Message Of The President Of The U. States

Fcliow Citizens of the Scnate and House of Represent aliues :It is to me n scuirce of unafiectod sntis';iclim to meet tlio Representalives of the Simes and the people in Congress assem)leil, ns it will be to receive the oid of fhewp combined wisdom 'm the ! :on of public aflTairs. In pcrforming for ;he fust time, theduty imposed on me by the Constitution, of giving to you nformaiion of the state of the Union, and re:vommending to your consideration süch ineasures us in ny jucigment are necessary nnd expedient, I am happy rhat I can congratúlale you on the continued prosperity of our country. Under the blessings of Divine Providence nnd llie benign influence of our free institutions, it stands j before the world a spectacle of national hnppiness. Wifb our unexampled advancement in all the elements of national grentness, the affection of lhe people is confirmed for the union of the Slales, nnd for the the doctrines of popular iiberty, wliich lie at the foundation of our government. It becomes us, ín humility. to make our devout acknowledgments to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, for the inestimable civil and religious blessings wilh which we are favored. In calling the altention of Congress to our relations with fofeign Powers, I ain grntified to be able to state, that, wilh some of them tiiere have existed since your last session serious causes of irritation and tnisunderst.inding, yet no' actual hostilities have taken plr.ee. Adopting l the niaxim in the conduct of our foreign affairs, to "ask nothing that is not riglit, and submit to nothing that is wrong," it has been my anxious desire to preserve pence wilh all natiens; but, at the same time, be prepnred to resist aggression, and maintain all our just rig'.Us. In pursuance of the joint resolulion of Congress, "fur nnnexing Texas to the U. Siates," my predecessor, on the 3ti day of I March, 1845, elected to subrnit the first and second resolutions to the Republic of Texas, as an overlure on the part of the Uniled States, for her admission as a state nto our Union. This election I approved, and accordingly the charge d' nflairs of the United States to Texas, undcr in. struclions of the lOlh of March, 1845, . presented these sections of the resclution for the oeceptanceíof that repubíic. Theexeculive government, the congress and people of Texas in conv.ention, have succftssivèly complied wiili the terms nnd conditions of the joint resolulion. A constitution for the government of the State of Texas, forrned by a convention of depuiics, is herewith laid before Congress. It is well known also that the people of Texa?. at the polla have accepted the terms of annexation, and raiified the consiiiution. I cormr. unica te to Congress the correspondence bet ween the secreta ry of state 1 :ind our charge d' aflairs in Texas, and ilso the corresponoence of the latter with ihe auihoriiies of Texas, together with the oilicial documenis transrnitted by him 10 lus own government. The tefms of nncxation which were ! oiTered ly the United States having been neeppted by Texas, the public faith of bot h parties is solemniy pledged to the compact of tlicir union. Nuthing roinains to consummntc the evenf, but thr passage of an act by Congress to admit j the .state of Texas intó the Union upon nn equnl fooiing with the original states. Strong reasons exist why tliis siiould be (lone alan earlv periodof tho session. Il will be observed, tlmt by the constitution of Texas, the existing government te only continued temporarilv, till Copgress can act, and that ihe third Monday of the present month is the ü.'.y oppöirited for holding t!ie fi'rit genrrr.1 eléctibn. 0i iho.t day, a governor, a lieutenant j nor, and both bi'anches of :he legislature will be cholee by tho people. The President of Texas s'required immeriialely j nfier the receipt of the ofiicial infurmation that the'new sinte has been ndmitted into onr Union by Congres?, lo dftnvíñe the legiIature, and upoh iis rñeetiü?, !h-:existing government will be süpersedétij and tho state governtfrent organized. - Questionsdecply interesting fo Texas, in common with thé other siaies, tlé 1 sion of our' revénue lavs and judicial system over hor -.eopie and territcry, as woll as measureá of local clmracter, will claim the early attenliou uï Congress; and :herfilore upon evrry principie of repnwkcan trovornment, sho ought to bë renresenled fn that body without' üïinecessary déhjy. [ cannot tooearneslly rccoanneiitJ promjii act ion on this important subject. As soón as the act to adaiit Texaít as n j state shall bc passed, the uniun ofthe ïwo rcpublics will be consüminuted by tbeir own vuluntary consent. This accesiion to our territory hnsbeen á bjoodltísa nchievemer.:. No arm of forcé has been raised lo produce the result. The sword lias l)ad no parí iti ihe victuiy. We have not soughJ tj extend our territorial possession by conquest, or quc repí'blicíin intilutions over a reluctant peopíe; h w as the delibérate bomnge of each peeplc to the gieat principie of our federMive unión. If ve cousider the extent of the territory involved in the nnnexation - its prospective influenc-e on America - the mcáns by which it has been accomplished. springng purely fror.i ihechoice of thc people, ihemselves to share the blessings of oür unión, ihe hislory of. ihe vvorld inay be challenged to furnish a parallel. The j irisJictiori of the United States, wl)ch at the formation of the Federal Constitution wasbounded by theSt.Marys on the Atlantic, hns jjnsséd the Copes of Florida, tínd bsén peaccfully extended lo the Del Norte. In contemplniing the grandeur of this event, it is not tobe forgoiientiiat the result .vas achipved in despite of the diplonmtic interference of European monarchios. Even France - t!e country which Imd beon oar ancient nlly - the contry whic'i hns a coramon interest wilh us in snaintnining the freedom of the seas - the country which. l.y the cession of Louisiana, first ojienfed (d ns access to the Gulf of Mexico - Ihe country wilh which we have every year bsen druwing more and more clbsely the bondof sucecssful commerce - most unexpectedly, nnd to our ufafeigh'èd1 rogref, took part in an effurt to prevent nnnexation, and to impose on Texas, as a condition of the reengnition of her independénce by Mexico, thal she woukl nover join hërself to the United States. We may rejoiee that (he tranquil and perviling influence of the American principio , of solf-government wHssulncient todefeat , the purposes of Britifeh and Frenth thterI ferences, and thal the nhnosi : nanimoua voice of the people of Toxas iias given to llmt interference a pesceful and etfeclivo rebuke. From this f-xample, Europcau [ governments niay lenrn liow vaih dip!oI matic nrts ond intrigues must pver provo p upon tliis continent ftaicrel ílu1.1. 5;, stem j of sèlf-govemment which seems natural , toour soil and which wiJi ever reaist foreign interference. Towards Texas, I do not doubt tbal a liberal nnd generouá spirit uiil ciuato Congres in all that concerns lier interj esta and prosperity, and that siie v.iiL j never have causo to regret thnt sbe haa j united her "lone star" ie oui gíoriquá fionstellntion.I regret ia inform you that our relations ívith Mexico, siico lata year's sos■;jons, have not been of the amicnble naUire vvhich it is our assire lo ciiliivato with all foreign nations. On ihe sixtli day of March, last, the Mexicim envoy extrno'rdinory and minister plenifiOteuliary to the United Slates macio a formal protest, in the name of his government, against the joint resolutiun passedby congress, "for the nnnexacion of Texas to ihe Uüited States,!i i hich he cliose lo rogard as a violoiion of the rights cf Mexico, end in corsseqüence of il hc demanded his pnssporis. He was inlbmed ihal the government if the United States did not consider this joint resuiuiion as a violntiou of any of ilie h'ghts of ; Mexico, or ihat it afTorded any just causa of onírico to fiis governmentj that the republic of Texas was an independent Power, owing no allegiance to Mesico, pod consiituling no' port ot her ttirilory or rightftil sovcreignty nnd jurisdiction. fío was aiso assured thn! ii was the sincere dèsire oí this governmenl to mair.-' tain with that of Mexico relniiousof peace nnd gftod undertar d ng. That fwnctionary, however, notv. itlistanding these rrpresenlations and assu reu icos, abruptly termina'tpd his misëiob, and shortly afierwards left the country. Our cu voy extraordinnry and minisibr plenipoientiary to Mexico was rrfused official niercciirse v.iih that g.. e.Mnont, aod after remainingsevernl inonthf," by :!ie pennistóri of hts bWii governnient, ha remrucd to the Cnited States. Tiu?, by ihe rcts of Mexii-o, all diplomatic intoicourse hetween ilie lo countries was suspended. Sincs that time Mexico h;is, until recer-rlv. occupied an uttilucic of hostility townrds the United Str.tes - hasbücn marshalling nnd organizing anijies, issning proclamatiolis, and nvowing the iutenlioji o rnolte war on ihe ÜiiitcJ Siates, ei ihe r by open fieclaralion or by invading Tcx:isBoth the Congress and (,onvnution of the people of Texas inviied th.is goveinment tp send nnnrmy into that ierritory torroie-ct nnd defend them ogaicsl the nicnacea nJtack. The momont the terms of annexation, offerrd hy ihe Uniled S were accepted by Texn3, lhf laiter U-.nnis so far a pair! oí our own country, as to mo'.re it our duty lo afíbrd sucii proteclion and defence. I tlioreforo doemed it proper as n prrir.uMnn.iry to oreer a stron#