The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-04-20

y also presents matter which deserves the serious
consideration Of The parent Soyesnmss', ana whacn
Of the ccssion 4
The Camsscbs Indians, q numerous and daring
tribe have for years been scourge 70 Texas; shsy
have more than onae, swept every article OF Ave
stock from their ow ners and killed the inhabitants OF
San Antonio on the commons IN front oil INC punhe
square. They are spprxed, moreover, thai Indians
Of still more active, warke, and daring character
haue recently settled in Texas, and that tbelr number
is daily Increasing these the Shawnee, Cherokee,
and Kickapoo tribes. They claim equal right OF
cupaney 10 Texas with the Mexicans themselves,
and prepared, they say, to maintain by force.
The ground of this claim is unders God 10 be an nyi
| tation which, they say was given to them by the
Spanish authorities before the revolution, TO settle IN
the province TO protect its inhabitants against their
/ old enemy the CamaBches. Their number, at this
time supposed 10 amount 10 five hundred warriors,
constantly increasing, and will necessarily increase
much more upon the removal Of the great body OF
the American Indians further west. they have Sc
lected spots for their settlements and defy the public
authorities 10 d,spossess them To protect the civil
| ized inhabitants of Texas against Indian aggres-
sons, well to keep in check the tumultuous /
spirit Of portions Of the inhabitants themselves,
the Mexican Government deems it necessary
to keep foot considerable military esab
| lishment ia the province. This has been very ex-
pensve to the Government and is, in the present de-
pressed state OF their finances peculiarly burdcnsone
and Will, probably, be OF necessary continuance 30
| long the province belongs 10 Mexico. II has,
| ~,
quite inadequate TO the object ia vew Ii is said the
soldiers nsulted by the savages at the muz1les Of
their guns and that, when complains made, the
officers frankly acknowledge their inability to give re-
dress Similar aggression ms were made on the American
statements after their first establishment, but the
perpetrators were invariably followed and panished
The consequence has been that the Indians have, for
several years, atan doned oil active hostility against
the Americans, whilst they have continued their az
gressons upon the Nexicans. These practices, IL,
addit on to tho positive jury they to the Mex-
cans have the effect at sggravang existing jeaouies
in the mind Of tho Mexican inhabllants by infusing
suspicion that the exemption which attributable
solely 10 that hardhood courage, and enterprise which
distD2 uishes border men, arises from a sinister
understanding with the Indians. BY yielding To the
United States portion of Texas, the Mexican Gov
ernment will not only be relieved from the expense OF
Its several gHrrsons in that county, but will secure
prolectlo" TO their own territory, by interpreting the
United States between the Indians and thar eastern
| frontier, which is their exposed point. The Cana
ches have hitherto confined their expeditions the
eastern side of the Rio del More, and appIehens. n
felt the west side Of that river; for in addition to
the extent of desert TO cross before they reach
the western settlements, there also river Of great
width with rapid current to over, ONE. There is
another consde alton, of much intrinsic weight
which may be urged, if reference to it would nol in
! your judgment, give cause Of offence.
Being on the spot, and fully conversant with the
feelings Of those who constitute the Mexican Gov
eminent, and 18th current events your judgment as
\
proposed upon this subject, is to be depended
upon. he unsettled state of the Governm.nt is too
| well known to be disguised. The successive revou-
lions TO which il has already been exposed attest the
fact and the dangers which threaten i. from the in
lrgues, if no, the open hostiiities Of SPAIN Of
character which cannot be regarded with indiier-
ence. This consideration, with many others tAat
might be stated, but which your knowledge of cir
cumsanees will readily suggest expose her extended
| coniederacy to the hazard OF dismembe ment. 1t
will readily be admitted by her well informed men
that, in such an event. the first successful blow would
most probably, be struck in Texas. Although the |
! separation OF that territory for a limited period
would not be of much importance still the probable
effect Of the example could not fail to be highly detri
mental. A state of things which renders so disas-
rous an event possible, not TO say probable deserves
| the serious consideration of that Government
The line proposed as tie most desirable to US,
would constitute natural separation OF the resources
OF the two nations. 1t is the centre OF country
| inhabilabe on the Gulf aud, on tie mounta ms, so
diitceli OF access and poor, 10 furrish in
ducement for land intercourse and of course no
theatre for those differences that are almost inse pa
rabic from a neghbofhood Of commercial interos,s-
IL corresponds with The habltual feelings of the Ieo.
! pie of Mexico, and with the ayowed policy OF The |
Mexican Government, by using wide separ -iion
and difficulties of nercouse bet the inha uts
OF the two Countries and by preventing those excite
men's and chickering's invariably produced by the con-
uguous operation VI conflicting laws, habrs, aud in-
! teiests. The commercial establishment which would
4 "
would enable Us TO preserve, in great degree, the
mo ais II the Inhabitants Of both sides 10y the pre-.
venhon Of smuggling and the Mexican Govern
ment, by thus respecting The real interests of the
United 5 aies, without actual pr, judice TO its own
would afford the strongest evidence Of that spirit OF
! friendship by which The Unied States have always
been inhoehced towards 1t, and which should ever
characterize he conduct of neighbohng republics.
The President does no, desire the proposed cesson
without rendering just and fair equivalent for H.
lie, Therefore, authorizes you to offer To the Mexican
Government for cession according to the frs-men-
toned boundary, sum not exceeding four millions
OF dolarsi aud 50 strong his convictions OF it,
great value TO the Unied States, that he viii OBJ
jec II You should find II indsptnsably necessary TO
90 as high five millions. You WILL Of course con-
suit the interests OF the United States by obtaining the
cesslon ut II can be obained at alp upon terms ia
vurabe and fcr price low practicable regarding
he sum above stated only the mum arno 81 mt To
which you are uihorzsd to 90. Should you find the
Cove nment Of Mexico unwilling 10 part with as large
pOrtign at their territory as would be included IN
the hrst mentioned bounds, but disposed 10 cede a
less quantity you will, in such case endeavor TO OBJ
4 tain cession agreeable 10 one Of the bourda |
ries above described, urging them in the order Of |
preferences before stated and stipuate 10 pay there
for sum which, estimating five millions as a FIR
compensation for the largest extent proposed would
be proportionste equivalent for that which ),
! ceded
II credit Of three ur years by annual and equal
| ,nstam-nts upon interest Of six per centum
! would be preeuel; but, if necessary, you NAV
stpulate for the payment Of the money within four
4 months, some olhr reasonable time after the ex
change Of the hns notifications Of the treaty and the
delivery Of he possession Of the c, ded territory
! The rathcsu must Ne required to take place on
! the part Of the Mexican Government before III. /
treaty IS submitted to the Senate ofthe United States
for ITS ratIhcston on our part
| have already stated that The present moment is
regarded by us as an suspicious one 10 secure the
cession and will now add, that there does not sp /
pear TO be ny reasonable objection to its being EN-