" To avoid all misconception on the part of Mexico, as well as to protect our national character from reproach, this opportunity should be given with the avowed design and full preparation to take immediate satisfaction, if it should not be obtained on a repetition of the demand for it. To this end, I recommend that an act be passed, authorizing reprisals and the use of the naval force of the United States, by the Executive, against Mexico, to en- force them, in the event of a refusal by the Mexican government, to come to an amicable adjustment of the matters in controversy between us, upon another demand thereof, made on hoard one of our vessels of war, on the coast of Mexico.'"
The cruelty of this attempt to involve the two countries in war, was aggravated by the very character of the re- commendation. Ko specification is made of the injuries we have received, no notice is taken of the ansv/ers re- turned to the eighteen complaints, no mention made of the amount of money claimed. The President is to be armed with power to take immediate satisfaction, and for this purpose the navy is to be placed at his disposal. But to what amount the navy is to plunder the commerce and sea-ports of Mexico, is not stated. However, before a system of robbery is commenced, a demand for satis- faction (but how much no one knows,) is to be sent to the Government of Mexico, from a ship of war off Vera Cruz, and " a satisfactory answer " to be retnrned, of course, in a certain number of days. No one can fail to see that the President intended war, and that a compliance with his recommendation by Congress would have been equivalent to its declaration. The country was not yet prepared to commence a system of human butchery, for the purpose of facilitating the acquisition of Texas ; and General Jackson's belligerent proposition found but little favor with either house of Congress.