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\
an ;,5e,o,dent uower. but as mere depensehcy
If NqI,co. This assumption could no' ns7'
Non acted an BIZ the Executive, without sstt,hg
=, 9oe nee vo,,r 0 sn solemn decar.uon fnhl t''al
| P.,,b,;c was an independent Stale Me4ic1
had II ;s truc. threatened W.. against the unlteo
states, in the event The Treaty CT Anne3atson
u,s. ratified. The Executive ciu'd lot perm
itself to he Influenced by this thfe't. u repre-
sented, in this, the spirit Of our People, VINO a,e
ready to sacrifice much ior !e2cc, out notnihs 10
intimidation.
| A war, under any circumstances. Is greatly 10
he de olorsj and the United St1tes IS the asl ne
ton to desire il; but if, as the cand'tlon OF peace
il be required OF us to forego the uhquestloiao'e
richt of treating with an independent power OF
our own Continent, upon matters hghiY lh'efes'-
ing to both, and that upon naked ana u'isus
tainci pretension OF claim by j third Powc!' 70
control the free-will of The po~er with whom We
rfeat-deyoted as we may be to peace, ana ak!
/ Gus 10 cultivate friendly relations with TIE "'iDi'
word the Executive does no: hesitate to say t''s'
| the People OF the United States would De ready
to brave eli consequences. sooner !han suohl 70
such condition. But no apprehension OF war was
entertained By the Executive; and r,ust e1'
nress frankly the opinion that, had The Irea'y
| been ratified by the Senate, 1t would nave oeeh
followed by prompt settlement, to tae ch..Te
satisfaction of Mexico, OF every matter IN differ
ence between the two countries. Seeing 'he'.
tha, new preparatious 70, hostile invasion oi
Texas were about to be adopted by Mexico, and
| that these wero brought about because Texas hao
adon;ed the suggestions of the Executive upon
the subject of Annexation, ii could not Passively
have folded it's arms aud permitted war, thrsat-
ened to be accompanied by every act that could
mark barbarous age, to be waged against her.
because she had done so.


Othsr considerations of Q controlling character
influenced the course of the Executive inc
Treaty which had thus been negotiated had
failed to receive the ratification OF the Senste.
One of the chief objections which was urge1
against it was found 10 consist IN the TACT, mat
the question OF Annexation had not been sub
,.,itted TO the ordeal OF public opinion In the
United States. However untenab!c such al oo-
lection was esteemed to be, in view OF the un-
questionable power OF the Ex'cuivc TO negotiate
the Treaty and the great and lasting interests
involved in the question, felt it 10 be my duty to
submi. the whole subject TO Congress as ;hc best
exp9undars Of populat sentiment. No deiini;ive
action having been taken on the subject By Con
eress the question reiorrsd itself directly to ths
decision OF The States and the People. The great
popular election which has just ter-alnated, at
iordcd ,hc best opportunity OF ascertanng the
will Of the States, and the People upon It,


Po.dn no that issue, X became tEe imperative
du'y of the Executive to inform Mexico that the
question Of annexation was still before the Ame-
rican People, and that until their decision vas
Pronounced, any serious invasion Of Tcxss would
be rcrardcd as an attempt to foresal their jadg-
meat, and could not DO locked upon with lndi-
ference am m9st happy TO inform you, that
no su ii invasion has taken place; and trust
taat whatever your action may be upsn it, Me1i-
CO will see the importance OF deciding the mat
ter by a resort To peaceful e1pedients, in prefer
ence to those of arme. The decision of the Peo-
pie and the States, on this great aud interesting
subject, has been decisively manifested. The
question Of annexation has been presented naked
| ly TO their consideration. By the treaty Itself,
all collateral and incidental issues, which were
calculated to divide and distract the public coun-
cs, were carefully avoided. These were left to
the wisdom Of the future to determine. 1t PIE
sented, repeat, the isolated question Of annexa-
| tipn and in that form it has been submitted 10
tho ordeal of public sentiment.


A con rolling majonty Of the People, and a
large ma ,r.ty of tue States, have declared IN
favor of immediate annexation. Instructions
have THIS came up tr brth branches OF Congress,
from their r. spactive constituents, IN terms the
mos, emphatic 1t is the will Of both the Poop
the States. that Texas should be annexed TO toe
Union p.omp.Iy and iumodiate!y. 1t may be
bored taat, in carrying into execution the public
wi; thus declared. all collateral issues may b.
avoided. Future Legislatures can best decide
as 10 the number Of States which should be
formed out o! the territory, when the time has
arrived, for deciding thai question. So wlth all
others. By the treaty, the United States assumed
the payment Of the debts of Texas, to an amount
not ex:eeding 5i0,000,0O9; 10 be paid. with the
exception Of a sum falling short of $500 ,0O0,
exclusively out OF the proceeds Of the sales 0t her
pubic lands. We could rot, with honor, take the
lands, without assuming the full paya1ent Of all
membranes upon ineni


Nothing has occurred since your last session,
10 induce doubt that the dispositions of Texas
remain unaitered. No intimation of an altered
determination, on the part of her Government
and People, has been furnished to the Executive.
She still desires to throw herself under the pro.
tect;on Of our laws, and to partake of the bless
ings ofour federative system while every Amer
lean interest would seem TO require it. The ex-
tension Of coast-wise and foreign trade, 10 an
amount almost incalculable-the enlargement OF
the market for our manufactures constantly
|
safety to our frontiers, and additional strength
and stability to the Union-.hese are the results
which would rapidly devclope themselves, upon
the consumriadon OF the measure OF annexation
In such event, will not doubt but that Mexico
would find her true interest TO consist in meeting
the advances of this Government in spirit o!
smity.


Nor do apprehcnd any serious complaint
from any other quarter; no sufficient ground
exists for such complaint. we should interfere
in respect with the rights of any other nation.
There cannot be gathered from the act, any de-
sign On our psrt to do SO with their possessions
on Ibis Continent. We have interposed 10 in,-
pedlments in the way of such acquisitions OF ter
ri.ory, large and extensive as many of them are,
as tie leading Powers of Europe have made,
from time 10 time, in every part Of the world.
We seek no conquest made BIZ war. No in
trieue will have been r,s,rted to, or acts OF
diplomacy essayed to accomplish the Annexation
of Texas. Free and independent herself, she
asks to be received into our Union. 1t is g quss-
ton Tor Our own decision, whethe. she shall be