The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-21
PUBLIUs
FOR THE MADIsoNIAN.
MEXICAN COMMISSION.

To The Editors Of The NeW York Express:
GenAemen--A Communication addressed to YOU
from Washington, and published by you in New
York, has been reproduced headed Mexican Com
mission in the Globe Of this city Of the lth instant
This communication appears TO have been an i'm
position on your good faith, although its anonymous
character ought TO have cautioned you and the Globe
against il. On one side it is miserable play upon
words the other, stupid attack those claim
ants Mexico, who have censured the Mexican
Commissioners. II has charged the former with
!" taking unfair means to create prejudice against
the latter" As am Of the claimants in question
/ hope your impartiality will allow defence in
the same columns where the attack has been made. |
should like TO know the of the writer who so
fairly prosokes these lines but he takes great care
sing from behind the curtain Mexican iashion) and
from this fair procedure alone the business Of his
statements may be properly weighed. Nevertheless |
shall proceed TO few remarks.
Is it astonishing, by chance, that :" since December
last the Board has awarded amounting to one
million and one hundred thousand dollars? The
Board ought first to demonstrate that this amount is
not the third, perhaps the fifth, part of that which
really due for the injustice of tribunal always
presumed when it judges a-hus-clos without hearing
the parties; and then that, by proceeding without
hearing either claimants attorneys or Witnesses
without allowing the least Defence and acting always
in the darkness Of mystery, il could not have employ
ed much less than half the time boasts TO have
spent in making those generous awards. The Board
il is said has been the most iaboriols Board that
sat in this country The writer has undoubtedly mis-
taken here the word taborous for despotic. No pre-
ceding Board had in fact, ever sat in this country,
nor in any part of the world basIng IFS decisions
more round no, half yes without any form Of pro-
cess, any rule of proceedings, any debate observation
opposition, or legal exception whatever In saugh-
house thousands of bulls may be killed in quar-
ter Of hour why could not thirty forty unhappy
claimants Mexico be sacrificed in ten months to
the uncontrolled despotism Of Mexican Camarla2
But is it fair to qualify rs unfair" the means
adopted by of the claimants myself in capie)
create prejudice against the Commissioners from
Mexico without demonstrating the imagined unfair
ness? II would suffice on the contrary, to reject
that is naturally the interest of all tgants rather to
concate the good will Of their judges than to provoke
their resentment and that of course such claimants
as have complained of the Mexican Commissioners,
must evidently have been actuated by irresistible
tives But reasoning Is time lost with certain people
endowed with the properties of the horn hard empty
and crooked. Let me solely ask what is here under
stood by the handsome words; "unfair means?"
Those by chance, which offered to the oppressed
citizen by the constitutional freedom of the press
En- gentlemen! and what arms can be properly oppos-
ed to criminal secrecy, impenetrable mystery dark
trgue Observation-Disclosures oppression, but the great
est publicity? This is, at least, leading tenet of ho
nest policy, the nfallibty Of which has been
belied. should pronounce as unfair an anonymous
attack, an abuse of power, malignant suggestion,
vile revenge an undigested hurtful Judgment facts
unknown, the wlful suppression of truth in a
word, any of the practices which have hitherto dis
tinguished the conduct of the diplomatic Mexican
members of the mixed Board As to myself, here is
my process, RentIeulen. nave formally preferred
fourteen well specified charges; others reserved against
those respectable gentlemen before the President of
the United States The exposition is dated the 18th
Of July last, and signed by myself Il has been pub
l;shed in pamphlet form, under my own name 1t is
accompanied by twenty three irrefragabe documents.
1t has geometrcay demonstrated that our Convention
with Mexico is anti-nationnl, ant-constituona alb
sdrd in all its provisions, and consequently abso
lutte nudity and that, nevertheless that nudity
has been constantly violated, both in its letter and
sense, by those Mexican agents, since their first meet
ing in this city. II has been sent to the Committees
on Foreign Affairs Of both Houses Of Congress,
well as to the members of the Cabinet, the Supreme
Court, and the Diplomatic body, Govern
ment &c. Is this unfair, gentlemen? And why,
instead Of proper and fair refuation is unfair
and vague accusation of unfdirness produced Be-
cause wrong cannot be justified but by wrong. Had
used base, servle, treacherous means, would
have appeared hero in the eyes of your Washingto
MAN correspondent the noble advocate of Mexico,
perhaps OF Mexican dollars.
As to what he says in his communication to you
about MIR. Preston, know nothing Mr.. Preston
understands and will perform his duty.
would only suggest that the charges which have
preferred against Messrs. Veasquez and Castillo,
before the Chief Magistrate of the Union, and that
person has right 10 anticipate the judgment 10 be
issued on them by the competent authority and l
ed not merely unfair means" of sanctiiylng
lawless deeds but as a eowardy assault worthy only
OF the contempt and of all honorable beings.
WASHINGTON, 18th August lS4l
have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedicnt
servant, SANrANGELO.