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▼im* the jrtound tbfit ihe * -mm n bonmiarv >i Texssh
<ftir* N ih * h, instead of v it** It'o Grande ; niid that, ther-for#*
*n u*rcbtig ourarniy M ftbe <<i * nk of iU** lauer river, w
passed the IVk*io Uiie, and t iiva.le*! ille territory of Mexico
A simple ftfaieiueiH <4* facts, known to exist, will*conclusive
iy refute oacii au assumption. Texas, as ceded u the (Jut
led Btote by France in J MO.}, hws beett alway* claimed •
♦vxiendmg west to the Rio Grande or Rw Bravo. This fdo
*1 established by the authority of our most eminent sta;<?
men at a period when the question was as well if not beitei
und*r<toud thau it is at present. During Mr. Jetfermiii'i
•dixfiiiist ration, Mesars. Alooroe and Pinckney, who lia<;
been sent ou a special mission to Madrid. charged. umoiqj
other tiiitips, with the adjustment of the bouadury between
lire two count ties. in a noe addressed to the Spanish Mini*
ter ol Foreign Affairs, under date of the twenty eighth ol
January, ..*us, assert that the iHiutidarica of Louisiana, a.
ceded to the United States by France, “are the river Ferdi
do on the east, and the river Bravo on the weal aud t bey
add that “the facts and principle* which just ify thiftcmxdli
ft ion are no satisiaciory to ou r government ns to convince tl
that the United State* have not a belter right to the island ol
New Drleai s. midet the cession referred to. than they have
t” the whole district of territory winch i above <le*eribed.”
Dowo to the conclusion of the Florida treaty, in Febru
ary, IBi9. by which this territory was ceded to Spain, the
J oited Stn/e* asserted and maintained llieir territorial
rights to this extent In the month of June, 1818. during
Mr. Mon roe * administration, information having teen re
ceived that a number of foreign adventure*** had Inudtd at
Galveston. with the avowed purpose of forming a settlement
in that vicinity, a special messenger w as de-pardied by the
government oi the United States, with instruction* from the
Secretary of Slate, to warn them *o desist, should they be
found there, “or any oilier place north of the llio Bravo,
and within the territory claimed by ibe United Stales.”
lie was instructed, should they be found in the country
north of that river, to uake known to them “the Hiirprise
w ith which the Fresideht has seen possession thus taken
without authority from the United Stales, i t a place within
their territorial limits, and upon w hich no lawtu’ seiilemerit
'un he made without their sanctum.” fie was instructed to
call upon them to “avow under wlut national suihoiiiy
they profess to act,” and to give (Item due warning “that the
place is within the Uui'ed State , who will sutler no pe -
manent settlement to be made there, under any authority
than their own.” As late as the eighth of July, 1842, the
Secretary of State of the United States, in a note addressed
4< our minister in Mexico, maintains that, bv the Florida
treaty of 1819, the territory a? far west as the Rio (Jran.le (
was confirmed to Spain. Io that note he slates that, “by
Ihe treaty of the twenty second of February. IBl<| between ;
the United State* aud Spain, the Sabine was adopted a* ihe
line of boundary between the two Power*. Up tc tint
find, no considerable colonization had been effected in Tex
as; but the territory between the Sabine ami the Rio Grande
being continued to Spuiu by the treaty, application* w ere
made to that power for grams uflanJ, and such grants, or
permissions of settlement, were in fuel unde by the hpan
ish authorities in favor of citizens of the United States pro
posing to emigrate to rEXiI in numerous families, before
the declaration of the independence of Mexico.
The T**xas which was ceded to Spain by the Florida
treaty of 1819, embraced ail the i.ouotry now claimed by the
Stott of Texas between the Nueces aud the Ru> Grande.
The republic of Texas always claimed this river as her
western boundary, and inker treaty made with Santa Anna
in Af.iy, 1838. he recognised it as such. By the convolution
which Texas a lopted in A/aicb. 18 )6. senatorial and repre
sentative d'Sti .eta were organized extending west of the
Nue<es. Thf Congress ol Texas, on the 19th of Herein
ber, IJB, passed “An act to define the boundaries of the
, rep-iblic of Texes,” in which they declared the Rio Grande
from its titoutu to it* source to be their boundary, and by i
Hie said act they extended their “civil and political jurisdic
lion ’over the country up to that boundary. During a pe
riod ol morelhau nine years, which intervened between the
n-iopiioo ol her coiibiitution and her annexation as one of,
the States ol our Union. Texas asserted a id exercised ma-
lty acts ol sovereignty and jurisdiction ever ihe territory and !
inhabitants west ol the Nueces. She organized and defin- j
ed the limits of countie-, extending to the Rio Grande. She
established a customhouse, and collected duties, and also!
post offices and post roads, in it. ghe established a land of
fice, and issued numerous grants for land within its limits, j
A senator and a representative lesiding in it were elected |
1° the Congress ol the republic, and served as such before
tiie act of annexation took place. In both the Congress and j
convention of Texas, which gave then assent to the terms
of annexation to the United States. prn(KH<ed by our Con- 1
gress. were representatives residing west of the Neucus,
who took part in the act of annexation itself. This was the
Texas which. by the act of our Congress ol twenty-ninth of j
December, 1845, was admitted as one of the States of our 1
1. mon. That the Congress of the United States understood ‘
the State ol Texas w hich they admitted into the Union to
extend beyond the Neuce* is apparent from the fact, that
on the 3lat of December, 1845. only two days after the act j
of admission, they passed a law ‘to establish a collection’
district in the Slate of Texas,” by whieh they create*! a 1
port of delivery at Corpus Christi, situated westnf the Nue \
ces.and being the same point at which the Texas custom* ‘
hou-e, under thelaws of that republic, had been located .and [
directed that a surveyor to collect the revenue should be
appointed for that port by the President, by and with the
advi. e and consent of the Senate. A surveyor was accor
dingly nominated and confirmed by the Senate, ami has
been ever since in the performance of hi* duties. All these
•cts ol the republic ol Texas, and of our Congress, preced
ed 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 ol the
Nueces. The country west of that river now constitutes a i
part ot cne of the congressional district a of Texas, and is
represented in the House of Representatives. The sena
tors from that State were chosen by a legislature in which
the country west of that river was represented. In view of
all these facts, it is difficult to conceive upon what ground .
it can be maintained that.in occupying the country west of :
the Nueces with our army, with a view solely to its securi- ;
ty and defence, We invaded the territory of A/exioo. But ,
it would have been still more difficult to justify the Execu* j
live, whose duty it i* to see that the laws be faithfully exe- <
cuted, if in the tare of all these proceedings, both of the
Congress of Tex as and of me United States, he had assum
e 1 the responsibility of yielding up the territory wen of the
Nueces to A/exico, or ol refusing to protect and defend thi’
terittory and its inhabitant-*, including Corpus Cbristt, as
well as the remainder of Texas, against the threatened
Jl/etican invasion.
But A/cxieorbersetflias never placed the war which she
lias waged upon the ground that our army occupied tlu* in |
termedtate teriiiory between the Neuous and the Rio
Grande. Her refuted pretension that Texan was not iti fact
an independent State, but a rebellion® piovince, was obati
nately persevered in; and her avowed purpose incommenc- j
ing a war with the United Htatc* was to reconquer Texas. \
aid to restore .Mexican authotity over the whole territory— j
not to the Nueces only, but to the Sabine. In view ol'ihe
proclaimed menace* of Mexico to this effect, I deemed it my
duty, us a measure of precaution and defence, to order our
army to occupy a position on our frontier as a military post,
from which our troops could beat resist and repel any at
tempted invasion which .!/• xiro might make.
Our army haJ occupied a position at Corpus Christi, west
of the Nueces, as early as August, 1845, without complaint
from any quarter. Had the Nueces been regarded as the
true Western boundary of Texas, that boundary had been
pnased by our army ttuinv months before it advanced to the
ca item bank of the Rio Grande. In my annual message of
1) *cember last, I informed Congress, that upon the invitation
c-f both the Congress and Convemiou of Texas, 1 had deem
ed it proper to order a strong squadron to the coasts of Mex
ico, and to concentrate an etheieut military force on the west
e n frontier of Texas. t<> protect and defend the inhabitants
against the invasion of Mexico. In that message I inform
ed Congress that the moment the terms of aunex.ilion nfler
ed by the l/nited State3 were accepted by Texas, the latter
became so far a part of our ow n country as to make it our
duty to afford such protection *ml defence; and that for
that purpose our squadron had been erdered to the Gulf,
arid our army to ‘ Uie a position between the Nueces and j
the Del Norte,” or Rio Grande, ami to “rapt 1 any invasion
of the Texan territory which might be attempted by the
A/exican forces.”
It was deemed proper to issue this order, because, goon
after the President ol TcXvs.in April. 1843. hod issued his .
proclamation convening the Congress of that republic, for ,
the purpose of submitting to that body the terms of annexa
tion proposed by the United States, the government of Mex
ico made serious threats of invading the Texan territory.— I
These threats became more imposing as it became more
apparent, in the progress of the question, that the people of |
Texas would decide • n furor of accepting the terms cf an
neXation ; and, finally, they hud assumed ouch * formidabV
character, as induced both the Congress and convention qf
Texas to request that a military force should be sent by the
United {Mates into her territory for the purpose of defend
ing her against the threatened invasion. It would have
been a violation of g* od faith towards the people of Texas
to have refused to afford the aid which they desired against
m threatened iiivnsioii. to which they had been exposed by
their free determination to annex themselveato our Union,
in compliance with the overture made to them by the joint
resolution of our Congress.
Accordingly, a portion of the army vvus or
dered to iidviince into Tex t*, Corpus Christi was
thn position sclixtod by Utn. Taylor. He en
camped ‘it tb it place in August, 1845, and the
army remlined in that position until the elev
enth of Mmeh, 1846, when it moved westward,
nod on the Iwenty-eigth of that month roitelipd
the east bank of the Itio Grande opposite to
Miitamnms. This movement wan made in pur.
suatice of orders from the War Department is.
imed on the thirteenth of January, 1846. Re
fore these orders were issued, the despatch of
our irrnister in Mexico, transmitting the decis
ion of the Council of Govem nent of Mexico,
adviiing that he should not be received, and at
so the despatch of our consul residing in til”
city of Mexico—the former bearing date on the
seventeenth, and the latter on the eighteenth of
December, 1845, copies of both of which accom
panied my message to Congr-ss of the elev
enth of May last —were received ut the Depart
ment of State. These communications render
ed it highly probable, if not absolutely certain,
that out minister would not be received by the
government of General Herrera. It was ulso
well known that but little hope could be enter
tained of n different result from fieri. Paredes,
iu case the revolt.tiocury movement which be
* wn? should prove it<-cessfiil, ; j
f was highly prnliitile. The partisan* of Pare*
‘■ des, us our minister, in the despatch referred
to, st ites, breathed the fiercest it istility against
s the United Stages, denounced the proposed ne
* gotialion ns treason, and openly called upon the
t iroops and the |*eople to put down the govern*
* tnent of Herrera by force. The reconq lest of
| Texas, and war with the United States, were
, openly threatened. These were the circurn
j .stances existing, when it was deemed proper
, to ot der the army under the command of Gene
ral Taylor lo advance to the western frontier of
Texas, and occupy u position on or near the
Rio Grande.
The apprehensions of a contemplated Mexi
can invasion iiave been since fully justified by
j the event. ‘lhe determination of Mexico to
rush into hostilities with the United States w.is
afterwards manifested from the whole tenor of
i the note of the Mexican Minister of Foreign
j Affairs to our Minis’er, bearing dale on the
j twelfth of March, IS3G. I’uredes had then
j revolutionised the government, and hi. minis-
S ter. after referring to the reso'ution for the
annexation of Texas, which had been adopted
by our CongresJ in March, 1845, proceeds to
declare that “a fact suclt as this, or to speak
with greater exactness, so notable an ret of
usurpation,created an imperi us necessity that
Mexico, for her own honor, should repel it with
proper fullness and dignity. The Supreme
Government beforeli oui declared that it w ould
look upon such an act as a casus belli ; and, a*
a consequence of this declaration, negotiation
I was, by its very nature, at an end, and war was,
the only recourse of the Mexican government.’’
it appears, also, that ou the fourth of April
following, General Paredes, through his minis
1 ter of war, issued orders to the Mexican gene
i ral in command oti the Texan frontier to “at
tack” our army “b/ every means which war
j permits.” To this General Paredes had been
pledged to the army and people of Mexico du
ring the military revolution which brought him
into power. On the eighteenth of April, IMG,
; General Paredes addressed a letter to the com
mander on that frontier, in which he sia'ed to
him “at the present date I suppose you at the
head of that valiant army, either fighting al
ready, or preparing forthe operations of a cam
paign;” and “supposing you already on the the
atre of operations, and w ilt all the faces as
sembled, it is indispensable that hostilities la
commenced, yourself taking the initiative
. against the enemy.”
The movement of our armv to the rto
1 Grande was made by the commanding general
. under positive orders to abstain from all ag
gressive acts towards Mexico, or Mexican cit-l
izens, and to regard the Mexican relations be
tween the two countries as peaceful, unless I
i Mexico should declare war, or commit acts of!
; hostility indicative of a slate of war; and these ‘
orders he faithfully executed. Whilst occupy
ing his position on the east bank oftlie Rio I
1 Grande, within the limits of Texas, then recent
ly admitted us one of the States of our Union,!
the commanding general of the Mexican forces, i
who, in pursuance of the orders of his govern
! ment collec ed a large army on the opposite
shore oftlie llio Grande, crossed the river, ir.-!
1 vaded our territory, and commenced hostilities !
! by attacking our forces.
Thus, after all the injuries which we ha I re
ceived and home from Mexico, and after she,
had insultingly rejected a minister sent to her
on a mission of peace, and whom she had sol- !
ernnly agreed to receive, she consummated her
long course of outrage against our country by
I commencing an offensive war and shedding the
blond of our citizens on our own soil.
The United States never attempted to Re
quire Texas by conquest. On the contrary
at an early period after the people of Texas j
| hud achieved their independence, they sought,
Ito be annexed to the United States. Ala’
| general election in September, 183 G, they do
; cided with great unanimity in favor of “annex
ation;” and in November following, the Con-
gress of the republic authorized the appoint- j
ment of a minister to bear their request to this
| government. This government, however,hnv.
mg remained neutral between Texas and Mex
ico during the war between them, and coneid
! ering it due to the honor of our country, and ‘
our luir fame among the nations of the earth,
! that we should not at this early period consent!
to annexation, nor until it should be manifest’
to the whole world that the reconquest of Tex- i
as by Mexico was impossible, refused to ac
! cede to the overtures of Texas. On the 12th
of April, 1844. and after more than seven years
bad elapsed since Texas had established her)
independence, a treaty was concluded for an-!
nexation of that republic to the United States,
which was rejected by the Satiate. Finally, on
tho tiist of Slarch, 1845, Congress passed a
joint resolution for annexing her to the United
States, upon certain preliminary conditions to
which her assent was required. The soletnni
ties which characterized the deliberations and
conduct oi the government and people <>( Texas
on the deeply interesting questions presented!
bv these resolutions, are known to the world..
The Congress,the Executive, an I the people!
of Texas, in a convent on elected fur that pm -
pose, nccepted with great unanimity the propo- j
sed terms of annexation; and thus consumm tied
on her part the great act of restoring to our |
I federal Union a vast territory which had been
reded to Spain by the Florida treaty more than :
a quarter of a century before.
Alter the joint resolution for the annexation !
of Texas to the United Sta es bail lieen passed
by our Congress, the Mexican minister at Wash-1
iugton addressed a note to the Secretary of
State, bearing date on the sixth of March, 1845,
protesting against it as “an act of aggression,
ilie most unjust which can be found recorded in
l the Annals of modern history; nninolv, that of
| despoiling n friendly nation, like Mexico, of n
considerable portion of her territory;” and
protesting against the resolution of annexation,
| ns being an act ‘‘whereby die province of Tex
as, on integral portion of the Mexican territory,
1 is ttgiced amt udmitted into the American
Union;’’ and be announced that, as a conse
quence, his mission to the United States had
terminated, and demanded his passports, which
were grunted. It was upon the absurd pretext,
made by Mexico, (herself indebted for her in
dependence to a successful revolution,) that the
icpublic of Texas still continued to he, not-1
withstanding all that had passed, a province of
Mexico, that this step was taken by the Mexi
can minister.
F.very honorable effort has been used by me
to avoid the war which followed, hut ull have
proved vain. AH our attempts to preserve
peace have been met by insult and resistance
on the pari of Mexico. My efforts to this end
commenced in the note of the Secretary of
State of the tenth of March, 1845, in answer
to that of the Mexican minister. Whilst de.
, dining to reopen a discussion winch had alrca
-1 dy been exhausted, and ptoving again what was
known to the whole wot Id, that Texas had long
I voice achieved hrr independence, the Scrreia. j
Iry of Sutu expressed the regiet of this gov. i
* ernmetit that Mexico should have taken off-net
- at the resolution of annexation passed by Con-
I gross, and gave assurance that our most “strert
t uous efforts shall be devoted to the amicable
- j adjustment ot every cause of complaint be
* tween the two governments, and to the cultivu.
- t on of the kindest and most friendly relations
f between the sisser republics.”
I hat 1 have acted in the spirit of this assur
• unce, will appear from the events which have
since occuned. Notwithstanding Mexico had
■ abruptly terminated all diplomatic intercourse
! with the United States, and ought, therefore, to
: have been the first to ask for its resumption,
yet, waving all ceremony, l embraced the ear
liest fivotable opportunity “to ascertain from
the Mexican government whether they would
i receive an e tvoy Ir.im the United States intrust
ed with full power to adjust all the questions in
dispute between the two governments.” In
September, 1845, 1 believed the propitious mo
ment for such an overture had arrived. Tex
as. bv the enthusiastic and almost unanimous
w ill of her people, had pronounced in favor of
. annexation. Mexico herself had agreed to ac
-1 knowledge the independence of Texas, sub
ject to a condition, it is true, which she had no
r g t to impose, ami no power to enforce.—
J lie last lingering hope of Mexico, if she still
could have retained anv, that Texas would ev
er again become one of her provinces, must
have been abandoned.
The consul of the United States at the city of Mexico
was. there nre, instructed hv ihr Secrrlary of Siale, on
lint tifteenlli Se|>iember, lsilo, to make the inquiry of
the Me xienn Govern limit. ‘1 h<* inquiry was imi<|p,ntul
on ilie fifit-enih of October, 1845. die Minister of Foreign
Atluirft ol tlie .Mexican Government, in a note acblrcsKed
to our consul, gave a favorable response, requesting, nt
ilie twine time, Mini our nnvul force might be withdrawn
from V era Crur. while negotiations should he pending.
I poii the leceipt of this note, our naval force was prompt
ly withdrawn from Vera ('rtix. A Minister whs irnme
dlately appoint! and, and deported to Mexico. Everything
bore a promising aspect for a speedy and peaceful ad
justment of all our difficulties. As thedufeof n*y annu
al Message to Congress, in Dec. Ins., no doubt was en
tertained hut lhat he would be. received hv the Mexican
Government, und the hope whs cherished Mint all cutise
of luisunder-tdipdiug between the two countries vrou!
he speedily removed. In the confident hope that such
would be (h* result of his mission, I informed Congress
ill it I forbore it that time to “recommend such ulterior
meu-iires ot redress lor the wrongs and injuries we had
so long borne, ns it would have been proper to make
had no Kuril negotiation been instituted.” To mv sur*
jnisc und regret, the Mexican Government, though sol
emnly pledp and to do so, upon the arrival of our Minister
m Mexico, refused lo receive and nreredit him. When
In* reached Vem Cruz, on the thirtieth of November,
Kil ) lie found that the aspect of affairs had undergone
an unhappy change. The Government ot (Jen. Herrera,
who was at (hot lime President of the Republic, whs
tottering to its tall. Gen. Parades (a military lender)
had manifested his determination to overthrow the Gov
i eminent of Herrera by n military revolution; and one of
the principal means which he employed to effect his
purpose, and render the Government of Herrera odious
, to the army and people of Mean o, was hv loudly con
demning its determination to received Minister of peace
• from the United Stutes, alleging that it was the inten
t o i of Herrera, bv a treaty with I lie United States, to
and smember tlm territory of Mexico, bv ceding awav the
department of Texas. The Government of Herrera is
j belived to have been well disposed to a pacific adjust
j maul of existing difficulties ; but probably alarmed for
its own security, and in order to ward off the danger of
the ievolmio'l led by Parados, violated its solemn agree
ment, and m fused to receive or accredit our Minister;
| nd this, although informed that he Ind been invested
. with full pomer to adjust all questions in dispute be
tween the iwo Governments. Among the frivolouspre
texts for this refusal, the principal one was, that our
Minister had not gone upon a special mission, confined
to the question ut Texas alone, leaving all the outrages
I upon our flag und our citizens unrediessed. The Mex- !
■ ic.an Government well knew that both our national hon
or and the protection due to our citizens imperatively
required that the two questions ofboundury and indemni
ty should be treated of together, as mutually and insep
arately blended, aud tliy ought to have seen that this
course was best calculated to enable the United States
| to extend to them the most liberal justice. On the 30tti
of December, 184 ), Gen. Herrera resigned thePresiden
. cy, und yielded up tlie Government to Gen. Parades
| without a struggle. Thus a revolution was accotnplish
j ed solely tiv the urmv commanded bv Parades, and the
supreme power in m*ipassed into the na..u. ora
military usurper, who was known lo lie bitterly hostile
to the United States.
Although the prospect of a pacific adjustment with
the new Government was unpromising, from the known
hostility of its head to the U States, yet, determined
that nothing should be left undone on our part to restore
friendly relations between the two countiies, our Minis-
1 ter was instructed to present his credentials to the new
I Government, and ask to he accredited by it in the dip
lomatic. character in which he hud been commissioned,
i These instruction* lie executed by liis note of the first
of March, 184 b, addressed to the Mexican Minister of
Foreign Affairs, bill his request was insultinglv refused
by that Minister in his answer of the twelfth ol the same
month. No alternative remained for our Minister but to
demand his passports, and return to the United States. ‘
I Thus was the extraordinary spectacle present ol to
tlie civilized world of a Government, in violation of its
j own express agreement, having twice rejected a Minis
; ter of peace, invested with full powers to adjust all the
existing differences between the two countries in a rnan-
I tier just and honorable to both. lam not aware that
I modern history presents a parallel case, in which, in
i time of peace, one nation bus refused even to hear prop
osition* irom unotliei for terminating existing difficulties
| between them.
| Scarcely a hope of adjusting our difficulties, even at a
remote day,or of preserving peace with Mexico, could
he cherished w hile Parades remained ut the head of the
Got eminent. He hail acquired the supreme power bv
i a military revolution, and upon the most solemn pledges
to wage wni against the United Slates, and to reconquer j
1 Texas, w hich he claimed us a revolted province of Mex
ico. lie had denounced us guilty of treason all those
i Mexican* who considered Texas as no longer constitu- i
! ting a part of the Territory of Mexico, and who were \
! friendly to the cause of peace. Ihe duration of the war
which lie waged against the United States was indelin
ile, because the end which he proposed, of the recoil
quest of Texas, was hopeless. Besides, there was good
reason to believe, from all Id* conduct, that it was hi*
intention to convert the Republic of Mexico into a mon
archy, and to call a Foreign European Prim eto the 1
throne. Preparatory to this end, he had, during hi* 1
short rule,neetroyed the liberty ol the press, tolerating
i ihst portion of it only which openly advocated the es-
I labli’ditnent of a monarchy. The better to secure the
success of his ultimate designs, he had, by an arbitrary
decree, convoked a Congress—not to be elected bv the I
free voice of l fie people, but to be chost nin a manner to |
make them subservient to his will, and to give him ab
solute control over their deliberations.
Under ull these circumstances, it was believed that a
nv revolution m Mexico, founded upon opposition to the
j ambitious projects of Parades, would tend to promote
the ca owe of peace as well as prevent hiiv attempted
j European interference in the affairs of the North Amer
i ican continent—both objects of deep interest to the Uni
| ted .States Any such oreign interference, if attempted,
• must have been resisted by the United States. Mv
! views upon that subject were fully communicated to
Congress in my last annual Message. In any event.it
: was certain that nochange whatever in the Government
i of Mexico which would deprive Parades of power could
! he for the worse, so far ns the United Slates were con-
I earned, while it was highly probable that uny change
must be for the better.
This wh* the stale of affairs existing when Congress,
on the thirteenth of .May last, recognised the existence
of the war which had been commenced bv the Govern
ment ol Parades; anti it became an object of much im
portance, with a view to a speedy settlement of our dif
ficult tea and the restoration of an honorable peace, that
Parades should not retain power in Mexico.
Before that lime there were symptom* of n revolution
in Mexico, favored, us it was understood to be, by the 1
more liberal parly, and especially by those who were
opposed to foreign inlet f. re nee and to the monarchical
form of Government. Santa Anna was then in exile iu
lluvttii i,having been expelled from power anti furnished
from hi* country by a revolution which occurred in De
cember, 1341; but it was known that he bail still aeon
sidembh party in Ins favor in Mexico. It was H l*o e
quully well known tfiut no vigilance which could lie ex
erted by our squadron, would, it. all probability, have
prevented him from effecting n landing somewhere on
the extensive gulf coa*t of Mexico, if he desired to re
turn to hiscountr). lie had openly professed an entire
’ change of policy ; had express’ and his regret that he had
subverted the federal constitution of 1U24, and avowed
I that lie was now in favor of its restoration. He had
■ publicly declared hia hostility, in the strongest terms, to
the establishment of a monarchy, and to E tinman inter
ference in the nflair* of hia country. Information to this
effect hud been received, from sources believed to be re
liable, ut the dele of the recognition of the existence of
j the war by Congress, and wits afterward* fully confirm*
ed by tho receipt of the despatch of our consul in tho
city of Mexico,with the accompanying documents, which
are herewith transmitted. Besides, it was reasonable to
suppose that he must sec the ruinous consequences to
Mexico ofa war with tho U. States, and that it would
. be his interest to favor pence.
It was under thus* circumstances and upon these con
sideration* that it waa deemed expedient not to obstruct
his return to Mexico, should ho attempt to do so. ()n r
object was the restoration of peace; and with that view,
no re t-on was perceived why we should take part with
Farad ‘s, and aid him, by meuna of our blockade, iu pro
venting the return of hi rival in Mexico. On the con
j trarv. it was believed that the intestine divisions which
ordinary s "aritv could not hut anticipate as the fruit of
I >anta Anna's return to Mexico, end hi* coniesf with
l Parades, mi o ht strongly tend to produce a disposition
w ill both pm lies restore nnd preserve peace with the
l niteti Blates., JjMfldea a soldier by prolusion,
Hii.i u monnrchisflmtrinciple. He had bill recently be
loie been •ucce/^n r l in a military revolution, by which
; be hud obtained power. He was the sworn eneinv of
i Be United Stain, with which ho hud involved liiscdnn
try in the existing war. Santa Anna had bee* expelled
from power by the army, was known to be in open hos
filitv to Parades, and publicly pledged against foreign
’ intervention and the restoration of monarchy in Mexico.
In view of these facta and circumstances it was, that,!
w lieu orders were issued to the commander of our naval
forces in the Gulf, on the thirteenth duv ol May last, the
day ou which the existence of the war was recognised
bv Congress, to place the rousts of Mexico tinder block
ade. he was directed not to obstruct the passage of San
ta Anna to Mexico, should lie attempt to return.
A revolution took place in Mexico in the early part
of August following, hv which the power of Parades was
overthrown, and he has since been banished from the
country, ami is now in exile. Shortly afterwards,Sama
Anna returned. It remuins to he seen whether his re-
Unn may not yet prove to he favorable to a pacific ad- •
jiHimentof the existing difficulties, it being manifestly
hi - interest not to persevere in the prosecution of a war
commenced by Parades, to Accomplish n purpose so ab-
I surd as the reconquest of Texas to the Sabine. Had
Parades remained in power, it is morally certain that
any pacific adjustment would have been hopeless.
Upon the commencement of hostilities bv Mexico a
gainst the United States, the indignant spirit of the na
tion was ut once aroused. Congress promptly respond*
ed to the expectations of the country and, by the uct of
the thirteenth of Ma v Inst, recognised the fact that ivar
existed, bv the act of .Mexico, between the United States
and that Republic, and granted the mesns weces**arv for
its rigorous prosecution. Itaing involved in a war com
menced by Mexico, and for the justice of which on our
part we may confidently appeal to the whole world, I
resolved to prosecute it with the utmost vigor. Accord
ingly, the ports of Mexico on the Gulf and on the Pacific
have been placed under blockade, and her territory in
vaded at several important points. The reports from
the Departments of the War and the Navy w ill inform
von more in detail of the measures adopted in the emer
gency in which our country was placed, and of the gral
ffving results which have been accomplished.
The various columns of the army have performed
their duty under great disadvantages, with the uiostdis
'mguished skill and courage. The victories of Pulo
Vito, and Resaca de la Palma, and of Monterey, won a-
L'ainst greatly superior numbers, and against most deci
ded advantages in other respects on the part of the ene
uiv, were brilliant in their execution, and entitle our
brave officers and soldiers to the grateful thanks of their
country. The nation deplores the loss of the brave offi
cers and men who have gallantly fallen while vindicat
ing and defending their country’s rights and honor.
It is a subject of pride and satisfaction that our volun
teer citizen-soldiers, who so promptly responded to their
countiy’s call, with an experience of the discipline of a
t amp of only a few weeks, have borne their part in the
hard fought battle of Monterey with a constancy and
courage equal to that of veteran troops, on I w orthy of |
he highest admiration. The privations of lung march- !
es through the enemy’s country, and through a wilder- !
ness, have been borne without a murmur, Bv rapid !
movements the province of New Mexico, w ith Santa IV, |
its capital, has been eaptiued without bloodshed. The
navy has co-operated with the army, and rendered im
portant services; if not so brilliant,it is because the en
emy had no force to meet them on their ow n element,
and because of the defeuces which nature has interposed !
in the difficulties of the navigation on the Mexican coast.
Onr squadron in the Pacific, with the co-operation of a |
gallant officer of the army, and a small foice hastily col
lected in that distant country, have acquired bloodless
possession of the Californias, and the American Hag has
been raised ut every important point in that province.
1 congratulate you on the success which lias thus at
tended our military and naval operations. In less than
seven months after Mexico commenced hostilities, at a
time selected by herself, we lmve taken possession of
many of her principal ports, driven back and pursued {
her invading army, and acquired military possession of
the Mexican provinces or New Mexico, New Leon, Co- 1
ahuila, I’amaulipas, and the Californias, a territory lar
ger in extent than that embraced in the original thirteen
Stntes of the Union, inhabited by a considerable popu
lation, and much of it more than a thousand miles bom !
the points at which we had to collect our forces and 1
commence our movements. Bv the bleckade, the im
port ami export trade of the enemy has been cut off. , 1
Well mav the American people he proud of the ener
gy and gallautrv of our regular and volunteer officers
and soldiers. 1 lie events of these lew mouths ntford a
gratifying proof that our country can, undei uiiv emer
gency, confidently rely for the maintenance of her hon
or, and the defence of her rights, on an effective force,
ready at ail times voluntarily to relinquish the comforts
of home for the perils and privations of the camp. And
though such a force may he for the time expensive, it is
in the end economical, as the ability to command it re
moves the necessity of employing a large standing army
in time of peace, and proves that our people love their
institutions, and are ever ready to protect and defend
them.
\V bile the war was in a course of vigorous and sue
!’ e :
our arms oil the Bth and 9th of May last, the national
honor could not he compromitted h v it, another overture
whs made to Mexico, by tnv direction, on the 27th of
July last, to terminate hostilities hv n peace just and
honorable to both countries. On the ‘list f August,
following, the Mexican Government declined to accept
this friendly overture, but referred it to the decision of a
Mexican Congress, to be assembled in the early part of
the present mouth. I communicate to you, herewith, a
copy of the letter of the Secretary of State proposing to
reopen negotiations, of the answer of the Mexican Gov
ernment, and of the reply thereto of the Secretary of
State.
‘Phe war will continue to be prosecuted with vigor, as
the best means of securing peace. It is hoped that the
decision of the Mexican Congiess, to which our last o
verttire has been referred, may result in a speedy and
honorable peace. With our experience, however, of the
unreasonable course of the Mexican authorities, it is
the part ol wisdom not to relax in the energy of our mil
itary operations until the result is made known. In
thisview.it is deemed important to hold military pos
session of all the provinces which have been taken, until
a definitive treutv of peace shall have been concluded
and iatifieri by the two countries.
The w'ar has not been waged with a view to conquest;
hut having been commenced by Mexico, it has been car
ried into the enemy’s country, and will be vigorously
prosecuted there, with a view to obtain an honorable
peace, and thereby secure ample indemnity for the ex
penses of the w ar, as well as to our much injured citi
zens, who hold large pecuniary demands against Mexico.
By the laws of nations a conquered territory is sub
ject to be governed by the conquerer during Ins military
possession, and until there is either a treaty of peace,
or he shall voluntarily withdiaw from it. The old civil
government being necessarily superseded, it is the right
and duty of the conqueror to secure his conquest, and
to provide for the maintenance of civil order and the
rights of the inhabitants. This right has been exercised,
ami this duty performed, hy our military and naval com
manders, by the establishment of temporary govern
ments in some of the conqueied provinces in Mexico,
assimilating them as far ns practicable to the free iusti.
1 t utions ofourown country. In the provinces of New
Mexico, and of the California*, little if any further re
sistance is apprehended Irom the inhabitants to the tem
porary governments which have thus, from the necessi
ty of the case, and according to the laws of war, been
established. It may he proper to provide for the secu
rity of these important conquests by making an adequate
appropriation for the purpose of erecting fortifications
ami defraying the expenses necessarily incident to the
maintenance of our possession and authority over them.
Near the close of your last session, for reasons com
municated to Congress, 1 deemed it important, as a
measure for securing a speedy peace with Mexico, that
a sum of money should he appropriated and placed in
the power of the Kxeculive, similar to that which had
been made upon two former occasions, during the ad
ministration of President Jefferson.
On the 26th of February* 1803, an appropriation of
two million* of Hollars was made, and placed at the dis
posal of the President. Its object is w ell known. It
was at that time in contemplation to acquire Louisiana
from France,and it wn* intended to he applied aa a part
of the consideration w hich might he paid for that terri
tory. On the 13th of February, 1806, the some sum was
in like manner appropriated, with a view to the purchase
of the Florida* from .Spain, These appropriations* weio
made to facilitate negotiations, and as a means to enable
the President to accomplish the important objects in
view. Though it did not become net cssary lor the
President to use these appropriations, yet a state of
thii.g* might have arisen in which it would have been
highly important for him to do so, and the wisdom of
making them cannot he doubted. It is believed thill tho
measure recommended at your last session met with the
a.(probation ol decided majorities in both Houses of
Congress, indeed, in different I'nrii s, a lull making an
appropriation of two millions of dollars passed eaeli
House, and it is much to he regretted that H did not be
come a law. Tin* reasons which induced me to recom
mend the measure at that time still exist; and I again
submit the subject lor your consideration, and suggest
the importance of early action upon it. Mhoiild the ap
propriation be made, and he not needed, it wi.l remain
in the Treasury : should it he deemed proper to Apply
it in whole or in part, it will he accounted for as other
public expenditures.
immediately after Congress had recognised the exist
ence of the war with Mexico, my attention was directed
to the danger that privateers might be tilted out in the
ports of Cuba and Porto Rico to prey upon the com
merce of the United Status; and 1 invited tlm special
attention of the Spanish Government to the fourteenth
article of our treaty with that power of the twentieth of
October, 17113, under w hich llic citizen* and subjects of
either nation who shall take commissions or letters of
marque to act as privateers against the other, “shall be
punished as pirates.”
It afford* me pleasure to inform you that 1 have re
ceived as*uruuce* from the Spanish tioveriiment that
this article of the treaty shall he faithfully observed on
its part. Orders for this purpose were immediately
transmitted from tiiat Government to the authorities of
Cuba and Porto Rico to exert their utmost vigilance in
preventing any attempts to tit out privateers in those
island* against the United States. From the good faith
of Spain I am fully satisfied that this treaty will he ex
ecuted in its spirit as well ns its letter; whilst the I .
| States will, on theirpart.faithfully pet form nil the obli
gations which it imposes on them.
1 Information has tjeen recently received at the Depart*
ment of State that the Mexican GovernriieiiC has sent to
i Havana blank commissions for privuesrs,and blank cer
tificates of naturalization, signed by Gan. Milas, the
present head of the Mexican Government. There is
also, reason to apprehend that similar documents bare
been transmitted to other parts of the world. Copies of
these papers, in translation, are herewith transmitted.
As the preliminaries required by the practice of civil
ized nations for commissioning priv ntecisand regulating
their conduct appear not to have been observed, and as
! thpse commissions are in blank, to le filled up u ith the
1 names of citizens and subjects of all nations who may
he willing to purchase them, the whole proceeding can
only he construed ns an invitation to all the freebooters !
upon earth, who are willing to pay lor the privilege, to \
cruise against American commerce. It will be for our i
courts of justice to decide whether, under such circum- j
stances,these Mexican letters of marque and reprisal
shall protect those who accept them, and commit rohhe- j
, ries upon the high seas under their authority, from the
pains and penalties of piracy.
If the certificates of naturalization thus granted he in
tended hv Mexico to shield Spaniel subjects from the
guilt and punishment of pirates, tinder our treaty with
Spain, they w ill certainly prove unavailing. Such a
subterfuge would he hut u weak device to defeat the pro
visions of a solemn treaty.
I recommend that Congress should immediately pro
vide by law for the trial and punishment as j bates of
Spanish subjects who, escaping the vigilance of their
Government, shall he found guilty of privateering n-
srninsl the United Stntes. Ido not apprehend serious
danger from these privateers. Our navy will he con
stantly on the alert to protect our commerce. Besides
in case prizes should he mode of American vessels, the
utmost vigilance will he exerted by our blockading
squadron to prevent the captors from taking them into
Mexican ports.and it is riot apprehended lliut nny nation
will violate its neutrnlitv hv suffering such prizes to lie
condemned and sold within its jurisdiction.
I recommend that Congress should immediately pro
vide by law for granting letters of marque and reprisal
against vessels under the Mexican flag. It is true, that
there are but few*f any, commercial vessels of Mexico
upon the high sens; and it is therefore not probable
that many American privateers would ho fitted out,in
case a law should pass authorising tins mode of war
fare. It is, notwithstanding, certain that sin h piivateers
may render good service to the commercial interests of
the country,hv recapturing our merchant ships, should
any be taken by aimed vessels under the Mexican flag,
as wpII ashy capturing these vessels themselves Kv
erv means within oar power should he mulcted availa
ble for the protection of our commerce
The annual report of the Secretary of the. Treasury
will exhibit a detailed statement of the condition of the
finances. The imports lor the fiscal year ending on tin
thirtieth of June last, were of the value of one hundred
and twenty-one million six hundred and ninetv-onc
thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven dollars; of
which the amount exported was eleven million three
hundred and forty-six thousand six hundred and twenty
three dollars; leaving the amount retained in the coun
try for domestic consumption one hundred and ten mil*
| lion three hundred and fort y-five thousand one hundred
| nud seventy four dollars. The value ol ill exports for
jt he same period was one hundred and thirteen million
four hundred and eighty-eight thousand live hundred
and sixteen dollars; of which one hundred and two mil
lion one hundred and forty one thousand dig lit hundred
and ninety three dollars consisted of domestic produc
tions, and eleven million three hundred and forty-six
thousand six hundred and twenty-three dollars ji for
eign articles.
The receipts into the Treasury for the same \ ear were
twenty-nine million four hundred and ninety nine thou
sand two honored and forty seven dollars and sixty
cents, ol which there wus derived fro u customs twenty
six million seven hundred and twelve thousand six hun
dred and sixty seven dollars and eight)-seven cents,
from sales of public lands two million six hundred and
ninety-four thousand lour hundred and lilt v -two dollars
ami forty-eight cents, und from incidenlul ami miscella
neous sources niuet)-two thousand one hundred and j
twenty-six dollars and seveniy-onv cents. The ex pen- j
ditures tor the same peiiod were tweni y-c ight million’
thirty-one thousand one hundred and fourteen dollars
and twenty cents; and the ha la uce in lilt* treasury on
the first day of July lust was nine million one huodied .
and twenty-six thousand lour hundred und tliirty-mue
dollars and eight cents.
The amount of the public debt, including treasury
notes, on the first ol the present month, was twenty-lour
million two hundred nndfilty-HX thousand four huudn tl
and ninety-four dollars und sixty cents; of w hich the
sum of seventeen million seven hundred and eight)-eight
thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine dollars und
sixty-two cents was outstanding on me louitli ol March,
1815, leaving the amount incurred since that time six
mil lion lour tin ud red mid sixty-seven ihousend six hun
dred and nin tv-four dollars und ninety-eight cents. j
lu order to prosecute the war witii Mexico with vigor
and energy, as the best means ofbringmg it to a speedy
and honorable termination, a lurcher louu w ill be neces
sary, to meet the expenditures for the present and the
next fiscal years. It the war should be continued until
the thirtieth of June, 1818—being the end ol the next fis
cal yeur—;t is estimated that au additional lounoftwen- ,
ty three million ol dollar, wil.l Atfmttmn?w ilfbV neces
sary to retain constantly in tiie treasury four million of
dollars, to guard against contingencies. If such sur
plus were not required to be retained, then a loan of
nineteen million ol dollars would be sufficient. If, how
ever, Congress, should, at the present session, impose a
revenue duty on the principal articles now embraced in
the tree list, it is estimated that an additional annual rev
enue of about two millions and a halt, amounting, it is
estimated, ou tiie 80th of June, 1848, to four millions of
dollars, would be derived from that source ; and the loan
required would he reduced by that amount. It is esti
mated, also, that should Congress graduate and reduce
the price of such of the public lands as have been long
in tire market, the additional revenue derived from that
source would he annually, for several yea is to come, be
tween hull u million and a million ol dollars; and the
loan required may he reduced by that amount also.
Should these measures be adopted, the loan required
would not probably exceed eigteen or nineteen millions
of dollars—leaving in the treasury a constant surplus of
four millions of dollars. The loan proposed, it is esti
mated, will he sufficient to cover the necessary expend
itures, both for the war and lot all other purposes, up to
the thirtieth of June, 1848; and au amount of this loan,
not exceeding one-half, may he required dunnr the pre ;
sent fiscal year, nud the greater pail of the remainder
during the first half of the fiscal year succeeding.
In order that timelv notice may he given, and proper
measures taken to effect the man, or such portion of it
as may be required, it is important that the authority of
Congress to make it he given at an early period of your
piescnt session. It is suggested that the loan should he
contracted fora period of twenty years, with authority
to purchase the stock and pay it off, at an earlier period,
at Us market value, out of any surplus which may ut unv
time he in the treasury applicable to that purpose. Af
tci the establishment of peace with Mexico, it is sup
posed that a considerable surplus will exist, and that
the debt, mav he extinguished in a much shorter period
than that for which it may he contracted. The period
of twenty years, as (hut for which the proposed loan
may he contracted, in preference to a shorter period, is
suggested, because ull experience; both at home und
abroad, has shown that loans are effectftd upon much
better terms upon long lime, than when they ure reim
bursable ut short dates.
Necessary as this measure is to sustain the honor and
the interest* of the country, engag'd in a foreign war, it
is not doubted but that Congress will promptly author
ize it.
‘I he balance in the treasury on the first of July Inst,
exceeded nine millions of dollars, notwithstanding con
siderable expenditure had been made for the war du
ring the month* of May ami June preceding. Rut for
the war, th* whole public debt could uud would have
been extinguished within a short perioo; and it was a
part of my settled policy to do so, and thus relieve the
people from its burden, and place the Govermnciu in a
position which would enable it to reduce the public ex
penditures to that economical standard which is most
consistent with the general welfare, and the pure and
wholesome progress of our iiisiituiioriM.
Among our just causes of complaint against Mexico,
arising out of her refusal to treat lor peace, as well be
fore as since the war so unjustly commenced on her part,
ore the extraordinary expenditures In which we h ive
been involved. Justice to ourown people will make it
proper that .Mexico shod Id be held responsible lor tiieso
expenditures.
Economy in tbe public expenditures is at all limes
a high duty winch all public functionaries of the gov
ernment owe to the people. This duty becomes the
more imperative in a period of war, when large and
extraordinary expenditu ** become unavoidable. Du
ring dig existence of the war with Mexico all our re
sources should he husbanded, a.id no appropriation
made except such as are absolutely nccc**aiy lor its
vigorous prosecution ami the due administration ol tho
government. Objects of appropriation, which in peace
may he deemed useful or propel, hut which are not in
dispensable for the public service, may, when the
country is engaged in a foreign war, be well postpon
ed to a future period, liy the observance ot this poli
cy at your present session. Urge amounts may he sav
ed to the treasury, and he applied to objects ot pressing
and urgent necessity, and thus the creation of a cor- 1
responding amount ol public debt may tie avoided.
It is not meant to recommend lust the ordinary and
neressaiy appropriations for the support of
ment should he withheld, hut it is well known that at
every sessision of Congress appropriations are propos
ed for numerous objects which may or may not be
made, without materially effecting the public intcieats ;
and these it is recommended should n*>t be grarihd.
Hie act passed at your last session •• reducing the
dunes on imports ’ nut hiving gone into o|er,iion un
til the G*t of the present irnffllh, there has not been j
tune lor its practical cGrct upon the revenue, and the
business of the country, to be developed. It is not
doubled, however, that (tie just policy which it ad >pt*
will add largely to our foreign trade, anJ promote the
general pi'Mperity, Although it ratmot bo caitaiuiy t
foreseen what amount of revenue it will yield, it la es
timated that it will exceed that produced by tha act of
1842, which it superseded. The leading principles
established by it are, to levy the taxes with a view to
raise revenue, urn! t.i impose tiiem upon f[i e J;( j e r_
imported acrordiru iu tlieir actual value.
J lie act of 1 $ 12. liy the escessive rates „f J,, t .
w.iich rt Imposed on many articles, either iniallv
eluded them from importation, or greaily reduced t|„”
amount imported, and thus diminished m.tead of „r,
ducing revenue. U. rt the the taxes were imposed
Mr the legitnnale purpose nf raisina revenue, but to f
, * l l*a>>la(jei to favored classes, at the eapense of a
l ui>e majority of their fel|ow-eili*ens. Those emplav
ec m m-nculiure, mechanical pursuits, commerce an j
nv.igmon, were compelled to contribute from their
substance to swell the profits and overgrown wealth of
the comparatively few who had mvested then
m iii.iiiofactuies. The taxes were not levied in uru .
p otion to the value of the articles open which they
we,e imposed ; hut widely departing from this lu.l rule
the lighter taxes were, in many cases, | e v,ed upon ar’
tides of luxury and high price, and the hevier -axes
on those ol necessity and low price, consumed by the
grest mass ol the people, li was a sys’em, the inev,
t ilde effect of which was to relieve favored classes anj
the wealthy few from contributing their just proportion
fir the support of government, and to Uy the burden
on the labor of the many, engaged in other purauua
t nn manufactures.
. j A system so unequal and unjust has been supersed
ed by the existing law, which imposes duties not | or
Ji ,ll *‘ or ,f) j ur y classes or pursuits, but distrib
, ules ’ * f, d, as far us practicable, equalizes the burdens
i among all cl.ismm and occupations. The favored class
’ i’H, who. under the unequal and unjust sys em which
has been repealed, have heretofore realized Urge prof.
I its. and many ot them amassed large fortunes, at ifie
| expense of the many who have been made tributary to
• j w ‘l* no reason t. complain if they shall he
1 j requi f **d to hear their just proportion of the taxes neces
sary for the support of governmet. So far from it, it
will he perceived, by an examination of the existing
• law, that discriminations in the rates of duty imposed
within the revenue principle, have been retained in
their favor. The incidental aid against foreign compe
tition which they still enjoy gives an advantage which
no other pursuits possess : but of this none others will
complain, because the duties levied ate necessary for
revenue. These revenue duties, including freights
and charges, which the importer must pay before hu
can come in competition with the home manufacturer
or our markets, amount, on nearly all our leading
branches of manufacture, to more than one-third of the
value of the imported article, and in sumo cates to al*
most oue-hulf its value, With such advantages, it in
not doubted ih,t our domestic manufactures will con
tinue to prosper, realizing in well conducted csubhhh
merits ever greater profits than can he derived from
any other regular business. Indeed, so far from requi
ring tbc protection of even incidental revenue dunes,
our manufacturers in several leading branch h are ex
tending their business, giving evidence of great inge
nuity and skill, and? of their ability to compete, with
increased prospects of success for the open market of
the world. Domestic manufactures, to the value of
several millions of doMais, w iich cannot find a market
at home, are annually exported to so eign countries.—
With such rate* of duty as those established’by the
existing law, the system will probably he permanent;
and capi a hots, who have m uie or shall hereafter rn ike,
their investments in manufactures, will know upon
what to rely. The counry will busatisfied with these
| rates, because the advantages which iht* maouficui ers
s'ill enjoy result neees-a ily f urn the toller tiou of r-v
----enue for the support of g >v; rnment. High protective
duties, from their unjust operation upon the m issen of
the people. Cannot fail to givn rise to extensive dissat
isfaction and compioint, and to constant effor *to
change or repeal them, rendering nil inv>tnien s m
manufa. tun s uncertain arid precarious. Lower and
m >re permanent rales of dutv. at the same time that
they will yield lo the manulacturer for and remunera
ting pr.tfits, will secuie him again : t the dsngfti of fe
quent changes in the system, wmch cannot fail to ru
inously all.*< t his interests.
Simultaneously wit i the re'axation of the restrictive
policy by the Uni e l States, Great B i'ani, from whose
e ample we derive the system, Ins relaxed hers. She
has ruodifi and her corn laws, arid reduced many other
duties to moderate revenue lates. After ages of expe
rience, the stutefrncu of that count
having its deep foundation in the suffering and wants
of impoverished millions, to abandon a system the ef
fect ot which was to build up immense fortunes in the
hands of the few, and to reduce the laboring in llions
;to pauperism and misery. Nearly in the same ratio
that labor was depressed, capital was increased and
concentrated by the British protective policy.
The evils of the system in Great Britain were at
length rendered intolerable, and it has been abandon
ed, hut nut without a severe struggle on the partuf the
protected and favored classes to retain the unjust ad
vantage which they have so long enjoyed. It was to
he expected that a similar struggle would he made by
the same classes in the United IS tales, whenever an at
tempt was made to modify or abolish the same unjust
system here. The protective policy had b en in ope
ration in the United iStales for a much shorter period,
and its pernicious effect* were noi, therefore, so clearly
perceived and lelt. Enough, however, was kouwu ot
these effects to induce its repeal.
h would he strange if. in the fare of the example of
Great Britain, our principal foreign customer, and of
the evils ot a system reudered manifest in that country
by long and painful experience, and in the face ol the
immense advantages which, under a more lib ral com
mercial policy, we are already deriving, atid mud con
tinue to derive, by supplying her starving population
with food, the United Males should restore a policy
winch she has been compelled to abandon, and thus di
minish her ability to purchase from us the food and
other articles which she so much needs, and we so
mu< h desire lo sell.
Bv the simultaneous abandonment of the protective
policy by Great Britain and the United Slates, new
and important markets have already been opened f>r
our agricultural and other products; commerce and
navigation have received anew impulse; labor end
trade have been released from tbe artificial trammels
which have mi long fettered them ; and to a great ex
tent reciprocity, in tbe exchange of commodities, has
been introduced at tie same time hy both countries,
and greatly for the benefit of both. Great Britain has
been forced, by tin* pressure of ciicunistances at home,
to abandon a policy winch bus been upheld lor age*,
and to open her mullets for our immense surplus ol
breadstuff* ; and it is Confidently believed tint oilier
powers of Lurope will ultimately see the wisdom, if
they he not coin|>el|ed by the pauperism and suffering*
of their crowded population, to pursue a similar policy.
Our farmers are more deeply interested m maintain
ing the just and liberal policy of the existing law than
any other class of our citizens. They constitute a large
majority of our population ; and it is well known that
when they prosper, all other pursuits prosper !•
They have heretofme not only received none of th*’
bounties or favors of government, hut, by tbe unequal
operations of the protective policy, hve been ma le, by
the burdens of taxation which it imposed, to contribute
to the bounties which have enriched others.
When u foreign a* well as n home market is opened
to them, they must receive, u they arc now receiving,
increased prices for Uieir product*. They will find a
readier sale, and at better price*. for their wheat, fl >ur,
nee, Indian corn, beef, pork, lard, bullet* cheese, and
other a'tides, which they produce. The home-market
alone is inadequate to enable them to dispose ol tb<*
immense surplus of food and other articles which th*>
tie capable of producing, even at Che most reduie
price*, for the manifest reason that they cannot be con
sumed in the country. The United States can, frum
their immense surplus supply not only the hone de
mand, but the deficiencies of food required by the who o
world. . .
That the reduced production of some of the elite aT
tides of food in Ureal Britain, and other P ar,< 0 “
rope, miy have contributed to increase the demam ~r
our hreadstolH and provisions, is not doubted, hot 1 11
the great and efficient cause of this increased d #, J**”
and of increased prices, consists in the reinovu •’ *
Octal restriction* heretolore imposed. M
equally certain. That our exports of loo<l. a
increased and increasing beyond former exainp **
der th# inure liberal policy which ha 11 1 . o *
will be still vastly enlarged* unless they he d M
prevented hy a restoration ol the prole* 1” “ v ’
not be doubted. That our commercial and
interests will he enlarged m a corresponding
the increase of our trade, is equally ceitam ; * “
manufacturing interests will flit! he the ‘* v<,r m
cat* of the country, end receive the incident* I
j lion allurded them by revenue duuee ; and
this they cannot justly demand. mni ot
In my annual message of December D* •
’ rsvenue duties based upon the principle* o ,risoQ
ing Dw wa* regommended ; and I htv# seen