LAD #12 President Polk's War Message

Summary of President James K. Polk's War Message, 1846:

An America envoy, John Slidell, was sent to Mexico to reestablish friendly relations between the nations and to solidify international boundaries, but he was rejected by their government. Furthermore, Mexico has invaded American territory and shed American blood.

Mr. Slidell had been assured he would be accepted by the Mexican government under General Herrera, which was at the time tottering. When he arrived, a popular revolutionary party forced the government to refuse Mr. Slidell. Approximately a month later, General Herrera surrendered the Presidency to General Paredas; a revolution conducted solely by the military.

Mr. Slidell attempted to become an envoy to the new, militaristic Mexican government, but was refused. Thus, the Mexican government refused negotiation with American for no sufficient reason, and had made no propositions of its own to remedy the existing border and citizen issues in Texas.

An American military force had previously been assembled between the Nueces and the Del Norte Rivers to meet a potential Mexican invasion attempt, which was threatened after Texas's appeal and resulting annexation into the U.S.

American generals were instructed to move troops but without aggressive action towards Mexico, on the Mexican side of the Del Norte River. However, Mexican General Ampudia ordered the Americans to retreat, and after a month without their cooperation, he announced that he considered hostilities to have commenced. A small group of American soldiers were attacked while scouting the Mexican troops, and some were killed while the rest were forced to surrender.

Polk proposes that America is called to fight Mexico as a result of Mexico's wrongs against American citizens over the past years, that trade with Mexico long ago stopped being beneficial, and that America has long attempted unsuccessful peaceful negotiations. Furthermore, after Mexico has declared war on the U.S., invaded American territory, and killed American citizens, the conflict would be a vindication of American honor, rights, and interests.