BO
nv>loro_ (VorUr.,
Towanda, - Wednesday, Dee. 16, IS/6.
Deinotrafic County Nomination.
ill=
FRANCIS- R. SHUNK.-
INUI4eCt 10 the dec:i'on of the Decooe.:wie Soc. Cooreutioo.j
FUR RILPIZILEVITATIVE,
FRANCIS SBITII, of Troy Borough.
cPo fill the .....ncyocensionel by the deuh o f Jo•ta L. IV Egg ,
r... l .—me day of elrebnle yel to be delegneteill
.....
(Voob aub vain, Waata at this (Dace,
On Accounts sir years oh!
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Felloeiti:ens of . the Senqte
and of the These of Representatiets
In resuming yourlabors in the service of the pew.
pie it is a subject of congratulation that there has
'been no period in our past his ory, when all the ele-
Inents of national prosperity have been so fully de
veloped. Since your last session no afflicting dis
pensation has visited our country: general good
health has prevailed; abundance hasSrowned the
toil of the husbandman; and labor in all its
branches is receiving an ample reward, while edu•
cation, science and the arts are rapidly enlamine•
the means of social happiness. The progre.s of
our country in her career of greatness, not only in
the vast extension of onr territorial limbs and the
rapid increase of our population, but in resources
and wealth, and in the happy condition of our
people, is without example is the history of na
tions.
As the wisdom, strength, and beneficence of our
free institutions are unfolded, every day adds fresh
motives to contentment, and fresh incentives to
patriotism.
Our devout and sincere acknowledgments are
due to the gracious Giver of all good, for the
numberless blessings which our beloved country
•
enjoys.
It is a source of high satisfaction to know that the
relations of the United States with all other nations,
with a single exception, are of the most amiable
character. Sincerely attached to the policy of
peace, early adopted and steadily pursued by this
government, I have anxiously desred to cultivate
and cherish friendship and commerce with every
Foreign Power., The spirit and habits of the Ameri
can people are favorable to the mainteuance ofeuch
international harmony.
In adhering to this wise policy,' a preliminary
and paramountduty obviously consists in the pro
tection of our national interests from encroachment
or sacrifice, and our national honor front reproach.
• These must be maintained at any hazard. They
admit of no compromise or neglect, and must be
scrupulously and constantly guarded. In their vi
gilant vindication, collision and conflict with for
eign Powers may sometimes become unavoidable.
Such has been our scrupulous adherence to the dic
tate:, of justice, in all our foreign intercourse, that,
though steadily and rapidly advancing in prosperi
ty and power, we have given no just cause ofcorn
plaint to any nation, and have enjoyed the Hes
singsof peace for more than thirty years. From a
policy so sacred to humanity, and so salutary. in its
effects upon our political system, we should never
bo induced voluntarily to depart.
The existing war with Mexico was neither de
sired nor provoked by the United States. On the
contrary, all honorable means' were resorted to to
avert it. After years of endurance of aggravated
and unredresset wrongs on our part, Mexico, in
violation ofsolema treaty stipulations, and of every
.principle of justice recognized by civilized nations,
commenced hostilities; and thus, by her own act,
forced the . — ..tr,upon us. Long before the advance
of our army to die left bank of the Rio Grande, we
had ample cause of war against Mexico; and had
the United' States resorted to this extremity,'we
might have appealed to the whole ciiTized world
for the justice of our cause.
I deem it to be My duty to present to you, on
the present occasion, a condensed review of the in
, juries we had sustained, of the causes which led
to the war, and of its press since its continence
meta. This is rendered the moreicessary be
cause of the misapprehensions whic ave to some
extent prevailed as to its origin and e character.
The war has been represented as unjust and urine
ces=ary, and as one of aggression on our part upon
a weak and injured enemy. Such erroneous views,
though entertained by but few, have been widely
and extensively- circulated not only at home, but
have been spread throughout Mexico and, the
whole world. A more effectual means could not
have been devised to encourage the enemy and
protract the war than to advocate and adhere 'to
their cause, and thus *give them " aid and com
fort."
It is a source of national pride anal evuttation,
that the great body of our people hale thrown no
t4tch obstacles in the way of the government in
prosecuting the war successfully, but have shown
themselves to be eminently patriotic, and ready to
vindicate their country's honor and interests at any
sacrifice. The alacnty and promptne,s with which
our volunteer forces rushed to the field'on their coun-
try's call, prove not only their patriotism, but their
deep4conviction that our cause is just. I
The wrongs which we have suffered from Mexi
co almost ever since she became an independent
Power, and the patient endurance with which we
have borne them- are without a parallel in the his
tory of ritodem civilized nations. There is reason
fo believe that `if these wrongs had been resented
and resisted in the first instance, the present , war
might have been avoided. One outrage, however,•
permitted to pass with impuuity, almost necessarily
nucouraged the perpetration of -anodic; until at last
.Mexico seemed to attribute to wealiness and inde
cision-oa our part a forbearance which. was the
offspring, of magnanimity, and of a sincere desire
to preserve,friendly relations with a sister' republic.
Siamely had Mexico achieved her independence,
which the United States were the first among the
nations to acknowledge, when she commenced the
system of insult and spoliation, which she has ever
since pursued. Our citizens engaged in lawful
commerce were imprisoned, their vessels seized.
and our flag insulted in her ports. If money wag
warded, the lawless seizure and confiscation of our
merchant vessels and their' cargoes was a ready
resnurce ; and if to accomplish their purposes it be
came necessary to imprison the owners, captains,
and crews,itwas.done. , Ruler's superseded rulers
in Mexko is rapid succession;, but still there was
uo
change in this 'system of depredation. The go
vernment of the United States made repeated re.
clamations on behalf of its citizens, but these were
answered by new outrages. Promises of redress
ma d e by Mexico in the • most solemn forms were
postponed err evaded. The files and records of the
Department of State contain conclusive proofs of
numerous lawless acts perpetrated upon the pro.
perty and persons of our citizens by Mexico, and
' of wanton insults to our national flag. The utter
' position of oar government to obtain redress was
again and again invoked, under circumstances
which no nation ought to disregard.
• It was hoped Ilrat these outrages would cease,
and that Maxim. would be restrained by the laws
which regulate, the conduct of civilized nations in
their intercourse with each other after the treaty of
amity, commerce and navigation of the fifth of
.Ip-if, was concluded between the two re
publics; bnt this hope soon proved to Di vain:—
The course of seizure and confiscation of the pro
perty of our citizens; the violation of their persons
and the insults to our flag pursuexl by Mexico pre
vious to that fime were =entity suspended forgiven
a brief period ; eh:tough the treaty so clearly defines
the rights and duties of the respective parties that
it is impchsible to misunderstand or mistake. them.
fn htse than le . cep yearFifter — lhegaielusices'Aftralt
treaty Our grievances hart - Yitecr.rine eQi intolerable
'thit,: in the opinioti4of gtesident they
should no lorger be Mean*.
frt his message triitomiress.iti February, tsp,
• he.prese meld them to-the considerationlif that boiljr,
and:declared-that 0 -The-length of time since sonde
of the injuries have been committed, the repeated
a at unavailing applications for redress, the wanton
charaeterof some of the terntoes• upon the prppern
iv and persons of our citizens, upon the officersarul
tla4 of the United Sates, independent of recent in
111.s to this government and people by the late ex
traordinary Alexican minister, would jus:ify in the
w~ _
. .
.v,-es or all nations irrpe4iWe a spirit o
klndlies.aiol forbearance, hoV7tWet, hp'recominend
ed reprisals a a milder mode of redress.
- He declared that-war shou!d-not be used as a
remedy "by just and genemns nations confiding in
their strengdi for injuries ComMirted, if it can be
honorably avoided, ) , and added, "it has occurred
to me that, considering the present embarrassed
condition of that country, we should act with both
wisdom and moderation, by giving to Mexico one
more opportunity to atone for the past, before we
take redress into our own hands. To avoid all
misconcep.ion on the part of Miesico, is= well as to
protect our own national diameter from reproach;
this opportunity should be given mitt} the avowed
design and fu'l preparalonto take immediate satis
faction. if it should not be obtained on a repetition
of the deniand for it. •
. .
. .
" To this end,l recommend that a law be passed
authorizing reprisals, and the use of the naval force
of the United Stales, by the Executive, against Mexico, to enforce them, in the event of a refusal
by the Metcan government to come to an arnica-
- _
bie adju.tment of the matters in controversy be
tween us, upon another demand thereof, made
from on board ono of our vessels of war on the
coact of Mexico." •
Committees of both Houses of Congress to which
this message of this President was referred, fully
sustained his views of the character of the wrongs
which we had suffered from. Mexico, and recom
mended that another demand for rediess should be
made before authorizing, war or reprisals.
The COmmittee on Foreign Relations of the. Se
nate. in their report, say: "After such a demand,
should` prompt justice be refused by the Mexican
government, we may appeal to all nations not only
for the equi:y and moderation with which we shall
have acted towards a sister republic, but for the
necessity which will then- compel us to seek re
dress for our wrongs, either by actual war or by
reprisals. The subject will then be presented be
fore Congress, at the commencement of the next
session, in a clear and distinct form and the com
mittee cannot doubt but that such measures will be
immediately adopted as may be necessary to vindi
cate the honor of the country, and- ensure ample
reparation to our injured citizens."
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives made a similar recommendation.
hi their report, they say that they "fully concur
with the President that ample cause exists for tak
ing redress into our own hands, and believe that
we should be justified in the opinion of other na
tions for taking such a step. Rut they are willing
to try the experiment of another demand, made in
the most solemn form, upon the justice of the Mexi
can government, before any further proceedings are
adopted."
No difference of opinion upon the subject is be
lieved to have existed in Congress at that time.--
The Executive and Le,. , tislative department con
curred; and yet such has been our forbearance,and
desire to preserve peace with Mexico, that the
wrongs of which we then complained, and which
gave rise to these solemn proceedings, not only re
main unredressed to this day, but additional causes
of complaint, of an aggravated character, have ever
since been accumulating.
Shortly after these proceedings, a special mes
senger was despatched to Mexico, to make a final•
demand for redress; and on the twentieth of July,
(837, the demand was made. The reply of the
Mexicali govenunent bore date on the 29th of same
month, and contained Assurances of the " anxious
wish" of the Mexican goVemment "not to delay
the moment of that final and equitable adjustment
which is to terminbte the existing difficulties be
tween the two governments f' that "nothing should
be left undone which may contribute to the most
speedy and equitable determination of the subjects
which have so seriously engaged the attention of
the American government;" that the " Mexican
government would adopt, as the only guides for its
conduct, the plainest pnuciples of public right, the
sacred obligations imposed by international law,
and the religious faith of treaties;' and that" what
ever reason and justice may dictate respecting each
case, will be done."
The assurance was further given, that the decis
ion of the Mexican government upon each cause
of complaint, for which redress had been demand
ed, should be communicated to the government of
the United States by the Mexican minister at Wash
in eton.
'These solemn assurances in answer to our de.
mand for redress, were disregarded. By making
them, however, Mexico obtained further delay.—
President Van Buren, in his annual message to
Congress of fifth of December, 1837, states that
" although the large number" of our demands for
redress, and "many of them, aggravated cases of
personal wrongs, have been now for years before
the Mexican government, and some.ot the causes
of national complaint, and those of the most offen
sive character, admitted of immediate, simple and
satisfactory replies, it is only within a few days
past that any specific communication in answer to
our last demand, made five months ago, has been
received from the Mexican minister;" and that 1, for
not one of our public complaints has satisfaction
been given or offered; that but one of the cases of
personal wrong has been favorably considered, and
that but four cases of both descriptions, out of all
those formerly presented, and earnestly pressed,
have as yet been decided upon by the Mexican go
vernment."
President Van Buren, believing that it would be
vain to make any further attempt to obtain redress
by the ordinary means within the prefer of the
Executive, communicated this opinion to Congress,
in the message referred to, in which he slid--"On
a careful and deliberate examine ion .of the con
tents," (of the correspondence with the Mexican
Government,) " and considering the spirit manifes
ted by the Mexican government, it has become my
painful duty to return the subject As it now stands,
to Congress, to whom it belongs, to' decide 'upon
the time, the mode, and the measure' of redress."
Had the U. States at that time adopted compulsory
measures, and taken redress into their own hands,
all our di fficulties with Mexico would probably have .
been long since adjusted, and the existing war have
been averted..
Magnanimity and mrideration •thi'one part only '
had the effect to complicate - thesedifficulties, 'end
render an amicable settlement of them. the mote'
embarrassing. That such measures of redress un
der similar provocations, combined by any of the
powerful Amiens of Europe, would have- been
promptly resorted to by the United - States, cannot
be doubted. The national honor, and the preser
vation of the national
,Character throughout the
world, as well "as our (Ave self-respect, and the pro
tection due to our own citizens, would have ren
such a resort indispensable. The history of no
civilized nation in modern times has presented ,
within so brief a period so many wanton attacks
upon. the honor of its flag, and upon the property .
and person:4.ot its citizens : as had at that time been
borne by thel.lnited States from the Mexican an
thorities and people. But Alexico was a sister re.
public', on the North American continent,
tag a territory contiguities to our own, and was in a
feeble and distracted condition ;read these consid.
orations, it is presumed, induced Congress to far
bear stil longer..
Instead of taking redress into our own hands, a
new negotiation was entered 4icat, .with fair pro ,
raises on the part of Mexico, but - with thereal pur
pose, as the event has proved, of iudelinitely post;
poning the reparation which we demanded, and
which was so justly due. This negotiation, after
more than a year's delay, resulted in -the conveu
lion of the eleventh of April, IS3'J, "for the adjust-
meat of claims of citizens of die United States .of
America uppoon the government of the-Mexican re-
Trjomkbbard of commissienenscvgated
by theiconventiori - lii - examine andldecide upon
hheiaimi,ۥvras notprganized until the iironth:of
.1*1846",*4 attar the term ofthe6iniventien,
:they *ere uftemainale their duties withini:ethbre
inbnthe from that time.
'a...Fenn-of the eighteen months were consl72n6clE.in
preliminary - discussions on frivolous and 'dilatory
points raised by the Mexican commissioners- mid
at wae not until the nunithoWecember,,lB4o:4ll4l
they commenced the exiinintitiiiiVidtheelaims of
our citizens upon Mexico. Fourteen months only,
remained to examine 'and decide'nPon 'these iva
menms and complicated ca-es. In the .month of
February, 1842, the term of the commission expir
ed, leaving : many shims tuulispose(. 1 ,ilffor,Wahtof
Lida: The claims Which were hllcuied: by.the
and by the umpire authorized by the con
venuon to decide in case of disaireementbetwien
the Mexican and American commissioners, amount
ed to ) • . • -. '
There were-fending before the umpire when
the commission. expired ,additionat claims which
had been examined and =anted by the American
commissioners. and had not been ' alloiced by the
Mexican commissioners amtranting to 8928,627 88,
upon which be did not decide, alleging that his an
therity hail ceased with thaterrnimuien .of thetjoint
commission. Besides these claims there . were
others of American citizens amount - mg to a3,336,-
837, 05 which heti been, submitted.. to the board, and
upon which they had not time to' decide before
their final adjournment
•
Tho sum of $2,26,13968 ithiehhad been award
ed to the claimants, was a liquidated and ascer
tained debt due by Mexico, about which there
could be no dispute, and which she was.bonnd to
pay according to the terms of the convention. Soon
after the final awards for this amount had
made, the Mexican government asked for a post
ponement of the time of making payment; alleging
that it would be inconvenient to make the payment
at the time stipulated. In the spirit of forbearing
kindness towardia sister republic., which Mexico
has so long abrcedohe U.B4:es promptly - complied
with her request..
A second convention was areordinglyconcleded
between the two governments on the 30thofJauun
ry, 1843, which upon its faCe declares, hat "the
new arrangement is entered into for the.accommo
dation of Mexico." By the terms of this conven
tion, all the interest due on the awardavrhich had
been made in favor of the-claimants under the con
vention of the lith of April, 1839, was to be . paid
to them on the 30th Of April, 1843 2 and "the prin
cipal of the said awards, and the interest accruing
thereon," was stipulated to be paid in live Years,
in equal instalments every three months."
Notwithstanding this new convention was enter
ed into at the request of Mexico, and for the
ptir
pase of relieving her from embarra.s.sment, the
claimants have ouly received the interest due on
Cie 30th of April, 1843, and three. of the twenty in
stalments. Although the payment of the sum thus,
liquidated, and contesSeilty due by Mexico to Our
citizens as indemnity for acknowledged acts of out
rage and wrong, was secured by treaty, the obliga
tions of which are ever held sacred by all just na
tions, yet Mexico has .. .violated this solemn en
gagement by failing and refusing to make the pay
ment.
The two instalments due in April and July, 1844,
under the peculiar circumstances connected with
them, have been assumed by the United States and
discharged to the claimants; but they are still due
by Mexico. But this is not all of which we have
just cause of complaint. To provide a remedy for
the claimants whose cases were not decided by the
joint commission under the convention of April the
11th, 1839, it was expressly stipulated by the 6th
article of the convention of the, 30th of" January,
1843, that "a new convention shall be entered into
for the settlement.of all claims of the government
and citizens of the United States against the repub
lic of Mexico which were not finally decided by
the late commission, which met in the city of
Washington, and of all claims Of the government
and citizens of Mexico against the United Sates,
Z.;ln conformity with this stipulation, a third con
vention was concluded and signed at the city of
Mexico on the 20th of November, 1843, by the
I plenipotentiaries of the two governments, by which
provision was made for ascertaining and paying
these claims. In January, • 1844, this convention
was , ratified by the Srnate of the United States with
two amendments, which were madifestly reasona
ble in their cha aoter. Upon a reference of the
amendments proposed to the government of Mexi
co, the same evasions, difficulties. and delays were
interposed which have so long marked the - policy
of that government towards the United States. It
has not yet even decided whether it would or
would not accede to them, although the subject
ha , been repeatedly pressed upon its consideration.
Mexico has thus violated a second time the faith
of treaties, by failing or refusing to carry into effect
the sixth article of the convention of January, 1843.
Such is the history of the wrongs which we
have suffered and patiently endured from Mexico
through a long series of years. So fa? from afford
ing reasonable sans action for the injuries and in
sults we had borne, a great aggravationef diem cot
sists in the fact, that while the United States, anxious
to preserve a good understanding with )lexico,
have been constantly, but vainly, employed in
tieekin'g redress for past wrongs, new outrages were
constantly occurring which have continued to in
crease our causes of complaint and to swell the
amount of our demands. While the citizens of
hopnited,States were conducting a lawful commerce ,
with Mexico under the guaranty of a treaty of
" amity, commerce, and navigation;' many of them ;
ve suffered all thq injuries which would have
suited from open war. This treaty, instead of '
ording'protection to our cittzens, has been the
eansof mviting them into the ports of Mexico, ,
t at ey might be, as they have been in humer
us
stanees, plundered of their property
libertyand de-II
d ed of their personal if they dared insist
eir rights. Had the unlawful seizures of M n .:
' propeity, and the violation of personal fiber-
en
' of our citizens, to say nothing of the roSults to our
flag which have occurred to the ports of Mexico,
taken place on the high seas, they wont themselves
longaince have constituted a state of aeittal war be
the two countries.
In so long suffering Mexico to violate her most
solemn treaty obligations, plunder our, citizens of
their property and imprison their" persons without
affording them any redress, we have Itiled te per
form one of the first and highest duties whichever):
government owes to its citizens ; and the conse
quence has been,' that many of them have been-re=
duced form a state of affluence tobanlauptcy.i The
proud name of American citizens, which ought to.
protect all who bear it from iamb &injury through
out the world, has afforded no such protectiOn to
our citizens in Mexico. We had ample. Cause of
War a,.,, ,, aind Mexice long before the breaki4tua of
hostilities: But- even then we forbore -to 'WM re
'ress into our own handS ' until Mexico herself be. I
.
came the aggressor by invading our soil in hostile'
array and shedding the.blood of our citizens. I . . I
Such are the grave congest:of complaint , on the
. part of the United. States tgainst Music s
which existed lore* before the anexatiou of exalt'
to the American &on ; and yet, animated - by the 1,
hive Of peace, and alitagnammous moderation, we I
''did not adopt those measures of redrms whichom
der'snch eirctimstancei, are the justified 'resort of I
I injured nations. .• . • , - . . .
The .annexMion of. Texas to the
_United States
constituted no just cause .or offence- to Mexico.—
The pretext thatitdidsci is wholly inconsistent, and
irreconCileable with Well mitheitheated -facts con.
nected with the revolatitin by which Texas became
independent of Mexico.. ' ' '. • -
' That !hitt May be more manifest, it may be pro
per to advert to the causes and to the history of the
principal events of that revolution..
Texas constituted a pinion ofthe ancient province
of Louisiana, ceded to the United States by France
in the year 1803: ' hi this. year 1819, the United
Stales, by the Florida treaty ceded to Spain all that
part of Louisiana Within the present limits of Texas;
and Mexico, by the revolution which separated her
front Spain, and rendered her an independent na!
ten, susceeded to the rights of the
.mmher country
over this territory.
In the year 1824, Mexico established a federal
constitution, undo. wbichthe Mexiean mane was
• ,•
posed-okanumher orSoveteigoStiites, nonfat--
Med together. 444 Wirral Mum' :simiLiclo our
Ail. -Each of these Oates hid its 'Own executive,
145121111te, and Yu:Ukiah and for exceptfedes•
al,purpcses, was astindepoitdent .of the general go
veal:pent, and - thi(olthe other Scales, as. is - Penn-
Aylvania : Virginia under out own: constitution.—
Tails and CoahuiLi 7 intite' d and finznetrone" of
these Mexican States.
- -
-The Stare, constitution which they adopted, and
Was , approved by the -Mexican Confederack,
asserted that they were "free and- independent of
the other.' Mexican United - States, and of every
other power and dominion whatsoever ;" and pro
claimed the great principle of 'human liberty, that
the sovereigutrolthe Stale resides edging', and
'essentially in the general mass Of the individuals
who composed it. To the government under this
constitution, as well as that Cinder the -federal.con
stitution, the people - of Texas, owed allegianc e.
Emigrants from foreign countries including the
United States. were invited by tie colonization
laws of the State and of the federal govemrnent to
settle in Texas. Adyantageous terms were offered
to induce them to leave their own country and be-
come Mexican citizens. This invitation was as
by:many of our citizens ; in the full faith that
in their new home they would be governed by
laws enacted by, representatives elected by them
selves, and that their lives, liberty and property
would be proteetett by constitutional guarantees
similar to those which existed in the republic which
they had left. Linder a goverurne.nt thus organi
zed they continued Until, the year 1835,'. when a
military revolution broke Out in the city of Mexico,
which entirely subverted the federal and state con
stitutions, and placed a military dictatoral the head
of the government
By a sweeping decree of a Congress subservient
to the - will of the dictator, the several State consti
tutions were abolished ; and the State themselves
.converte c d into mere departments of the CentralGo
von:meat. The people of Texas were unwilling to
submit to this usurpation. Resistance to such ty
ranny became a high duty. Texas was fully ab
solved from all' allegiance to the Central Govern
ment of Mexico from the nioment that government
had abolished her State constitution, and in its place
substituted an arbitrary and despotic Central Go
vernment.
• Such were the-principal causes of the Texan re
volution. The people of Texas at once determined
upon resistance, and flew to arms. In the midst
of these important and exciting events, however,
they did not omit to place their liberties upon a se
cure and permanent foundation. Theyielectad mem
bers to a Convention, who, in the mon h of March,
1836, issued a formal declaration that their " politi
cal connection with the Mexican nation was for
ever ended, and that the people of Texas do now
constitute a Free, Sovereign, and Independent Re
public, and are fully invested with all the rights and
attributes which properly belong to independent na
tions." They also adopted for their government a
liberal republican constitution.
About the same time Santa Anna, then the dicta-
for of Mexico, invaded Texas with a numerous ar
my for the purpose of subduing her people, and en ,
forcing obedience to his arbitrary and despotic go
'venturer-it. Oa the twenty-first of April, 1836 he
was met by the Texan citizen soldiers, and onthat
day was achieved by them the memorable victory
of San Jacinto, by which they conquered their inde
pendence. Considering the numbers engaged on
the respective sides, history does not record a more
brilliant achievement. Santa Anna himself was
among the' captives.
In the month of May, 1836, Santa Anna acknow
ledged, by a treaty with the Texan au horities, in
the ruosf.solemn form, "the full, entire, and perfect
independence of the republic of Texas." . It is true
he was then a prisoner of war, but it was equally
true that he had failed to reconquer Texas, and had
met with signal meat ; that his authority bad not
been revoked, and that by virtue of this treaty he
obtained his personal release. By it hostilities were
suspended, and the army which had invaded Texas
under hiS command returned in pursuance of this
arrangement, unmolested, to Mexico.
From the day that the battle of San Jacinto was
fought until the present hour, Mexico has never
'possessed the power to reconquer Texas. In the
language of the Secretary of State of the United
States, in a despatch to our minister in Mexico, un
der date of the Bth of July, 1842, " Mexico may
have chosen to consider, and may still choose to
consider Texas as having been at all times since
1835, and as still continuing; a rebellious province ;
but the world has been obliged to take a very dif
ferent view of the matter: From the time of the
battle of San Jac nto,
in April, 1836, to the present
moment, Texas has exhibited the same external
simis of national independence as Mexico herself,
and with quite as much stability of government.
" Practically free and Independent,ackaowledged
as a political sovereignty by the principal Powers
of The world, no hostile foot finding rest within her
territory for six or seven years, and Mexico herself
refraining for all that period from any further at
tempt to re-establish her own authority over that
territory, it cannot but be surprising to tied Mr. de
'Bocanegra" (the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of
Mexico) "complaining that for that whole period
citizens of the United- States, or its government,
have been favorable to the rebels .of Texas, and
supplying them with vessels, ammunition, and
money, as if the war for the reduction of the pro
vince of Texas had been constantly prosecuted by
Mexico, and her success prevented by these influ
ences from abroad."
In the same despatch the Secretary of State af
flans that "since 1837 the United States have re- .
garded Texai as an independent sovereignty, as '
much - as Mexico : and that trade and commerce
with citizens of a government at war with Mexico
cannot, on that account be regarded as intercourse
by, which assistance and successaregiven to Mexi
can rebels. The whole. current of Mr. de Bocane ;
gra's remarks runs in the same direction as if the
independence of Texas had not been acknow
ledged.
" It has been acknowledged—it was acknow
ledged in 1837 against the remonstrance and pro
test of Mexico; and most of the acts of any impor
tance of which Mr. de Bocanegra complains, flow
necessarily from that recognition. He speaks of
Texas as still being an " integral part of the territo
ry of the Mexican republic," but he cannot but un
derstood that the United States do not so rerar, d it.
The real complaint of Mexico, therefore, is, m sub
stance, neither more nor less than a complaint
against the recognition of Texan independence.
"It may be thought rather late to repeat that com
plaint, and not quite just to confute it to the United
States, to the exemption of England, France and
Belgium, unless the U. S. having been The first to
acknowledge the independence of Mexico herself,
are to be blamed for setting an example for the re
cognition of that of Texas." And he added, that
the constitution, public treaties, and the laws oblige
the President - to regard Texas as an independent
State r and its territory as no part of the territory of
Mexico." , ,
. Texas bad been an independent State, with an
organized government, defying the power of Mexi
coto overthrow' or re-conquer her. for more than
ten years before Mexico commenced the present
war against the United States. Texas had given
such evidencb to the world of her ability to main
tain her separate existence as an independent na
tion, that she had been.formally recogruzed as such,
not only by the. United States, but by several of the
principal powers of Europe, These powers had
enteredinto treaties of amity, commerce, and nevi
gation with her. They had received and accredit
ed her Ministers and otherdiplomatin agents at their
respective courts, and they had conumssionedmin
istera and-diplomatic agents on their part to the go.
vernment of Texas. t- .
. if Mexico, notwirboanding all this, and her utter
iriallithy to sabdue or reconquer Texas, still stab
'bendy refused to recognize her as an independent
nation; she was none the less so on that account--
Maxice,hersolf had been recognized assn indepen
dent nation bythe United Sr; t , s,.and other pow
ers, many yeansbekee-Spain, of whic h,before, her
revolution, she hadbeen a colon*, wouldagree to
recognize her as such ; and-yet Mexico was at that
time, in the estimation of the eivilized world, and
in fact, none the less an independent power because
Brun still claimed her as a colony.
If Spin bad continued until -the present period
asies9thattleMeo was one of her colonies in re
bellion ttlesimit her, this would not have made her
so, or
the fact ofher independent existence.
T "iehlViieriod of ,her annexation to the Uni!
Ited States,_bare the same relation -to . Maxice that
Mexico ha d borne teSpain for many years before
Spain acknowledged her independence, 'a
important difference--that, before the ann exation
of Texas to the tinted States was _cot
Mexico herself, by a formal act of government, had
acknowledged theindependeuce of Texas as a na
tion, Iris true, that in the act of recognition she
prescribed a condition which she had no power or
authority to impose, that Texas should not annex
herself to any other Power ; but this could not de
tract in any degree .from the recognition which
blexico then made of her actual independence.—
Upon thia.plain statement of facts, it is absurd for
1 Mexico to allege, as a pretexkfor commencing -hos
tilities against the United States, that Texas assail a
part of her territory.
But there are those who, conceding all this to be
true, assume the ground that the true western been
dary of Texas is the Neuces, instead of the Rio
Grande; and that, therefore, in marching our army
to the east bank of the latter river, we passed the
Texian line, and invaded the territory of Mexico.
A simple statement of facts, known to exist, will
conclusively refute such an assumption. Texas,as
ceded to the United States by France in 1803, has'
been alwaya claimed as extending west to the Rio
Grande, or Rio Bravo.. This fact is established by
the authority of our most eminent stateurien at a
period when the question was as well if not better
understood than it is at present.
During Mr: Jefferson's' administration, Mesita.
Monroe end Pinckney, who had been sent on a
special mission to Madrid, char g ed among other
things, with the adjustment of boundary between the
two countries } in a note addressed to Spanish Min
isters of Foreign Affairs, under date of the twenty
eighth of January, 1805, assert that-the boundaries
of Louisiana, as ceded to the United States by
Payee," are the river Perdido on the east, and the
river Bravo on the west ;" and they add, that "the
facts and principles which justify this conslucion
are so satisfactory to our gcrcemment as to convince
it that the United States have not a better right to
the island of New Orleans, under thecession refer
red to, than they have to the whole district of terri
tory which is above described!'
Down to the conclusion of the Florida treaty, in
February, 1819, by which this territory was ceded
to Spam, the United States asserted and maintained
their territorial rights to this extent. In the month
of June, 1818, during Mr. Mcnnee'sadministraticm,
information having been received 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 despatched by
the government of the United States with instruc
tions 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 terri
tory claimed by the United States."
He was instructed, should they be found in the
country north of that river, t, make known to them
"the surprise with which the President has seen
possession thus taken, without authority from the
United States, of a place within their territorial lim
its, and upon which no lawful settlement can be
made without their sanction." He was instructed
to call upon them to " avow under what naticnal
authority they profess to act,'' and to give them due
warning "that the place is within the United
States, who will suffer no permanent settlement to
be made there - , under any authority other than their
own." As late as the eighth of July, 1842, the
Secretary of State of the United States, in a note
addressed to our minister in Mexico, maintains
that, by the Florida treaty of 1819, the territory as
far west as the Rio Grande was confirmed to Spain.
In that note he states that, "by the treaty of the
twenty-second of February. 1819; between the Uni
ted States and Spain, the Sabine was adopted as
the line of boundary between the two Powers. Up
to that period, no considerable colonization had
been effected in Texas : but the territory between
the Sabine and the Rio Grande being confirmed to
Spain by the treaty, applications were merle to that
Power for grants of land, and such grants, or per
missions of settlement, were in fact made by the
Spanish authorities in favor of citizens of the Uni.ed
States proposing to emigrate to TEXAS in numerous
families, before the declaration of the independence
of Mexico."
The Texas which was ceded to Spain by the
Florida treaty of 1819,' embraced all the country
now claimed by the State of Texas between die
Neuces and the Rio Grande. The republic ofTex
as always claimed this river'as her western bounda
ry, and in her treaty made with Santa Anna in
May, 1836, he recognised it as such. By the con
stitution which Texas adopted in March, 1836,
senatorial and Representative districts were orpnilt
zed extending west of the Neuces. The Congress
of Texas, on the 19th of December, 1836, passed
"An act to define the boundaries of 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 jurisdiction" over the country up to that
boundary. During a period of more than nine,
years, which intervened between the adoption of
her constitution and her annexation as one of the
States of our Union. Texas asserted and exercised
many riots of sovereignty and jurisdiction over the
territory and inhabitants west of the Neuces. r She
organized and defined the limits of counties eitend
ing to the Rio Grande. She established courts of
justice and extended her judicial system over the
territory. She established a custom-hone. and col
lected duties, and also post offices and post roads,
in it. She established a land office, and issued
numerous grants for land within its limit 4. A sena
tor and a representative residing in it were elected
to the Congress of the republic, and served as such
before the annexation took place. In both the
Congress and convention of Texas, which gave
their assent to the terms of annexation to the United
States, proposed by our Congress, were represent
atives residing west of the Neuces, who took part
in the act of annexation itself. This was the Tex;
as which, by the act of our Congress of the twenty
ninth of December, 1845 ' was admittedlas one of
the States of our Union. That the Congress of the
United States understood the State of Texas which
they admitted into the Union to extend beyond . the
Neuces is apparent from the fact, that Oft the thirty,
first of December, 1845, only two days after the act
of admission, they passed a law "to establish a col
lection district in the State of Texas," by which
they created a port of delivery at Corpus Christi,
situated west of the Neuces, and being the same
point at which the Texas custom-house, under the
laws of that republic, had been located, and direet
-led that a surveyor to collect the revenue should be
I appointed for that port by the President, by .and
with the advice and consent of the Senate. A sur
veyor was accordingly nominated and confirmed
I by the Senate, and has been ever since in the per
finmance of his duties. All these acts of the repub
lic of Texas, and our Congress, preceded the orders
for the advance of our army to the east bank of the
Rio Grande. Subsequently, Congress passed an
act "establishing certain post routes," extending
west of the' Neuces. The country west of that riv
er now constitutes a part of one of the congressional
districts of Texas; and is represented, in the House
of Representatives. The senators from that State
were chosen by a legislature in which the country
west - of that nver was represented. In view of all.
these facts, it is difficult to conceive upon what
I ground it can be maintained that, in occupying the
country west - of the Neuces with our .army, with a
view solely to its security and defence, we invaded_
' the territory of Mexico. But it Would hare been
still more difficult to stify the Executive, whose
duty it is to see that the laws be faithfully executed,
if inthe face ofall these proceedings, both of the
C f onaress of Texas and of the United States, belted
Mtaiined the responsibility.of yielling up the terri
any west of the Names to Melee, orof refusing to
protect and defend this territory and its inhabitants,
including Corpus . Christi, as well as the remainder
of Texas, against the threatened Mexican invasion.
But Mexico herself has never :placed the war
which . she has wsgecl,ripen the ground that our ar-
.
my occupied. the intermediate territory
Neumeand the Rio Grtmde. Her refitted
shut that Texas was not 'in fact an 1 4%.,
State, but a rebellious province, wasaa s Qra
severed in •
.arid her avowed purpo se i t , core l a Pet.
ing a war vinthlhe United States was to , ft . unn _fte-
Texas, and to restore Mexican allthOlity Et ;j7
wholoteiritory—not to the Neuces only, b ut to "
Sabine. In view of the proclaimed tri euurei l 4
- Mexicotothis _effect, I deemed it my d u ., ~( 4.
measure of precaution and defence, t e un ig"t
army to occupy a position colour frontier as, z : 1 1
tar,' post, from which ourtroopy mkt b eg ,
unmighd repel
kae.ny attempted invasion which M et
t ma
Our army had occupied a position at
Christi, west of the Neuces, as early as
1845, without complaint from any quart er , 7 4
the Neuces been regarded as the true n es* ,
boundary of Texas, that boundary had been p aN
by our aunty many months before it adVanted
th e : ea c en , baulk of the Rio Grande. In my a tu „, o ,_
message of December last I informed Cong t e m. 7:,
upon the-invitation of both the Congress an d ' c : ( Z
vention of Texas, I had deemed it proper to or a,
a strong squadron to the coasts of hlexico a u d
concentrate an efficient military force o n ihe vet
em frontier of Texas,to protect and defend the
e.
habitants against the menaced invasion of Meta l.
In that message I informed Congress that the rm .
ment the terms of annexation offered by the
States were accepted by Texas, the latter
so far a part of our own country as to make it or „
duty to afford such protection and defence ; nut
that for that purpose our squadron had been r e i t ..
ed to the GuIC and our army to o take a positio n t,
tween the Neuces and the Del Norte,. or t u ,
Grande, and to" repel any invasion of the Te ll;
territory which might be attempted by the Men tz ,
forces."
It was deemed proper to issue thisorder,becaa.
soon after the President of Texas, in April, 145 .
had issued his proclamation convening the c.
press of that republic, for the purpose of sulimi*,
to that body the terms of annexation prsp flse d
the United States, the government of Mexico teats
serious threats of invading the Texan terrisn.._
These threats became mote imposing as it ten &
more apparent, in the progress of the quegiun,th w
the people of Texas would decide in taros ave 7.
ing the terms of annexation ; and, 'finally, tiler lw
assumed such a formidable character, as inifcrB,l
both the Congress and convention of Texas top:
tartest that a military force should be tent by
United Stales into her territory for the purpos e ri
protecting and defending her against the threisi te i
invasion. 'lt would have been a violation of m.
faith towards the people of Texas to have Yelled
to afford the aid which they desired against a ihrez.
ened invasion, to which they had been exprbedbr
their free determination to annex themselves
Union, in compliance with the overture 'Made
them by the joint resolution of our Congress.
Accordingly, a portion of the army ivas mem:
to advance into Texas. Corpus Christi was d.
position selected by Gen. Taylor. Ile eIIC:Rt:
at that place in August, 1815, and the army rear;,
.ed in that position until' the eleventh of Maxi
`lBl6, when it removed westward, and on the M . P.,.
ty-eighth of that month reached the eastlonlath
Rio Grande opposite to idatamoras.
This movement was made in pursuance of ordee
(ruin the War Department, issued•on the thineon
of January. 1846. Before these orders were issued
the despatch of our minister to Mexico, transom :;
the decision of the contact' of Government of Iln•
co, advising that he should not be received, and i'do
the despatch of mar consul residing in the ciir
Mexico—the former bearing date on the serentetvt,
and the latter on the eighteenth of December, 1141
copies of both of which accompanied my message
Congress of the eleventh of flay last—were return
at the Department of State.
These communications rendered it highly prat.
ble, if not absolutely certain, that Our enturstertroui
not be received by the government of Germ
Herrera. It - was also well known that but Ott
hope could be entertained of a different result foe
General Paredes in case the revolutionary ado.
meta which he was prosecuting should prove STe
cessfnl, as was highly probable. The partisans ti
Paredes, as our minister, in the despatch reflri
to, states, breathed the fiercest hostility against
United States, denounced the proposed ttegatata
as treason, and openly called upon the troops of
the people to put down the government of Iderim
by force.
The recompiest of Texas, and war with Meleel.
States, were openly threatened. These were tt
circumstances existing, when it was deemed par
to order the army under the . command of Gazer.;
Taylor to advance to the western frontier of Tea..
and occupy a position on or near the Rio Grand!.
The apprehension of a contemplated Mextew ii
vasion have been Since fully justified by the eorr
The determination of Mexico to rash into Itostdiun
• with the United States was afterwards ntantie
from the whole tenor of the note of the Mecca
Minister of Foreign Affairs to our to mister, tim
ing date on the twelfth of March, 1816.
Paredes had then revoluticolized the , governinct
and his minister, after referring to the resolution la
the annexation of Texas, which had been adept!
by our Congress in Marcl,lB4s, proceeds todecam
that "a fact such as this, or, to speak with gale
exactness, so notable an, act of usurpation. maxi
an imperious necessity that Mexico, ;cur her ors
honor, should repel it with proper"hrniness rd
dignity. The Supreme Government had beforehati.
declared that it would look upon such an act as
castss belli ; and, as a consequence of this declara
tion. negotiation was, by its very nature, at an are
and war was the only recourse of the Mexican 6,
vernment."
It appears also, that oo the fourth-of April fel:, , v
ing, General Paredea, through his minister of rt.
issued ordfrs to the Mexican general in',.comiaaii
on the Texan frontier, to attack our army " by ever
means which war permits." To this, Gam;
Paredes had been pledged to the army anti
of Mexico during the military revolution which btf
brought him into power. On the 18th of Apnl,lo.
General Paredes addressed a letter to.the commoner:
on that frontier, its which be stated to him, !at the
present date I suppose you at the head of that awl
army. either fighting already, or preparing for tie
operations of a campaign ;" and "supposing fpe
already on the theatre of operations, and withelet
forces assembled, it is indispensible that lacono
be commenced, yourself taking the iaitiatire agate'
the enemy."
The Movement of our army to the Rio Mod'
was made by the commanding general under pout'',
orders to abstain from all aggressive acts tool
Mexico, or Mexican citizens, and to regard them )
tiotts between the two countries as parried, note
Mexico should declare war, or. commit acts of 11 ' .
tility indicative'of a state of war ;and these tar'
he faithfully executed. Whilst occupying his pos ,
ion on the east bank of the Rio Grande, within Z ,
limits of Texas, then recently admitted as Weft;
States of our Union, the commanding gehri l ,„
the Mexican forces, who,in pursuance of &eV
of his government, had collected a large aroy!
the opposite shore of the Rio Grande, crweed ir .
river, invaded our territory, and commenced hog;
ties by attackiag our forces.
Thus, after all the injuries which we had feen' r
ed and borne from Mexico, and after sheludo°
ingly rejected a minister sent to her on a ma c°
of peace, and whrm she had solemnly agreed a'
ceive, she consummated her long coarse 01'004'
against our country by commencing an do' s ',"
war and shedding the blood of our citizens ed
own soil.
The United - States never attempted w 1 1 , 1 1
Texas by conqest. On the contrary,
inriod after the people of Texas had achieved Of
dependence, they sought to be admitted la
United States.
At a general election in September, 18.10,
er
decided with great unanimity in favor of 'zw.,
tion " and in - November following, the C 00 1 0.;:
the republic auth sized the appointment of a
ter to bear their requeht to thisg. returnee;
goFernmeat, however, having remelted nett
e rtir,
tween Texas and Mexico daring the War b
them, and considering it , due to the honor
. 14 03 ;
03 unteY:and our fair fame among, the " II j a
the earth, that we should not at this early Pe,.
consent to-annexation, nor until it should tel l :,
feat to the whole world that the rewrap:lest eel,
by Meiico area impossible, refused to aced
overtures made by,Texas.
Ott the twel ft h of April, 1944, and after therftbil