of the republic of Mexico, a state of war exists between that government and the United States;" and "for the purpose of enabling the government of the United States to prosecute said war to a speedy and successful termination," authority was vested in the President to employ the "naval and military forces of the United States."

It has been my unalterable purpose, since the commencement of hostilities by Mexico, and the declaration of the existence of war by Congress, to prosecute the war in which the country was unavoidably involved withthe utmost energy, with a view to its "speedy and successful termination" by an honorable peace.

Accordingly, all the operations of our naval and military forces have been directed with this view. While the sword has been held in one hand, and our military movements pressed forward into the enemy's country, and its coasts invested by our navy, the tender of an honorable peace has been constantly presented to Mexico in the other.

Hitherto, the overtures of peace which have been made by this government have not been accepted by Mexico. With a view to avoid a protracted war, which hesitancy and delay on our part would be so well calculated to produce, I informed you, in my ánnual message of the 8th December last, that the war would "continue to be prosecuted with vigor as the best means of securing peace," and recommended to your early and favorable consideration the measures proposed by the Secretary of War, in his report accompanying that message.

In my message of the 4th January last, these and other measures, deemed to be essential to the "speedy and successful termination" of · the war, and the attainment of a just and honorable peace, were recommended to your early and favorable consideration.

The worst state of things which could exist in a war with such a power as Mexico would be a course of indecision and inactivity on our part. Being charged by the constitution and the laws with the conduct of the war, I have availed myself of all the means at my command to prosecute it with energy and vigor.

The act "to raise for a limited time an additional military force, and for other purposes," and which authorizes the raising of ten additional regiments to the regular army, to serve during the war, and to be disbanded at its termination, which was presented to me on the 11th instant, and approved on that day, will constitute an important part of our military force. These regiments will be raised and moved to the seat of war with the least practicable delay,

It will be perceived that this act makes no provision for the organization into brigades and divisions of the increased force which it authorizes, nor for the appointment of general officers to command it. It will be proper that authority be given by law to make such organization, and to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, such number of major generals and brigadier generals as the efficiency of the service may demand. The number of officers of these grades now in service are not more than are required for their respective commands; but further legislative action during your present session will, in my judgment, be required, and to which it is my duty respectfully to invite your attention. Should the war, contrary to my earnest desire, be protracted to the close of the term of service of the volunteers now in Mexico, who engaged for welve months, an additional volunteer force will probably become neces-.

sary to supply their place. Many of the volunteers now serving in Mexico, it is not doubted, will cheerfully engage, at the conclusion of their present term, to serve during the war. They would constitute a more efficient force than could be speedily obtained by accepting the services of any new corps who might offer their services. They would have the advantage of the experience and discipline of a year's service, and will have become accustomed to the climate, and be in less danger than new levies of suffering from the diseases of the country. I recommend, therefore, that authority be given to accept the services of such of the volunteers now in Mexico as the state of the public service may require, and who may, at the termination of their present term, voluntarily engage to serve during the war with Mexico, and that provision be made for commissioning the officers. Should this measure receive the favorable consideration of Congress, it is recommended that a bounty be granted to them upon their voluntarily extending their term of service. This would not only be due to these gallant men, but it would be economy to the government; because, if discharged at the end of the twelve months, the government would be bound to incur a heavy expense in bringing them back to their homes, and in sending to the seat of war new corps of fresh troops to supply their place.

By the act of the thirteenth of May last, the President was authorized to accept the services of volunteers, "in companies, battalions, squadrons, and regiments," but no provision was made for filling up vacancies which might occur by death, or discharges from the service on account of sickness or other casualties. In consequence of this omission, many of the corps now in service have been much reduced in numbers. Nor was any provision made for filling vacancies of regimental or company officers who might die or resign. Information has been received at the War Department of the resignation of more than one hundred of these officers. They were appointed by the State authorities, and no information has been received, except in a few instances, that their places have been filled; and the efficiency of the service has been impaired from this cause. To remedy these defects, I recommend that authority be given to accept the services of individual volunteers, to fill up the places of such as may die, or become unfit for the service and be discharged; and that provision be also made for filling the places of regimental and company officers who may die or resign. By such provisions, the volunteer corps may be constantly kept full, or may approximate the maximum number authorized and called into service in the first instance.

While it is deemed to be our true policy to prosecute the war in the manner indicated, and thus make the enemy feel its pressure and its evils, I shall be at all times ready, with the authority conferred on me by the constitution, and with all the means which may be placed at my command by Congress, to conclude a just and honorable peace.

Of equal importance with an energetic and vigorous prosecution of the war are the means required to defray its expenses, and to uphold and maintain the public credit.

In my annual message of the 8th December last, I submitted for the consideration of Congress the propriety of imposing, as a war measure, revenue duties on some of the articles now embraced in the free list. The principal articles now exempt from duty, from which any considerable revenue could be derived, are tea and coffee. A moderate revenue duty

on these articles, it is estimated, would produce annually an amount exceeding two and a half millions of dollars. Though in a period of peace, when ample means could be derived from duties on other articles for the

support of the government, it may have been deemed proper not to resort

to a duty on these articles; yet, when the country is engaged in a foreign war, and all our resources are demanded to meet the unavoidable increased expenditure in maintaining our armies in the field, no sound reason is perceived why we should not avail ourselves of the revenues which may be derived from this source. The objections which have heretofore existed to the imposition of these duties were applicable to a state of peace, when they were not needed. We are now, however, engaged in a foreign war. We need money to prosecute it, and to maintain the public honor and credit. It cannot be doubted that the patriotic people of the United States would cheerfully, and without complaint, submit to the payment of this additional duty, or any other that may be necessary to maintain the honor of the country, provide for the unavoidable expenses of the government, and to uphold the public credit. It is recommended that any duties which may be imposed on these articles be limited in their duration to the period of the war.

An additional annual revenue, it is estimated, of between half a million and a million of dollars, would be derived from the graduation and reduction of the price of such of the public lands as have been long offered in the market at the minimum price established by the existing laws, and have remained unsold. And, in addition to other reasons commending the measure to favorable consideration, it is recommended as a financial measure. The duty suggested on tea and coffee, and the graduation and reduction of the price of the public lands, would secure an additional annual revenue to the treasury of not less than three millions of dollars, and would thereby prevent the necessity of incurring a public debt annually to that amount, the interest on which must be paid semi annually, and ultimately the debt itself by a tax on the people.

It is a sound policy, and one which has long been approved by the government and people of the United States, never to resort to loans unless in cases of great public emergency, and then only for the smallest amount which the public necessities will permit.

The increased revenues which the measures now recommended would produce, would, moreover, enable the government to negotiate a loan, for any additional sum which may be found to be needed, with more facility, and at cheaper rates than can be done without them.

Under the injunction of the constitution which makes it my duty "from time to time to give to Congress information of the state of the Union, and to recommend to their consideration such measures" as shall be judged "necessary and expedient," I respectfully and earnestly invite the action. of Congress on the measures herein presented for their consideration. The public good, as well as a sense of my responsibility to our common constituents, in my judgment, imperiously demand that I should present them for your enlightened consideration, and invoke favorable action upon them before the close of your present session. JAMES K. POLK.

WASHINGTON, February 13, 1847.

The message was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and be printed.

On motion by Mr. Breese,

The Senate adjourned.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1847.

Mr. Thomas Clayton presented a petition of citizens of Maryland, praying the adoption of measures for the speedy termination of the war with Mexico: which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Davis presented the memorial of Charles Stearns, praying indemnity for injuries sustained and reimbursement of the costs and expenses incurred in consequence of a criminal prosecution against him by the United States: which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Davis presented a petition of citizens of Worcester, Massachusetts, praying the adoption of pacific measures for the speedy termination of the war with Mexico: which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Sturgeon presented a resolution passed by the legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, requesting the Senators and Representatives of that State in Congress to use their exertions to procure an appropriation for the construction of a dry dock at Philadelphia: which was read, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Dayton presented a petition of citizens of New Jersey, praying such an alteration of the laws of the United States as will give equal protection to commerce, agriculture, manufactures, and the mechanic arts.

On motion, by Mr. Dayton, that it be printed,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Printing.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, presented the petition of Thomas P. Harrison and A. T. H. Duvall, praying the confirmation of their title to a tract of land in Louisiana: which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

Mr. Davis presented the petition of Asa Andrews, praying the payment of the money certified by a jury to be due him from the United States. Ordered, That it lie on the table.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, presented a resolution passed by the legislature of the State of Louisiana, instructing the Senators and requesting the Representatives of that State in Congress to use their exertions to procure a grant of land to each citizen soldier, and to the widow or orphans of each citizen soldier, who bore arms in the defence of Louisiana in the years 1814 and 1815: which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, presented a resolution passed by the legislature of the State of Louisiana, in favor of an appropriation for completing the marine hospital at New Orleans, and the admission into that hospital of the sick and disabled soldiers discharged from the service of the United States; and in favor an annual appropriation for the charity hospital at the city of New Orleans: which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Corwin submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into

the expediency of making an appropriation to defray the expenses of furnishing to the State Department, by the clerks of the district courts, the information required under a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 29th of January, 1844.

Mr. Webster submitted the following resolutions for consideration; which were read, and ordered to be printed:

Resolved, That the war now existing with Mexico ought not to be prosecuted for the acquisition of territory, to form new States to be added to this Union.

Resolved, That it ought to be signified to the government of Mexico that the government of the United States does not desire to dismember the republic of Mexico, and is ready to treat with the government of that republic for peace, for a liberal adjustment of boundaries, and for just indemnities due by either government to the citizens of the other.

Mr. Evans, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 599) making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government for the year ending the 30th day of June, 1848, and for other purposes, reported the same with amendments.

Mr. Pearce, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 257) for the relief of James Green, of the county of Fauquier, State of Virginia, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Pearce, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 441) for the relief of Wilfred Knott, reported it without amend

ment.

Mr. Mason, from the Committee of Claims, to whom the following bills were referred:

H. R. 460. An act for the relief of Bernard O'Neill;

H. R. 462. An act for the relief of John Pickett, and others;

H. R. 517. An act for the relief of Harrison Whitson;

reported the same without amendment.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 247) for the relief of Job Hawkins, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Chalmers, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of Savannah, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill (S. 158) making an appropriation for removing obstructions in the Savannah river.

The bill was read, and passed to the second reading.
Ordered, That the report be printed.

Mr. Breese, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was recommitted, the 30th instant, the bill (S. 28) to create the office of surveyor general of the public lands in the Territory of Oregon, and to grant donation rights to settlers therein, and for other purposes, reported the same without amendment.

Mr. Evans, agreeably to notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 159) to authorize the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to purchase for the use of said institution, of the corporation of Washington. the City Hall, and for other purposes: which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Mr. Bright reported from the committee that they had this day presented