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4_“f
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NUMBER 317-NEI/V SERIES.
‘I"lI.bl‘iSlle(l Eveirjy ‘Wednesday’ Itlon-using, by JAMES REED, at ’l‘wo- Do
\/\/\./\/\/'\z\./\/'\4
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NORWALK, CT. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 184.5.-
PRESll3El‘*~lT’S MESSAGE.
F‘Il°w'C"'z””j,9{;’-£8 :"gf.‘g1",’;'1’::$8:‘,,’:’gz,ives , l r_egr'ct to inform you that otir relations with
It ,s',O me a mume of m,afiec,ed Safiéfacfion Mexico, since your last session, have irot beeri
to meet the Representatives of the States arid the l of he. mnzwbde ch.“-"ct-er whlfh H 15 nu" defile
GONG. ;,, C(,,,g,.e5s assembled, as it “in he mjtocultrvntc with all foreign iintroirs. On the Gtir
stellation.
receive the aid of their combined wisdom in the:
admirristi‘atiori~of public affairs. In performirrg, I Q q . . . .
for we ms, mm,’ lhe am}, imposed on me by 156 , t.-tatcs tirade zi lorrrial protest, in the riame of his
Constitutioir, of giving to you in forinatioir of the ? g0_veli'”r'Hn’ agillml jhe Joint rfsolumln. passed
state of the Union, and rccornrrrcndiirg to yorrri b.) C""lgrC5‘:.’ ““",', me. ml'l"x"l’°" Of lexfls 10
consideration such measures as in my judgirrcnt W‘:-U,f"l,ed ‘“ml.eS’ ,- _“_'h,wh Cl’-Ow to regard as
are necessary and expedient, I am happy iithat I W’ “H?” ,9”. ml“ "ti-’~l”'f Of “,‘,°"'_°°”,_a_'“l=_‘_” Cm,“
can coirgrutulate yoti on the contiirued prosperity ‘e,_q""i“;,“_° '1’, .19 ‘l°'"‘‘’'.fl°f ”" 1""°.*f’°”“'. .l"°
of our cotintry. Under the blessings of Divine ll“ m ‘.’“"ed lfml .1” lcjolcllulwm of ‘hf U"'l”l
Providence and the bvriigrr influence of our free j E,’.“'"'S. ‘ml 9°‘ °0“5“l""' ‘l_l‘i‘ l°“}l W50_l”“0" 85‘ 3‘
institutions. it stands before the world a specta- ‘ ~i”:l,}m_U,”dO_i an-V-ofthe “_gm‘I Oi -Mc.Xic0’«m tin“
eye of lmfiomll ,mH)ineSS_ its ori.c airy just cause of (iflence to IMF: gov-
\\'itlr otrr tirii-xairiplt-tl ztdvzincrrterit in all the ?”“_mm‘; mm the Rel.luMl° M j.€'“‘5 was “"
€}emcn,S of mumml gl_t,a,l‘c$S’ the amction 0,. iirdeperrdciit Po\:\~,_-.1-, orvriig no allegiance to Mex-
the people is coiilirrm-tl for the lllliOll of the If-:0,’ {:-nd c,°ll"l’,l“l"‘g ll” f".“'l.°l.h.°'. lcnillol-V 0"
States, and for the dcc.trirics of popular liberty, H ill ‘K‘”W',"5m.y ‘””l -l‘“":“‘“c“""' . He .w'rl5
which lie at the forrndatioris of our Govt-rirmcnt. l‘ub(,) llnulied “ml ll WIS llllf °""""r'“’ ‘l""“"'e T mls
It becomes "5, in 1,,,,.,,m,y’,(,m,,pOm,,. dew“, goycrrrntcrrt to tiiiirrituiii yvttl) that of.l\'lexrco rs.
ackrroi.vlcdgcrr'irirts to the Ettprerne Ruler of the iiligllj‘ Of. lmafe 500“ ,m'‘l‘'”la"d'llg' .
Uiriverse; for the iriestimablc civil and rcligiotrs‘ r -,“d[_ iml_C[mm.'~l’ hmlwcr’ m)lw”l"’m“d'n-if
bl ssifigs Wm) “,m,-,,) we are ,.,wOm,. ,l..ll2‘CSf:‘ lL‘f3lC.~'.’c‘!ll:‘tl:.(;l)S and rise“-rnprilces, abpttptly.
fin C-am,,,,_; me ammion 0,. Congress M our m_ Fpltlllllttltltl his mission, and shortty nftei'w-aruls
lafiéitrs with for. igrr Powers, l mu gratified to be C.‘ .l‘“ _C°‘”’”.Y' Of.” envoy, °“.l"‘“"i‘l"’m3' “ml
able to state, that, though with some of them _ml'“;.t."_'. l’l°”'l_’°m'_l}'”r-Y. 10 Mexico "““ ”’l”S"‘l
. there have existed since yotrr last session seriou.- ‘Ilia? ”_“,‘_“l_ l"le'“:”"‘e_ ‘ml’ Illa‘ ("°"""f'm‘*"‘= ‘“”l
, causes of irritation and litlSllll(lt:l'SlHllLflflg, yet no 2-“’_‘ _',~i"ji‘-i_',"l":="P b(e.Wm,l Inolllm’ by me l"”m"S'
« ‘actual hostilities have taken place. Adopting ‘blmf (L, .31.“:_°“",fi°’:“'l'“e"l’ l‘°"‘m"l°‘l.l" Ill“
‘ the maxim in the conduct of our foreign affairs, ,.m,1e ,',.l‘“ls' , “l” by “N “Cl” "{ Me'“°"’.“ll
10 «ask ,,0”,,,,g ma, mt rigm, and submit to (.1-'|l~Ull').t..lC rr_it-crcotii.-c lietwct-rr the two countries
nothing that is wrong,” it has been my airxious “‘l§.5l_l°llc,”_u°‘l; I , . . .
desire "3 l“'C‘StrvC ltrace with all nations; but, at .f.lil'cel LIL” M-no Uexdco llllf’ mml liccenhy’
‘he same ,,,,,,,, to be ,,,.e,,,,,.cJ ,0 ,.CS,_;, ,,gg,.,L,g_ $70»:-IHIIC-QIflllgilllllllllltl of lrostilrry to\\~a1-ds the
8,0,,’ and ,0 “mum,” an our J-us, ‘mus. -"I.Il1e.( ,..‘t_.ites_-'—.i_tis been lTtt.tl'.~‘ll‘t1tlll1g and o,~_._.‘-;,1n.
In pursmncc of me 1.0,“, NSCIUIEOH of Com l{.fllg‘tLlftil:L'S, rasurrig prutlilm:tlI0llS,T{tfl(l ll\»\(y\\'lllg
gress, ,.fU,. a,,,,0xing_ Texas ,0 me Uuued Stmesg, li;](!?.(l‘li.lCf‘ll-lit?!) to iiiaxe war on the [riirted Stzrtes,
my pI'C(leC€S.~‘Ol‘,(ti'. the third day of Murclr, 1845, C21 ‘fl, '3 fl“ OW" ilccmmuon’ "F by mv-admg
elected to submit the first and secorrd sections of ilcmf" b(.)m.1he CLOl'gwSs a-mi -Comicmion Oi
that re.-solution to the Re.pub|ic of Tc.\‘.'ts, as air ihe ,l’e0l’lC,L'{, 1.‘c‘\f‘S ,'”V“'”'d lms (‘ovemmem 10
m.er,u,.(,’ on we Imnof the U-nixed States, pm sent. an piirry into toat tt.‘]~]'llO]»)., to piptect rind
her admission as a State into our Union. Tliis dcimd mun agmnsl the nlcmced 3””°k' rule
clecfim lapprovpd, and accoufimgly me Chargc ipoiricirttlic terms of annexation, (ifIc|-all by the
d’ Affairs of the United S ates iii Ti-xas, under flutes, were accepted by Texas, the latter liecztmc
instructions of the tenth of Marclr, 18-15, pi'esen- 30 {iii a lmit of Our mm c0um.'.-l'’ 33 m ,m‘.‘k° It
ted these sections of the resolution for the tt(;CL‘p- our um?’ ,lO,afl°l_d Snell " l"“l"c"°" “‘"‘l ““l.°“ce'
,ance of um, r,,,,u,,“c. The executive Eovcnh vl tlrcrcrore deemed it proper, as a })l'CCttlll.l0l‘.‘tt-
ment, the Corrgriss, and the people of Texas in r~lqll,l""l.'“"’lr1" ‘’‘‘l°l' 1‘ 5““"‘é§ 5‘l“"“l""“ 1.".me
Coizvention, have successively complii.-d with all (,‘:”-‘I?‘,“_ (ll Tl :‘i'_'\"LO’ mid I” Cm’ce'mmc- an ~01-Ilcwm
the terms and conditions of the joint resolution. ,7',m_“‘_”_-I felt? (__’“ me ““"‘l”"" f'i°““c'.' .”l 1."x“s'
AConstitution for the Govcrnincrit of the State ,m ‘i_lfn~l “fl” Ordered 1” take llosmon ill the
of Texas, forrneil by a_,Corrveiitiori of Deputies, .w-l,-lg“). ‘M-“Fell [he N.”eC‘“s."md .‘l‘° Del I\.Om’
is herewith laid before Congrxss. lt is well ‘“_',_ le.l",I' ‘mi-l_ ,','lV“5‘°” "l llle‘l°X_".m mmoiiy
known, also, that the people of ’I.‘exas at the ‘lb? ‘“i'““l*'lfll lhe *'l°‘\’ca'l l""'°““f‘
polls have accepted the terms of aiirrexzitiorr, and , “j(’l.]"u-.”j", m I )6 ml 1 “fits mdcmd 10 C"l’_°Pe"
unified the Consmumn. ilI.,'\':flll the army, But _t.iough our army and
I communicate to Congress the C0fl'r'.'S1‘iOlttlt!l‘.Ck‘ _M:,-’, l: ele,‘l’l_l1°,.H},.'n_a _l’°S”_'ml T d"_fe"ll°"" Own.
between the Sccretiiry of State and our Charge ‘in; in i_'g_‘1°0 e'\,5.l”’u“'l “e'c0.lde_r.°‘l to °‘,’m="
d’Affairs iii 'l‘t-xars; and also the corresportdciicc iljlit 1;? 12”} of l,1,('SU‘l1-V ngmllfl MQMCO’ ”,"_‘E"Is
of the falter with the zruthoritics of Texas; to- I, ""_e,d, “fir? 0' was h.C.'5C“ we ngglebbel
cthe. with the. official documcrits ll'tlllSlTl.’l’.t:tl ),3_-°tll‘:",l.3n "ls l_“‘‘[ blow’ ,1l"eg".e‘jl’l1l""‘Sbeef“
y him ,0 his om, gC‘,C,.h,nC,,,_ trial I. L'.\I\.-(:)l'|(,‘5.vlIII'1.Ldc no aggressive moveirrerrt,
The terms of aiiricxatiori which were oflerctl ‘”i:i,,0,m "H {W3 am] “iimi Ciilm-mndilrs have
by me Uniled smug mwing hem flccelmd by t.'l.\€t.llt’(..’(l.' thtpr ot-,-leps crpli Sll(.:.il~(Il.\‘ct't‘.ll(;l!, that
TeJ‘tas, the public faith of both particsis solnrnlf hit. lifdfjc U [Le mo lwliubhcb has not hue“
pledged totlic cziirtpact of their trrrioir. l‘lotlrrrt_~.; "5‘,',l.1"i' M d‘ ,_, d , _ . , p, ,
reinnins to coristrinrnate the event, but the pa.-,-s-, N, _,&j“.“sd "psb “,_°’_‘”‘? ’V°','."_“‘ 9l“‘:~-price qt:-..
age of an act. by Congress to admit the State off ",1: :‘-“U“‘:lr -1 1-3: 1 i,\jr.dm_i:,_ ‘l’, ‘’,'O)_' 1”“ )"‘‘,’‘
Texas iirto the Union upon an equal footing -l,‘f,_°,'<,,.“," t’.“‘ ‘“,”flr>f”"""f_‘ i=f“'_""',"l“‘,l,“’,
with the origirral States. Strong rcasorrs exist f:l“_,'“‘h"_',bAl1,‘_°_li“i‘1lo”“:""."5,)1l“‘l,l’9";""’ pm,
why this should be done at an early period of T°)l:‘"°',‘,’ ‘:1’, Ljlul; ‘_1".,“",‘ '8‘ .L,l’j'“‘\l‘f',t ‘ “:‘l"’, L,“
the session. It will be observed that, l-y the ’L_.m.l€'c,O,*_§"‘7f”_ m‘°},.‘j1‘“ES ‘l,l“‘ 1)“
constitution of Texas, the existirrg govcrnnrerrr l'l,"llc:l"_‘ {,°“'°'.‘?Y"t_ “’,l‘1’l,’e,'”_ “"“:;S," ,°°l”‘,'
is only temporarily, till Corjgrcss can act; anti ;llf_'c,)L_ ‘(;ll,‘,_,,'l‘1,V'f7a,.“’"q ,‘.“.’_'_ _°,°,““u“",f‘ ‘_‘_”’
that the third Monday of tire pr'c.-‘crrt iiroiith is ff ,,', jicfln in Loni] ‘am, it I'll} iejC(,n.n..b “M”-
the day appointed for holding the first general l ml, 0 Ltllflofi ‘fir (1 '3‘ ‘ml _l",‘l_"jl “_uelnl’l
election. On that day agover'rior, a lieutenant ‘f3 l"”_ (iv ,_e“_“w °_°°,"q'"" ‘fl’ of ill“-
. _ _ , , , -iron lrci goteimircrit \\01titl be rain. Even
governor, and both Lrairclrcs of .lrc legislature, “flico ,]‘_r<L_,, hm ,W(m_‘ Q 1,,,.‘_, H1.‘ ,1 ,_
will be chosen by the people. The l’rt-sidciit of f ‘d‘ V’, .1 ‘J _t.‘‘’‘' ‘f“_ .‘ _° ‘jlcdt
Texas is required imrrredizitcly alter the receipt Tm “,l.“_L dc flu” 10') 0..‘.m_'l('j\"“O'.' “".'\;l’(" _'
‘ . . . . tr bc.orc ti-e ieo ile of ic.\.a.s (ltll'llt"‘ tire inst
of Ofllcftll infornratrorr that the new State has in". . 1., ,,I,.-,l, , ,~ _,,., ‘j. ,7, F r,
been admitted into our Union by Congress, to Tlf"'”,W,'_’__t ‘‘ =‘(’lf“'m"‘l.ll° ,"“’§'CO’ ’-‘ “ ‘””““.
.. . -, , , _ - -, , act, J‘1lr.t.'(l to rccos:nr.~c the rrnleucritlcirce of
convene the legrsl.i.ure; and, upon is iii.-etrrig, ,,. vgfm Cmx,,,,_(, ‘Hm, ,, .,, r‘, ,,_, .
the existing government will be supcrscrit-il, and ,1 ‘TH. ' “ ,'_'j_, ,\l 3"‘: _l’” ""‘"°‘\
, , M ., . _~ . tr.-ti. to ut:‘y or ikl loner. ll.-.1 .1-riccmirrt to
the State gcverrimcnt orgarrrzea. Questions , up )w,“,,_____- ,1,‘ ,, ,,', H __,. T_'§__Q _,__”
deeply interesting to Texas, in common with the ':C,"‘"‘l,, "‘_'°_”_.‘,,‘ IQ“ 5' ‘
other States; the extension of otrr revenue l:.w.~.: f'_ ‘I ‘_‘.”"°"T,m_“7 C,"_"‘l"“_1d"_” I," c.(',l,l." fl?“-L
and judicial system ‘over her people and let‘.-"llttry, f‘s,{l":~ _ B3“ '_l““°t,f“"‘ 0% ~_,_'f"‘,s_":
. r . .. . . - -' ‘* ' ‘ ' ‘ ~- 3 ‘ *~‘ ‘ ‘
as well as measures of .1 local cliaiacter, will ‘I if. _;h 3,,‘ , ?“‘f_":fl.,° 51'1", ‘t. "‘Q’:‘<
claim the early attention of Congress; and, ilotljf ,. 9“ ‘”‘f f’”_? 0 l"':~"_', ’.e_,";,,l‘f_ ‘_("‘“.”‘,“i
‘therefore, upon every principle of rcpublicari , ,r'L_,O','_ ,0 f-‘.,Ol,”m_i:('“, fl “('1 L“"i° m1° )
government, she ottghl to be represented in that '1 ‘,‘3'“‘”,“” l°(l°,e_ _(.’ a"“”"l“' _ . .
~- _- O __ _, , , , .rt t.rou-rh htcxrco cairn-st complain of tire
body without unirccessary delay. lcannot too U 1“, Sm; H 1“, I , I, ___ , _ 1, ,.
earnestly rccommeird prompt action on this iin- T',”.."i - I. I O iftimn. 0- if .':”mf‘\il ‘(in O
- c_\.is, it is to be rurictrcd [trill serious. c.-ins:-s rl
. Ponam Sub-feel’ rriisu lltlL‘l'S'.t1lltIllW‘ bebtweeii the two couirtrics coir-
i A3 500“ as the 3°‘ ‘C admit T“-"35 ‘*5 3 SW9 tintics to exist, griowinw out of unredressetl inju-
slla“ be Passed: the “”l‘"’ 0f jhe “V0 R°l’“l’ll°3 ries iriflictcd by the lvltiaxican autliorities and peo-
‘‘''1” be °°“5“mm‘"~L’d by the” OW“ "°l““l"")' pie or. the persons and property of citizens of
C0n5e"l- the United States, through a long series of years.
This accession to our territory has been :1 Mexico has admitted these irrjriries, btrt his ric-
} bloodless achievement. No arm of force has glected and refused to repair them. Such was
’ been raised to produce this result. Theswonl the clraractei; of the wrongs, and such the iri-
has had no part in the victory. We have not .-ults repeatedly offered to Arnericair citizens and
Sought to extend our territorial possessioirs by the Airrcricnn flag by Mexico, in palpable viola-
conquest, or our Republican institutions overa riori of the laws of nations and the treaty be-
reluctant people. It was the deliberate homage tween the two countries of the fifth of April,
of each people to the great principle of our fed- 1831, that they have been repeatedly l.rt'ought to
erative union. the notice of Congress by my preileccssors. As
If weconsider the extent of the territory irr-
volved in the aiincxation—its prospective ii:’lu-
cnce on America—the means by which it has
been accomplished, springing purely from the
choice of the people tlierrrsclves to share the
blessings of our Uniorr—-tlre history of the world
-, , ma be challenged to furnish-a parallel.
‘ The jurisdiction of the United States, which
at the formation of the Federal Constitution was
bounded by the St. Mary’s on the Atlantic, has
passed the Capes of Florida, and been peacefully
extended to the Del Norte. In contemplating
the grandeur of this event,it is not to be forgotten
that the result was achieved in despite of the dip-
.- Iomatic interference of European monarchie:.—
Ever France—the country which had been our
ancient ally—the country which has a common
interest with us in maintaining the freedom of
the seas—the country which, by the ccssion of
Louisiana, firsfiopeiied to us access to the Grill of
Mexico—tlre country with which we have been
every year drawing more and more closely the
bonds of successful commerce-—mosf unexpected-
ly, and to our unfeigned regret, took part in an
effort to preveirt annexation, and to impose on
Texas, as a condition of the recognition of her
independence by Mexico, that slie would never
join lrerself to the United States. _
We may rejoice that the tranquil and pervad-
ing influence of the A_merican principle of self-
government was sufficient to defeat the purposes
of British and French interference, and that the
almost unanimous voice of the people of Texas
has given to that iirterference a peaceful and et-
'4, fectivc rebuke. From this example, European
,' Governments may learn how vain diplomatic arts
3, and intrigues must ever prove upon this Conti-
\ iitcnt, against that system of self-goverumept
' which seems natural to our soil, and which will _ _ _
ever resistlorcign interference. ized at Washington on the twenty-fifth day of
Towards Texas, I do not doubt that a liberal August, 1840- Their little was limited to eigh-
andlggnerous spirit will actuate Congress iir all .teeii months; at the expiration of. which, they
-thatconcerns her interests and prosperity,-and had adjitdtcated and decided claims amounting
she‘ will never have cause -to regret that she -to two million-'5: twenty -5'-‘K lh0llS3Dd 0116 hun-
diriary and ftlllllslcl‘ plcriipoterrtinry to the Urritcd
and unnvailing applications for i'cdr'css, the wan-
ton character of some of the otttra,:,es upon the
persorrs and property of our citizi.-iis, upon the
officers and flag of the United Statt-s, independent
of recent insults to this government and people
by the late Extraordiirziry Mexican minister,
would justify in the eyes of all nations imme-
diate war.” He did 1iot,- however. recommend
air immediate resort to‘ this extreme measure,
which he declared, “should not be used by just
and generous nations, coirliding in their strength
for injuries committed, if it can be honor'abl_v
avoided ;” btit, in a spirit of forbearance, propos-
ed that another demand be made on Ivtex-ico for
that redress which had been so long and unjust-
ly withheld.
In these views, committees of the two Houses
of Congress, in reports made to their respective
bodies, concurred. Since these proceedings more
than eiglrt years have elapsed, during which, in
addition to the wrongs their complained of, oili-
ers of an aggravated character have been commit-
ted on the personal property of our citizens. A
special agent was seirt to_ Mexico in the summer
of 1838, with full authority to make another and
final demand for redress. The demand was made;
the Mexican government. promised to repair the
wrongs of which we complained; and after much
delay, a treaty of indemnity with that View was
concluded betwerrthe two. powers on the elev-
enth ‘of April, 1839, and was duly ratified by
both governments. By this treaty a jorirt com-
mission was cieated to adjudicate and decide on
the claims of American citizens on the govern-
ment of Mexico. The commission was organ
j has united her “lone star” to our glorious cori- -
«lay of i\i'ar'cli last, the t‘i‘Ic.\'icaii eirvoy cxtraor-‘;
tired and thirty-nine dollars and sixty-eiglit cents
. in favor of citizens of the United States against
the Mexican goverrrmerit, leaving a large amount
of claims urrdecrded. Of the little!‘ the American
commissioners had decided in favor of ottr citi-
zens, claiins amounting to nine lrtiiidied and
twcrity-ciglrt thousand six litrridred and twenty-
,‘ seven dollars and eighty-eiglit cents, which were
% lcft unactcd on by the umpire tlltlll0l‘iZ’.3(I by the
- treaty.
Still further claims, amounting to betwccii three
and fottr tnillioiis of dollai's., were suliinittcal to
the horrid too late to be CUflSl(lc|'(:lI, and were
left l1ntIl.<p()SE(I of. The sum of two millions
tweiity-six tlrotisiiiitl one liurrdrcd and thirty-niire
dollars and sixty-eiglit cents, decided by the board
was a liqtridatcd and it$cL‘1‘lttlnCtl debt due by
lllexico to the claiiria:-.t:.<, and there was no justi-
fialile reason for delayirrg its payirrcnt accordirig
to the terms of the treaty. It was not, llU\\’C\'(:l‘
paid. hlexico applied for faitlrcr iridulgcrrce;
turf, in that spirit of liberality and forbciirzrirce
which has cvcr lTl1tl'l;Ctl the policy of the United
States, towards that it-prililic, the rrqucst was
granted; and, on the tliirtietli Of>Ji.l”u(lIy, 18-13,
a new trc-at_,' was corrcltnlcd. By this treaty it
was provided, that the interest due on the -.rwar'd.~:.
in favor of claiiitnnts under the corrvention cf
the eleventh of April, 1839, should be paid on
the thirtieth of April, 18-!‘ ; and that “fire prin-
cipal of the said aiwaiils, and the‘ irrtcr'e.~:t arisirig
tlicreorr. shall be paid in five yczrrs, in equal iri-
s‘almerrts every three riroiiths; tlic said term of
five years to commence or: the thirtieth day tf
April, 1843, as aforesaid.” The intcrc.=:t dire on
the thirtieth day of April, 1843, and the three
first of the tvcrrty iirstalinciits liavc lict-it paid.
Scvcrilecrr of these iirsf:~.l:nc:.ts rctriaiii tiirpaitl,
seven of which are now du.-.
The claims wliiclr were left llltfl(,’Cl‘.l(:tl by the
joir t comniissiori, amotirrtirrg to more than three
rriillioris of dollars, togetltcr‘ with other cl:-ilins
for $]:()lltlllOllS on the property of our citizens,
were ;~ul;-scqrrcrrtly prcscritcd to the _l\.ltxic'.iii
govci'i:ri'.ciit for payiircrit, and were so far recog-
rrizcd that a treaty, provblrng for ll]::il‘L'S'r1ltflt'il1-
tion and .$'('lllCfll'.‘ilI by a joint conimission, was
concluded and s‘gned a‘ .f‘rICX1C() on the l\\":llllC'tl)
day of \'ovembc-r, 18-13. Tlzi.-4 treaty was rati-
fied by the United States, with ccitaiii asr:cnd-
lll()lllL~', to which no jtist exocptioii could have
been tnkcrr; but it h;:s' not yet received the ratifi-
ca'iori of the l\l<-x§c:;ri govcririncirt. lit the
t1lC'.tti'.lm8, our citizcrrs v. ho still-. rctl great losses,
and some of whom have i)L‘(‘!i reduced from ai-
flriericc to l;airl:r‘i:p'c_v, are without remedy; un-
less ihcii1r'ig'lrts lie enfoi‘cc:l by their ;’,'()\‘€l‘lllll4_‘nl.
Such a coritiirtictl and tiripiovolaed series of
wrongs could ircver have been tolerated by the
Uiritc-=.l States, had they been corriznirtcd by one
of the principal lt.tl.lOI‘:S of lfliirops. Mexico
was‘, liotrevtr, it rreiglrlroiirrg sister‘ r -public,
which, following our c.\:iir;plc, bn:l a-clricvcd her
independence, and for whose success and pros-
perity all our sympathies were early errlistcd.——
The United Slates were the fIl'."t to recogriizc her
indcperidcricc, and to l't'Ct.‘lVt: flL‘l' into the family
of llillltrllr‘-, and li::V‘..' ever been «desirous of culti-
vating with l-er good riiiderxstaiidiiig. We liavc,
[l)ct‘>_-ft:]‘e litirire the r‘r-pe:-.te.»l \‘.'I‘uI\_-.3.) she has \'.'.‘Hl'
muted, with great paticiicc, in the hope that a
returning sense of justice wotild trltirriatcly guide
her‘ councils, and that we might, if possible, lion-
orahly avoid any liosttile collision with her.
\‘."iiliont the previous t.rttfrori:y of Corrgrcss,
the l‘I.\'e<:ir?.ivn j.o;<.-e.-rscd no power to adopt or
erifttrcc zidcqtfnte i'crric-dies for the irzjuries we
had suffered, or to do more than be jll’t'1:2‘.l'(,‘-’.l to
repel the tlireateired tiggressiorr on the part of
Mexico. After our army and navy had remairr-
ed on the frontier‘ and con:-‘ts of f\lc-xico for rrrnriy
weeks, witlrout any hostile rriovemcnt on her
part, though her mt:lidCt‘S were contintied, [deem-
ed it li]lp(il‘l:‘.lil to put an end, if possible, to this
state of things. Witlr this view, l caused steps
to he lItl{t‘ll., in the morith of Srptcnibcr first, to
}t5C£‘:l"t‘.tlf1 distinctly, It.ll~'.l in an an-hcntic form,
wiint the ifcsigris of the itiexican govcrrrmerit
werc; \\‘ll':'il1'.'I' it was their‘ rritcrrtiori to declare.
war, or irivzidc. Texas, or wht-tlrcrtlrey were dis-
josed to adjust and settle, in an 5‘flillCl1l')lBf1llllll't(3l'
the peritlirig diflcrciices lretweeti the two coun-
tries.
On the ninth of Novemlier an official answer
was received, that the Mexican Government
consented to renew the diplomatic relations
which had been suspended in March last, and
for =liat purpose were willing to accredit a l\Iin-
ister frorir the United States. With a sincere de-
sire to preserve peace, and restore relations of
good understanding between the two Republics,
l waived all ceremony as to the mzinncr of re-
ircwing diplomatic intercourse between them :
and asumirrg the initiative, on the tenth of No-
vember a distinguised citizen of Louisiana was
appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to l‘.vIcxico,clotlrcd with full pow-
ers to adjust and definitely settle. all pending dif-
ferences between the two countries, iiicludi--g
those of boundary between Mexico and the state
,of Texas. The Minister appointed has set out
‘on his niission,and is probably by this time near
i the Mexican capital.
3ing the present session. Until that. result is
f known, I forbear to recommend to Congress such
fultevior trieasures of redress for the wrongs and
linjuries we have so long borne, as it would have
lbeerr proper to make, had no such negotiation
‘ been instituted.
Congress appropriated at the last session,» the
sum oftwo hundred and severity five thousand
dollars for the payment of the April and July in-
stalments of the Mexican indemniiies for the
year 1844 : ‘Provided that itshall be ascertained
to the satisfactirn of the American Goverment
that said instalments have been paid by the
Mexican government to the agent appointed by
the United States to receive the same in such
manner as to discharge allcl-aim on the Mexican
government, and said agent to be delinquent in
remitting the money to United States.’
The unsettled state ofour relations with Mex-
ico lras involved this subject in much mystery.—-
'1‘lie first information, in an authentic form, from
the agent of the United States, appointed under
the administration of my predecessor, was re-
ceived at the state Department on the ninth of
November fast. This is contained in a letter
dated the seventeenth of October, addressed by
him to one of our citizens then in Mexico, with
the view ofhaving it communicated to that De-
partment. From this it 8.[ pears that the agent,
on the twentieth ofseptember, 1844, gave a re-
ceipt to tlre-Treasury of Mexico, for the amount
of the April and July instalments ofthe idemni-
ty. Inthe same communication, however, he
asserta that he had not recieved asingle dollar in
‘cash: but that he holds such securi'ties as war-
‘ranted him at the time in giving the receipt,and
entertains no doubt but that he will eventually
obtain the money.
As these instalments appear never to have
been actually paid by the Governments of Mex-
ico to‘ the agent, as that Government has
nottlrerefore been released so as to discharge
the clriim, I do not feel rrryselfwarranted in di-
rectiirgpaynrcirt to be made to the clairriarits
out of the 'l‘reasury, without further legislation.
ship; arid it remains for Congress to decide
tvheilier any, and what, reliefouglrt. to be gran-
ted to them. Our ltlinist rs to Mexico has
been instructed to ascertain the facts of the case
front the Mexican Government, in an authentic
‘and official form and report the result with as
little delay as possible.
My attention was early directed to the nego-
tiation, which, on the fourth of March last, I
found pending at Vtfaslriirgtiiir between the Uni-
ted States aizd Great Britain, on the subject of
the Oregon Territory. ‘i r.rce several attempts
had been previously made to settle the question
in dispute between the two countries, by nego-
liatiorr, upon the principles of coinpromi:e; but
each li:1d proved unsuccessful.
Tliescriegociatiorrs tool: place atLondon, in
the years ISIS, l‘o".’-J, and is’: ; the two first
under the adniinistratiorr of Mr. ltlonroc, and
the last under tliat.of'r\lr. Adams. The negoti-
ation of lolshaviiig failed to accomplisli its ob-
.l.E'ct, resulted in the convention oftlie twentieth
of October oftliat year. By the third article of
that convention, it was‘agrecd, that any country
that may be claimed by either party on the
nortlit-vest coast of America, westward of the
Stony motirrtairrs, shall, together with its harbors’
l)t1}’:'.t1.'tf.l creeks, and the navigation of-all rivers
within the satire, be free and open for the term of
ten years from the date of the signature of the
present convention, to the vessels, citizens, and
subjects of the two Powers: it being well tinder-
stood that this a;rrccn‘.crrt is not to be cor.siru-
cd to the prejudice ofany claim wliicli either
airy part ofthe said country, nor shall it be ta-
kcn to ai’i'cct the claims ofany other Power or
State to airy partofthc said coirntry; the only
objects ofthe high contracting parties in that
respect being to prevent disputes and differcrices
among tlrcarsclvcs.’
The ncgofiatiorr oflS24 was productive of no
result, and the convention of‘ tcib‘ was left un-
clrangctl.
'1 he ncgociatioi'r cf‘IS.'26, lraving also failed to
effect an adjustirit-tit by corrrproinisc, resulted in
the coiiveiitron of August the sixth, 1827, by
which it was agreed to contiirne in fbrce for an
indefiiiite period, the provisioiis ofthe third arti-
cle of the eonvcntiuii ofthe t\\'Ut)ll£:ll10fOL't()‘ er
, un
time after the l.WL‘f1lIt:lfl ofUctobcr, fo‘;";~%, on giv-
ing due notice of twelve rrronilis to the oil‘.-er
CUllll‘t1Clll': .; party, to arrrrul and abrogate the cori-
vcnriorr: arid it shall, iir such casc,be accor'diri__<j_-
ly entirely irnnullcd and al.-rogattd aftct‘ the ex-
piration of-aid term of notice.’ In these at-
tempts to adjust the corrtrovessy, the parallel of
tlreforty ii .iir degree ofriortlr lt1llll.lt.lUll1‘.t.ll;L'_L‘lf
offered by the United Stritcsto Great l'iit'.iiri,
andin -i,l.«;:-ac oflSl-‘J and lc~"..'G, with a farrlrcr
conccssioti of the free navigation of the Columbia
river south ofthat latitude. The parallel ofthe
forty ninth degree, fro n the Roclrey Ivlouriraius
to US iiirerscctioii Hill! the north castcrmost
branch ofthe Linluiirlria, and thcn'e down the
channel ofthat river to the son, had been offered
b_v Gr, at Britain, with an addition ofa ~mall de-
tached territory north of the Columbia. Each
ofthcse propositions had been rejected by the
parties respectively. '
In October, 16-13, the Envoy Fxtraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States in London was l.1U.Ill0l'l7(:(I to make a slin-
ilar offer to those made in 1616 and 16526. Thus
stood the question, when the negotiation was
shortly :if.crwards trait:-i"crrcd to Waslririgton;
and on the tweirty-tliird ol'August,18-i-1, was for-
mally opencd under the direction ofrrry immedi-
ate predecessor. Like all the trevious negotia-
tions, it was based upon principles of‘coniproin-
iseg’ and the avowed purpose ofthe parties was
‘to treat of the respective claims of the two
countries to the Oregon territory, with the view
to establish a permanent boundary between them
westward ofthe Rocky mountains to the Pacif-
ic ocean.’ Accordingly on the tvveirty-sixth of
August 1844, the British Plenipotentiary offered
to divide the Oregon territory by the forty ninth
parallel ofNorth latitude, front the 1-‘tocliy nrotrn—
tains to the point of 1lS intersection with the
northeasternmost branch of the Columbia river,
and thence dowir tliatrivcr to the sea; leaving
the free navigation ofthe river to be enjoyed in
common by both parties—the country south of
this line to belong to the United Statcs,and that
north ofit to Great Britain. _
‘At t_lre same time, he proposed in addition, to
yield to the United States a detached territory,
north of the Columbia, extending along the Pa-
cific and the straits of Fuca. from Bulfinch’s
harbor inclusive, to I-Iood’s canal, and to make
free to it e United States any port or p rts south
oflatitude forty nine degrees, which they might
, He has been instructed toidc-sire, either on the main land or on Qutidra _ _ ,
early as the eighth of February, 1837, the l’res- ' bring the negotiation with which he is charged land Vancouver’s Island. Vlitlr the exception of fullv fortified themselves in their new homes,
itlcnt of the United States declared, in a message ; to a conclusion at the earliest practicable period ;' the free ports, this was the same offer which had
to Congress, that “the length of time since some 3 which, it is expected, will be in time to enable - been made by the British and rejected by the
of the injuries have been cominitted, the repeated , me to communicate the result to Congress (ll1l'-.A.Il'l(:'['ICl1ll Government in the negotiation of 18-‘
26. ‘this proposition was properly rejected by
the Arriericaii t"lerripotentiur_v on the day it was
suhririttetl.
compromise offered by the British Plenipu entiti-
ry. The proposition on the part of Great Brit-
ain having been rejected, the British Plenipoten-
tiary re nested that a proposal should be made
by the nited States for ‘an equitable adjustment
of the question.’
When I came into ofiice,I found this to be the
state ofthe negotiation. Though entertaining
the settled conviction, that the British preten-
sion oftitle could not he maiiitained to any portion-
public law recognised by nations, yet in defer-
ence to what had been done by my predecessors
and especially in consideration that propositions
ofcompromise had been thrice made by two
preceding administrations, to adjust the question
on the parallel of forty nine degrees, and in two
oftlrem yielding to Great Britain the free na_vr-
gation oftlre Columbia, and that the pending
negotiation had been commenced on the basis of
compromise, I deemed it to be my duty not ab-
ruptly to break it off. In consideration, 300,
that under the conventions of 1818 and 1827, the
citizens and subjects ofthe two Powers held a
joint occupancy of the country, I was induced to
make another effort to settle this long-pending
controversy in the spirit of moderation which
had given birth to the renewed discussion. _
Aproposition was accordingly made, which
‘was rejected by the British Pleii1potentiary,wlro
Without submitting any proposition, suffered the
negotiation on his part to drop,- expressing his
trust that the United States would offer what he
saw fit to call ‘some further proposal for the set-
tlement of the Oregon question, more consistent
with fairness and equity, and the reasonable ex-
pectations of the British Government.’ The
Their case is, undoubtedly. one of much hard-_
ofthe two high conrr-.:ciing parties may lrave to,
lb'ft:" '"'d it was f'~.rrtlrc-r provided, that ‘it shall ,1 urine. what ltrgisl-.itiot'i they can in tlicii-.cairtitne
be competent, however, to either of the contract- ‘ adopt without violatriig this corn cntior1- licyontl
ing parties, _in case t.'1lllt'l'ElfUUlt.l think fit, at any fall question, the protection of our laws and our
This was tlie-only proposition of
ofthe Oregon territory upon any principle of
which had been made by two proceeding Ad-
of our rivers, through the heart of our country,
was one which I was unwilling to concede.
It also embraced a provision to make free to
Great Britain, any port or ports on the cap of
Quadra and Vancouver’s Island, south of this
parallel. Had this been a new question coming
under discussion for the first time, this proposi-
tion WOUltl irotlrave been made. The extraor-V
ordinary and whollvirradmissible demands ofthe
British government and the rejection ofthe prop-Q
ositiori tirade in deference alone to what had!
been done by my predecessors, and the implied
obligation which their acts seemed to irnposc,§
afford stttisfactory evidence that no compromise:
which the United States ought to accept, can be,
effected. '
ed, was b-.' my direction, subsequently with-
drawn, and otir title to the whole Oregon terri-
tory asserted, and as I believe, rriaintnined by ir. '
rcfragable facts and arguments. ,
, The civilized world will see in these procee-
'dings a spirit oflibt.-rul C(.‘flCe:El0n on the part of;
the united States; and this governiitcnt will be’
relieved frorii all responsibility which may follow
the failure to settle the controversy.
All attempts at con'ipromisc liaving failed, it
becomes the duty of Congress to considcr what
measures it may be proper to adopt for the secti-
rity and protection of our citizens now inhabi-
ting, or who trray licrcaf'.ci‘ irilrzilrit C-rcggoir, and
for the rrizriritcrnrncc ofottrjust title to that terri-
tory. In adopting irreasuics for this purpose,
care should be taken that nothing he done to vi-
olate the sripul:rtions of the convention of 1827,
=wliich is still in force. The faith of tr‘c-.tiii~-s, in
their letter and spirit, has ever been. and I trust
will ever be, scrupulously observed by the Uni-
.tc-J States. Under that conventiorr, a _\'cr»~.r’s no-
tice is required to be given by either party to the
other, before thcjoiirt occupancy shall tcrrriiriatc
and before either can rightfully assert or exer-
cise exclusivejurisdicricrr ovcrariy portion of the
tcrri'.or_v. This notice it would, in my opinion,
be proper to give: and I recorrrrrreird that pro-
vision be made bylaw fol‘ giving it accordiiigly,
and teririinrttirig in this iiiairzrcr, the coirverrtion
of the sixth ofnugust 1827.
It will bccomeproperfur Congress to deter-
ijririsdiction, civil and criminal, otrglrt. to be im-
girredi-.t:ely ex ended UVLI‘ tur citi:-zcns in Oregon.
§Tlicy have lraicljust cause to complain of our
llorig ricglcct in this particu‘::r, and have, in cuts.-
seqi.ience, been compclléd, for their own security
and pr'oiccrior'r. to establish a provisiorra govern-
ment fir themselves. Strong in tltclt‘ allegiance
and ardc-nt in their at‘-atrlririeirt [0 the United
States, they liavc been thus cast upon thtir own
rc.=.ource-s. 'I‘hey are airxic,-us that our laws
should be extended over them, arid I.~recoinr.rrend
that this be desire by Congress with aslittiedelay
as possible, in the full extent "tB"wliicli the Brit-
ish f’arliamerit have proceeded in regard to Brit-
ish subjects in that territory, by their act ofJuly
the second, lS2i, ‘for regulating the fur trade,
and est-alilisliiiig a criniiiial and civil jurisdicti ri
tviiliin certain parts of Nortli America.’ By
rhisaci, Great Britain extended her laws andju-
risdiction, civil andcriirrinal, over her subjects,
‘engaged in the fur trade in that territory. By it
the courts of the province of Upper Canada were
empowered totake cognizance of causes civil
and crirriiiral. Justices ofthe peace and other
judicial officers were authorized to be appointed
in Oregon, with power to execute all process is-
string from tliecourts of that provsnce, :-nd to‘srt
and hold courts of record for tsial of criminal of-
fences and iriisdcmcanors,’ not tirade the subject
ofcapital punishment, and also civil case where
the cause of-.rction shall not ‘exceed in value the
amount or sum oftwo hu idrcd pounds.’
Sub."-eqtii-irt to the date ofrhis act of Parlia-
ment, :1 grant was tirade from the ‘British
crown’ to the Hudson’s Bay Company, ofthe ex-
clusive trade with the Indian tribes in the Or-
cgoir tc-rritory, subject to a reservation that it
shall not operate to the exclusion ‘of the sub-
jects of airy foreign States who, under or by force
of any convention for the time being. between
us and such foreign states respectively, may be
entitled to,’ and shall be engaged in, the said
trade.’ ,
It is much to be regretted, that, while under
this acts, British subjects have enjoyed the pro-
tection of British lawsand British judicial tribu-
nals tlrroughout the whole ofOregon, A rnericarr
citizens, in the same territory have enjoyed no
such protection from their government. At the
same time, the result illustrates the character of
otir people and their institutions. In spite of
this neglect, tht y have multiplied and their trum-
her is rapidly increasing in that territory, They
have made no rppeal to arms, but have peace-
by the adoption of republican institutions for
themselves; furnishing another example of the
truth that self-governrrient is inherent in the
American breast, and must prevail. It is due to
them that they should be embraced and protec-
ted by our laws.
It is deemed important that our laws regula
ting trade and intercozvrse with the indian tribes
east ofthe Rocky mountains, should be exten-
ded to such tribes as dwell beyond them.
The increasing emigration to Oregon, and the
care and protection which is due from the gov-
ernment to its citizens in that;-.distaiit region,
make it our duty, as it is our interest, to culti-
vatearnicable relations with the Indian tribes
ofthat territory. For this purpose, I recommend
that provision be made for establishing an Indian
agency, and such sub-agencies as may be deemed
necessary, beyond the Rocky mountains. _
For the protection of emigrants whilst on their
way to Oregon, against the attacks of Indian
tribes occupying the country tlr roueh which they
pass, I recommend that a suitable number of
pstoclaades and block house forts be erected along
the usual route between our frontier settlements
along the Missouri and Rocky mountains; and
thatan adequate force of mounted riflemen be
raised" to guard and protect thefir on theirjourney.
The immediate adoption oftliese recommenda-
tions by Congress -.~.ill not violate the provisions
of the existing treaty. It will be doing nothing
more for American citizens than British laws
"same territory.
‘It requires several months to perform the voy-
age by sea from the Atlai:rtic‘states to Oregon;
mind although we have a number of whale ships
*in tlie Pacific, but fe.\v of thenr aflbrd an oppor-
tunity .of interchanging intelligence, witho_ut
great delay, between our settlemcntsin that dis-
tant rbgion and the United States. An over-
land mail is believed to be entirely practicable;
\Vitlr this conviction, the proposition ,
of compromise which had been made and reject-'
.have long since done for British subjects in the .
!la1s,l’e1' Annaxlrm in Advance. Office 'o:1'EIoyt’s'l)ock,' ‘Vest Side of the Bridge.
\/\/\/\/\.'\/\¢ \r'\.4'\/‘\.I ../-~x\x\/‘C/\r\z\..'\/\‘4\.. \/\./\/\/ \/\r\.r\/\/y \r,_/\/\./ C/X./\./\;\.a\/N/v.,\_, J. /\,\/\_r'~./j\.-\r\/\/-\/\
VOLUME 28—NUMBER 50.
proposition thus offered anti rejected, repeated least once a month, is submitted to‘ the favorable‘
the parallel of forty-nine degress of north latitude consideration of Congress.
It is submitted to the .v/isdotri of Congress t6
rniiiistrations, but without proposing to surren- ;dctem'iine whether, at their prescntsession, and
der to Great Britain, as they had done, the free: '
navigaton of the Columbia River. The right of
any foreign Power to the free navigation of any:
until after‘ the expiration of' the year's notice,‘
any other measures may be adoptcd,consistetrtlv,
with the convention of 1827, for the security of
our rights, and the government and rotection of
our citizens in Oregon. That it wit ultimatelv.
be wise and proper to make liberal grants of
land to the. patriotic pioneers, who, amidst pri-
vations and dangers, lead the way through sav-
age tribes itrlrabiting the vast wilderness inter-
vening between our frontier settlements and Cr-
egon, and who cultivate, and are ever ready to
d-.»f'entl_ the soil, 1 am fully satistitd. To doubt
whether they will obtain such grunts as soon
as the convention betwcerr the United States
and Great Britain shall have ceased to exist,
would be to doubt thejusticé of Congress: but,
pending the ycar’s notice, it is worthy ofcon-‘
siderzition whether a stipulation to this effect
inay bemade, consistently with the spirit ofthat
convention.
The recommendations whichl have made, as
to the best manner of securing our rights in Or-
egon, are submitted to Congress with great def-
ference. Should they, in their wisdom, devise
any other mode better calculated to accomplish
the same object, it shall meet with my hearty
concurrence. . , . .
At the end ofthe year’s notice, slrould Con-
gress think it proper-to make provision for giving.
that notice, we shall have reached a period
when national rights in Oregon must t-Ithel‘ be
abandoned or firmly maintained. That they
cltiinot be abandoned 'vithotit a sacrifice of both
national honor and interest, is too clear to a'dm!i:'
of doubt.
f):':;'g0D is a part of the North American conti-
nent, to which it is confidently aflirrried, the ti-
tle oftlie United States is the best now in exis-
tence. ,_For the grounds on which that title rests,-
I refer you to the correspondence of the late and
prcsetit Secretary 0 State with the British ple-
rripotetrtitiry during the ncgociation. The Brit-
isli propositiori of compromise, which would
make the Columbia the line south of forty nine
degrees, with a trifling addition of detached
territory to the United States, north ( fthat river,
and would leave on the British side two-thirds
ofthe whole Oregon territory, including the free
navigation ofthe Columbia and all the valuable
harbors on the P-a.ci'i'ic, can never, for a moment,
he cnt'er't-aincd by the United States, without an
abandomrrent oftheirjust and clear territorial
rights, their own selfrespcct and their national
honor. For the inforrriation of Congress. Icem-
rnuiricate herewith the corrcsporrdence which
took place betwc-en the two governmc-ms during
the late iii-gociatiou. A
The rapid extension ofour settlements over"
our territories heretofore unoccupied; the addi-
tion ofncw States to_our confedcracy; the ex‘-‘
pansion office principles, and our rising great-
ness as a Natiorr, are attractirig the attention of
the Powers of'}:Iuropc, and lately the doctrine
has been broached in some of them, of :1 ‘bal-
ance of power’ on this Continent, to check our
advancement. The United Statcs,sinccrely' dc-
sirous of preserving relations t.fg'0(‘.~(l u:.d:~rstan'-
ding with all nations, cannot in silence permit
any European interference on the Ncrili Anter-
ican Continent; and should any suclr interfe-
rence be attempted, will b - ready to resist it at
any and all hazards.
It is well known to the Airiericnir people and to
all rratioirs, that this J()\'(El’llUlCllI_ has iieveriiiterf'cr-
ed with the l'elilll()l1a‘ sttlrsistiirg lrel\\‘(.(?H other Gov-
eriiareiits. “"0 have never tirade ottrselves pzirtitfs
to their wars or their alliances,’ we liavo trot sotrglit
their lel'l‘lt()l'l‘.::<) by conquest; we have not rriiriglcd
with parties in tlticr doriicstic $il'ltg,LflU:-‘;'I1tt'tI frolic;--
irrg our own forirr of Goverrrrcrrt to be the best, we
have rrevcr zrttt-tripled to propagirte it by iiitrigttes.
by tliploiriacy. or by f'orco. We may claim on thin
coirtiiient ‘ii like exeriiptioir froni l’.itr'opcari inter-
fercrice. The nations of America are equally sove-
-reign’:riid"i:rdependerrt w.’-".lr tliosu of l:Itirooc'.—
'I'hey po.-:se~;s the satire riglits, iiidepciiileiit of ull
liireigii ll)let'p(t.~‘lll0ll,I() make war, to corrltidc peace,
and to regrtlute t'rreirmvrr alliiirs, The people ofthe
United States cnrtiiot, lllt.!l"Jl.()l‘L‘,. vii.-w wit'ri_iiidili‘
fen-rice attenrpts of liliiroprritrr pow.-235 to irrtcrfci'o'
with the indepeirdent action of the riatioiis on this
contiucirt. I p
The xhiiii-,r'ican systerii ofgovernirii-rit is entirely
rlifl'eret‘.‘t front that of Iiirrope. Jealorisy iiriioiig this
difl'cr'e‘iitsovereigiisoflzltirope,lestaiiy ofthcirr thigh!
become too powet'fii'l for the rest, has caused them
airxiou-sly to desire the establishment of what they
term the ‘balance of power.’ It cannot be permit-
ted to have any iipplicaitinn on the Norith Aiirericitn‘
corrtitrcrit, and especially to the United States. \4’e_
must ever rriitiirtuirr the principle. that the people of
this continent alone have the right to decide their‘
own destiny. Slrould aiiyportioir of them consti-
tuting air independent state, proposeto unite them-'
selves with our coiifederacy, this will be a question
for them and its to detcrrrriiie, without. any irrterpo-‘
sition. Vv'e can never consent that Etiropcati pow-'
ers slitrll interfere to prevent such it ttriinii. l)(3€',illlSU'
it rriiglit disturb the ‘llillilllce of‘ pow er’ which they
may desire to maintain upon tliis continent.
Near‘ a qtirivter ofa centitry ago. the principle was‘
distinctlyannottiiced to the world in the iiiitrual ines-
sage of one of riry predecessors. that ‘the Arriericarr
continents, by the free and indepemleiit condition
which they have assitnied aiidirraiiitained, are hence-
forth not to be coiisidered as srilijccts for future col-
oirizatiori by any Eitropeiiri power.’, This princi-
ple will apply with gileatly increased force, should
(my Etiropentr powo'if attempt to cstablielr any new
colony in North Ariierica. In the existiiig circum-
stances of the world, the present is deemed a proper
occasion to reiterate and retifiirni the priirciple a-
vowed by Mr Monroe. and to state my cordial con-‘
curreiice in its wisdom and sound policy. The re-
assertion ofthis priirciple, especially in refciciicc to
North America, is at this day t the promulgation
of :1 policy which no European powcrshouldcherish
the disposition to resist. Existing rights or every
liitropeari nation should be respected: bttt it is due
alike to otir safety and ouriirterests, that the efficient
protection ofo trlaws should be exteirderi over our
whole let'l‘llOl‘l1 limits, and that it should bcdistinc:-
ly gniiouuccd to the world as our settled policy,thn:
no future European colony or dominion, with our
consent, be planted or establislred an airy part of
the Nortlr-Airiericau continent. ,
A question has recently arisen tinder‘ the tenth at-
ticle of the sttlisidiiig treaty between the United
States and Prtissia. By this article, the consuls
the two cormtr'ics ltave the right to sit as judges and
:r.rbitr:itors ‘in such differences as may arise bctweer.
tlie_captniris and crews ofthe vcsscls’ belonging to
the nation whose interests are coiriiriittcd to their
churge, without the interference ofthe local t1llll)0l'--
iries, unless the conduct of the crews or ofthe cap-
tniir should disturb the order or tranquility of the
country; or the said cousutsj should require their-
assistance to cause their decisions to be carried intc '
effect or strpported.’
'1‘lrePrussian‘ Consul at New Bedford, in June. I
I844, applied to Mr. Justice Story to carry into ef-
fect a decision made by him between the Captain
and crew ‘ofthe Prussiari ship Borrrssia; but the re-
qucstwas refused on the ground that, without pre-
vious le"islation by Congress the judiciary did not
possess the Power, to give effect to this article ofthe
treaty. The Prussian Govcrriinent. through their
minister here, have conrplaincd of this violation of
the tt'eaty,aird have asked the Governinetit of the
,United States to adopttlre ireeessary measures to pre-
, and the im portanceiof establishing such a_maiI,.at1
v'ei:it- similar violations hereafter. Good faith to
Norwalk Chronicler