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susins reUting to tha ofRee, to Insure attention,
must be POST PAID. ' '
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,1 1
Absolute
Aeqntssaanea id the decMons of the majority, the, itaj principle of, publica, Aam wbii. there px Af pea) In ferae, the vital principle end immediate pirenl ttf Uapim.Wrraaioa.'
atauNiiT. Ife)aamibrlaa lv Tol. T lid. lS-Thole !To, 833 "
rejBixteen Unas r teas mat a senate. .
ofthe United Stele.
(Concluded.
tfSpain'had continued until tha present pcri
y to assert that Mexico waeone of her Colonie
in rebellion against her, thia would not havt
mda- her ao, or changed th fact of bar indo
Deudent exiatence. Text, at the period of her
inncxation to the United State, bore tha atme
elation to Mexico that Mexico had borne to
Spain for many year before Spain acknowled
ged her independence, with thia important tlit
erence that, before the annexation ol Texta
o tha United Statea wta consummated, Mexico
lerrelf by a formal act of government, had c
tnowledgcd the independence of Texas n$
ion. u x '
It ia true, that in the act of recognition she
Tescribed a condition which she had no power
r authority to impose, lhat Texan thniilri not
nnex' herself to any other Power t but thia
ould not detract in any degree'fVoin the recng
lition which Mexico then made of her actual
nde.nendence. Upon this plain statement of
icts, it is absurd Tor Mexico lo allege aa a pre.
iixt for commencing hottilitie against the Unl
ed States, that Texia is still a part of her terri
ary.
ed e land office, end issued numerous prints for 1 General Herrera.'' ft was ante 'welt known" thai
lano, wnnin Ui limita A Sana to end " ll-p-reeentative
reaidinr in it -were elected in the
Confreee of the Republic, and eervedaa such
ueroro actor annexation "took place. 'In
both the Congress end Contention" of Texas,
which rare their assent to theterma of annexa
tion to the United States, proposed y our Con
grew, wcr representatives residing west of
the Neucei, who took part in (ho act of annexa.
tion. Itaelf. , . ,'-,-
This was the Texaa which, bv tbs art of oar
Cencraaaef the 9Sth of December, 1845, was ad.
milted aa one ofrbe States of our Union. : That
tha Conxrets of tha United Statea understood the
State or Texas which they admitted into the U
nion to extend beyond the Neucea ia apparent
from the fact, tbaton tha Slat of December,
only two days after tha act of admission, they
passed a law "to eatabhah a collection district in
the State of Texas,'.' by which they created e port
of delivery at Corpus Chriati, situated , west of
the Nuecea, and being tha same point at wbich
tba Texas rnttom-house, under the laws or that
republic, had been located, and directed that a
surveyor to collect tba revenue ahould be ap
pointed Tor that port by that President, by ana
with the advice and consent of the Senate, - ,
A surveyor wss accordingly , nominated and
bet little hope vdeld be entertained of a'difTeteiiY
result from General Faredes In rase the revnlv
tionary movement Which be wss preserdtirrf
hoold prove sureeiatul, hi wai hiRbly probable.
The partisans ofTaredea, at bar mfniittf, In the
despatch referred to, states, breathed the fierresf
hostility against the United States denounced
the prepesed negotiation as treaiori. end openly
called upon the troop and the peepls'te put
down the government of Herr'stl by force? ! 1 1 '
The reconqueat of Texaa, and war with" the
United Statea, were openly threatened; ' These
were the circumstances existing, when it was
deemed proper to order the army tinder1 th com
mand of General Taylor to advance to the weii.
em frontier of Texas, and occupy a position on
or near the Rio Grands. ' " 1 ' '
' Tha apprehension of a contemplated M-xican
invasion, have been aince fully justified by the
event. ' The determination of Mexito to rush in
to hostilities with the United Statea was after,
wards manifested Irom the whole tenor tr the
note of the Mexican Minister of Foreign' Affairs
to our minister, bearing date on tbs ' 13th of
March, 18t. ( ' ' " '
Paredes had then revolutionised the 'government,
and hie minister, after referring to the resold.
tion for the annexation of Texas, which had been
adopted by our Congreis in March,' 1845; pro
connrmen oy ids brnate.ana oas oaen ever .inc. tetAt t9 di,,, th,t .a f,ct iueB lhlii or, 10
in tha performance of his duty. All theae acta , tpM, w,h reater exactness, so notable an act
of the republic of Texas, and of our Contres. orpation, created ,n imperious necessity
But thnroare Oiose wlio, conceding all thi
o be true, assume the pround that tho true
rVestern boundary line of Texas ia the Nencee,
natead of the Rio Grande; and that, therefore.
n marching1 our army lo the east fairx of the
tUer river, we prnwud the 1 cxan line, and inva
ed the territory of Mexico. A simple state
ncht of facts, known to exist, will conclusively
efute euch an eeeuinption. Texaa, aa ceded
0 the United States by France in 160.), has been
flweye claimed" us extending west to the Rio
jranoe,-r mo eravo. 4 nia ibci is rsKuiisuen
y the atfthority of out mrwt rmmenl etatesmen
t a period when theuretion waaaa well if not
'Iter understood than it ia at present.
During Mr. Jefferson's adiiiinwtration, Messrs.
I our 00 and I'mckney, who had been sent on 1
peeial mission to Madrid, chsrprd, smnngoth
t thinir. with the BdjuMment of boandary be
ween the to coontnee, in a ncftc addreafed to
he Spanieh Minister of Foreipn Aflaire, under
ate of the 2Sth of January, 1805, assert that
he boundaries of Iuisiana, as ceded tn the U-
nted States bv Frsnce, "are the river Perdido
n the east, and the river llravo on the west,"
nd they add, that "tha facta and principles
hich justify this conclusion are so Mliefitchiry
1 our euvernment aa to convince k that the U-
'ted States hsve not s better right to the islsnd
5 New Orleana, tinder the cession referred to,
an they have tn the whole district of territory
hich ia above described."
Down to the concluaion of the Florida treaty.
in Febiusry, 1819, b? which this territory wse
celled to 'Spam, the United Sutee sserrted snd
iriintsined their territorial riehta lo thia extent.
In the month of Jane, 1818, during Mr. Men
oe'e adminietrstinn, mlormation hsvmg been
ecehed rliat a number of fnreiif n adventurers
Tad landed at Galventcm, with the avowed pur.
tref fornvnir a setllensent in that vicinity, a
pecial measenger waa dpatched by the go
ernment of the United Statea, with instruc
iona from the Secretary of Slate to waea them
desist, should they be found there "or any
ther place north -of the Rio Uravo, and within
he territory claimed by tlie United States."
lie waa instructed, ahould they be found in
he country north of that river, to make known
b them "the eorpriee with which the President
laa seen poweiwinn tiros 1 alien, without authori
y from the Unite-J Slates, of a pi nee within
heir territorial limits, and upon which no law.
ul settlement can be made without their sane
Ion." He wss instructed lo sll orm them to
svow onder what national authority :hey pro
ne to act," and to give them dne warning that
he place is within the United States, who will
-olTeT no permanent settlement . to be wiade
hero, under any Aulboriiy other than their
pan,"
As Ute as the 8-h of July. 1842. the Secrete
7 of State of the United State, in note H
Iraasedto our minister in Mexico, maintain
hat, by the Florida treaty of 1819. lhe territory
a far west as the Rio Grande waa confirmed to
Spain, in lhat noienesisipsinai.-uy inn irra
y of the 22d of Feto iary, 1819, belwwn the U
sited Stales and Spa n, the Sabine waa atJoptod
jtbe line of bound 7 between the two Pow
tfA.
Up to that period, no eonsiderable colonic'
Ion had been effected in Texaa hot the terrl
ory between the Sabrne and the Rio Grande be
ng Confirmed to Spain by the treaty, applica
jona were mde to that Power for grant of
aad and sweh grant, or permission of ettl
dent, were in fact made by the Spanish anthori
ice in favor of citisen of the United Siatee
imposing to emigrate to Texaa tn numerous fa.
niliea, before the. declaration or independence
.y Mexico.'
The Texs whieh waatededtoSpainbytne
I'lorida treaty of 1819, embraced all the eroin
ry cmw claiejied by the State of Texaa between
he Neuteo and the Rio Grande. Hie republio
X Texaa always clarmed thia river her wee
erp boundary, and in her treaty made with San
t Anne in May, 133l, he reengnteod It a such,
iylthe coeaiftution which Texaa adopted ia
eUrch, 1836, senatorial and representative die
rict were, organised extending west of the
; West. w '
TbtCongreee of Texaa, ion the Iwtb of Do
teanber, I83rt, eed an "An ect to deone the
oundarie ol the republic of Texaa," in wbich
bey declared the Rio Grande from its month (o
l eoure to be ttrair boundary, end by the eeid
(ct they extended their "civu end political jq.
isdietion" over th country up to fhst boundary.
taring perloo of more than nine faere, which
ntervened between the aeVosHion of ber caoeti.
otion nd her AnnexAtioa a one of the 8tetee
' d mr Union, Texf MrV4 'cife4 W
, iy etof eofereignty one jorV'ction overlbe
eVrtory end inb.bitant weetbftbe Neucee.
,' 8he organised and defined th lii coos
i exUndingstbelWeGrAd. She eeto-
4wk4 oerU f juetiA, Jd U'Aoded ker jod-
, !! fystpet ot Utnijprv. )SUbllhd
CMlem booae, end eollecteal dntiee, end eloo
; nevoAee ed aosvrosds, in it. tphe etMIl'
preceded the orders for the advance of our army
to the east bank of tha Rio Grande. Subseqtieat- i
ly, Congress passed an act "establishing certam
post routes," extending west of the Nenres. The
country west of that rivernow constitute a part
of one of th Confressional district f Tex,
and is represented in t be House of Representative
The Senator from th State were chosen by a
legislature in wbich tba country west of that riv
er was .represented. - . '
In view of all these fact, it is difficult to eon.
reive upon what ground it can be maintained
that, in occupying the country west of the Nen
ets with -our army, with a view solely t its se
curity and defence, we invaded lb territory of
Mexico. .But it would have been (till mora di
ficult to justify the Executive, whose duty it is
to see that the law "b faithfully executed, if in
th face of all the proceedings, both of the Con
gress of Texaa end of the United States, be had
assumed the responsibility of yielding op the ter
ritory west or the JSeuces to Mexico, or 01 re lut
ing to protect or defend this territory and its in.
habitanta, including Corpus Chriati, aa well aa
the remainder of Texas, agaimt the threatened
Mexican invasion., - t-
But Mexico herself baa never placed the war
which aba has waged upon the ground that our
army occupied the intermediate territory be
tween the Neucea and the Rio Grande. Her re
futed pretension that Texas waa not in (set an in
dependent State, but a rebellion province, was
obstinately persevered in ; snd her avowed pur
pose ineommeneint a war with the United Statea
was to reconquer Texas, and to restore Mexi
can authority over the whole territory not
the Neucea only, but to the Sabine. -
In vai w of tb nroelaimed menaces of Mexico to
thia effect. 1 deemed it my duty aa a measure ef
precaution and defence, to order our army to oc
cupy a position on our frontier as a military
post, from whieh our troops could best resist and
renet anv attempted invasion wbich Mexico
micht make. ' ' " 1
Our army had occupied a position at Corpus
Chriati, west of tha Neares, as early as Augnat,
1 843, without complaint from any quarter. Had
the Nances been regarded as the true western
boundary of Texas, that boundary bad been pas
sed by oar army many months before it advanced
to the eastern bank ofthe Rie Grande.
In any animal message ol December last, I in
formed Congress that upon the invitation of both
the Congress and Convention of Texas, I had
deemed it proper to order a strong squsdron to
rhe coasts or Mexrce, and to concern raTe e ef
ficient military force on the western fronlieT of
Texas to protect and defend the inhabitants a
gainst tba menaced invasion of Mexico. In lhat
menage I informed CongTesa that tbe moment
tha terms of annexation offered by the United
States were accepted by Texas, tha latter became
to far e part of our own country aa to make it
oor duty to afford sncb projection and defence;
and fortbat purnoaeotir squadron bad been ordered
to the Gulf, and oor army to "take A position
between the Neoces and th Del Norte," r Rio
Grande, end ' repel say invasion ofthe Texan
Territory which might be attempted by the Mex
ican forces. " ' '
It was deemed proper to is thi order, be
cause, nm alter the President of Texas, in April
1843, bad issued bisproclamstion convening the
Congress of that republic, for the purpose of sub
mitting to that body th term of nnnaxatUn
proposed by tha United Slates, th government
of Mexico made serious threats of invading tha
Texan territory. These threats became more
imposing as it became mere apparent, in tha pre
grcs of th question, that lb people of Tex
would decide in favor of accepting the term of
annexation ; and, finally, ihey bad assumed such
a formidable character, a induced both the Co-
grea and Convention of Texas to request ibat A
military force sbowld be aen by the United States
into her territory for the purpose of protecting
and defending ber against the threatened inva
aion. . . .
It would have been a violation of good faith
towarda tba people of Texts to have refused to
afford the eid which they desired against three,
tened invasion, to which they had been exposed
by tbeir free determination to annex themselves,
rower Union, in compliance with the overture
made to them by tbe joint resolution ef our
Congress.
Accordingly, a portion ofthe Army was order.
edto advawcefnTo Text. Corrmt Christi wss
th position selected by General Taylor. .11
rtreanvped at that jilace in Aogast, 1843, and tba
army remained in that position until tha 1 irk of
March, 1848, whan it moved westward, And oti
the 9.8th of that moarb reached tbe t bank of
the Rie 'Grande opposite to Matsmorss, ,
, . Thia movement was made in pursuance of or
der from tha War Department, issued ox 'the
tsrhef January, 1846V Before these orders were
feseed, tb despatch of ear minister In Mexico,
transmitting th decision ofthe Council of Go
vernment of Mexico, advlting that be should not
be received, end site the da patch of oar consul
residing in the city of MxUa-tBt former bear
ing date n the 17th ndtb latUr on tbe 18th
pf December. P843. eopie f both ef which ac
companied my mcatage to Congress of the lltb
6f May lastwere received? ' At tbe Department
arfBretei '1 1 1 ... ; - - ' 1 J ii
Tbeerfommueiratioo renders it highly pre
VabV. if net ebsoletely certain that oor minister
weald net be received by rh veraAt Of
that Mexico, for ber own honor, shonld repel it
with proper firmness and dignity." Tbe Supreme
Government ' bad beforehand 1 declared that it
would look upon such an ''act as a tatuibtl.i
and, at e conseqnene of this -declaration', nego
tiation was, by rtt very nature, at an end, aad
war was the only recourse f the Mexican go
vernment." ..'''''.''
it anneer. lso. that en the 4th of April fol
lowing, XJenrrat Paiades, through his minister of
war, usued orders to the Mexican general in
command en tbe Texan frontier, to "attack" our
army "bv every means which wsr permits."
To this, General Parade had been pledged to tbe
army and people ef Mexico during the military
revolution which had brought him into power.
On the 16th of April, 1846, General Paredes ad
dressed a letter to the commander on ther Iron'
tier, in which he stated to him, "at th piesrnt
date I suppose you at the heed oTThat valiant ar
my, either fighting already, or preparing for the
operationa ef a campaign ; and "supposing you
already en tbe theatre of operationa. and with all
the forcea asaembled, it ia indispensable that ho-
atilrtieabe commenced, yourself taking th ini
tiative arainst The enemy
The movement of our army to the Rio Grande
was made by the commanding general under po
sitive orders te abstain from all aggrettive acts
towards Mexico, or Mexican ritixens, and to re
gard tbe relatione between tbe two coontriee as
pescefol, unless Mexico should declare war, or
commit arts of hostility indicative of e slate of
war: end these orders faitbfollv executed Whilst
occupying bit position -on the east bank of The
Rio Grande, wilhm tha irmrtsnf Texas, tnen re
eentlv admitted as one of the Stales of onr Unt
on. th commanding general of the Mexican for
rea. who. in nnrsnanve ofthe orders of his go
vermnent, had collected e larg army on the op-
noaite shore of the Rio Grande, crossed the river
invaded our territory, and commenced hostilities
by attacking our forces.
Thus, after all the rniurie which we had re
ceived and borne from Mexico, and after she had
insultingly rejected a minister ent to her on A
mission of peace, and whom slie 1ad solemnly a-
grced toreeiive, she tonsvmeted ber long course
of outrage against our country by rommencing
an offensive war and shedding the blood of our
vrtitene -on our own toil. - " -
The United States never attempted toaerniir
Tn bv ronanest. On the Contrary, at an ear
ly period after the people or Tex nta rtneeo
their independence, they sought le b annexed to
tbe United State. ; ' - -
At general electron in September, 1830. They
decided with great unanimity m ' fcvor of "an
nexation :" and in November following, the Con-
grevsnftne republic authorized tbe appointment
of a minister, to beav tbeiv Teqwest to this go
vernment, however, having remained neutral be
tween Texasand Mexico during tha war between
them, and wnwidering it dee to th honor ot onr
coimTry, and our fame among the nation of the
earth, that we shonld not at thia1 early period
consent to annexation. Tier until it should be mani
fest to the wbote wwrtd that the re-conquest of
Texas by Mexico was impossible, refuted to ac
cede te the overtures mane uy 1 exaa.
Onthe tath f April. 1844, end after more
than seven vears bad elapsed since Texaa had
tatabliihed her independence, a treaty was con
eluded for the annexation of tht Republic tuttre
Tnited Statea. w hich wss rejected by the Senate.
Finallv. on the 1st of March, 1843, Congrecs
passed a joint resolution for annexing her to the
Ueited Slates, upon certain preliminary rondi-
t iont to which her assent was requ ited. Tb to-
lemnitiet which characterized the deliberations
and conduct ofthe government and people of Tex
as, on tbe deeply interettmgquettlena presented
by these resolutions, ere known to the world.
: The Congress, the Executive, ai.d the people
of Texss, in a ronvention elected for that pur
nose. Accented with great n;,ntmily the fropo
aed term ol annexation: and thus renstomated
n ber nart tha treat iet of restortat ro our Fed
era! Union a vast territory wtilen had been ce
ded to S pel u by the Florida treaty more than a
quarter of a rentury before.' 1 . .
Alter tha ioint resolution for th annexation
of Texas to tb United 8ttet bad been patted by
our Coneress. The MeiTfan Minister at warning
ton addressed A tiote to the Secretary of State,
twerine- data en the 6tb ef Marrh, 1813, protes-
tin artinat it AS "an Act Wf AggtestioA, the moat
unjuit which aa be foued recorded in tbe annate
ef modern history, namely, that of despoiliag
frieodly nation, like Metien. wf a onsldTble
norttoai ef her leirihw ;f aad nro teat ing agnimrt
tb reeelution rf ennex4ien. being bn Act
t mkerabv tha movinee of Tsias. an integral
portion ef the Mxe Territory, is greed end
..i.r.iitjMi iatai tha American Union ood he on.
maneed That e A eonaequemre, hie reitalaa t
tbe Ueited 8ttee bad terminated, end densandad
hi paaeporta, whhib were granted.. -
It waa una a tba abewid pretext, anode by Mexi
co, (borcetf indebted foe her independence to a
Mcceaafal revolet ion.) that the republic of Teiee
rill cantineed to be: netwitAatanding en inai
bad peteed. a peovinee of Meico,thl tbi tep
wee token bytheMevicsn mlnisrer.'
Ksry booorable ebrt had been need by me to
Mi4theMe aebieb felfowed bet all had proved
eeie. Jail war ettsmpUte preserve peeee beve
been met by ineolt end resists ace on Ike part -ef
HV fbM te tWa Mat oommeecee la
MiVcVi, lBtSHri entweHo tL&i ohhe Mexican
minlaie:,,M: " ' ' v " - '-' '! 1
Whilst declining to reopen a discussion which
Lad alreariv. been eihanaleitl anri ntovinv' aeain
What kndwn to the whole worW, that t'ea
! long tince arhleved.her rndependenTe,- the
Secretary1 orStat erprestedlhe rvgref of flrigo
vernmeiit that Mettrp Ahould have taken offence
at the resolution Of annexation patted, .by Con
gress, and gave atiuranc that 'our "most strCnu
ous efforts should be devoted to the amicable J-
juttment of vry cause of complaint between
the two government, and to the .cultivation of
th kindest ahd most friendly relation! between
the sister frpublict" V; ' " '
That I have Acted In lhe spirit of thi Issur-
ranee, will appear from the event which- bv
tince occurred ' Notwithttanding Mexico had
abinptlr terminated alt diplomatic intercourse
with tbs V. States, and ought, therefore, to have
been the first to atlc for lit resumption, yet, wai
vlrg all Cetemony, I embiaeed the earliest favor
able opportunity "to ascertain fmm the' Mexican
government whether they would receive an en
voy from the United Mates intiutted with lull
power te adjutt' all the question in ditpute be-
ween the two governments," , In fcepterr.ber.
843, I believed the propitious moment for ruch
n oveitnre had ariivtd. Texas, by the enthu-
attic and almost unanimous will of her People,
hsd prononnCed in favor of annexation. . .
Mexico herself bad agreed to aknw6Wge
the independence of Textt, tnbii rt to a condition
it is true, which she bad no right to Impoee and
no power to enforce. ! The' latt lircering hope
of Mexico, if the still could hve telamed tny,
that Textt would ever tgsin become one of her
provinces, must hsve been sbsnrronrp.
The consul ofthe United States at the city of
Mexico, was, th'Tefore,' instructed by rne Serre
lary of State on the IStb of Septeuiber, 1845, to
make th inquiry of the Mexican government.
; The inquiry was made, and on the 13th of Oc
tober, 1S45, fhe Minister of Foreign AtTairs of
the Mexican government, in a note addressed to
... v .
onr contui,- rave, a lavoranic rrtponte, reque.
ing, at the tame time, that onr naval force cnixhl
be withdrawn from Vera Crux wbtle nepotist iont
should be Venning. Upon the receipt of rhit note
onr naval fore was promptly withdrawn from
Vera Crux. A minister wss immediately -P-
pointed and departed to" Mexico. livery thing
bore a promising aspect for a speedy and peace
fuladiiittment of all our difficulties.
' At the date 01 my annual message ro i-onc-rata.
in December laet.no dmrbt wt entertained but
that he would be receired'by the Metican to-
verr.metit. and the hope wss cheritbed that all
eaute of mitunderttandine between the twofoon
triee would be tpeeilily removed. In lhe contl
dent hole that such would be the result ol his
mission, I informed Crmgreat that I forbore at
ibat time to '.'recommend such ulterior mrasuree
of redrett for the wrongs and injuries we had 10
long borne, a it would have bern proper to
make had no ch negotiation been Instituted "
To my surprise and legiet.the Mexican govern
ment, though solemnly pledged lo do so, upon
the arrival of onr minister in Mexico, refuted tn
receive and accredit him.. ' , "', '.'''""
When be reached Vera Crux, on tbe jntb ro
vember, 1843, be femnd rhat rhe aspect of affairt
had undergone an unhappy change. Ine govern
ment of General Herrera, who was at Ibat time
Tietrdent ofthe republic, as tottering to its
fall. General Paredes (a mi'itary leader), had
manifested bis determination to oveithrow lhe
government ef Herrera, by a militnry revotut:oi;
and one of the prmripal meant w bich he employ
ed to effect his purpose, snd render tbe govern
ment of Herreta odious to the army and . people
of Mexico, was by loudly condemning its deter-
minstion to receive a minister of peace fiom the
United Sielet, alleging that It waa tbe intention
of Herrera, by a treaty with tbe Tnited Statet,
to ditniemher the territory ol Mexico, ty ceoirrg
awav the department of Teias. .'
Tbe gover nment of Herrera it believed tn have
been well ditnoaed to a pacific adjuttmei.t of ei-
itting difficulties ; but probably alarmed lor us
own tecwity, and in order to ward otTtbedangei
of lhe revolution led by Parete, violated its so
lemn agreement, and refuted to receive or accre
dit our minittert and ihis, although informed
that he had been in vetted with full power to ad-
jntt all question in dispute between the two go
vernmenr. 'Among ne irtvwous preietis ror
this refutai, tnn principal on was, that our min
ister had not gone upon a special mission, con
fined te tbe question of Texes atone, leaving all
the mileages upon oor Ct and onr citicrnt unre
dressed. 1 ' ' ' "
The Mexican government well knew that both
our national boner and ihe protection due to our
ritixens Imperatively required that th two qnes
noes of boundary and indemnity ahould oe tree
ted of together, as naturally And inseparably
blended, and they ought to have seen that this
course waa best carculated to enable tbe United
State te ex end to them the irott liberal lurtiee.
On the 30th of December. 1843, General Herrera
resigned the preaideney, and yielded up the go
verumrnt to General ra reflet wnnonte struggle
Thus the revolution was srremptithed solely
bv the army commanded by Paredet, and the mi-
preme power tn Mexico patted into me nanns or
a military usurper,' wvo was xnowio oeoi:ieriy
hostile to tha United States. '':
" Although tha protpect of a pacific afljntTment
with the new government was unpromising,
from the known hostility T its bead to the Uni.
ted States, yet, determined that nothing should
ba left on one op our pM to restore menoiy re
latione between the two cowmrtee. onrmmieier
was inttrurted t prerent h credentials to th
new government, and i to be acerertiten ny
tn tbe rlinlomatterhartrter in which be bad been
rrfnrmiseroned. Theae hittiartfons be exernted
by his note of the lt of Marrh, 181ft. addressed
to the Mexican Minister of Foreign AnVir. but
bis rewuest was insultingly refhsed by that minhr-
tar m bis answer or tn ixrn 01 me same rrronm.
No alternative remained for onr minister but te
demand hit pateportt, ahd return to the United
Vtatea O- . ' 1 " i ! ..lt t-
Tbns was the extraordinary spectacl MCent
edlp the civilized world, 1 ef e government, in
violation of Its town express greement.'tiav'ng
twice rejected a minister of peeee. in vested with
lull power te adjust All la entliag uiBerene
between tb two conatrisa in a manner lust aad
honorable to both. - 1 am pot aware that modern
history presents a parallel1 rase, ia which,
time of aeaee, one natiea be refused even
beer nrepneitiane from aaotbae for terraiaeling
exiating disTicuitiee between them.-' - m
't8rerrelwe bone of ed jutting eue difficalti,
evea e rentote day,or ift pseserving peer
With Meaieo, etutld be cherished while Paredes
remained at lhe head, ofthe goereaoent,J lie
conquer Texas, which he claimed at a revolted
province of Mexico. He had denounced a guilty
of treason all those Mexicana who considered
Tex a no longer constituting a pert ofthe ter
ritory of Mexico, and who were friendly to the
cane nf peace. i "-- r
1 he duration of th war' which be waged a-
gainst the United Statet was mdeunita, becAuae
the end which he proposed, tif tbe reconqueat of
Te'St, was hopeless..-,' Betides, there waa good
reaion to believe, ram all bis conduct, Ibat it
wat hit intention to convert tbe republic of Mexi.
co into, a monarchy, and te call a foreign Euro-
pen pnnc to lb, throne. Treparatory to true
end, be had, during hi abort rule, . deetroyed the
iberty 01 1; prett, toiereting lhat portion 01 it
only which openly Advocated the esubl itbment
ofe monarchy. ."'',
lhe better to secure the success of hi ulti
mate design, he bad, by an' arbitrary decree.
convoked a Congress no to be elected by the1
free choree of th people, but to be ehosen In a
manner to make them subservient to bis will,
and to give him absolute control over tbeir de
liberations. .- -
Under all these cirmmstancee, it was believed
that any revolution m Mexico, founded upon ap
position to tbe ambitioua . project! ol raraaes,
would tend to promote the cause of pesc as well
as prevett tny attempted European interference
4n the tfTairt of lhe Noith American continent
botl) objedt of deep interest to tbe United
&rairs.
Any'surb foreign inteiference, if attempted,'
rmiat bav been resisted bv the United State.
My vieweiipon that subject were fully cormrtu
nicared to Congress in my last annual message.
In airv event, it watcerlam tnat no change what
ever in tbe government of Mexico wbich would
deprive Parade of power oould be lor tbe wot,
te far aa the United Statea were concerned, while
it wat highly f rotable that any change mutt be
for the better. . ' .
Thi wat the ttateol aflarrt exist ngwnenCon-
grett, ontb 13th of May last, recogniced the
existence of the war which had been commenced
by Hie government ofTaredes; and becam an
object or much importance, witn a view ro a
speedy settlement -of an honorable peace, that
Pi renet ttrmild not retain power in Mexico.
Pefnre that time were ymptomt of a revolu
tion in Mexico, favored, as it waa understood to
be, by Ihe more liberal party.'and especially by
l bote w ho were oppoeed to foreign interterence
end o ttie monarchical form f government.
Santa Anna was tlien in exile m Havana, hav
ing been e petted from pow-erend banished from
his country by a revolution which occurred in
December, 1844 ; but it was known that he had
still a mnsidcTable prty in bia favor in Mexico.
it was aHn equally well Vnow n that no vigilance
w hich could be exert-ecl ly our squadron wouio,
in all niobabitity, have preventd him from ef
fecting a landing eomewher on the extenaive
gulf coast of Mexico, if he desired to return to
his country.
It had openly professed en entire change oi
policy; had expressed his regret that he bad
subverted the federal constitution of 1824, and
avowed that he was now in favor of ite Teat ora
tion. He Lad publicly declared his hostility, in
Ihe strongest terms, to the establishment of a
monarchy, and to European mteiference in th
affair of bia country.- j - . -
' liiiforiiiatK) to tin rflocl had been received,
from ri urree belu vt d ro be reliable, at the dale
of the rt.-igtiitioiitf be rx tnce nt the wtr
by Concrete, and wa aft rwarde fully confirm
ed by ihe receipt T tbe drepatch of our consul
intlietiiv o'Muiicd. wnh the accompanying
oVrutufhtK, which am herewith transmitted,
Heeidcis it reRHinable to suppose lhat he
unit l uc lite ruiiu.iKcontrquencea to Mexico
ot a war with the Umt'd tStates, and that it
wimW bo liiainleretl to favor peace.
It was under llieee circumaianre and upon
ii fo roiuiideraikin that it waa deemed expedi
i nt not to oWtmci hi return to Mexico, ahould
he Atti-iiipt du no. Our object waa the retto-
ratHiu .f i-eni-e , ar.U witn tnut view, no reason
was prrcciwd why we etiould lake pan with
i'arndre, and aid Mm, by rnrnns oi our Diocxaoe.
it preventing the return nf hi rival to Mexico.
On tbi'i ontrary, it waa believed that th into.
ine d.v enna which ordinnry capacity could not
but eulirirale the fruit nf Ban la Anna a re
turn tu Mexico, and hi contest with Varedea,
niipht nronyly tend to produce a dirpoeitinn
with both partrre lo rirtor and reeerve peace
with tin limled StuUe, : . .. .. .
Parei'oe wa a solfter 1y profesamn, and a
mnntrsbrel In prmcT'o. n na out recenuy
bc.ore Utu tucc-rul iu a Tiiilitary revolution,
by wlixh he had obtained power. ,Ho waa Iho
tworu rneiny of the Uniti-d States, with which
ho had involved but country in me cawing
war. nta Anna lrd been expelled trnrn pow.
er by the army, wae known to be in open hoe-
tilny lu Parvdes. nt publicly picogna sjrsmsi
furoik'n iptrpniion snd the rretOTatintt "of rno-
narcl.y in Mexico. In view ol ineae lact Ana
x:iiXUTru.tanci a It was. Hist, when OTOcre weTa
Mrued to the commander f oor naval force m
Hm n.ilf. nn ihe I.VhoT MV Uet. only twndtyt
tier tin exwtrpco i.l tt "r hd Veen rtrog-
nistnl by CiarL'tTf, to place Ihe coast of MeX'CO
onder ulickade. be waa directed not tonbatoct
tbe paeMige of &nu Anna to Mexico, tbouio be
lieuipt ii return. -
, A rvyluiKo too place to Mexico id me ear
ly nart of Aomiat bdlowinir. by which the pow
er r Parole waa uvertlirowo.aod ha baa aince
b rii initlivd (rom the crmntry, end .1 no in
exile, Sh.trily Aftvtwrd teiitg Anna reiurn.
e, It remain to be seen whether hie return
may not yet prove tn be favorable to a pacifia
AdjeMmeni nf the exieltng diftculliri, ftbemg
mnileMy bra ii.terect not lo pewevre ia tba
pneeciituyi ot a war Oninmeneed by Prede to
sccomplihii a iwrnnee sn ebenrd aa the reeoa
eueet nf Tekae to the Babine. Had Pwredee
' ... . a t . a 2 ik. a
remsinrrt in power. H kt moral iy carxeisi
the jPacifie have been pUcnd under blockade
and her territory Steaded at eeverei wnpottsnt
point. Tbe reporte Irom tbe peperUnenU .ol
Wtr A ad lire Nvy wil,inlorro you innre i.i d
tail of the metturea adopted in die emergency
in which our country waa placed, and of the ;r -tifkig
reaulla which have been Accotnpliehed.
i iTh varinna columna nt. tlnr army have per"
formed' their doty under great disadvantage
with the snnet dietinguished skill nd court ge.
Tha victor iea of Palo Alto ead Remea de la.;
Palma, and of Monterey, won againet .really
superior niicrrbere, and aga met moat decided ed
vantage to other respect on the part of tha
enemy, were brilliant in their execution, end. '
entrtleour brave nfBeere end eoldiereto th graur- -ful
thanka t their country. The nation do-
plorc the iota of the brave crntcera end own
who heve gallantly fallen while vindicating ;
and defemlma their conntry'e liglite sihI Umor.
It j a (ubject id pride and ratiefactiim, that
our volunteer cidxen soldiers, who en (irompilf
respondod to their country' call, with an expe
rience ot the discipline of a camp of only a lew
week, have borne their part in the bard fonght
battle ot Monterey with a constancy and con- .
rage-equal to lhat ot veteran troops, And worthy
of. tba higtieet admiration. Tbe privation nf
long marches through the enemy' country end
through a wi Werner have been borne without
a miirrnttr. By rapid movement, tbe province
of New Mexico, with Santa Fe, iu capital, hao
-been captured without bloodshed. .
The navy ha co-opertcd with the army, And
rendered import ot service it not ao brilliant.
t is becAune the enemy had no force to meet
them on their own element, end because of tha
defence which ntture baa inter poeed in the d it
tioukliee ot the navigation on the Mexican coaet.
Our squadron in the Pacific, with the corpora
tion of a callant utnner of the army, and a email
force hastily collected in lhat distant country,
have acquired bloodies poeaesaion of the Cali
furni, and the American flag ba been raised '
at every important point in that province.
I congittulata you on the success which hae
thus attended cmr rtilitary and naval operation,
la let than seven month Alter Mexico com- .
monced hoetilitie, at time (elected by herself,
we hsve taken posectsion of many nf her prin
cipal porta, driven back and pursued her rnva
dmjr army, and acquired militory poswesron of
the Mexican provinces of New Mexico, New
Leon, Co built, Tamnulrpa, and the Califor
nia s, a territory Isrger in extent thsn that em
braced in the original thirteen Statea of the U-.
nion, inhabited by a considerable population, nd
much of it more than a thooeand miles from the
point at which wa lied to collect our forces and
commenoe our movement. By the blockade.
the rmporl and export trade of the enemy hat)
been cut off. .', - i -i. '
Well may the American people be proud, bf
the energy end gallAOlry of our regular and vo
lunteer officer end eoldiers, The eveote nf
tbeee few month edord a gratify inp yroof that
our country can, under any emergency, 'confi
dently rely fur the maintenance of her honor,
and the defence of her right, on an efiective
force, ready l all time voiimt rily to relinquitih
the comfort of liome for the peril and priva
lion of the camp. And t'.iotigti such a for
ii.y be fur tho lime expensive, it ia in the vnU
economical, a tire ability to command U re
moveathc necessity of employing a large stan
ding army in time of pence, am! provea that our
people love their '.nttr.utious, and ere ever rea
dy lo protect and detend them.
Whilst tha war was in a "course of vigorous
and ucoexaful 'prosecution, i eng ttill ar xmu
totrrertit evil, And cunbid. r.ne ;la, Mtler
th brilliant victories of rur arm o! 6 nd ;
0h of Mty last, lire nniumnl i.mi-.i ci.u;. uot ti .
comprom:ttetl by it, ani Uu'r r n tie m.e o hub
to Mexico, by my directum "ti iii J.ii ot i aiy
last, lo terminate hostilities i.y n (). jus. ' t i
honorable lo both cuuntnex. On t:ui Sin ol.
August following, the M. xicn i.v rr,i t j ' Je
clined to accept llna friendly ct-ri:iff . tut re
ferred it to thedec'wionot'n Mrx'i'uu Coivcse,
to be absemb'ed in lliu ariy part ot Uu' (irobrot
month. I cuinmunicaid to ynu, lit-rewtib, a co
py ol tbe letter of the Secreiury of Stain iioo
t ing to reopen negotittiima, of the tnawer of II. e
Mexican Government, tod of the reply thereti
of lhe Secretary of State.
. The war will continue to be prosecuted wiut
vigor, aa (be beet mean of aecuru-g peace. It
ia taped thai the deeisnm of the Mexican Con
grcs, to wbich our last overture haa 'jeen te
ferred, may result in a ieedy, hoqruAol peace.
With our experience, howtvur, of tbe wire
onable course uf the Mexican outhoritiea, it ia
(ha pari of wisdom not to relax in lhe efierpy
afmir mihtary operation until tb mult u
inedn known, in thi view it i deemed iuipor
ttnt to hold uuhltry ponsectiui of H the pro
vioces which have been taUen. until a defini
tive treaty of peace shall have beer, concluded
and ratified by the to cvuntrie.
, The war ha not beer wiged with a view tie
contract! hot btviog been conrmenced by Mex
ico,. U h been carried into The coeuiy'e conn
try, and will be vigorously proeeculed there,
wi'.b a view to obtain t honurabla peace, and
theitby reur empfotrrden-.niry for tha rxpen-
ace ofthe war, a well a to our much injured;
eitiaen. who bold targe, peavoiary demand
gainat aJico. .
, By tba lawettf nstioqa coneOerad territory
ia Mbhrct la be ffoverp ed. by ha cooquerer da
ting batajiHitary pne,i aon. snd until there ie
either a uraly of re, or he shall voluntarily
withdrew from ft, vphe old civil government
being nroeesajr'ily eVperarded, it i tbe right ami
doty ot lb Con'aerur to eeeure hie corxjuctt,
and to prrMde, for the ii.ainienance of oi il order
and tba Tip'at of the inhabitant.
tTbrr ht ha been exercised, and Ibiadutf
PlTbried. by ea.tr military and naval comma p.
4tre, by tbe eitaaliehment of temporary govern
rrate ia tb a me of Ihe tonmiered provinc
io Mrxicft, kaaimilAling them ee tar aa praciM..
bletolhefreeinituiione of our owa country,
la lb provineee of New Mexico, and of tha
California, little; if iy.. runher leeieUDC ia
apprhoded from the inhubiUnta to tbe tempo
ral y gnawr emento wb.a a bv thaev from lhe
aeeaeMt of lb Jdt ta the town
of war. Wen eetiblirhed. , U no get fST-M t
proiide fur tDe merit of tbe)
ouetts by m.kmgnAaHpataiaoietl-
the lpes of erecUei twrtiflcbUoMWf MPT-
nv ntcifle'tdiustmeat would bay been
"Upon tha enmmeneement ol nredtlltfe by
Mexico pin' United Stated the M!
nant piril nf tbe nation waa At onee Aroused.
... MMMia MaiiMMt.MS to the expecn-
tloris or the country, ahd, by the art of the
of May last, recorTniard the fact that wr vxlat
e d. by the act ot Mexicd. between tha IJ. Statea
nd hs republic and granted th'. mVapa nec
Arv lor i rigorou prosecgt,ien. Being IwiH
ved in . avat Uiua coiMn;jiceA by AJexion, aQ
H- the iurf ice nl whiesi on hut part wa. taay eon-i
elianile pprl tha alwerbl, 1 iraolved
bad aeqeired the -pr.m power 4y military 1 rldeally eppr.i sa tna
l. . . a L . . ' . . 7 I . ----- at with laa ntraa iaTOV." ACCQr
etra wwaaart te tin waar comnr. ia 'n osr solemn pitnge ro v r--' rr qu j
et of p ar.tay'af5tief the Mti'e'w.iagttt. Triitd flat., ta. ilare-' Ing ly the port of. Wrx.oo tm the Wntt oaf a
t