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their permanent happiness and glory.
What principle Of good faith, then, was
violated? What rule Of political morals
trampled under foot? So far az slexico
herself was concerned, the measure should
have been regarded by her az highly bene-
fetal. Her inability to reconqner Te as
had been exhibited. / repeat. by eight.
now nine, years Of fruilless and r,,inous
contest. In the meantime, Texas has been
growing in population and resources. En-
igration has flowed into her territory from
all parts Of the world in current which
continues TO increase in strength. Ae leo
requires perman Mt boundary between
that young Republic and herself Te Is,
at no distant day, ii she continues separate
ana detached from the United States, will
inevitably seek TO consolidate her strength
BY adding 10 her domain the contiguous
Provinces Of Me Nico. The spirit Of re-
volt from the control Of the Central Gov
ernment has heretofore manifested itself in
some Of those Provinces; and it Il fair to
infer that they would be inclined to take
the first favorable opportunity 70 proclaim
their independence and to form close alli-
ances with Texas. The war would thus
be endless; or, if &C sations Of hostilities
should occur, they would only endure for
season. The interests Of Me leo, there
fore, could in nothing be better consulted
than in peace with her neighbors, which
would result il the establishment Of per-
manent boundary. Upon the ratification
Of the treaty, the Executive was prepared
to treat with her on the most liberal basis.
Hence the boundaries Of Te as were left
underlined by the treaty. The Executive
proposed to settle these on terms that all
the world should have. pronounced just
and reasonable. No negotiation upon that
point could have been undertaken BY the
United States and Mexico in advance of
the ratification of the treaty. We should
have had no right, no power, no authority
to have conducted such negotiation; and
to have undertaken it would have been an
assumption equally revolving to the pride
Of Mexico and Texas, and subjecting us to
the charge Of arrogance; while TO have
proposed, in advance Of annexation, to sat
isfy Mexico for any contingent interest
she might have ia Te as, would have been
to have treated Texas, not as an indepcn-
dent Power, but as mere dependency OF
Mexico. This assumption conld not have
been acted on by the E ecutive without
se,iisg at defiance your solemn declaration
that that Republic was an independent
State. Mexico had, il is true, threatened
war against the United States in the event
the treaty If annexation was ratified. The


seSesSY sasssSiYe e9als ss not permit iseto be in
u is The spirit Of our people, who are ready
to sacrifice much for peace, but nothing to
intimidation. A war under any circum-
stances is greatly to be deplored, and the
United States is the last nation to desire IL;
but il, as the condition Of peace, it be re-
qnired Of us to frego the unques,ionable
right OF treating with an Independent Pow
er, OF our own continent, upon matters
highly interesting to both, and that upon a
naked and unsnstained pretension Of claim
BY third Power with whom we treat, de-
voted as we may be to peace, and anxious
to cultivate friendly relations with the





itate 10 say that the people Of the United
States would be ready to brave all con-
sequences sooner than submit 10 such con-
diilon. But no apprehension Of war was
enterta ned BY the Executive; and must
express frankly the opinion that. had the
treaty been rutified BY Tire Senate, it would
have been followed BY prompt settle-
ment, to the entire satisfaction OF Mexico,
OF every matter in difference between the
two countries. Seeing, then, that new
preparations for hostile invasion Of Texas
were about to be adopted BY Mexico, and
that these were brought about because
Texas has adopted the suggestions Of the
Executive upon the subject Of annexation,
it could not passively have folded its arms
and permitted war, threatened to be ac-
companied by every act that could mark q
barbarous age, to be waged against her be-
cause she had done so.


Other considerations Of controlling
character Influenced The course Of the Ex-
ecutive. The treaty which had thus been
negotiated had failed to receive the ratiti-
cation OF the Senate. One Of the chieI
aiec, ions which were urged against it was
found to consist in the fact that the ques-
ton OF annexation had not been submitted
to the ordeal OF public opinion in the
United States. However unlenable such
an objection was esteemed to be, in view
Of the unquestiomble power Of the Ex-
ecutive to negotiate the treaty, and the
great and lasting interests involved in the
question, l felt It 70 be my duty to submit
the whols subject 70 Congress as the besi
le FOUNDERS Of popular sentiment. No de,
tiniiive action having been taken on the
subject BY Congress, the question referred
itself directly to the decision Of the States
and the People. The great popular cleo
tion which has just terminated afforded
the best opportunity Of ascertaining the
will Of the States and the People upon it.
Pending that issue, it became the impera;
tive duty Of the !. xecutive to inform Mcy-
leo that the question Of annexation wal
still before the American People, and that,
until their decision was pronounced, any
serious invasion Of Texas wonl be regard
ed - IN attempt to forestall their Judge
| mont, and could mol be looked upon with
IinditEerence. | am most happy % inorm
YOU that no such invasion has taken place
and trust that, whatever your action
may be upon il, Mexico will see the In
psr,ance 81 deciding the matter BY aresort
y =. .>~..c.l >wv~O<@sO0aa - 0rafIr.,,x,> =.