fig
=I
. ..
.5 .::-31' 1.12 m I
ISE
CM
lEMMII
111=3
=ME
!I
;7?;;.ERY_{’MQORP§ ‘B2 THOMFSON;r-:
b “A“ ' Ys.wm,m ,Vg-B‘i."
4 Thu "-pEMOCR-VNC'BANNER" jauplihli'nhed
weoklv, on, Wednesday pmmlngmm 32 PM n'nniii‘n‘
-‘-of' 8" 75 if'puill m ‘pflvunco; ‘-, -. .V ‘
N 0 "P" ”mAm.’d“°“mlnlled,(unlqss tho OP~
non olPlhp. ¢d,ilnr‘s\-ulvml au‘nrre‘nmgeg nro Nud-
W'Advorusénlémn.‘ mun «hd ‘usuu‘l ’nilcs. -
"members-vs MESSAGE.
Fellowfli‘lt’getts of the Senate and House
_p/Represenlhlioeq; ‘ ,
, .It is to. nteva source of u‘nnflrcted satis
laetiontqmeet the Representatives ol the
States and the people in Congress assent»
bled. out will be i" rece'it'e the aid 0! their
combined wisdotnin the adtninietrption of
public aflnirs. In perlortntttghlor the first
time. the duty imposed on me by thecoh
stituion. u! giving to you Information ol
the state 0! thelUnion. and recommending
to your consitleiat‘ion such Ineosures as in
my judgment arenecessary and expedient.
lamvhappydhat I can congratulate you on
the'conttnued,.prospetit .of our country.
.Under the blessings‘ot' Sit-inc Providence
and the benign influence ol our free :insti
tutiona.;it stands belore the world a spec
tacleol national happiness.
» “’ith our unexampled advancement in
all the elements at national greatness. the
allectton~ of the people is confirmed tor the
union of the States. and tor the doctrines
of populartv libet‘ty.~ which lie at the loun
dation of _our government.
, It becomes us in’humility, to make our
devout acknowledgments to the Supreme
:Ruler oi the Universe, for the inestimable
civil and religious blessings with nhich we
are‘tavored.
._ [n calling the attention of Congress to
our relations with loreign Powers, I am
gratified to be able to state. that. though
with some of them there have existed since;
your last session causes of irtitatiott and
misunderstanding. yet no actual hostilities
,have taken place. Adopting the maxim
in the conduct of our foreign affairs. to
“ ask nothing that is not right. and submit
to‘ nothinglhat is wrong,” it hurt been my
.anxiuusldesire to preserve petite with all
nations; but. at the same time. to be pre
pared to resist aggression. and to maintain
all our just rights.
. lo’yursuance of the joint resolution ol
Congress ‘tor annexing Texas to the Uni
.ted States.‘ my predecessor, on the third
,day of March, 1845, elected to submit the
_firstaod second sections of that resolution
,to the’republic of Texas, as an overture,
on the part of the United States, for her‘
admission uaa State into our Union.——-‘
..This election “approved. and accordingly 1
the charge d’allaires of the United States‘
in'Texas. under instructions ol the tenth
107-March. 1845. presented there sections
at the resolution tor the acceptapre at that
republic. The executive got-eminent, the
Congress, and the people ot'l‘exa‘s-ip con
vention, have successively compliedtwith
,all the terms and conditions of the {joint
treaulution. A constitution lor lllelgov
ornnjent of the State in Texas. form d by
a,convention ot deputies,-is. herewith laid
behreCongress, ,lt ia well known. also,
,that the people ot'l'exas at the polls have
,tscceptetl the terms of annexation. and rot
ifie’d the constitution. ” ‘
, I communicate to Congress the corres
_pondsnce between the Secretary ot State
.and our charge d’atl’aires in Texas 3 and
elso the correspondence ol the latter with
.the authorities of Texas; together with the
rollicial documents transmitted by htm to
_his own government.
_ -The‘ terms of annexation which were
oliercd by the United States having been
accepted by Texas. the public lulllt ol
both parties is solemnly pledged to the
compact of‘their union. Nothing retttaina
to consummate the event. but the passage
.ol an act by Congress to admit the Sum:
mf'l‘exaa into the. Union upott an equal
footing with the original States. Strong
reasons exist why this should be done at
an early period ofthe session. It will be
observe-“hat. by the constitution of Tex
.as.»'the existing government is only con
itiputhemporarily till Congress can act ;
,and.that,,the third ' Monday of the present
month is'the day~oppointed [or holding the
_firrit‘general election}: Qn tltatdoy a gov-l
, enter; a lieutenant governor. and bothl
{_branches‘o‘t the legislaturepwtll be chosen 2
“by the,_people. The President Pi Texas‘
is required immediately alter ‘ the receipt
a,o‘lofitcialinformation'that,the new State‘
, haipe'en. .admitlédvintdeur. Union by CW“
ngesgfito ”convenethe'jegislature; and. up
‘ ,9.” t~ 11l Electing; the existing government
fiw’i‘llfibfe .hu‘perse'ded andlttte Stale govern'
l.flight‘tli,rg’atti"zed;. Questions deeply inter
_ 93‘!98,1‘3.T9XW- .in common with the other
--§'P‘§h§- the‘éitension of o'ur reyenue lows
“and Judicial system‘oyer' her‘people'and
'ierrttory,‘ as well‘ as measures ofa locnl
‘Lfilflflclepflill ‘claim the early htteption
t1193.99!'3'fi',' i. and. "restore. won. 9v"!
.WDFIPIG 0' republican government. site
.’ugitl’lti be represented in that bodywith
""Qtl‘l‘ftttlt‘lecefi‘Sßry delay; I cannot too ear
; destly recommend prompt action on this
,‘1 important slalom- ~ , . i . , , , -'
g Ai’s‘o'on‘afis the‘aet to admit 'l'exastas a
'{Stite shall be passed. the union ol the ten
' ‘ye'p‘tihlic's will» be'consutnmated by their
"own (voluntary conseotr , ' _ ‘
1' "fi'l'liis ‘acr'cssjto' our territory has been a
‘. ‘3lo’odl‘e‘s’ti acbi’ev‘etnent." No arm of lurce
" as"bee’n :r‘ai's'cd to produce the result.—
” 'l'lte'ssvo'r‘d'has ltad no part 3 in .‘hfifvchi’lY
i" We psycho; sought tole‘s’tetld _our territo
. "_ tiél‘lpus'sfes'si‘otis by conquest, or ourqrepub
, {.7
.{ I V
_, 4 .‘.. 3,333?- -"‘ .v . O ’ ‘I ‘
..; . . 1 1, . ' , ',
,1 . ‘y. .3131 I_, . , . . " -’ '1" ' ,
ml -.«1 {E ~ ' . ‘. 1..} .11 I” . ~., ~_ - ': L .. ”.11, ~,;1 ‘ ’ ..v >. '- 2w, :1 'l.l' wl. -,' ~.
-. . . . .11 , ,\ ‘a eta 1.- , ' 1 '
'". 23"; ' ." .‘W‘J' -I" .'. I w} \"".‘-1 I‘:I 17‘ 7‘ if'11'11"1"h I. ,J,:," 3 ‘\ 3: :111" wuw'
.15»- .122 - ~11 ‘v- 541 1 1 3L ‘:— , . 1 '1 'l': , ' ' ' "
1 ._,... .31.».l ~ ‘1 ‘2 V 11': 1. 1. ..‘ 1..}: ~v ‘‘:l I. ' ,1" IH~ .- V 'r‘. .- i,‘ .1 1. 1' 3| . ..,
li. ‘.r,vf" -- I 11 ’, ' r": .- 1:". 3.1. . J‘a‘.’ ~ ZS. .
, Lair" > '‘. . ‘ll} J, .1 .I .-- 'Hy. r-v¢/_ 2.1, ,; _u ,_> ' .j .. . ' ..v! ," ‘-‘ll- 1., -
f '--“ ‘ 111‘“ > ‘ie‘v‘! ;r; \ i . . ..«'~ L. -‘f’ M _..—_——-———‘-“ ' ' ‘ "
7 _ __3 r. ,_ _ £3.44 .'l, ~ 4.. 1 , , __-,M.’ ___-‘ _4. "_-_-;4" A7.I~__;AM,M.4.MSWF_.O_.
"“‘““"‘ ~'—‘*—’-‘*’*—"‘”’_-T’_‘?TY‘“"T_TT . -. , .1. > ' . ;5' 1: ~ . " ’ ‘ 1 ’
1 . - . . , W SERIES-"VOL. I. NO.“
licun' institutions otter" a .'re‘luctriln‘t people,‘
It was the delihe‘r'ate honiit e ‘tl‘t‘ijr'ieh‘peq
ple, to the, greet. prinriplo‘olionr l'edve‘rutive
union, ‘ .t . ‘ ’ y . . _
It _we consider the extent of territory
involved in the annexation—its prmpec
tivc Influence on America-Alto metros byl
which it has been accomplisherh apringi'ngl
purely from'tho choice'ot the people them
,pelves to ‘uhnre the l)‘e§\in2< ‘ol'j’our union.‘
-—the history "l the World mny be chul
longed to tut-nigh tthtu'allt'l. ,*
The jurisdiction of the United States,
nhich til the lnrmation at the lederul con
stitution was bounded by the St. Mary’s.
on the Atluntic. has passed the Cttpe~ 0!
Florida. 'urid been peacefully extended to
the Del Noite. In contemplating the
grandeur oi this event, it is not to be for
gotten that the result was achieved in des
pite ot the diplomatic interference of Eu
ropean monarchies. live’n France—the
countr) which has been our ancient idly
the country which has n common interest
‘w'ith us in maintaining the freedom of the
seas—the country \vhlcli, by the cession at
Louisiana, tirst opened to us uccerJo the
Gultol Mtxieu—the country with which
we have been every' year drauing more
and more closely the bonds of successful
commerce—most unexpectedly, and to
our unteigm-d regret, took part tlt on etlort
to prevent annexation, and to impose on
Texas. us a condition of the recognition nl
her independence by Mexico, thut she
would never join heriell to the United
States. We may I'l'jultc that the tranquil
and pervading inllurnee ot the American
principle of sell-gmeinment was sullicient‘
to defeat the purposes of British andJ
French interlerence, and that the ultnost‘
unanimous voice ot the people ot Texas
5 given to that interlerenccu pencelul
and efl'cctive rebuke. From thi» example
European governments may learn how
vain diplomatic arts and Intrigued most
ever prove upon this continent. against
that system ol sell government which
rucems natural to our mil, and which will
ever resist loreign interlerence.
Towards Texas. i do not doubt that u
liberat and generous spirit will actuate
Congress in all that concerns herinterests
and prosperity. and that. she will never
have cause to regret that uhehuq united
lher 'lone star’ to our glorious constelln
tion.
_I regret to inform you that our relations
\rtth Mexico. since your last'aession. have
not been of the amicable character which
it is our desire to cultivate with all foreign
natiom. On the sixth day of March last.
the Mexican cmoy extraordinary and
minister plentpolentiury to the United
States made a formal protest, in the name
of his goveinrnenl. against the joint reao
lotion passed by Congress. ‘ tor the an
nexation of'l‘exas to the United States,’
which he chore to regard as a violation 0!
the rights of Mexico. and. in consequence
of it he demanded his paaSports. He was
informed that the government of tuc Uni
ted States did not consider this jomt res
olution as a violation of any of the rights
of Mexico, or that it aflurded any just
cauae of olience to his governmentfihat
the Republic of Texas was an independ
ent Power. tit/ring no allegiance to Mexi
co, and constituting no part of her terri
tory or riglitlul amertignly and jurisdic
tion. He was also aswted that it was
the ainrere desire of this government tu‘
maintain with that ot Mexrco relatinnq of‘
peace and good understanding. 'l‘ha’t‘
functionary, however, notwithstanding
these representations and a~surnnces, ab.‘
ruptly terminated (his mission, and ahortlyl
afterwards left the country. Our Envoy ‘
Extraordinary and Minister l’lcriipotentiu-i
ry to Mexico was refused all oflicial in l
t'ercourse with that government. and. alter
remaining several months, by lllUJJCl'llliS
aion of his own government, he retu: nod
to the United brates. 'l'hus‘, by the acts
of Mexico. all diplomatic inteecoursc be
tween the 100 countries was. suspended.
, Since that time Mexico has, until re
cently. occupied an attitude of hostility
towards the United States—liaabecn mar
ahalling and organizing amuse, issuing
proclamations. and avowing the intention
to make war on the United S'ates, either
by an open declaration, or by invading
Texas. Bothgthe Congress and Conven
tion of the people of Texas invited thra
Government to send an army into that ter
ritory. to protect and defend them against
the menace-rt attack. The moment the}
terms of automation, oflered by the Uni
ted States. were accepted by 'l‘exasLthe
latter became so far a part of our own
country. as to make it our duty to afford
such protection and defence. I therefore
deem it proper as a precautionary meas
ure, to order a strong squadron to'the
coasts of Mexico. and to concentrate on
efficient military force on the trestern
frontier of fl‘exae. Qur.l army was ordered
to take position in the country between
the Nuecea and the DgLNorte. and tore
pel any_ invasion of the 'l‘ex‘an tet'ritOry
.nhi'ch might be attempted by the Mexican
forces. ' Qur squadron in the gulf 'waa
ordered. to coioperate'with the army.—
But though our" army anti navy were pla
ted: inn position to'defend our bwn‘, and
the rights of Texas. they Were ordered to
commit no act of hostility against Mexico,
unleaa she declared war". or ivas‘ herself
thpaggmsstw by‘str ikiug, the fair bt’ow. -l
The . result than been» that Mexico has‘
made no, aggressive movement, and our
iniilillary andi‘navol commanders have exo;
‘cuted tlie'ri'" orders with such discretion
that the peace of the two republics has
not been disturbed. ‘ . . ‘ ‘, _
» 'l‘exas liiid declared her independence.
and maintained it by her arms for more
than nine yearrr. She. has had an organi
zed government in successlul operation
during that period. [Jeruseparato exist
ence. as arr'in'd‘e'iiendent State. had been
recognized by the United States and the
principal Powers of Europe. Treaties ol
commerce and navigfi tion had been con
clurletl oith her by rlQi‘iferr-nt nations, and
it lrurl become manifest to the whole world
thrrt any lnrther attempt nrr the part of
Mexico to conquer her. or overthrow her
government, unuld be vain. Even Mexi
co lrersell had lit-crirrrr'r’n'titficrl ofthit. fact;
and \rlrilat thequei-ttion ol annexation was
pending bctnre the people of Texas. dur
ing the past summon. the gluct‘tlllichitii
Mexico by a lortiral tict. agreed in recr'rg
nize the independence rd Texas on condi
tion that she would not irtincx herself to
any other Power. 'I he. agreei’nt-tit to ac
knrmler'ge the independence ol ’l'exac,
whether \titlr or without this condition. is
t‘nnclrttiie against .‘v' r xico. ll be indepen
dence r-l 'l‘rXas is it fact cnnr erled by Me):-
tcn herself, and she had no right or author»
It)’ to prescribe tChlttL‘litillb as to the form
at government which Texas might alter
wardri choose to assume.
But though Mexico cannot complainnl
the Uditcd States on rrcceunt. of the on
nexation trl Texas. it is to lie regretted that
serious causes ol tliiautlrlct‘hlitlttlitlg be
“‘o9“ the the countries continue to exiat.
groping out of unrt‘drrased injuries itlfllC'-
ted by the Mcxicttii authorities and peo
ple on the persons and property; nl citizens
ol‘the United States, through a long .ser'ieti
of years. Mexico has admitted these in
juries, but ill“ neglected and refused to
repair them. Such was the character of
the wrrrrig<, and such the character of the
iriaultaolir-r't-d to American Clll'Lt'llS and
the American ling by Mexico, in palpable
violation ol'fihe lows of nations and the
treaty between the l“0 countries of the
filth of April, 1831, that they llflH: been
repeatedly brought to the notice nl Con
gress by m) predecessors. As early as
the eighth of February, 1837, the Presi
dent of the United States declared. in a
message to Congress. that “the length of
time since some of the injuries have been
committed, the repeated and unavailing
applications lor redress. the wanton char
acter of some of the outrages upon the per
sons and proper iy of our citimens, upon the
officers and flag oi the United States. in
dependent ol the recent insults to this go
vernment and people by the late Extraor
dinary Mexican minister. would justify in
the eyes ol all nations irnmediatc “11f."
He did not, however. recommend an int
mediate resort to ihi.- extrerne measure,
which, he” declared, “should not be used
by just and generous nations. crrnlirlirrgiti
their atrengtli tor injuries committed. it it
can be honorably ovoiderlf’ but in a apil it
of iorbearance. proposed that another de
mand be made on Mexico for that redress
which had been so long anrl unjustly with
held. in these views, committees of the
two Houses oi Congress, in report» made
to their respective bodies. concurred.—
Srnce these proceedings more thati eight
years have elapsed. during nhicli, ill addi
tion to the wrongs then complained oi.
others of tin aggravated cliaractr-rluvc
been committed on the persops and prop
erty of our citizens. A spccral agent was
sent to Mexico in the summer oi 1835,
with full authority to make another and
final demand lor redress. 'l‘r.e demand
Was made; the Mexican government prorn
ised to repair the wrongs of uliicli we
complained; and utter nrucli delay. a trea
ty of indemnity nith that view was cori
eluded between [the two Powers oti the
eleventlrol April, 1839. and has duly
ratilied by both governments. By this
treaty a joint commission: was created to
adjudicate and decide on the claims ol
American citizens on the government ot
Mexico. The commission nus organized
at “'ashington on the 25th day of August;
1840. Their time was limited to eighteen
months: at the expiration of which; they
had Adjudicated 8L decided claims ainoun
ting to 82,026,159 68 in favor ol citizens
ol the United States against the Mexrcnn
government, leaving a large ntnountot
claims undecided. Of the latter. the A~
tncricnri commissioners had decided in,ta~
vor ol our citizens. claims amounting to
3028.627 88. which were lclt unacted oti
by the umpire authorised by the treaty.—
fitillturtlier claims, amounting to between
trree and [our millions ot dollars, were
submitted to the board to be considered.
and were lelt undispos‘ed .01. 'l‘lie sum‘nlr
$2,026J‘39 6S. decided by the board. was
a liquidated and nacertained debt due by
Mexico to the claimants. and there was no
justifiable reason tor delaying its payment
according to the terms of the treaty. It
was not, however, paid. _Mexico applied
tor: further indulgence; and. in‘tliat spirit
'ot liberalily and lOrbearance which has c,v-‘
er marked the policy of the United States
towards that Republic. the request was
grunterljrrnd, on tho thirtieth ol January,
1843, a new treaty was concltitlcrl._ By
tiliédl'CM)’ it was provided. that tho in'er
est-due on the awards in favor of claim
ants iinrlertlie convention of tlrefil'everrtli
"dintprit, 1339. should be pardon thell3tli
at April. 1343} and . that the, pcitig'tpalflo’l
fl
I
jthe said aviardsi, and the interest arising
.tlrereoh,"rhall“be paid in ‘fit‘e years; in
equal instalments every three months;the
lsaitl term‘ol’liv‘e years to commence on the
[3th day of Ap’r‘rl, 1843. as ator’esaid.”-‘——
The interest due on the tßth'day of April,
{843, and the'three tirst ofthe twenty in-'
s‘talrnepts. liave'beén paid. Seventeen of
thefieinsta‘lments remain unpaid, seven of
which are now due.
The claims’ which were left undecided
by the joint co'm'nirsion, amounting to
rrrore than three millions of dollars. toge
ther uillt otlrtr tlillll-N lot .-p--l"i"titi~‘ ii!-
the property ol our clti'l.eti-. v ere ~oh~e
quently presented to ttre Mexican gorern.
ment for payment, and were so far recog
nised, that a treaty, providing for their
examination and settlement by a joint
commission, was concluded and signed at
Mexico on the 20th day of November.
1843. This treaty was ratified by the
United States. with certain amendments,
to which no exception could have been
anCtt; but it has not yet received the rat-
Infntiiltl of the Mexican government. In
the rrreantirne,our citizens olro sull'ered
great losres. atril some ol uhom have been
it'tlucetl from rrliluenrc to bankruptcy. are
without remedy, Ulllt'sfi their- rights he en~
lorrerl by their government. Such a con
tinued and unprovoked series of wrong
could never have been tolerated by the
United States. had they been committed
by one ol the printipal natiom of Europe.
Mexico was, hooever, a neighboring sister
republic, \t'hich. following our example,
had achieved her independence. and for
“hose success and prosperity all our sym
patlries were early enlisted. The, United
Stater- o ere the first to recognize her in
dependence, and to receive her into the
family ot nations. and have ever been de
~rr nus ol cultivating with her a good un
derstanding. \\'c hav'e. therelore, borne
the repeated wrongs she has committed.
with great patience. in the hope that a to
turning sense ol justice noultl ultimately
guide her courrcilp. and that we might. it
possible. honorably avoid any hostile col
tision with her.
Without the preiious authority of Con
gress. the Executive possessed no power
to adopt or enforce adequate remedies for
the injuries we had suliered, or to do ruore
than be prepared to repel the threatened
aggression on the part of Mexico. Alter
our army and navy hail remained on the
frontier a‘od coasts of Mexico for many
weeks. without any .hoetile movement on
her part, though her menaces were con
tinued. l deemed it important to put an
end. it possible, to this state of things.—
thh this viow,l caused steps to be taken
in the month of September last. to ascer
tain diatinctly, and in an authentic form,
“hat the design of the Mexican govern
ment was; whether it “as their intention
to declare war. or invade Texas. or wire
thcr they were disposed to adjust and set
tle. in an amicable manner, the pending
diti'erences between the two countries.—
0n the 91h rd November. an official an
swer wos received. that th Mexican gov
ernment consented to fCIIJW the diploma
tic relations whrch had been suspended in
March last. 81 for that purpost‘. were wil
ling to accredit a minister from the Uni
ted States. \Vrth a sincere desire to pre
serve peace. and restore relations ot good
understanding between the tWo republics,
l waived all ceremony as to the manner of
renewing diplomatic intercourse between
them; and. assuming the Initiative on the
mm of November a distinguished citizen
of Lonismnu was appointed Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to
Mexico, clothed with lull powers toadjus‘,
u'ud definittly settle. all pendingditleren
ces between the two countries. including
those of boundary beteeen Mexico and
the State of Texan The Minister appoin
ted has set out on his miSiion. and is pio—
bably by this time near the Mexican capi
tal. He has been instructed to bring the
negotiation with which he is charged to a
conclusion at the earliest practical period;
which. it is expected, Will be in tune to
enable rue to communicate the result to
Congress during the present Session. Un
til that re-ult is known, 1 forbeur to re
commend tr- Congressflsuch ulterior meas
ures of redress for the wrongs and injuries
we have so long borne. as it would have
been p'r'oper to make had no suchpegotia
tion been instituted. .
Congress appropriated. at the last ses
siult. the tram of $275,000 for the pavment
of the April and 'Jolv instalment-r 'ol the
Mexican indenraities' for the vear 1844;
"Provided it shall be ascertained to the
satisfaction of the American government
that said instalmentshave been paid by the
Mexican government to the agent appoin
ted by the United States to receive the
same. in such manner as to discharge all
claim on the Mexican government, and
said agent to he delinquent in remitting
the money to the United Slates.’y‘
The unsettled stateot ourrelations with
Mextco has involved, this autrject in much
mystery: The lirstinlormutron, in an au
thentic form. froin the agent at the United
Stateii. appointed under-the administration
ofurny predecessor, was“ received at the
State Department on the‘ 9th of Novem
her lost. This -is contained in a letter.
dated the 17th of October, addressed by
him to orient our citizensthen in Mexico.
with the view of having “communicated
to that depar tirient. ‘Fromithis it appears
that the agent. on the 20th of September;
; - .- mach-g
. .',dr~".'
‘ .
.‘-... ...-" W:""‘“'W*T"Trt"" 7"..11 'l‘ ~
,1844. gave a receipt to tlie..,ti'eitsttry ol
tMexico tor the omounbol the April 8114‘
July instalments of the iuilenittity.. In the ,
flame communication. liOWevei._lit; escorts,
'that he had not received a single tlttllltl‘ in
cash; but that he holds such securities.”
warranted him at the timeingivingllm .
recoipt. anrl entertains triotdoubtgbuththat. '
he will eventuallv obtain thevuiuney, “AS
these instalments opp'éar novel". to. have
been actually paiil by the. grwr-rnrnerit at .
Mexico to ill" agent. and a. rho: gm. m
metit line I o it't‘ltll'lt‘ llt't'l‘ tr . Wit ... ..‘
‘ri ill~t|l.1l:l‘ tltr' il.ittlt, l tit) llul lect‘tny
n-ll warranted in directing payment to'brx
made to claimants out of the treasury.
without lurther legislation. 'lheir Case is.
undoubtedly, one ol much hardship; .'tttid
it remains for Congress to decide whether
any, and what, reliel ought to be. granted
to them. Our minister to Mexico has been
tns'i noted to ascertain the l'nctool the case.
from the Mexican grivetztitttent, iii an au
thentic and ollicinl term. and report the
result with as little delay as posiiible.- ‘
My attention was curly directed to the
negotiation. which on the 4th ol March
last. I lound pending at “'ashington be.-
tueen the United States and Great Brit‘
ain on the subject at the Oregon Territory.
Three several attempts had been prevrous
ly made to r-‘ettle the questions iii dispute
between the two countries. by negotiation.
upon the principle of compromise; but each
had proved unsuccesslul.
'l'hese negotiations toolt place atLlindott.
in the years 1918, 189.4, and 1826; thr- ‘
two first under the administration ol Mt. ..
Monroe, and the last under that ol Mr.
Adams. The negotiation of 1818 having
tailed to accomplish its object, resulted in
the Convention ol the 20th at (lctoher ol
that year. 13y the third article ot that
Convention, it was "agreed, that any
country that may be claimed hy either
party tilt the northwest coast of America.
uestward of the Stony Mountains. shall.
together with its harbors. bays and creeks.
and the navigation of all the rivers within
the some. be tree and open for the term nl“
ten years Item the date at the Signature ol
the present Convention. to the veeselst
citizens, and subjects ol the two Powers;
It being \\ ell understood that this agree
ment is not to be construed to the preju
dice ol any claim which either of the Mo
high contracting parties may have to any
part ol the said country. nor tho” it be
taken to aflect‘the claims at any other
Power or State to any part of said coun
try; the only object ol the high contracting
parties in that respect being. to prevent
disputes 8.: ditl’erences among themselves.’
The negotiation ot IBE’A Was productive
of no result, (and the convention of 1818
\\ as lelt unchanged.
The negotiation ol 1826, having also
tailed to efl'ect an adjustment by comprov
raise, resulted in the convention ol Au
gust the 61h. 1827. by uhich it was agreed
to continue in force, for an indefinite pc
riorl, the provisions of the third article at
the conventional the 20'hof0ctober.1818;
and it “as lurther provided. that “it shall
be competent, however. to either ol the
contracting parties. in case either. should
think lit. at any time after the 20th Octo»
her. lB'2b‘, on giving due notice ol‘ twelve.
months to the other contracting party. to
annul and abrogatev this convention; and
it shall, in such case. be accordingly/and
entirely annulled and abrogated alter the
expiration ot the said term of notice.”l In
these attempts to adjust the controversy.
the parallel of the 49th degree of north
latiturle had been otlered by the United
States. and in those of 1818 and 1826.
with a lurther concession of the tree navi‘
:ation ol the Columbia river south ofthat
latitude. The parallel ol the 119th degree
Irom the Rocky mountains to its intersec
tion with the nortlieaaterninost branch ol
the Columbia, and thence down the chan
nel of that river to the sea, had been ochr
ed by Great Brilain. with an addition ol
a small detached territory north of the CO~
lumbia. -"Each ol thete propositions had
been rejected by the parties respectively.
In October, 1843. the Envoy Extraor.
rliriary anrl Minister Plenipotentiary ofthe
United States in London was autliiirijaetl
to~make a similar otTer to those made in
1818 and 1826. Thus stood thequestiqn
when the negotiation was shortly alter
“ards tiunilerr ed to \l'ashington; and on
the 23d of August. IG-H. was formally o
pened, under the direction ol_ my immedi
ate predecessor. Like all the .prleiiilous
negotiations. it was based upori_.principles
ol ‘ compromise ;’ and tlioavowed purpose
of the parties was, ' totreatot‘ the reopecv
tive claims of the two countries t_o,.tlie-_Or
cgon territory, with the view. local/oblieh
a permanent boundary between them treat
wai-dol the Rocky Mountains ,to thell’rt
eific ocean.’ Accordingly. an the 96th til
August. 1844, the British Pleiiipoteiitiary
offered to divide the. Oregon territory” by
the 49th p'll’dllt‘l of north lutitude’,lrom
the littCky. mountains. to the point,_tifits
llllt'rht’cllun with the.tiorrli-casternmoiit
me'll l'lllte Columbia river, ain'tl‘tlie’nc'e
rloun that river to the settilleadviriiti’tllc
tree navigation of the river to, be enjoyed
in common ,by both partiethf-thti Chillllt'y
stmtlr air this liiie to belting to tlie,_Uriiteu'
States. and that north olit l 0 Ql'éat‘l‘lrtt’.
ain. At the more .time. he pro’po‘detain
addition, to yield to- the .Ultlltill, Staticti.
and that north at it to Great Britain}: At
thelsiti‘tnctime. he. prri'priaerlnin ”mutant“
yield to the United Slatjeso, detaSl‘irZ-grlytert
' I|l‘}..;i rul‘fili’ til .'Ji'l
-! ."’3'.‘.':';."~"~
9' {.’"UVH .'(“'U‘”'
BM
SIM
[,g-m'ufl m-fi‘
1:."
BEd