la borers ; and the entrenchments not half finish ed. The steamer Monmouth landed Mr. Caller on the night of the 28th at Port Lahaca. with despatches from Gen. Taylor cAllinz on Gov. Henderson for 40 companies of Riflemen, 60 men each, 20 of the companies to he mounted men to rendezvous at Corpus Christi. when they will he mustered into service and sup plied with provisions—the foot companies will rendezvous at Galveston, where transportation will he furnishcd. The steamer Augusta was to have left the Brassos St.' lago on Monday night for New Orleans. with Gen. Taylor's (-all on the Goveriors of Louisiana. Missiesip pi and Alahaina for 8000 troops. Should im mediate relief not he sent to Point Isabel, it will most probably fall into the power of the enemy with all the army stores, and the des truetion of the whole army may follow. Gen. Taylor's works in front of Matamoros would be completed on the the morning of the 28th, at which time it was expected the fire would he opened on the city. Troops should not await the call of the Governor pi it will be a week before it can reach this place, but hurry to the relief of Point Isabel, as by saving that place only will we have it in our 'power to render the army timely assistance. Texans ! you have now, at leapt, a glorious opportunity of retaliating on these perfidious Mexicans. the many injuries they have done you. and of carrying that war into the heart of their own country. the cruelties of wbich they have so often made you feel. NEW ORLEANS, May 2, 11 A. M. The news in our second edition. this morn km, is regarded u of much importance. Letters from authentic American sources in Matamoras state that the Mexican forces are at least 8000 men, well equipped, with an excel lent park dandle:l. The Governor of this State has issued his requisition for twenty-five hundred volunteers. end the7soldiers are already in the street, and making the most active preparations for depar ture. They will leave in the course of twenty four hours. The Legislature of the State with a patriotic promptitude worthy of all praise. have already passed a bill appropriating 8100.000 for the service. The measure passed by acclamation. [From the N. 0. Picayune, M.y 2d.] War!—To Arms !. 1 To Arms!!!—The steamship Gaive.ton arrived this mnring, bring. ing the certain intelligence that the United States army, under General Taylor. is com pletely surrounded, and his communication with Point Isabel entirely cut off. ,Despatches have been sent to'the Governor of Texas for" an immediate reinforcement of 2.400 men, and a special messenger, Col. Doan. now io this eity.xvith requisitions upon GovlernorJohn son for four regiments. 'file emergenry.is im minent, and immediate steps should he taken to send the necessary force to the relief of the army. "The city is in great excitement, Gune are being fired from the public squares, and drums and flags are paraded through the streets. Louisiana will do her duty in this crisis." At Galveston. within an hour after the re ceipt of Capt. Catlett's letter. there was a pub. lie meeting. and it was determined to dispatch 200 men that evening in the Monmouth. General Taylor has fortified his position so strongly that he can stand a seige, but his com munication with Point Isabel being cut off he is in danger of being compelled to take the field with an inadequate force, on account of the shortness of his provisions. Matamoros is almost deserted. 'The Ameri can armyfeould take the town'at once, but!tintler the eircumstancste of his position General Tay lor cannot divide his command or weaken his camp by sending off any considerable number of men from it. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT-PRO CEEDINGS OF COZZGRESS To the Senate and House of Representatives The existint, state of the relations betwei n the United States and Mexico. renders it pro per that I should brine the subject to the consid eration of Congress. In my meNsaize at the com mencement of your present session, the state of these relations and the causes which led to the suspension of diplomatic intercourse be- tween the two countries in March, 1895. and the long continue and onredressed wrongs and injuries committed by the Mexican Gp verninent on citizens of the United States. on cir persons end property, were briefly set MIS As the lams and opinions whieh were 'then laid before you were carefolly considered. cannot better express . my presentconvictions of the condition of affairs up to this time than by referring you to that communication. The strong desire to peace with Mexico on liberal and honorable terms, and the readiness of this Government to regulate and adjust our boundary: and other causes of difference with that power. on such fair and equitable princi ples,lo would lead to permanent relations of the moat friendly nature, induced me in Sep tember last to seek a re-opening of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Every measure adopted on our part had for its object the furtherance of these desired results. In communicating to' Congress a succinct_ statement of the injury which we have suffered from Mexico. and which had been accumulated during the period of more than 20 years, every expression that could tend to inflame the peo ple of Mexico, defeat or delay a pacific result, was carefully avoided. An Envoy of the II S. repaired to Mexico, with full powers to ad just every existing difference, I tit tht u:h pre sent on.Mexiean soil by agreement between the two governments, invested with full powers. and bearing evidence of the most friendly dis positions, his mission has been unavailing.— The Mexican government not only refused to receive him or listen to his propositions, but after a long continued eerie. 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 de tail the origin. progress and failure of that mis sion. In pursuance of the instructions given in September last, an" inquiry was made on the 13th of October, in 1845. in the most friendly terms, through our Consul in Mexico, of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. whether the Mexi can Government would receive an Envoy from the U. States, entrusted with full powers to adjust all the questions in dispute between the two governments, with the assuratfce that. should the answer be in the affirmative, such an Envoy would be immediately dispatched to Mexico. The Mexican Minister, on the 15th of October, gave an affirmative answer to this inquiry, requesting, at the same time, that our naval 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 Nov.. 1845, Mr. John Slidell. of Louisiana, was commissioned by me as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the U. S. to Mexico; and was entrusted with full powers . to adjust both the question of the Texan boundary and of in- deninification to our citizens. The redress of our citizens naiurallv'and inseparably blended itself with the question of boundary. The settlement of the one question in any correct view of the euhject, involved that of the oilier I could not to- a moment entertain the idea that the claims of our much injured and long suffering citizens, many of which had existed 'for more than I wenty years. should he postpon ed or separated from the settlement of the boun dary question. Mr. Slidell arrived at Vera Cruz on the 30th of Noiember. and was courteously received by the authorities of that city ; but the Govern ment of Geo. Herrera was then tottering to its fall : the revolutionary party bad seized upon the-Texas question to effect or hasten it over throw. Its determination, to restore friendly relations with thejU. S and to receive our Min- . tater to negotiate for the settlement of this ques tion, was violently 'assailed, and was made the great theme of denunciation aaainst it. The Government of Gen. Herrera, there is good reason to believe, was -sincerely desirous to receive our Minister; but it yielded to the storm raised by its enemies, and on the 21st of Dec. refused to accredit Mr. Slidell, upon the most frivolous pretexts. These are so fully and ably expressed is 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 details on this portion of the subject. Five days after the date of Mr. Slidell's note. Gen. Herrera yielded iltegovernment to Gen. Paredes, without a struggle. and on the 30th of December resigned the Presidency. This revo lution was accomplished solely by the army, the peoplehavingtaken little part in the contest; and thus the-supreme power of Mexico passed into the hands of a militaryleader. Determined to leave no effort untried to effects an amicable adjustment with Mexico, I directed Mr. Slidell to present his credentials to the government of General Paredes, and asked to be officially re ceived by him. There would have been less ground for ta king this Step had Gen. Paredes come into power by a regular cOnstitutionil succession.— In that event his administration would have been considered but a mere consititutional con tinuance of the government of General Herren. and the refusal of the latter to receive our Min later would have been deemed conclusive unless an intimation had been given by Gen Paredes of hie desire to reverse the det.ision o his piedecessor. But the Government of Gen Paredes owes its existing to a military revo lotion by which the subsisting costitutiona authorities had been subverted. The form of government was entirely chang ed, as well as all the high Pinctionai ies by whom it was administered. Under those circumstances Mr. Slidell, in obedience to my directions. ad dressed a note to the Mexican Minister of For eign Relations, under date of the Ist of Match last, - asking to he received by that government in the diplomatic character to which he had been appointed. The Minister, in his reply, under date of the 12th of March. reiterated the argu nt of his predecessorr•and in terms that may be considered as giving just grounds of offence to the government and people of the United States, denied the application of Mr. Slidell.— Nothing, therefore. remained for-our Envoy but to demand his passports, and return to his own country. Thus the Government of Mexico, though sol emnly pledged by.ofricial acts in October last to reeeive.and accredit an -American envoy, viola ted their pledge their plighted faith, and.refus ed the offer of the pe;:c 111 adjustment of our difficulties. Not only was the offer rejected. but the indignity of its rejection. enhanced by 3 manifest breach of faith in refusing to admit the envoy who came because they had hound them• .elves to receive him. Nor can it he said that the offer was fruitless from the want of oppor tunity of discussing it. as our envoy was present on their own soil. Nor can it he ascribed to a wantiof sufficient powers ; our envoy Winn powers to adjust every question ordifferenee.— Nor was there room for complaint that output position for i settlemt-nf unreasonab'etp e44 elan WOP not even given our envoy to int , kt proposition, whatever. Dior can it be obj ee i i that we. on our part, would not listen t o resednable terms of their suggestion ; the bleb can government re fused all ni gutiations, sal t: made no proposition of any kind. " In my message at the commencement oftt, present session. I informed you. that it s earnest appeal, both of the Congress and r' vention of Texas, I had ordered an elfieiest‘ limey force to take a polition between tlat No„ yes and the Del None. \ This had becom e cessary to meet a threatened invasion of 1 8 44 by the Mexicans, for whielvextensive mij preparation had been made. The invasion s t , threatened solely because Texas had dets 4 , 4 ed. in accordance with a solemn resolution oftt e Congress of the U. S. to annex her self to s o Union, and under these circumstances it a l , plainly our. duty to extend our protection si t , her citizens and soil.. This force was emu. • trated at Corpus Christi and remained there s l . til after I had received such information, as 4 ,, dered it probable that Thekt?llexican govern's:At would not receive our envoy. Meintime. Texas, by the final act of oar e gt „ areas had become an integral part of our Unift The Congress of 'Texas, by ils action of P k 19, 1830, had declared the Rio Del None t e h the boundary of that Republic: Its jurisdicak i had been extended and exercised beyond de Nome'. The country between that river not the Del Norte had been represented in the Ccs greets and the Convention of Texas, had 14, taken part in the act of Annexation itself. lag now included within one of our Congreasioc i i Districts. Our own. Congress had moreote t , with gloat unanimity, by the act approved D m 31st. 1845, recognised the country beyond th t Neuces as a part of our territory by. in cludiq it within out own revenue system, and a rem no officer to reside within that district has b an oppointed by and with the advice and roam of the Senate. It became therefore of teen necessity to provide for the defence of that po t . non of our country. Accordingly on the WI of January last instructions were issued ode General in command of these troops to mum the left bank of the Del Norte. This river, which is thesouth western hound., ry of the State of Texas, is an exposed frontlet. From this quarter invasion has been threatened. Upon it, and in its immediate vicinity, in de judgment of high military experience, are di proper statibna for the protecting forces °f lit Government. In addition to this important ronsidentior, several others occurred to induce this movemer. Among these are the facilities afforded by to ports of Brazos Santiago and the mouth dill Del Norte for the reception of supplies by to, the stronger and more healthy military positions, the convenience for obtaining a ready and mac abundant supply of provisions, as water, fee and forage, and the advantages which are 'Ea• ded by the Del Norte in forwarding supplies to such posts as may he established in the humor and upon the Indian frontier. The movement of troops to Del None au made by the commanding General. under pa stove instructions to abstain from all aggressite arts towards Nlexico or Mexican citizens, end to regard the relations between that Republie and the United States as peaceful, unless the should declare war or commit aces of hostility indicative of a state of war. He was especol ly directed to protect private property and re sped personal rights. The Army moved from Corpus Christi in the 11th of March, and on the 28th of that mouth arrived on the left bank of the Del Norte, opposite to Matamoras, where it encamped oi a commanding position, which has since beer strengthened by the erecti ,, n of field works.— A depot has also been established at Point lie bel, near the Brazos Santiago, 30 miles in the rear of the encampment. The selection of bit position was necessarily confined to the jag• ment of the General in command. • The Mexican forces at Matamoras assumed a belligerent attitudes on the -12th of Apnl.— Gen. Ampudia, then in command,. notified General Taylor to break up his camp walla 24 hours, and to retire beyond the Neuces vet., and in the - event of his failure to comply with these demands announced that arms led arms alone most decide the question. But so open act of hostility was committed until .the 24th of April. On that day Gen. Arises, who had oucceeded to the command - of the Meximi forces, communicated to General Taylor. tbat he considered hostilities commenced, sod should prosecute them. A party of dragoon , of 63 men and officers were on the same day despatched from. the American camp, op the Rio del Norte. on its left bank, to assertm whether the Mexican troops had crossed or were preparing to-cross the river, became es• gaged with a large body of these troops. ma after a short affair in which some 16 we killed-and wounded, appear to have been sac rounded and compelled to surrender. The grievous wrongs perpetrated by Mexico upot our cilizens throughout a long period of yem remain unredressed.; and solemn mon , pledging her public faith, for this redress have been disregarded. A government either tow ble or unwilling, to force the execution.of suet Ire ties, fails to perform one of its plaiseu duties. Our commerce with Mexico has been-110S annihilated. It was formerly highly bend. to both nations ; but our merchants tau been deterred from prosecuting it by the sr. tem of outrage and extortion which the Mer can authorities have pursued against them; whilst their appeals through their own web' , meat for indemnity have been made in vain — Our lorhearance has gone to such an estreci as to be mistaken in its diameter. fled et acted *ith vigor in repelling the insults Ind redressing the, injuries inflicted by IlesteO a' the commencement, we should doubtless tan escaped all the difficulties in which we yeses involved. Instead of this, however, we have been er ening, our best efforts to propitiate her goo d will, upon the pretext that Texas. a Da" II independent as herself, thought proper to unite its destinies with our own. She basstliev d to believe that we have severed her rig htf° l territory, and in official proclamation, and manifestos, has repeatedly threatened to 011k6 war upon us for the purpose of reconverof Texas. In the meantime we have tried ere!< effort nt reconciliation. The cup of forbEr anee had been exhausted, even before the rt cent information from the frontier of the Dv Norte. But now alter reiterated laroar ti ; :11exieo has passed the boundary of the liniv States, has invaded our territory and 0 1 American blood upon the American soil. S I ! has proclaimed that hostilities have commead' and that the two nations are now at or As war exists, and notwithstanding duo to avoid it, exists by the act of WO herself, we are called upon by every considem. tion of duty and patriotism to vindicate 110
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