This treaty removes the heavy discriminating duties against us in the ports of New Granada, which have nearly destroyed our commerce and navigation with that Republic, and which we have been in vain endeavoring to abolish for the last twenty years.

It may be proper also to call the attention of the Senate to the twenty-fifth article of the treaty, which prohibits privateering in case of war between the two Republics, and also to the additional article, which nationalizes all vessels of the parties which “shall be provided by the respective Governments with a patent issued according to its laws,” and in this particular goes further than any of our former treaties.

JAMES K. POLK.

WASHINGTON, February 13, 1847.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: 

Congress, by the act of the 13th of May last, declared that “by the act 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 with the 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 annual 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.