Mexico, and had the United States resorted to this extremity we might have appealed to the whole civilized world for the justice of our cause.  I deem it to be my duty to present to you on the present occasion a condensed review of the injuries we had sustained, of the causes which led to the war, and of its progress since its commencement.  This is rendered the more necessary because of the misapprehensions which have to some extent prevailed as to its origin and true character.  The war has been represented as unjust and unnecessary and as one of aggression on our part upon a weak and injured enemy.  Such erroneous views, though entertained by but few, have been widely and extensively circulated, not only at home, but have been spread throughout Mexico and the whole world.  A more effectual means could not have been devised to encourage the enemy and protract the war than to advocate and adhere to their cause, and thus give them “aid and comfort.”  It is a source of national pride and exultation that the great body of our people have thrown no such obstacles in the way of the Government in prosecuting the war successfully, but have shown themselves to be eminently patriotic and ready to vindicate their country’s honor and interests at any sacrifice.  The alacrity and promptness with which our volunteer forces rushed to the field on their country’s call prove not only their patriotism, but their deep conviction that our cause is just.

The wrongs which we have suffered from Mexico almost ever since she became an independent power and the patient endurance with which we have borne them are without a parallel in the history of modern civilized nations.  There is reason to believe that if these wrongs had been resented and resisted in the first instance the present war might have been avoided.  One outrage, however, permitted to pass with impunity almost necessarily encouraged the perpetration of another, until at last Mexico seemed to attribute to weakness and indecision on our part a forbearance which was the offspring of magnanimity and of a sincere desire to preserve friendly relations with a sister republic.

Scarcely had Mexico achieved her independence, which the United States were the first among the nations to acknowledge, when she commenced the system of insult and spoliation which she has ever since pursued.  Our citizens engaged in lawful commerce were imprisoned, their vessels seized, and our flag insulted in her ports.  If money was wanted, the lawless seizure and confiscation of our merchant vessels and their cargoes was a ready resource, and if to accomplish their purposes it became necessary to imprison the owners, captains, and crews, it was done.  Rulers superseded rulers in Mexico in rapid succession, but still there was no change in this system of depredation.  The Government of the United States made repeated reclamations on behalf of its citizens, but these were answered by the perpetration of new outrages.